Media Failures

I read an article in the Army Times (28 March 2005) that included an interview with Army Vice Chief of Staff General Richard Cody.  During his visits with Soldiers, Cody said, many troops tell him they are frustrated that no good news gets out of Iraq. "One of the recurring questions I get asked is, 'Why are there so many negative stories?  Don't they know all of the good stuff we are doing?'"

Here are some of the small victories Soldiers have helped the Iraqis win for their country, according to Cody.

• About 1.2 million Iraqis are now employed by their government.

• Some 1,100 new construction projects are underway.  That number includes 263 new schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil factories, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

• Twenty universities, 46 institutes and four research centers have reopened.

• An Iraqi counterterrorist unit and a commando battalion are now operational.

• The Iraqi police force has about 55,000 trained and equipped members.

• Ninety-six percent of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received polio vaccinations.

The April 16th issue of Stars and Stripes had a story about how attacks are effecting new recruits for the Iraqi Police.  "The Feb 16th 2005 suicide bombing in Hilla that slaughtered 125 police candidates waiting in line for medical testing didn't deter Salah Hamad, 28, from signing up."

"The attack motivated me to be an IP rather than make me afraid," Harmad said.  "If being here lets me serve my society, I am ready."

CPATT (civil police assistance training team) has trained more than 75,000 police.  Some of the 75,000 have only had partial training, so to get them on the streets as early as possible (not sure if they count in the official total of IP).  The goal is a force of 135,000 Iraqi police. 

I designed this milblog to keep family and friends informed on how I am doing rather than a form of media like CNN or NBC news.  Well, I felt like making an exception this one time due to our media failing horribly on reporting the positive things that go on here in Iraq. 

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
--John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

Comments

[gavin]

shame on us for being such a negative presence in our own lives. truth be told, we as americans like the negative reporting, if we didn't the ratings would go down and the buisness people behind the media would go somewhere else, that is just basic business principles.

however, i am one who puts this that to be mad at someone or something else takes us away from being honest with who we are as a person. it's easier to point fingers or finger at someone elses wrong doing than seeing our own. i remember george saying if you point your finger at someone you have three more pointing back at you.

i am glad that the media of blogosphere is out there for you and others to share the words and stories of those that are making a difference. most of us let our subscription to Stars and Stripes run out after The Gulf War. i'll committ myself to adding more voices to your blog for others to hear what is really happening. you keep safe and i'll see ya in a couple of months. love bro.

[Donna]

We are a mess. Negatives everywhere - media, elections, etc. Even the way we treat each other is more often negative than not. Keep telling "the rest of the story". I'm so grateful for your perspectice - and let everyone know that each branch of the military has a news service with online articles about the positives.

[davey]

hey man,

sorry i havent posted until now. all the negativity sucks but those of us who know you and others over there know that good has to be coming from it. the efforts of so many great men and women such as yourself can only serve to leave things better than they found them. thanks for all the hard work over there, especially with the kids. pics of the clinic make me realize how spoiled we are here at the children's hospital. peace out, dude.

[SSgt C]

Whenever I need to get the "positive" of the war, I go to the military links like www.af.mil (I'm Air Force, so there!). It's amazing what we do over there that doesn't get picked up by the MSM. I guess it shouldn't surprise me anymore.... But it does.
Thanks for the blog -- we need all the help we can get!

MyAdidas

[Nate S.]

Just thought you should know, the American people nowadays DO NOT support your occupation of Iraq. 60% (6 out of 10) Americans polled want either an immediate total withdrawl or an immediate partial withdrawl. 53% (a little more than half) of Americans realize now that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake, what the rest of the world has known since day one. About two-thirds of Americans feel the war is going very badly (for the U.S.-- not for the Rebels). This is a very unpopular war. You are losing and you will ultimately lose this war. It will be a humiliating defeat, reminiscent of the end of the American commitment to Vietnam or the withdrawl from Lebanon after a the Marine barracks was truck-bombed, or the withdrawl from Somalia after losing eighteen soldiers. Piece of advice: shoot yourself in the foot and go home. Fake insanity and get a Section-8. Because if you die, it will be 100% FOR NOTHING. Period.