The Bias of the Media on Iraq
 

I created this thread because all we ever here is about all the bad in Iraq. That isn't saying that the bad doesn't exist and people's lives have not been hurt or utterly destroyed as a result of war.

But what I'm saying is that I can't remember one positive news source in major media outlets. I can find them but only because I read a lot, otherwise it's hidden. I find this upsetting.

-Rudey

Talked with a senior officer/aviator fresh from Iraq. He pointed out how much of a terrible job the media is doing over there. I can't type out the millions of details he focused on but a key note would be the number of troops in hotspots such as Mosul and Fallujah. Approx. 5,000 troops in each city. Where are the other 120,000+ troops? Off rebuilding the entire nation from the ground up. But guess where the cameras are?

Mentioned how every civilian he has met has thanked him and that even though there are a few bad apples, almost everyone can agree that they live in a much better environment now. He also gets at least one e-mail a week from Iraqi friends on the positive progress.

I have even underestimated the progress of Iraq until this particular talk.

It's a sad but unfortunate fact that people's interest in positive stories is limited... while negative news always sells.
Another point is that the negative news is more visually interesting than positive news (for the most point)... now when the visually grabbing news was positive during the begin of the War in Iraq, the news agencies couldn't get enough of it... but as the positive news became less visually interesting (expolsions, fires, combat, etc.) the negative news started to come to the fore, as it had the elements that made great newsclips.

So if the news is limited (time wise) in their broadcast schedule, they will focus on the story that will garner more attention.

I think Iraq itself has moved out of the media spotlight. I think a nation needs to be fully accepting of death before they can stomach war and they need to also see the good that is the trade off. The fact that information is often traded based on entertainment value is upsetting.

-Rudey

It's funny this topic is up today because I was having a conversation with a chaledian(?sp) friend 5 minutes ago about what's going on in Iraq. Girls are getting kidnapped and raped left, right and center. Her cousin being one of them. Its also risky opening business to support families because of the instability...so people can't make a living or pay for needed medicine.


Sad, really..I just fail to see the positivity of any war.

Do you have any factual info for this? This thread is for discussing positive news in Iraq and not spreading lies and misinformation such as girls getting kidnapped and raped, left and right.

-Rudey

Yeah, I do...and its better than what any media outlet will tell me, since reporters don't actually live in the shoes of the Iraqi residents.

Not to sound insensative, but wasn't this happening even before the war?

Was it before or after the war that people had to worry about ending up in mass graves if the country's leader felt that it should be so?

Was it before or after the war that the police cut people's hands off and branded x's on their foreheads because of false charges?

Iraq isn't going to look as law-abiding as the US overnight. Of course, I'm not sure that it really is. Women get raped left and right here too according to crime statistics.

You're not an Iraqi resident. You aren't even there right now. And I don't care if your "friend" told you something.

You can't quantify it? You don't even want to read stories from reporters? Next you'll talk about aliens, how Al Qaeda isn't Muslim, etc.

-Rudey

I have agree with KTsnake on the fact that women here in America are raped, molested, victims of spousal abuse, and other crimes of pure hate every day. I do have to disagree on one of KTsnake's points though. America isn't the law abiding beacon everyone wants to let shine through. Crime is abundant in this country. No, we're not acting like the opposing Iraqis but crime happens A LOT here in America such as white/blue collar crimes. I believe a "war" of sorts is happening here in America. The way the U.S.A treats the women citizens in this country is appalling. Although not put in this light usually, women are still treated as if they're property of men to protect. If men really want to protect the women of this country then stop committing crimes against them and expecting them to be their maids of sorts.

I believe that before one goes off trying to save the world that they save their own backyard first. If a country can't do that, then, how can they legitimately go around saving others around the world?

I am not saying Sadam Hussein didn't need to be taken out of power but I believe this thread is trying to make war seem like a vacation in the Caribbean. War = negative. If you don't like the negativity of war, then, don't support it. BTW, I am not saying war is never going to happen again or that sometimes war isn't a necessity (a necessity only when in dire situations). As long as humans are in power, war, atrocities, and mistakes are going to happen.

Al-Shaikhly also says that despite the difficulties, there are improvements in Iraq. "Barely two months in operation, and all the government ministries are active, and people work there on a daily basis. Baghdad has more policemen and security personnel than ever before; all public places and government buildings are secure and we are also working on $1.8 billion investment plan to rejuvenate the economy."

Here is a quote I found by the new Iraqi ambassador to Great Britain given yesterday.

I know I've seen article about things like schools being built and all that. I will try and post as I come across this stuff.

