OOOOPS, sorry about the misspelled media!!!!!
This morning I read two articles that show the clear contradictions between how the left of America see Iraq and how people that have actually been to Iraq or live there see it.
A couple days ago, I pointed my readers towards Hot Air, who had to videos posted where our soliders in Iraq spoke directly to the American people through an embed journalist Bill Ardolino.
One made the point very clearly that anyone that discusses Iraq with him, if they even mention that they saw some "news" from CNN about Iraq, he won't have the discussion with them because it is clear they have no idea what is really happening.
The two videos can be found here and here.
You should watch them, they are short and to the point and multiple soldiers tell it like it really is and coupled with the articles I am going to point out today, they will help you see the clear contradiction of what you see on the nightly news, the continual lies the Democratic party throw at you and the actual realities on the ground in Iraq..... before and after the new security plan was implemented.
The American Thinker has a wonderful article out today, written by Rocco DiPippo, a civilian, who works for a civilian contractor in Baghdad.
I am going to show you some excerpts here, for those that do not wish to go read the whole thing, but I really hope you head over to American Thinker and read it in its full form because it speaks to the realities on the ground in Iraq, before and after the new security plan was implemented.
I have observed first-hand the effects of the Bush Administration's new Iraq security plan since it began two months ago. Street violence in Baghdad and surrounding areas has declined. Shops and markets once boarded up are reopening. Iraqi civilians are venturing out onto the streets again and living their lives with less fear of being persecuted, tortured, maimed or killed. To be sure, there is still plenty of terror and violence in Iraq, but since the "troop surge" began, it has lessened considerably.
Before offering first hand proof of the new security plan's effectiveness, I must first tell you how some of my Iraqi friends and acquaintances were affected by the violence that ran virtually unchecked through the streets of Baghdad before the plan began taking hold. It is important to do this since the Democratic Party and most of those on the left side of the political spectrum either do not realize, or do not seem to care, that the lives of millions of Iraqis, (our fellow human beings), will be seriously jeopardized should America cut short its efforts to help stabilize their country.
He then goes on to tell us, the Americn people of some of the atrocities his good friends, who are Iraqi's, have dealt with before the new security plan went into effect and what their fate will be if the Democratic party forces a premature withdrawal.
Two short examples:
My friend Sadeq, who has worked hard for years to make his home nice for his wife and children, lost all his possessions, but fortunately not his family, when a terrorist drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the garage beneath his Baghdad apartment house and detonated it while he was at work. We took up a collection to help him, but being the ever-classy guy he is, Sadeq refused to accept the money, even when I tried stuffing it into his pocket. A year before his home was destroyed, Sadeq was wounded by a sectarian killer who brutally shot him in the back. Still, Sadeq continues working tirelessly to build a future for his family. But there likely will be no future for either him or his family if the American Left and Democratic Party succeed in affecting a premature troop withdrawal from Iraq. Because of his history of working for American companies, Sadeq will likely be hunted down and murdered by terrorists if Iraq is abandoned before law and order is established.
My dearest friend, (more of a brother to me), Amin, has been very lucky. Smart, brave, loyal and cool under pressure, at the height of Iraq's violence he stared down death many times and survived. Since the Bush security plan has significantly quieted Baghdad's streets, I fear much less for his life. But if the American Left and the Democratic Party get their way and Iraq is abandoned, I am almost certain that he will be quickly hunted down and killed.
He lists many more examples. Heartbreaking examples.
I have been living and working in Baghdad for almost seven months. During my time here before the new security plan began, there was not a day at work that I did not hear at least one tragic tale from the Iraqis I work with, and in some cases have grown to love.
He goes on to explain the mind numbing fear he, himself, felt while going about his day and at times thinking he may have to kill or be killed.
He continues:
It has been more than three months since that tense trip. Two weeks ago, I took another trip through Baghdad. I then headed south and eventually north to a small town close to Iran's border. In all, I traveled approximately 400 miles. At no time did I feel threatened, either when approaching checkpoints, (all of which were legitimate and well-manned), or upon exiting my car to visit a few reconstruction projects, each in separate towns miles apart.
There were other stunning differences between that trip, and the one I'd taken in December.
