Just a few posts below, Lorie has a fantastic post in which she expands on CNN’s shameful decision to air the footage of terrorist snipers taking out unsuspecting US troops.
Today the Washington Post Times (Sorry folks. I knew it was the Times, but for some reason, my fingers had minds of their own today) weighs in with an editorial that excoriates CNN for showing the video and for John Kerry for defending it:
A new Hollywood movie about the battle of Iwo Jima opened last week right about the time CNN began airing footage it obtained from terrorists showing U.S. soldiers being killed with sniper fire. It is a fitting contrast. The movie tells the story of the three surviving GIs who were immortalized on film raising the flag over Mt. Suribachi. The CNN tape shows the exact opposite: Instead of heroism, we see unsuspecting American soldiers being dropped one by one. No flag raising, no glory; just another dead U.S. soldier.
Of course the Mt. Suribachi photograph is a distortion. The United States did win the battle, but long after the flag had been raised. In fact, three of the flag raisers would never leave the island alive. In 36 days of fighting, there were more than 25,000 U.S. casualties — one out of every three men — of which nearly 7,000 were killed. By comparison, in the Iraq war’s 1,680 days, the United States has lost 2,800 troops. Yet that single photograph further roused Americans to keep confidence in final victory.
Which brings us to Sen. John Kerry’s defense of CNN’s decision to air the terrorist footage: “As painful as the images of war are, it’s important to understand what soldiers go through.” If there had been a CNN equivalent in 1945, would it have been important to air footage of Japanese machine guns mowing down GIs as they waded ashore? Imagine watching hundreds of Americans being killed in one day of battle. Japan’s imperial government couldn’t have asked for a better propaganda weapon. The impact on a war-weary America would certainly have been emotionally crushing for those with sons and husbands still in battle, and might well have played in to antiwar sentiment. But it is much more damaging today when the nation is not as fully united as it was during World War II.
But let’s take Mr. Kerry and CNN at their word and assume that this type of footage has journalistic merit. It follows that CNN should also have shown its hours of footage from September 11. We’re talking about the people trapped in the World Trade Center who decided to jump and the other grisly images most Americans have never seen. Or what about the tape showing Iraqi terrorists beheading Nick Berg? CNN has kept this footage locked away out of some faux sensitivity for Americans’ fragile spines. The only way one can see the full horror of September 11 and other terrorist carnage is by downloading amateur videos off the Internet.
In a mind-numbing article on Sunday, Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi also defended CNN’s decision, because, as she understands it, Americans are too dim to appreciate the reality of war. “Without a draft, it is easy for the rest of the country to tune out casualties,” she wrote. “Much of what is seen on television makes war feel as bloodless as a video game.”
This sort of forced logic does a poor job of masking CNN’s and its defenders’ real motives. Their goal here is to undermine the war effort, even if that means being a mouthpiece for terrorist propaganda.
I’m still sick about CNN treating our troops in battle as enemy propaganda. I can’t imagine how parents with sons and daughters in Iraq must have felt watching the video of that brave soldier being shot. Yes, CNN blocked out the part where the bullet hit the soldier’s head, but they then showed him slumped and possibly dying. How disgusting. And they actually have the nerve to act like showing this terrorist snuff film was some kind of noble deed.
Another point of view:
In order to win a war, you must be able to hate your enemy, and you must be able to rally the American people to do the same. If there had been news reels of Japanesse machine gunners mowing down American troops as they hit the beach, it would have been even easier for Truman to drop the bomb and many fewer would have critizised him for it. All that happens to me when I see our troups getting dropped by a sniper is the desire to be young enough to get over there and kill a few of the bastards myself.
I see what you’re getting at USMC Pilot, the problem though is that lee and his buddies already do hate their enemy, unfortunately that enemy is America instead of the true evil.
The terrorists do NOT want the US to leave. If they did, they would stop the terror. Only then will we leave. It’s their decision. The reason they do NOT want us to leave is because they LOVE the lilly-livered liberals in America….
D-Hoggs – Hope you find some meds that work.
I never defended Studds. I observed that his constituency re-elected him, after the scandal broke, for 12 more years — and noted that apparently he did some things right when it came to representing his district.
I never defended his actions “off the court”, but I am pleased that you spent the time to dig up my quote and prove what a total idiot you are. Saved me the trouble.
That’s why I ignore trolls like D-hoggs. They are a total waste of time, and when you respond to them they just throw up more lies.