-Rudey

I didn't know that threads were "property"? Also, I can post in any thread I desire. Plus, my thread was on topic and did make sense. I could say some nasty things but I refuse to drop to that level.

Why don't you concentrate on getting into law school? Nothing you said has anything to do with this thread our favorite little mature girl who came on Greekchat once to insult KillarneyRose and I.

-Rudey

Listen Rudey,

I am not here to fight with you. If that's what you want, then, keep spouting off but I am not going to keep this going. If you have a problem with me, why don't you PM me or would that be the too mature thing to do? Trust me, I have my priorities straight. My priorities have nothing to do with you and are none of your business. Me and KillarneyRose are just fine with one another. If you want to start something with her, then, go ahead, that's your business. I would be on her side, not yours.

Women were subject to rape by the former government, which is a fact. If what you claim is true, on the scale that you imply (which it probably isn't,) then its no worse than before.

Ending a genocidal regime not positive? Maybe you can explain the joys and wonders of genocide. It escapes me.

That's a very broad brush with which you paint a picture. If your face that in your life, move out of SOUTH CAROLINA.

Back to the Thread's Subject
 

What's in it for the media to report good news. Who's going to tune into CNN to watch Iraqi's lead normal, uneventful lives? Not too many people.

How do you report on women who are NOT being raped? Do you show a woman going through the motions of a typical, boring life?

How do you create a story about mass graves that are NOT being created today?

One of the reasons why I like to watch Charlie Rose is that he shows all sides. He has reporters on who normally report the doom and gloom, and when asked if life is better today in Iraq, they all say yes.

PhiPsiRuss,

I have seen many men from all over the US that have those views (i.e. New York City, NY; Connecticut). It's not just South Carolina. It's everywhere. No, not all men view women this way, just as all men in South Carolina do not view women as property. So, please, don't stereotype South Carolina or any other state in the South. Stereotyping the South and degrating women get me hot under the collar, sorry! :D (I am taking a deep breath now!)

Off my rant ;) and back to the regularly scheduled thread.

I thought women were becoming a rather protected species in the USA actually.

I think to understand how and why the media presents the news the way they do can come down to one thing. Corporate ownership. The majority of the news media outlets are owned by huge corporations . The way the news reported by these groups has been censored is due to the fact that they answer to their stockholders and advertisers. The spin of news reports reflects that.

The BBC is a well respected news organization in England. I think it's still independent. Their news reports are different than what's presented by American media.

It's an unfortunate fact that women and children in warring countries have an increased opportunity to have harm done to them. I'm not discounting the men in these countries but the tangent in this thread is toward women.

Until men are held accountable for their actions around the world with an increased set of consequences. Violence against women and children will continue to occur in our neighborhoods as well as world wide.

On item number one, people were making the same charges when the networks were stand-alone entities. It has been relatively recently that they were acquired by big companies.

Item number two, the BBC is a government owned, run and supported network. They had no competition at all until about thirty years ago. Thankfully, they have generally managed to stay independent from government control.

I say thankfully, because that is seldom the case with government owned networks.

first warning, lay off the personal attacks. If attacks still continue, this topic will be deleted.

Viceroy has spoken.

You're not Iraqi. Stop talking about it.

This is why I tend to get the bulk of my news from the BBC. For America-specific information, I have to stick to the networks.

I listen to and watch the BBC as well. There is absolutely nothing special about it. In fact there are several studies on the BBC network's biases on certain topics.

Now again, let's return to how the global media has not reported positive news from Iraq - not the fake stories and bizarre tangents that some users would care to take us on.

-Rudey

As we return to the thread, can we remember what the message moe.ron said about personal attacks?

Since some users just make up stories and others talk about things that have nothing to do with this thread, I felt motivated to post some other stories that may be of interest to people on Iraqi reconstruction efforts.


More fact on essential services


As part of an effort to help Baghdad University expand its collection of contemporary language books, U.S. military engineers worked with Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen in Germany to deliver textbooks and literature donated from German students and faculty to Baghdad University's College of Languages. More than 500 books and 300 pamphlets were shipped to the University's language library. Baghdad University's College of Languages teaches Spanish, German, Russian, Farsi, Hebrew, English, French, and Italian and has over 4,000 daytime and 3,000 evening students. (CENTCOM)


The Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center (HACC), operated by the Polish Army, has provided medicine, food, and toys to the Iraqi people. The HACC donated 450 cartons of antibiotics and painkillers to hospitals in Hilla and Al Kut. Toys collected by Polish children were distributed by HACC to Iraqi children at a primary school in Hilla. The Polish Army also donated 1,200 kg of food to villages near Karbala and an orphanage in Hilla. (CPA)