On the December trip I had seen abandoned shops and frightened people. On the latest one I saw many shops opened and people going about their business in what appeared to be a relaxed manner. On the first trip I saw cars and trucks in gas lines that stretched for miles. On the latest trip, though gas lines existed, they were far shorter, and looked about as long as those experienced by Americans at the height of the 1970s oil crisis. On the first trip I saw nothing but ruin: houses and other buildings in derelict condition, most appearing unfit for human habitation. On the latest trip I still saw many houses in poor condition, but I also saw homes being built, and a good number of existing houses and storefronts being repaired
As the miles clicked by and I viewed the passing scenes and the people in them, I realized I was seeing widespread signs of something I hadn't seen much of four months ago: I was seeing Hope. I saw that Iraqis had not yet given up on their lives or their country. I saw widespread evidence they are rebuilding both.
A simple thing is kindling that hope, and it is a thing being affected by the new security plan: the just imposition of basic law and order.
As Iraq extricates itself from 40 years of injustice, brutality and death, the steady, just imposition of law and order is what is necessary for it to achieve a state of civility and prosperity. And law and order is being brought to Iraq not by leftwing Washington, DC, politicians who spout antiwar rhetoric for political gain, or by disingenuous antiwar icons like Cindy Sheehan, but by brave Iraqi Army and Coalition soldiers positioned along the highways and in the villages and towns orbiting Baghdad. Four months ago I had not seen a significant military presence much past Baghdad's outskirts. On my last trip, six weeks into the troop surge, I did.
That law and order presence gives Iraqis the chance to get on with life. It is making the difference between them cowering in fear of the terrorists, and them giving security forces information leading to the capture or annihilation of terrorists. That presence is emboldening good Iraqis to rise up against their tormenters, and chase them out, which is now happening with increasing frequency throughout the country.
In the end, whether Iraq thrives or descends into total chaos depends largely on whether or not American soldiers stay long enough to restore order, and to impart their skills on Iraqi security forces. If American forces leave before law and order is permanently restored, or before Iraq's security forces are capable of holding the line against the terrorists, Iraq surely will be lost.
Like I said earlier, I cannot begin to do justice to the American Thinker piece with just excerpts, so please, go read the whole thing.
The next article which shows the contradiction was an article in Wapo called "Final War Funding Bill in the Works" where the politicians spew the typical Democrat rhetoric about Iraq, completely ignoring the realities on the ground and the differences that so many soldiers, private contractors and others keep telling us about.
The majority of the American people have no way of accessing the reports and information given, the only have what their televisions and papers tell them to base their opinions on.
The politicians, on the other hand, DO have access to this information, but knowing that the American people have no way to see it, they ignore it and lie and trust that the American people will stay ignorant of the reality and believe whatever the politicans tell them to believe.
To me, I simply ask myself one question since I am not in Iraq.
Who do I believe? The politicians? The media? Or the soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq?
It is a no brainer for me because our brave soldiers are the only ones that have nothing to gain by lying.
The politicans have their political agenda. For the media, if it doesn't bleed it doesn't lead.
Our soldiers have blogs now where they try to speak to the American people, organizations for their families to try to get their words out, we even have active military men and women signing an Appeal For Redress in support for their mission in Iraq.
The Appeal For Redress:
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
The wording of the Appeal is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
The common theme in our soldiers words and videos is that they ALL mention that the media either refuses to tell it all like it is, or that the media is deliberately demoralizing support at home and emboldening the enemy.
Families United for our Troops and their Mission, Gold and Blue Star families that understand that our soldiers are fighting thier battles overseas and shouldn't have to also fight the media and political battle here to try to get you, the American people, the truth that our politicians are refusing to tell you.
So the families are stepping up to the plate and trying to get their voices heard on behalf of their sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers that are fighting for America.
Go help these families, sign their petition.
I constantly hear the claim that "our troops are dying over their and we need to get them out", well, why not ask the TROOPS if the think their mission is worthy and just and ask them how THEY feel?
You cannot claim that you speak for the troops or that you speak with their best interest in mind if you are IGNORING THEM.
I once again ask you a simple question:
Who do you think is being more honest with you, the troops or the politicians?
Your answer should determine your support or lack of support for our military and their mission.
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