Finally, I really wish you guys would stay on topic. Attacking me instead of adressing the topic is a great disservice to Wizbang readers. Seriously…
USMC Pilot
The CNN showing of a terrorist snuff film is different than footage of our boys dying on the beaches. The snuff film was set up for the filmmaker so that CNN could show it to their enemy …. us. Those soldiers died for CNN ratings? Aaah, that’s an affirmative, sir.
CNN snuff coverage is more akin to Hanoi Jane extending our soldiers’ stay at the Hanoi Hilton because she disrupted diplomatic efforts for a period of time according to Kissinger. Both have and had a direct negative impact on our troops.
Another point of view: The likes of lee have a voice on blogs like this one but, back in the day, little morons could only be heard at rallies shouting slogans. Can’t censor stupidity even though they have a voice at Kos. That’s different than before but, heck, they may just be doing the dems more damage based on election results.
Cheers.
lee, once again proving how intellectually dishonest you are. I never ONCE said you defended Studds, I set out to show the difference in how you “hold ALL politicians accountable”. In the Republican’s case, he is a sick, sick man. In the democrats case he is obviously a good representative since liberals voted him in for another 12 years. If you can’t see the glaring inequality with those two stances, you are the one who is sick.
Furthermore lee, you have got to be fucking joking about staying on topic right?! You change the topic of 90% of the posts on this site! If you wanted to stay on topic so much you wouldn’t have avoided the questions I have asked you 3 times, now 4:
“Lee, do you believe that the images from 9/11 should be shown on television? Do you believe that Nick Berg’s beheading should be shown and other incidents like it?”
If this video was shot by some innocent bystander, or even by a legitimate (if they exist) journalist, in the normal course of reporting the news, then I would have less trouble with it.
It is the FACT that it was PRODUCED as a “snuff film” for the express purpose of spreading IslamoFascist propaganda…and then MARKETED TO CNN that bothers me.
In the first case mentioned above my wrath would just be at those who killed our soldier. In the second case my wrath extends to the scum at CNN, because they accessories after the fact to the murder!!
@ spurwing plover
Don’t forget Ted “The Mouth of the South” is giving $1 billion to the United Nations and that he married Hanoi Jane! But poor Ted lost billions when Time Warner merged with big joke AOL to line pockets of CEOs. Ted’s Turner Networks is owned by Time Warner. Ted just quit board of directors of Time Warner and therefore has no say in CNN operations. Finally, Ted is a raging alcoholic.
Lee,
Thanks for (again) bowing out when faced with answering questions. You’re helping us prove our point every day!
Keep serving them up, Hoggy, I’m happy to make you look the fool again.
“lee, once again proving how intellectually dishonest you are. I never ONCE said you defended Studds, I set out to show the difference in how you “hold ALL politicians accountable”. In the Republican’s case, he is a sick, sick man. In the democrats case he is obviously a good representative since liberals voted him in for another 12 years. If you can’t see the glaring inequality with those two stances, you are the one who is sick.”
Both are ture – your partisanship (and lack of meds) is preventing you from seeing that. Foley may well be a good representtiavive as well or even better than Studds. Add that if you wish – but try to get back on topic here…
Life isn’t equal, Hoggy – and as soon as ANY of the bloogers on this site give equal weight to ALL sides of ALL issues — I’ll do the same.
What about you, Hoggy – are you “equal” or do you just troll relentlessly after Democrats?
Well, duuuh. No one around here is equal. I state my opinion, you state yours – and then you guys lose the election. What’s the problem?
One glaring problem is that You are the one who is losing election’s smartass.
D-Hoggs,
This post is about CNN and the war in Iraq. And then Dave said:
“The planes hitting the Twin Towers should be shown every Friday night at 8PM on all channels. The US public needs to remember who started this war.”
Thereby conflating the war in Iraq with the totally unrelated war against Al Qaeda. So I felt it necessary to remind Dave (if he had forgotten) that there were NO IRAQIS on board the planes on 9/11, and NO IRAQIS in the Al Qaeda leadership.
It’s true that there are now about 1,000 Al Qaeda in Iraq but they are only one out of about one hundred warring militias and factions in Iraq. And they are far from our biggest problem there.
You are truly laughable lee, and totally blind to any kind of common sense. The fact that you excoriate one man for something, and have no harsh words for another who does the same thing, is ridiculous. And it is apparently beyond your comprehension as to why there is a problem with that “logic”.
