The failure of the media, In two ways. Options

[*CrackedRearView*]

DISCLAIMER: This is not for the faint at heart.

1) The only thing I ever see on this forum, aside from a select few's educated reasoning when it comes to opposing U.S. occupancy in Iraq, is mindless, CAPS LOCK laden, unsubstantiated prattle saying 'BUSH IS AN IDIOT, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG IN IRAQ! AFGHANISTAN WAS THE PROBLEM!'.

Let me do the job the media failed so miserably at.

If there was any doubt of the problems in Iraq -- let that doubt be put to rest.

2) I was watching the news tonight, and I got, for lack of better terminology, extremely pissed off.

'Another car bomb exploded today killing several soldiers.'

'Another car bomb'. As if it's standard protocol; as if the wives and children bereaved of the victims of 'just another car bomb' don't matter. Just another number to tack onto the list.

Thanks for serving in the Army, son. What was your name, again?

I'm sorry, but I just can't handle that. As much as I support this war.

So, to make this less of a rant and more of a debate: why do you think the media focuses so intensely on the lack of problems in Iraq, when there are so many?

Is it acceptable that the media showed only what little was wrong in Iraq? Is it acceptable that because we've been there for two years, we can just shrug off another car bomb?

[madchenallein]

Great topic. I'm a military (formerly USMC, currently AF) wife. My husband (USMC, now USAF) was in Qatar (fortunately) in 2003 when the initiatives really started. There have been severaly people in his units in the last two years who have gone to Iraq and Afghanistan.

I find it kind of amusing that you are down on FoxNews. That is the channel my libertarian-leaning husband approves of most, if he has to pick a media favorite-he's not big on the media in general. He likes Neal Boortz even better. I'd say though, the big problem here is the lazy American public. You have to dig if you want real news, not have CNN live-streaming the whole workday and consider yourself informed. The media knows 95% of the American public is not going to take the time to research their comments though. So, they get away with all types of heinous manipulation. But, if America is that apathetic, with time we will lose what we hold dear, our freedom. Surrender our freedom of thought by not exercising it, and we will lose it, then we'll see if it's worth fighting for to get back.

Americans are too concerned with safety to value their freedom. We're too concerned with the easy path and having others, specifically the government and media do things for us and tell us what to think and say.

I am not happy that our men and women are dying in the Middle East. I really think it's none of our business. But, we are THE world power, and we are committed. We need to get in there, finish the job correctly and get OUT. Personally, I think the only military we ought to have is a hugely strong one for border patrol and deterrence, not for being the world police. But, that's the angry libertarian in me coming out, hold on a sec.......*shove, shove*, okay, she's put away.

Have a nice day.