Article

2004-11-29 Iraq-Jordan

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Posted by God Save The World 2004-11-29 12:21:18 AM|| || Front Page|| [11124 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This is a sad story. It would have been a happy story if, instead of this young soldier, Paul Wood could have been killed.

I'm just sick of vultures like Paul Wood, who feed on the carrion of our dead soldiers and do so with the audacity to pretend like they care for the dead soldier more than they delight in the story line that their death provides.

Hey Paul Wood - Vultures are ugly. So is your soul.

Posted by 2b 2004-11-29 1:54:50 AM|| 2004-11-29 1:54:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Might be a matter of personal taste, 2b, but I didn't take this item the way you did. Seems like a pretty straight-forward account. I winced -- as I can't help from doing -- at the deaths described. But the reporting did nothing to diminish my respect for the Marines, if anything it only increased my pain. The devotion of these officers to their Marines comes through very clearly for me, both with Lt. Malcolm and Lt. Bahrns. And the colonel too. I dunno -- if I come away from an article with intensified awe and respect for the Marines, as I did here, it's hard to see it as unfair or unseemly negative coverage.

Wasn't Wood the BBC guy who, to his enormous credit, dashed off (and probably arranged to leak) the memo to his HQ in the first week of the war, bitterly complaining about how the Beeb was distorting their coverage such that the extraordinary Coalition sucesses and modest losses were portrayed as an operation in trouble? Maybe I'm confusing the names. But if Wood's that guy, then I have no reason to expect the all-too-frequent BBC nonsense from him -- he seemed like a normal guy with a brain and a sense of professionalism.

Posted by Verlaine 2004-11-29 2:06:38 AM|| 2004-11-29 2:06:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I really disagree with you as to Paul Wood, the embed. I thought the story was compelling and heartfelt. Also go see the video on the side of the BBC page where this article is located. It was most compelling piece I have seen. Plus it showed our soldiers in the best light. Well done and not one of those 2 min pieces we were seeing over here. After viewing it, would you want the World to get their news from him, or the Arab MSM

Posted by James Hood 2004-11-29 2:11:03 AM|| [http://www.bayouranter.blogspot.com] 2004-11-29 2:11:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 I'm sorry, I just don't see it the same way. Furthermore, I think you all have become so used to the mean, hateful, negative coverage that you have become too hungry and eager to grasp at the bones thrown your way. I don't see any reason to scarf up this article as positive. A positive article would have also focused on someone who survived or why his death was not in vain.

If I could draw cartoons, I'd draw one of a couple of soldiers standing around with a big, ugly, vulture among them. One soldier would say to another, "what's up with the vulture?" The other would respond, "He's our embed."

Posted by 2b 2004-11-29 2:21:42 AM|| 2004-11-29 2:21:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Yes and no. The writing doesn't uphold our values. But it does give us an objective view of the Marines at war.

My take-away is: tears in my eyes, gratitude to the Marines, and wishing I were young enough to join them today. They are fighting and dying for our sake, and I am grateful for any report showing what they go through.

This war will last for ten years, or more, and we had better be able to support and thank the soldiers who risk their lives for the sake of freedom here. A factual report is so much better than the usual anti-American propaganda we have been getting...

Posted by Kalle (kafir forever) 2004-11-29 3:28:26 AM|| [http://radio.weblogs.com/0103811/categories/currentEvents/] 2004-11-29 3:28:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 I'm glad that the story of this Marine will be told. Was it heartfelt? yes. Do I wish Mr. Wood dead? No. But a better story, IMHO, would be if Mr. Wood, having recognized the value of this young man, in an act of courage lept in front of the bullet - and Lt. Malcolm went home to tell the story of the brave reporter. You see, it's really not a loss to our war effort if a BBC reporter isn't able to tell Mr. Malcolm's story, but it is a loss if we lose a soldier who fights to make it possible to win wars that allow the likes of Mr. Wood to write whatever he wants, without worrying about getting the a video of his wife and children being raped and tortured in the same bag as their body parts.

I suppose I should give credit where credit is due. Mr. Wood has the guts to be where the action is and I'm glad Malcom's story is told. But it's still a vulture piece, plain and simple.