The Coalition Provisional Authority and Iraqi workers built a new school in Hilla, Babil Province. Liberation School, so named by local school officials, will provide more than 400 boys and girls an opportunity to attend primary school in their own neighborhood. To date, the CPA has provided funding to repair more than 1,040 schools, built playgrounds and sports fields, provided youth centers, and repaired child care centers. (CPA)


Renovations to the Abu Hanifa Forum were recently completed with the assistance of USAID partner IRD as part of the USAID's Community Action Program (CAP). The forum has served as a community meeting place for the last 50 years, but had fallen into a state of serious disrepair. After meeting with IRD, local residents identified renovation of the site as a community priority. Now the forum is once again a home for lectures, meetings, and a library. (USAID)


Nearly three-quarters of Iraq's 27,000 kilometers of vital irrigation canals were weed-choked by years of neglect. Today the CPA has spent nearly $9 million in Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds to clear over 18,500 kilometers of irrigation canals, bringing water thousands of farmers, and creating jobs that boost the economy. (CPA)


The Marshlands Restoration and Management Program is partnering with the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment, University of Basrah, AMAR Charitable Trust, Iraq Foundation and the governments of Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, and Australia to build local capacity. Program initiatives include creating a hydraulic model of the marshes to improve water management through the Ministry of Water Resources, equipping a soil and water quality lab at the Center for Iraq Marshlands Restoration, monitoring water quality in reflooded sites, and extending healthcare services to marsh dwellers. (USAID)


Health care spending is now 26 times what it was under Saddam. All 240 hospitals and 95 percent of Iraq's clinics have reopened, neglected health care facilities are undergoing reconstruction and rehabilitation, 856 health projects have received funding, distribution of medicines has reached 12,000 tons, and over 22 million vaccinations have been administered. (CPA)


The University of Baghdad is working with a consortium of US universities to develop an Archaeology program and facilities. a team of Iraqi and American educators (from SUNY at Stony Brook) visited the University of Baghdad College of Arts (Kulliyat al-Adab) library and the Mosul Univeristy College of Arts library. The team assessed the IT capacity and library resources and training needs. (USAID)


Archaeologists, the Ministry of Culture and the CPA are developing an Archaeological Sites Protection Project to step up the protection of Iraq's more than 7,000 identified archaeological sites. Part of the Facilities Protection Service Project includes the deployment of armed guards trained by the Italian Carabinieri. (DFID)

http://usinfo.state.gov/mena/middle_..._services.html

More facts on economy

In an effort to increase Iraq's economic production, 128 farm families participated in Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations. Supported by USAID, the Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) established 334 hectares of demonstration plots in 15 governorates to demonstrate new technologies and techniques for growing red wheat, durum wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, and vetch. Farmers in Al Tarmiya, located northwest of Baghdad, achieved impressive results after planting one hectare according to ARDI recommendations. (USAID)


In Samawah, USAID partner RTI is building a covered market to help Iraqi merchants. The new market will provide vendors currently selling in the streets with an organized walled market, improving their working conditions and protecting their products from extreme weather conditions. (USAID)


The Central Bank of Iraq announced licenses for three foreign banks: Hong Kong Shanghai, National Bank of Kuwait, and Standard Chartered Bank. By liberalizing domestic interest rates and introducing modern banking practices, the Central Bank will generate foreign and domestic investment and create new jobs. (CPA)


Approximately 76,000 jobs have been created under the National Employment Program, a CPA initiative that seeks to create 100,000 new public work jobs. USAID, through its partner, BearingPoint supports sustainable economic activities in Iraq that will enable regional and international economic integration, stimulate international trade, and generate employment. (USAID)


On Dec. 27, new Iraqi dinars were delivered to nine banks, and 106 tons of old Iraqi dinars were collected from 12 banks. USAID partner BearingPoint is facilitating the currency exchange. Now 92 percent of new Iraqi dinars (4.2 trillion) are in country. (USAID)


There is now a consensus among Iraq's major creditors (the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and the United Kingdom) that debt reduction is required to bring Iraq back to debt sustainability. These countries have announced a willingness to work together to agree on significant reductions in Iraq's debt through the Paris Club, which deals with government-to-government debt. (DFID)


The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) and the World Bank launched the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq. The Facility is a combination of two trust funds: the World Bank Iraq Trust Fund, focusing on technical assistance, infrastructure support and feasibility studies; and the UNDG Iraq Trust Fund, which will concentrate on quick impact projects and political and economic transition activities. The projects will be run by UN agencies and the World Bank. (DFID)


