Why are stories like this not in the news??
 

Why do we not see stories like this on the cover of Time or Newsweek or the nightly news?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1131794949.jpg


RAMADI, Iraq - Once Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt realized he could wiggle his toes and fingers, he had one message for the insurgents who wounded him - defiance.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt signals defiance at his Iraqi attackers after being injured by an improvised explosive device near Ramadi. Attending to the Marine were Nebraska 167th Cavalry members Spc John Adams (far left, in front) of Hastings, Neb., and Pfc. Darin Nelson of Fremont, Neb.

Burghardt, of Huntington Beach, Calif., started his third tour in Iraq trying to beat the insurgents to the IEDs - improvised explosive devices - and disarm them before the insurgents could set them off

As is often the case, Burghardt and his Explosive Ordnance Disposal team were accompanied to a bomb site Monday by the First Platoon, 167th Cavalry of the Nebraska National Guard.

One IED had blown up a Bradley fighting vehicle and killed a U.S. soldier. As often happens, the insurgents left behind more IEDs. Burghardt disarmed two bombs that were found - quick action that probably saved the lives of several Nebraska soldiers.

But he couldn't get to a third.

When word spread that the third device had been found, 167th Capt. Jeff Searcey of Kearney, 1st Lt. Matthew Misfeldt of Omaha and their men hit the ground as a blast exploded skyward.

Burghardt was wounded.

But with two new young Marines in his ordnance disposal unit - and the insurgent attackers undoubtedly looking on - "I didn't want them to see the team leader carried away on a stretcher," he said.

So after the Nebraskans tended to wounds that reached from his boot tops to the small of his back, Burghardt rose to his feet and reached back with a one-finger salute for his attackers.

"I was angry," Burghardt said.

IEDs - which can be roadside bombs, car bombs or other booby traps - increasingly are the weapons of choice for the Iraqi insurgents.

Unwilling or unable to attack U.S. forces head-on, the insurgency has used the hidden explosives, often detonated by remote control Some analysts have estimated that nearly 12,000 IED incidents occurred in Iraq in 2004.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal units are assigned to locate, identify, disarm and dispose of IEDs. The Nebraskans alongside Burghardt's unit provide security at the scene, guarding the perimeter while the EOD teams do their dangerous work.

The 1st Platoon has been on 80 such missions, including some false alarms, since the 167th Cavalry arrived in Ramadi about 90 days ago.

Working together, the ordnance disposal Marines and the Nebraska National Guardsmen have developed a mutual respect - there's no Army-Marine trash-talking here.

"The biggest threat to us in Iraq is IEDs. We love working with them. They make us better soldiers," Misfeldt said.

Burghardt, an 18-year Marine with 15 years' experience disarming explosives, returns that admiration.

"I feel part of this Army team," he said. "They take care of us like brothers."

Burghardt received the Bronze Star during his last tour of duty for disarming 64 IEDs. This week's incident was his first injury.

Burghardt, 35, wouldn't accept painkillers when he was brought back to camp by the Nebraskans. He knew he might need them later. And he's not looking to leave Ramadi for five more months.

"I don't want a ticket out," he said. "I want to stay here so we can take as many people home as possible."

Soldiers all the way up to the brigade's commander, Col. John Gronski, viewed a photo of Burghardt - on his feet, arm extended and middle finger raised - as the embodiment of the American warrior.

As for Burghardt, he said he wanted to send a message to the insurgents who failed to kill him.

"I knew there was somebody disappointed out there."

Unbelievable spirit!

I cannot even imagine having that job over there. I think the next time Discovery does the World's Most Dangerous Jobs, this guy should be #1.

Ed,

This guy is on his third tour in Iraq, and had defused 2 other bombs when the third goes off. Then and only then he has the balls to finger the ba$tards...

He will never buy a drink in the NCO club again and he deserves it and more! Hope he gets a medal for his bravery.

Joe A

I saw that. They've also been on 80 missions!! They must have absolute DIAMOND Balls and Nerves of Titanium.

This is the kind of guys I work with. Just another American hero doing what he does every day...just like thousands of others. It breaks my heart that the liberal press does not give them, their due. The only reason they are still there doing this is the enemy is well aware that their surrogates here are turning the tide in public opinion....
You pansy-assed anti-war liberals....be shamed here with the story of a real man! God bless America!

The problem with Bush and his Boyz
 

The problem with the Bush admin is that they are so closed mouthed, because they believe that anything they say will be used against them poitically and in the press. However if they explained themselves and made themselves more accessable they would put the American peoples minds at rest.

The image and article is about two months old, but reminded me of something much older.

Anyone remember this as a tee shirt?

http://www.edge-inc.net/images/humor/actofdefiance.jpg

Edit: Yes he is quite the stud.

I am sure he is a great guy.

But he is also a member of a military that has invaded and occupied a country that isnt yours and that posed no threat to you.

God bless America.

Stuart, here's a reality check. The guy is doing his JOB. He doesn't decide when or where he goes or who he shoots. He does what he is told to do and trusts that those above him are making the right decision. Is it too much to ask for you to put aside your partisan anti-war view for one second and realize that he is a hero whether you like the war or not?

Stuart,

He is doing what the military do every day, following orders, plain an simple. It sure shows that you are not ex-military with a statement like that.

