Pictures from Iraq you won't see in the news

[mayor]

If these images were shown daily on TV, public perception would be drastically different. It just goes to show you how easily manipulated people can be based on the selectiveness of the people who determine what hits the airwaves.

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Mayor

[bestmidwest]

Thanks, Mayor, lots of great links!

[whitequeen96]

I did see some of these pictures. However, the sixth one down on the extreme right (shows a soldier wearing blue gloves sitting on the ground)is NOT something you would want to include here. He is holding a little girl dressed in pink, and I remember seeing this in Newsweek or Time, about a year ago. American soldiers had just blown up her family's car, killing the little girl's mother, father, aunt and several siblings. I think she was the only survivor, and she was covered in her mother's blood.

The family was fleeing Bhagdad (I think that was the city) and didn't understand which way to drive. Because of language differences, they kept driving toward the soldiers, who tried to warn them off. The soldiers didn't know if the car was really full of family, or the enemy with guns and explosives. Everything was so chaotic and terrifying, and our guys were forced to blow the car up. They were all completely freaked out afterward, realizing that these were innocent civilians. I will never forget this photo, as I felt so sorry for the child, of course, who appears to be in shock. I also really felt for the soldier, who looks just sick about the whole thing. I think that's the family car in the background, with all the soldiers gathered around it.

This was a terrible tragedy for ALL involved, and was the direct result of our being over there. I can't imagine why this picture was included in the gallery! I would have to say that BOTH sides twist things.

[mayfly]

I don't want to get into a prove/disprove situation over one picture because the story is very sad. However look at all these pictures. I feel like you said that like "aha! I gotcha!" No other country in the world is as great as ours, these pictures are amazing. I thank God even for the compassion our soldiers had for that little girl, for whatever reason. He honors her as a person, cupping her in his arms. How many Iraqis have show that much love for an innocent civilian of ours killed by them?

[prism68]

Originally Posted by whitequeen96

...This was a terrible tragedy for ALL involved, and was the direct result of our being over there.

Why isn't there a little smilie icon for 'screaming in frustration, banging head'?

WE ARE NOT THE EVIL ONES HERE, PEOPLE!!!
We are over there because of the DIRECT RESULT of terrorists that want to kill us all!!!

Man, oh man, I wish I could figure out how to type my favorite Greek expression of when you just can't believe what you are hearing

[mrbowler]

No doubt Mayor that some great acts of kindness being done by American Troops...I wish they would put a date of when picture was taken to get a better idea of whether they are recent photo's or not. Many of the reporters are isolated from reporting stories. IMO people are upset with what they perceive to be poor planning & slow progress. I do like when we get stories direct from people in Iraq recently.

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I've posted this on other thread, but wanted to present the other side of story-you know the negative media bias one This came from MSNBC, but link is dead so did a google search for story.

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"In a dozen interviews, Marines from a platoon known as the "81s" expressed in blunt terms their frustrations with the way the war is being conducted and, in some cases, doubts about why it is being waged. The platoon, named for the size in millimeters of its mortar rounds, is part of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment based in Iskandariyah, 30 miles southwest of Baghdad."

Realities on the ground
Several members of the platoon said they were struck by the difference between the way the war was being portrayed in the United States and the reality of their daily lives.

"Every day you read the articles in the States where it's like, 'Oh, it's getting better and better,' " said Lance Cpl. Jonathan Snyder, 22, of Gettysburg, Pa. "But when you're here, you know it's worse every day."

Pfc. Kyle Maio, 19, of Bucks County, Pa., said he thought government officials were reticent to speak candidly because of the upcoming U.S. elections. "Stuff's going on here but they won't flat-out say it," he said. "They can't get into it."

"The reality right now is that the most dangerous opinion in the world is the opinion of a U.S. serviceman," said Lance Cpl. Devin Kelly, 20, of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Lance Cpl. Alexander Jones, 20, of Ball Ground, Ga., agreed: "We're basically proving out that the government is wrong," he said. "We're catching them in a lie."

[prism68]

Originally Posted by mrbowler

... IMO people are upset with what they perceive to be poor planning & slow progress.

Poor planning=
what a bunch of armchair quarterbacks get to call this war when they don't have the day-to-day decisions on their heads. I'd love to have seen anyone do much better, seeing as how the insurgent (especially foreign) population has become way more than ANYONE bargained for.

Slow progress=
hmmm, we fought the Cold War for over 50 years... but hey, this is the age of supersonic computers; surely we can take down a dictator, rebuild a country and a democracy, train teachers and restructure highways/schools, etc. in LESS TIME THAN THIS
Am I the only one who heard Pres. Bush say immediately upon embarking on this war that it was going to be a long, slow process?!