IMF and World Bank staff held joint meetings in Amman with a delegation from Iraq headed by Ministers Kamel al-Gailani (Finance), Ali Allawi (Trade), Sinan al-Shabibi (Governor, Central Bank), as well as other Iraqi officials and CPA advisors. The meetings covered a briefing by the Iraqi delegation on recent economic and policy developments; discussion of the Bank and Fund work program for Iraq; and a session on technical assistance in monetary and financial statistics. (IMF)

-Rudey

"The more people believe passionately in an issue, the less they want to see anything critical about it in a paper. People want to see only the justification of the conclusion they've already reached. I think my highest concern as a journalist is not to become a propagandist, and so I get an almost mischievous delight in going against the grain."
- TONY AUTH, political cartoonist, 2003, on questioning prevailing "Wisdom"

hahahaha!

Oh so now your not Iranian but Iraqi yourself? Ok! See you logic there.....

Tokhmeh sag boro bemeer. That is a great Iranian phrase that I wanted to share with you.

If you can't speak English, I have no time to educate you. I never said I was Iraqi. I said "You're not an Iraqi resident". This is about you.

You also shouldn't talk about logic because you embarass yourself.

-Rudey

Then why are you talking about Iraq, if you aren't an Iraqi resident?



**just trying to follow your logic here **

I am American. America is currently rebuilding Iraq. The topic of this thread was on positive news stories on Iraq and its rebuilding. Get it? I'm American?? Get it???

Furthermore I came on here to discuss actual news stories with facts and numbers and not some third hand stories and fables that my friends have told me.

Are you done embarassing yourself because English is as foreign to you as logic?

-Rudey

You are sooo American!!! Good for you....let the rest of the world jump up for joy ...


And English happens to be my second language. At least I am not embarassed of my two nationalities ;)

So basically you are awful at English and at logic/thinking. Please stop posting then.

By the way I believe English was either my 3rd or 4th language. You're proud of your two nationalities? At least? Jesus lady what does that even mean?? What does it have to do with anything?? Nice little dhimi girl.

-Rudey

Wouldn't you love that?

Do learn how to discuss issues with out character assasinations rudey. That .....is an advice.

"Character assasinations"?

You were wrong and had started to talk about logic and also had difficulty reading English even bringing up that English was your second language. It's OK. Thanks for your input in this thread.

-Rudey

The thing is that all that's in the paper is the critical and the bad and the negative. I understand that there is only so much room for material but really does the killing have to dominate over anything and everything good in the media?

-Rudey

Are you embarrassed that you have chosen to . . .

A - Engage in vicious stereotyping - ironically, very similar to that which you claim to abhor in Americans - regarding America and American citizens

B - Accept anecdotal evidence as some sort of 'fact', a clear logical fallacy

C - Allow latency and emotional ties to cloud your opinions, then opine about how silly it is that everyone else doesn't share those clouded, biased opinions.


Look, I'm sorry that your friend's cousin was raped - but terms like "left and right" have no place in a logical argument, and you look foolish defending these views.

It's rather popular (rather than 'populist') to argue that there's no rational benefit to war . . . however, there are certainly positives to a people who were being abased, abused, and literally robbed by a genocidal dictator.

War is hell; however, life as an Iraqi citizen was hellish as well - and even more so if you were, say, a Kurd. I feel no remorse for war actions that lead to the removal of a man willing to use mustard gas.

Again, I'm sorry to hear about your friend's situation, but honestly I think you're way off point here, and perhaps should spend some time removing yourself from the situation and attempting to be more objective.

A. I never stereotyped Americans. When and where did I say that? I do have my political leanings, but who doesn't? But I don't see where I said, Americans are this or that.

B. Actually if you notice my first post, I said "my friend told me.....", and I didn't say this is my clear, cold-cut opinion. War sucks, I know about the ugly side of war, and that alot of tragic things happen during war...but I don't see how what I said did not make sense. Oh my bad for using "left, right and center"..that's just my daily language..not what I would actually write..in say...an English class..and people say worse things here..so what? I just meant to emphasize that my friend told that rapes and kidnappings have INCREASED since the war started.

C. I don't think that I am the only emotional person here RCooper. When my faith is constantly under attack on GC, I will stand up for it. When people make false comments about Islam, I will tell 'em if they are wrong. are you calling this clouded?



So no, I don't feel embarassed. Should I be? cuz you and told me to? *lol*

What is this person talking about?

Woman we created a thread for you about your religion in the past. Nobody has any clue what you're talking about now. RCooper? What? Your religion under attack when people are talking about rebuilding of Iraq? What??

-Rudey
--Please let us discuss the rebuilding efforts and positive news.