(On May 17, 2006, AEI hosted the “War of Words” veterans in a panel discussion entitled “Veterans Speak Out on the Coverage of the Iraq War.” DD will publish their statements on May 17, 18 and 19.)
Cpl. Richard Gibson
U.S. Marine Corps
1) Iraqi oil exports set revenue record.
Hashim al-Hashimi, the head of Iraq’s oil ministry, announced last week that oil export earnings for April reached $3 billion – double the $1.5 billion monthly average since the overthrow of Saddam, and $260,000,000 greater than the previous high (September 2005).
But good news about Iraq’s oil infrastructure is not reported by ABC, CBS, or NBC.
The Associated Press story is headlined–
“..Group continues police attacks”
The lede graphs say–
In a recent press briefing Coalition spokesman Major General Rick Lynch spent a lot of time discussing the state of Al Qaida.
This graphic, is illustrative:
Early in April, Lieutenant General Gregory Newbold was lionized in Time Magazine and the Sunday talk shows for his dissent to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(See Daily Dispatch, Vol 2, #3 and Vol 2, #4)
But while Newbold basked in the media spotlight, a much more serious critic of the war, four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey, was touring Iraq – and reaching a different conclusion.
A captured document released by the Coaltion shows that Qaida leaders think thier own organization is weak, inept and their only strength is in their ability to game the Western Media.
This is what Iraq war coverage has descended to–the summarization of press releases and statements from officials.
This Associated Press story, via the New York Times, summarizes:
The February 22, 2006, bombing of the al-Hadi Shrine – the “Golden Mosque” – was heralded by many analysts, both Right and Left, as the beginning of an Iraqi civil war. The shrine is a Shi’ite holy site located in the Sunni-dominated town of Samarra.
“In fact, getting out now may be our only chance to set things right in Iraq. For starters, if we withdraw, European politicians would be more likely to cooperate with us in a strategy for stabilizing the greater Middle East. Following a withdrawal, all the countries bordering Iraq would likely respond favorably to an offer to help stabilize the situation.”
No, really, he’s serious.
The New York Times opinion page has become of late a job application form for unemployed, or underemployed, Democratic presidential hopefuls.