Originally Posted by mrbowler

...
wanted to present the other side of story-you know the negative media bias one ..."In a dozen interviews, Marines from a platoon known as the "81s" expressed in blunt terms their frustrations with the way the war is being conducted and, in some cases, doubts about why it is being waged.

Wow, a whole dozen interviews. Stop the presses.
Funny that my local paper just ran yesterday an article showing that there is OVERWHELMING support for Bush by active servicemen/women and their families, based on EXTENSIVE data collection. I believe THEY interviewed 700 servicemen AND their families.

The real story here is how desperate you and others are to weed through and find the horror stories... the minority.

[mrbowler]

Originally Posted by prism68

Slow progress=
hmmm, we fought the Cold War for over 50 years... but hey, this is the age of supersonic computers; surely we can take down a dictator, rebuild a country and a democracy, train teachers and restructure highways/schools, etc. in LESS TIME THAN THIS
Am I the only one who heard Pres. Bush say immediately upon embarking on this war that it was going to be a long, slow process?!

No doubt it will take time, and it is wise for President Bush to say that it will be a long slow process-since you want to be honest & lower expectations. People just want to make sure that everyone(as best can be) are working towards a positive outcome.

[mrbowler]

Originally Posted by prism68

Funny that my local paper just ran yesterday an article showing that there is OVERWHELMING support for Bush by active servicemen/women and their families, based on EXTENSIVE data collection. I believe THEY interviewed 700 servicemen AND their families.

The real story here is how desperate you and others are to weed through and find the horror stories... the minority.

Feel free to scan/post article...no need for personal attack on people who don't post the positive stories that you believe are the majority.

[chippers21]

If you look hard enough you can find someone (or a dozen) that supports the point of view which you want promoted. I would be more impressed if you presented both sides of this.

[luvmetender]

Originally Posted by prism68

Why isn't there a little smilie icon for 'screaming in frustration, banging head'?

I agree... It's very frustrating to people who know we should not be in Iraq.

WE ARE NOT THE EVIL ONES HERE, PEOPLE!!!
We are over there because of the DIRECT RESULT of terrorists that want to kill us all!!!

NO, the terrorists did not come from Iraq. Does it even occur to you that Osama Bin Laden has not been found and we never even hear about efforts to find him? OSAMA BIN LADEN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 9-11. NOT SADDAM and NOT IRAQ!!!!

[prism68]

Originally Posted by mrbowler

Feel free to scan/post article...no need for personal attack on people who don't post the positive stories that you believe are the majority.

I have already trashed the paper; I tried to find it on their site, but it is down this morning. It is probably on there somewhere since it was in the weekend edition:

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Here is what is probably another reference to the same information:
(based on 4,165 responses)
Troops in survey back Bush 4-to-1 over Kerry [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

As for a personal attack, I am sorry you misread it that way. Calling the act of pulling a minority view over and over again 'desperate' seems pretty accurate to me.

[Highwaychild77]

Here is what is probably another reference to the same information:
(based on 4,165 responses)
Troops in survey back Bush 4-to-1 over Kerry [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

Since I am a military wife and I am in contact with military service men and women every day let me explain something to you. Republicans give the military raises. Most servicemen and women have families that are trying to live on the breadcrumbs they earn right now. A raise is the biggest reason most of them vote republican.

[prism68]

Originally Posted by Highwaychild77

... A raise is the biggest reason most of them vote republican.

After the decimation of the troops sanctioned by Clinton, I can't say I blame them.

[mrbowler]

Originally Posted by prism68

I have already trashed the paper; I tried to find it on their site, but it is down this morning. It is probably on there somewhere since it was in the weekend edition:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

Here is what is probably another reference to the same information:
(based on 4,165 responses)
Troops in survey back Bush 4-to-1 over Kerry [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

As for a personal attack, I am sorry you misread it that way. Calling the act of pulling a minority view over and over again 'desperate' seems pretty accurate to me.

Ok...looking back I realized that I have said stuff that others could of interpreted as a personal attack also i.e. rose colored glasses. You may be correct in your statement about that the troops back bush...I was referring to the planning aspect.

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"Sixty-two percent of a military sample polled by the University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey said the administration had too few troops to Iraq. And respondents said the war has placed too much of a burden on inadequately trained and equipped National Guard and Reserve forces, who make up almost 50 percent of soldiers fighting in Iraq."