This is way the media is reporting negative stories in Iraq

[mdmc]

The media wants to report good news, imho. The media wants to report that coalition forces have been welcomed as liberators, that Iraq is stable, and that our troops are coming home, victorious. This is the story that the media would truly love to be reporting.

But this is not the case. Since this is not the case, the media must report on why it is unable to report the story that it would love to be reporting. Since the media , they must report on why this is the case.

Our troops are not being withdrawn in victory because:
1) The pro-west, US supported Iraqi government is not strong enough to unify, defend, and rule Iraq.
2) The "insurgents" have been more powerful and destructive then was originally expected.
3) The USA has overlooked Homeland security in order to "fight them over there".

The media would love to report that our troops are being withdrawn in victory. That is the story that Americans want to hear. The coverage on Iraq is now about trying to understand why that story is not being told.

We should have never invaded Iraq in 2003. Now we must stay in Iraq until an pro-west Iraqi government is strong enough to "stand on its own" (was that ever a remote or realistic possibility? imho, no). Any withdrawl of US troops prior to this goal, would result in another Vietnam style defeat. American troops will be in Iraq until there is a strong pro-west Government in Iraq, or until Americans are ready and able to accept another Vietnam style defeat. Perhaps when the death toll of Americans in Iraq passes the losses of Americans that died on 9-11-01, we will be willing to leave.

Since I don't think that we will see a strong pro west government take root in Iraq for a long time, and I don't think the American people are willing to accept a defeat in Iraq, we will be there for a long time.

[Earth_First]

1. It was discussed on Al Franken's program last week...

That the truly positive stories that do occur in Iraq, such as education programs are directly requested by school administration officials to NOT report receiving aid as they are likely to be targeted by sectarian violence for receiving aid.

[mdmc]

2. My point is that mad good stuff is happenin in Iraq

Terrorist are being killed, neighbors are helping one and other out. Our troops are out there winning the heart and minds of civilians. These are not the news stories that Americans want to hear. Americans were told that this was expected (we would be greeted as liberators... the Iraqi people would form a pro-west government... we would have an easy victory).

The media already knows that we had false expectations about how Iraq would go (we would find wmd, overthrow Saddam, form a pro west govt, and withdraw in victory). That story has been covered. Now it is time to explain why the USA cannot withdraw.

[mdmc]

3. thanks for your post, by the way.