Posted by 2b 2004-11-29 3:46:40 AM|| 2004-11-29 3:46:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Kalle said something that many of us feel - I wish I was young again so I could do something useful, share their burden, fight alongside, be a part of the spirit present in them and the US military of today. The descriptions given by the troopers themselves is so different from what I knew and experienced as to make it seem not like different generations, but different planets or species. The KerryFonda guilt trip and Carter malaise - from Johnson certainly up until Reagan - has been correctly identified as socialist twaddle and tossed onto the dung-heap of history where it belongs. These people have heart, smarts, right-thinking, courage, loyalty, mission, and brass bangers. I could not imagine being prouder and more thankful - other than if I could be there myself. These people are the best of us and only the tools and fools would not want to be their fellows. An old man's lament, sure, but the highest compliment possible, as well.

Posted by .com 2004-11-29 5:39:35 AM|| 2004-11-29 5:39:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 This is a good story. It could be better, yes, but it opens with, "Lt Malcolm was a good chess player." How often do Beeb stories (or any other of the MSM, for that matter) show American soldiers, or any Americans, rated highly in cerebral skills? Key points: intelligent American soldiers, anguish at killing civilians -- and even children who choose to wield weapons, leader braving danger to hearten his men, no pleasure in death and destruction forced on them by the enemy, very few civilians in Fallujah.

I don't listen to the Beeb anymore, as I avoid NPR because they cause my blood pressure to shoot up. But this article hits most of the truths we wish the world would stop denying so adamantly. If only more would write like this.

Posted by trailing wife 2004-11-29 7:40:31 AM|| 2004-11-29 7:40:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 .com, you CAN do something. Those of us at home need to make our voices heard in support of our troops, of democracy in Iraq and of the need to oppose Islamacism. Let's make sure we don't stay silent the way I (to my shame) did during / after Vietnam.

Posted by too true 2004-11-29 7:42:12 AM|| 2004-11-29 7:42:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 too true - Thx - I do contribute and I'm happy that you commented - it may help motivate others to join in, too. Regards the health and welfare of these people I have several small efforts I contribute regularly to - such as Operation A/C which Dar turned us on to. Not the same as being there, but it will have to do. As for the political side, I supported Bush, Thune (SD), and Martinez (FL) - and got a nice bang for my bucks on all three - and OldSpook motivated me to become involved in the Senate races. I got eyestrain reading about them all, chose 2 I felt were crucial and winnable and jumped in.

RB is a great source of excellent experiential and bona-fide expertise which I draw upon regularly, heh. And, BTW, I enjoy your posts - keep it up - thx!

Posted by .com 2004-11-29 8:01:05 AM|| 2004-11-29 8:01:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 good points all. But I am still thinking ....where are the stories like these that don't end in death?? Perhaps it is completely unfair of me to blame Paul Wood. Perhaps it is the fault of the editors of the BBC, rather than Paul Wood himself, that I never read any stories like this that have a happy ending. Perhaps Wood has written many a good story that didn't end with what "liberals" love best - the death of a soldier.

Posted by 2b 2004-11-29 8:02:14 AM|| 2004-11-29 8:02:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 2b - There's probably a mix in this situation. Wood may, indeed, file many good solid stories - but the last word, the last edit, is subject to the BBC editorial agenda and their re-write artistes - who could screw around with it in any way the editors deem. The wankers and looneys scream about corporate shenanigans - Halliburton, et al - when the most virulent and egregious examples of Corporate dishonesty and manipulation are their own MSM. Just my $0.02.

Posted by .com 2004-11-29 8:13:25 AM|| 2004-11-29 8:13:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 .com - so true!

This is a good story, but it makes me mad because I know it only reaches MSM because the soldier died. We put these embeds out there and the only stories that seem to escape them are ones where our soldiers die or something goes wrong.

I know there are good stories out there. I see them in local papers - the flag waving goodbyes - the sweethearts that wait at home, the acts of heroism that we read on e-mails or blogs. But the embeds do not seem to write these - or at least do not seem to get them distributed. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of the cynical doom and gloom that these people purvey. The war is for a just cause and our soldiers have died to prevent the unnecessary deaths of civilians or destruction of their mosques. Nary a peep of this do I hear.

Posted by 2b 2004-11-29 8:42:26 AM|| 2004-11-29 8:42:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 To paraphrase Monte Python, "No one ~~expects~~ suspects that not even the Truth survives the ~~Spanish Inquisition~~ Editorial Agenda!"

