Quote:
Originally posted by dd74
1) Any person with one-half of a mind knows not to believe in its entirety what is printed or broadcast. Iraqis aren't stupid.
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I lived in Pakistan for a few years. Stupid isn't the word. Uneducated is definitely the word. We had an argument breakout in the power plant as we took the operators on a tour of the plant to help them understand what they were doing (many we're shepards displaced from thier land by the Power projects). We were describing why you have speed holds as you bring a large steam turbine on-line: to let the turbine shell expand so the rotor doesn't grow faster than the shell. The fight was (in Urdu) all about
: "Do they think we are stupid? Metal doesn't grow!".
Many of the people working in and around the plant were illiterate and generally they received information from thier Mullah and other more educated people around them, who might not be much more educated or might have an "agenda".
Quote:
Originally posted by dd74
Plus, no one said what was being written comprises all-out lies. I think this is a reaction taken on by the U.S. Military because they can't get decent coverage from our obviously partial, and in growing cases, anti-military news press.
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Agreed. In fact the article states that the prime reason is to counter the mis-information being spread around. You know, the articles about how the Americans killed a nobel Iraqi trying to save children from tooth decay, by blowing up his car in the midst of those children...I exagerate, but probaly not...
Quote:
Originally posted by dd74
1)2) A few wasted words published with the intent to quell ill-will to the soldiers is a hell of a lot better than losing more soldiers to this war - even if the soldiers are posing as news reporters. What's the difference between this and Stars and Stripes? Remember "Full Metal Jacket?" The actor in that movie was a S&S photog and carried an M-16. All reporters were soldiers first, reporters second.
3) Paying for press coverage. It happens every day in this country in every media market.
Overall, I think what the military is doing in this regard is a wise decision. And I think papers such as the Washington Post, New York Times and LA Times should look at their own poor news judgment and practices (i.e. embellishing or all-out lying) in their news writing, rather than lambaste an effort that might expedite an end to the war.
After all, the U.S. soldiers aren't confectioners, but no one's b!tching about some grunt handing out candy bars to a bunch of Iraqi kids...
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Absolutely. +1