We all sleep easier at night because their are men and women like this protecting our backsides around the world 24/7. Especially this close to Vets day they deserve a bit more respect than this post.

Joe A

I don't think you even need to be ex-military to have enough brains/sense to realize that a Gunny Sgt. doesn't get to decide who and what he "invades".

I said as much. Im responding to fint's implication view that if you dont support the war (ie you are a pansy liberal) you dont support this man. Thats not a position that many take. I give you for example, relatives of soldiers there that have been outspoken against the war.

Now as it happens, I dont support the war or this man.

It's clearly not the image our press want to portray for its target audience. I'm developing a bit of a theory about this, so hang with me for just a minute.

Any form of mass media today is all about business; the bottom line. That bottom line is entirely dependant upon the advertising dollars they are able to generate. Advertisers expect something for their investments in media air time and print space; increased sales. Pretty simple stuff; we all understand the relationship.

Now look at the "quality" of today's mainstream media, from TV to print. It's all targeted at about a late grade school stage of intellectual developement. The programming, printed articles, and advertising all share this trait. The "news" that is slotted in between all of this is as well. It's targeted at the same short attention span audience. An audience that either can't or won't digest anything deeper than the superficial. The really big bucks mass marketing is targetted at this largely non-thinking (except what the media tells them) audience. One has to stray well off the beaten path to come up with "smarter" media and advertising.

I think what we are seeing is not so much a media that is attempting to shape peoples' views, as a media that is catering to the views that are already in place. The views of its target audience. The views of a shallow population that can be unwittingly manipulated into buying things they don't need or really want, thus supporting the big advertisers. They present information to this audience in their "news" that will keep them watching (and buying). "News" that will shock them, but "news" they agree to be true. No one keeps watching if they think the "news" is b.s.; they have to be able to sit there and think "yeah, I knew it..."

In the end it all fits. The slant of the major news media reveals its target audience. They are after some one that mindlessly sits on the couch, absorbing but not analyzing or questioning. Easily influenced and molded (by the advertisers). Pre-teen stage of mental development. They are after non other than the modern liberal.

The modern liberal hates the war, Bush, and anything to do with either. Modern media does not want to awaken him from his stupor long enough to pick up the remote and change channels. If the media presented us as winning, or anything positive at all about the war, our liberal would quickly call "b.s." and change the channel. He does not want good news from Iraq. It makes him feel bad. When he feels bad, he changes the channel and no longer buys from your advertisers. No one can disrupt the little world he has built for himself; he already knows how things are and won't be disuaded from his views.

So where is the conservative during all of this? Certainly not watching the fifth grade level mass media that so absorbs his liberal neighbor. The media realizes this and long ago qit even trying to target an audience that has better things to do. Conservatives are too busy working and contibuting, rather than sitting on their collective fat a$$es on the sidelines. They don't have nearly the time for mindless entertainment that the spoiled, kept liberals do. They are far more selective in what they watch and what they read; the fifth grade stuff no longer holds their interest.

So that is my theory on why you will not see this kind of reporting (as a general rule) in the major media. Their audience simply won't tolerate it.

The diamond in the rough.

You guys need to watch CNN more, at least NewsNight with Aaron Brown. You'd see a lot more stories like this one.

Brave man. And he's fighting for his fellow Servicemen and his Country, something of which to be proud.

You just don't get it, Fint. I imagine I'm one of those pansy-assed anti-war liberals you mentioned, and I am HARDLY shamed. This man is a hero, and there are millions more like him. He is an American. And I am both proud and grateful. Try and figure that out.

Aaron Brown got canned for being a pompous ass, oh yea an no one watched him:)

Well, yes, he was canned, but Jonathan Klein isn't exactly saying it's because Brown was a pompous ass.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/03/business/media/03fcnn.html?ex=1133672400&en=c127c6e24e89d3c9&ei=5 095&partner=REPRISE&excamp=reprise_engine=google_k w=Aaron_Brown_ag=B_News_Network_Ousts_Evening_Anch or_cn=110305

I liked AB, but he was rather "vocal" about his position on the war.

But so is Dobbs, and they're keeping him.

What made Anderson Cooper was his Katrina coverage. I guess crying and casting aspersions on air gets you far up the food chain in the TV news business.

Meanwhile, people seem to forget the near 24hrs. straight coverage Aaron Brown carried for CNN during 9/11.

There was not one mention of supporting the war in the post, but how about supporting the man who clearly has given more than any one person should have to for their country?

Its the military people like him who are risking their lives around the world every day to protect your a$$ and you still do not support them? And a day after Veterans day you talk like this about our veterans?

Hope you do not have children. They need role models that have a backbone as well as stand for principals and we clearly know who does not have this in this thread.

Joe A

I fail to see how conducting a war in Iraq enhances the safety of my a$$ or yours. I wish this man no harm, I respect his bravery, Im sure he is a very nice guy who believes in what he is doing- but I dont support what he is doing in Iraq.

Its also called Armistace, or Rememberance Day, btw, and as I stood on the battlefields of the Somme earlier this year where some of my relatives lie, I couldnt help but be struck by how little we seem to have learned in the last 80 or 90 years.

You can keep your "my country right or wrong" nationalistic jingoism, Joe.