So keep on calling people names, and whining about lying rethuglicans, and listening to the ridiculous media hype about democrats taking control (not going to happen, mark my words), and ignoring questions directed at you about the topic at hand which you refuse to answer while at the same time yelling that nobody will stay on topic. You are like a fucking child man, guess thats par for the course though. Once more for good measure:
“Lee, do you believe that the images from 9/11 should be shown on television? Do you believe that Nick Berg’s beheading should be shown and other incidents like it?”
No TD, this post is not about CNN and the war in Iraq. Please read it again. This post is about what is and is not appropriate for television in the minds of the liberal media. According to liberal CNN, it is appropriate to show a US soldier being shot in the head, but it is not appropriate to show American citizens jumping out of the towers. That is what Dave was making a point about, not trying to make a connection between 9/11 and Iraq. Learn some reading comprehension.
Don’t be so obtuse, Lee. If they had waited until 2015 and set a time table to exit in eighteen months, you’d claim, “They flip-flopped! Now they’re seeting a timetable!” Good grief.
I have to admit everytime I read one of your comments I tell my husband, “Hey honey, read this. And we both get a good laugh. Thanx for giving me so many chuckles.
I have to correct myself here, though this is one point that lee would never correct anyone on, even though he is so dilligent at holding ALLLL politicians accountable. I said, “The fact that you excoriate one man for something, and have no harsh words for another who does the same thing”
I was wrong, only one man actually HAD sex, and we all know who that was. (and it most definitely wasn’t lee)
How do you spell “cut-and-run” in Republican?
t-i-m-e-t-a-b-l-e
At least we all agree now we need to get out of Iraq. It’s only a matter of whether it’s 6, 12, or 18 months. The situation won’t be any different when we finally do get out. The warring factions of Iraq are going to decide that country’s future.
6 reasons why CNN aired the propaganda video:
1) It increases their ratings revenue.
2) They support the terrorists – not our troops.
3) They care more about politics than they do the United States of America.
4) They can add yet another death to the total killed (this excites them).
5) They wanted another notch in their media gunbelt.
6) They gain additional ammunition to blame Bush and shoot down the war in Iraq.
ooops, there is a 7….
7) They WANT us to lose.
Olbermann pretty much slaughtered the Republicans when it comes to using terrorist propaganda:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15392701/
Rove and Bush wrote the book on this sort of thing. Why single out CNN?
Has ANYONE even watched CNN lately? Holy Toledo–they are some morose mofo’s over there. If I shared their f’d-up world view, I’d be walking around like the loony lefties, always pissed-off.
Why did Olberman give up his previous gig as fluffer for a gay porno film company? The bigger stars said he was pretty good. His current job…not so good.
“if they had waited until 2015 and set a time table to exit in eighteen months, you’d claim, “They flip-flopped! Now they’re seeting a timetable!” Good grief.”
but there was a vote in Congress just months ago on this issue, and the Republicans were admantly against the Democratic plan to set a timetable plan.
FLIP-FLOP.
But what’s worse – the Republicans aren’t flip-flopping because they beleive it’s the right answer – clearly they are flip-flopping because they are getting hammered in the upcoming election.
FLIP-FLOP.
People have died because the Republicans played politics with this decision. That’s shameful, and wrong – very wrong.
td, you are as idiotic as olberman. The major difference here is that the clips olberman is talking about contain the people that are ACTUALLY our enemies, osama, al-sadr, etc. The liberals will never understand the difference here as long as they believe that we are the enemy.
lee, “Finally, I really wish you guys would stay on topic.”
Once again:
“Lee, do you believe that the images from 9/11 should be shown on television? Do you believe that Nick Berg’s beheading should be shown and other incidents like it?”
Once again D-Hoggy, get meds, and…
“That’s why I ignore trolls like D-hoggs. They are a total waste of time, and when you respond to them they just throw up more lies.”
HAHAHAHAHAA, lee you are a fucking trip man! So we can all assume from lee’s utter refusal to answer completely legitimate questions about the topic at hand that he knows his answer will expose him for the utter fraud and hypocrite that he is. Thanks lee, you do all the work for us. Now resume with your childish name calling and stonewalling.
You’re just digging your little troll hole deeper, D-Hogg.
And I still want answer your troll questions.
lee, a troll is someone who resorts to childish name calling, dancing around issues, and generaly not caring about the topic at hand but only spewing garbage, aka, you. I on the otherhand have tried to engage in the conversation at hand, asking you a legitimate question about what should or shouldn’t be displayed on television. You, knowing that if you really said what you believed that you would be exposed for a total hypocrite, continue to name call, bitch and moan. So basically you are just a typical liberal. I seriously feel bad for you, carry on.