Posted by .com 2004-11-29 9:00:28 AM|| 2004-11-29 9:00:28 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 lol! Well..I suppose I should be happy that the MSM continues to dig it's own grave. Like Hollywood, the MSM does't seem to understand that they need their audience much more than their audience needs them.

Posted by 2b 2004-11-29 9:06:08 AM|| 2004-11-29 9:06:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 "just cause", "victory": words you'll never see in any Beeb coverage of the US military

Posted by lex 2004-11-29 9:08:30 AM|| 2004-11-29 9:08:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#17 I've drawn attention to Paul Wood here before as as-good-a Beeb reporter as you're likely to find. The TV reports of his I've seen from Fallujah have been consistently honest, accurate and trustworthy. His sort represent the quality of reporting that made the BBC its now-lost reputation. Will they put more like him in front of the camera? It's their only hope.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-11-29 9:40:09 AM|| 2004-11-29 9:40:09 AM|| Front Page Top

#18 Every story of every battle America has ever fought has a death. I think while the battle is raging, I wouldn't want the media to focus on the casuality count yet, but afterwards it ok to talk about it. To tell how a Marine died tells us what happened. There are many Marines stories which are never told, including many from previous wars (dday etc) but I'm glad some of them were recorded for history. Anyway, if this story was out a few weeks ago during the battle, I'd be pissed.

Posted by Chinese Warmoger1853 2004-11-29 10:29:05 AM|| 2004-11-29 10:29:05 AM|| Front Page Top

#19 One quick add to everyone else's, I am beyond anger where fucking minarets are concerned! I truly believe we should announce to the world REPEATEDLY that at the VERY FIRST hostile action from any mosque, we will immediately call in an air strike and LEVEL THE ENTIRE MOSQUE...minaret and all! And not SMART BOMBS either! Just big dumb ugly bombs that make real little pieces out of things!

Let them guard their mosques...and keep the killers OUT of them!

Semper Fi

Posted by Justrand 2004-11-29 10:34:51 AM|| 2004-11-29 10:34:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#20 I truly believe we should announce to the world..

Why announce beforehand? Just do it, and issue a terse statement after the first instance along the lines of, "Attacks from places of worship do not receive Geneva Convention protection."

Too much announcing before the fact ends up looking like Clintonian blustering, and everyone knows what that was really worth.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-11-29 6:25:07 PM|| 2004-11-29 6:25:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#21 "I wish I was young again so I could do something useful, share their burden, fight alongside, be a part of the spirit present in them and the US military of today."

Yeah, me too.

Two other good sites to go to if you want to support our troops are:

SOLDIERS ANGELS -- you can "adopt" a soldier, which means you write twice a month and send a care package once a month. Plus they have links to other established projects for wounded and returning soldiers. For those who can't manage a long-term commitment, there's BOOKS FOR SOLDIERS --you can send one-time packages of books, dvds, food, other stuff to individual soldiers or units.

About the BBC video: as an ex-broadcast news journalist, my opinion is that the report was actually really good: "Another minaret, another sniper . . . " It showed our guys in a very factual light. But VERY "British," don't you know. Not digustingly propaganda filled as the US media is --not by a long shot. If you want to barf, just go to CBS News and watch their stuff. The reporters try at times, but you can always see the editoralizing--either their own or their editor's.

God bless our Marines.

Posted by ex-lib 2004-11-29 10:10:24 PM|| 2004-11-29 10:10:24 PM|| Front Page Top

23:44 Zenster
23:44 Kalle (kafir forever)
23:41 Mike Kozlowski
23:38 Zenster
23:23 Justrand
23:21 Zenster
23:19 Bomb-a-rama
23:16 Zenster
23:13 Bomb-a-rama
23:04 Bomb-a-rama
23:00 Zhang Fei
22:56 Ebbavith Glavick2975
22:56 Laurence of the Rats
22:55 Bomb-a-rama
22:52 Bomb-a-rama
22:52 Alaska Paul
22:50 Bomb-a-rama
22:49 Alaska Paul
22:47 mojo
22:41 mojo
22:34 ex-lib
22:32 Dave D.
22:27 Zhang Fei
22:21 Zenster