“…it is easy for the rest of the country to tune out casualties…”
Yeah, it’s kind of like abortion. It’s easy to tune it out until the MSM shows you the procedure on TV.
Oh, wait. They aren’t showing abortions on TV.
D-Hoggs – The classic definition of insanity is someone who does the same thing over and over again, expecting the outcome to be different.
You asking the same questions over and over – knowing that I have already refused to play your little game, shows you’re f*cking insane.
Now you won’t shut up. Looks like bipolar illness. Get some help.
Actually lee, the classic example of insanity is a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder, kind of like liberalism. You don’t just get to make up your own definitions. Me asking you the same question over and over because you refuse to answer, is just me proving that you neither care to have honest debate, nor want to answer for fear of revealing your true self.
More typical liberal though from lee, “Now you won’t shut up.”
Any dissenting thought must be shut up lee huh, unless it is liberal dissent, then its patriotic.
I see dumb people.
Wow. Now if it had been Americans killing Iraqis, you guys wouldn’t have any problem with that being shown.
Again I will raise the question…does anyone here support our Govt’s policy not to show our fallen troops returning with dignity and honor in their flag drapped coffins? I would rather that be the image than what was shown on CNN. But of course the dozens of coffins returning might “disturb” some viewers.
As a vet, I always attend the services of my brothers and sisters killed in Iraq and Afghanistan when they are held at Ft. Logan Cemetary. There is no way not to be moved when taps is played by a flag drapped coffin.
“I can’t imagine how parents with sons and daughters in Iraq must have felt watching the video of that brave…”
Gee, I can’t imagine who sent their sons there to die in the first place.
I know I know, the man who said we were staying the course, before he changed his mind- must be the political season- and said he was against staying the course.~~we are more flexible now right Kim~~~
“Once again:
‘Lee, do you believe that the images from 9/11 should be shown on television? Do you believe that Nick Berg’s beheading should be shown and other incidents like it?'”
Hey Lee, let me answer that for you: YES!
What’s your point?
Herman: “Wow. Now if it had been Americans killing Iraqis, you guys wouldn’t have any problem with that being shown.”
Herman, Herman…this wasn’t “news”. This was our ENEMY (yup, they’re YOUR enemy too!) going out to kill an American for this snuff film. And then shopping it to CNN. Who lapped it up and ran it without a second thought (despite their after the fact assurance they agonized over this decision).
Earlier this week someone asked why CNN doesn’t show a baby having its head crushed during a partial-birth abortion, if they care so much about providing the “un-varnished truth”.
Wow. Now if it had been Americans killing Iraqis, you guys wouldn’t have any problem with that being shown.
Of course not herman. That would be reporting the news.
Nikkolai – read it and weep:
In just over a month, since MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann began a blistering attack on the Bush administration, his ratings have soared 69 percent, the Associated Press observed Monday, citing figures from Nielsen Media Research.
And if you all look at the RNC video you will clearly see a vehicle being blown up by an IED. But since you’re all a bunch of hypocrites you could care less when Republicans use terrorist propaganda. But let a media outfit do it, and it’s the end of the world.
Someone ask if anyone watches CNN anymore. I do, every night from 7 – 8 PM. Glen Beck is kicking ass.
“pucker puss” (lee lee) is to WIZBANG! what Keith “lardhair” Olbermann is to PMSNBC–namely the site clown. Just listening to “lardhair” try to make you think he is serious causes fits of laughter-same with old “p’ p'”.
Lee Said:
The classic definition of insanity is someone who does the same thing over and over again, expecting the outcome to be different
Lee also said:
We need a change
It’s time for change
It’s time for a change
We need a change
Isn’t it nice that Lee ignores subject he doesn’t want to answer? I would love to hear you answer D-Hoggs instead of mindless name calling, but I know that won’t happen, and now I’m sure I’ll get a new nick-name.
It’s much easier when you are only on the attack, and never back up any claims. Anyone can do that. It takes a thinker to be able to provide facts and enter good debate. Thanks, Lee, for fighting for the Right, one post at a time. . .
Because CNN does have an agenda – and that’s not part of the agenda. They (CNN) happen to share some of the same agenda that the terrorist do (U.S. retreat). So, when the terrorist produce a piece of propaganda to further their (the terrorists) goals, it also happens to suit the goals of CNN. Thus, CNN airs it.
T.D Larkin
Sorry buddy but Al Quaeda with Iraqs help were behind 911.
Sorry buddy but Al Quaeda with Iraqs help were behind 911.
Uh-huh. When do they turn on the lights in your part of the swamp?