PrintNetwar on the frontlines
This is an outstanding letter from a commander in Iraq about the shortcomings of media coverage on the war and how it has lent itself to the terrorists' aims. Clarice Feldman 1 15 05
Douglas Hanson adds: The blog Blackfive has an outstanding essay by Lt. Col. Tim Ryan who is the Commanding Officer of 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division which is currently in Iraq. Take the time to read the entire article, since it expresses the frustration of the combat soldiers concerning the actions of the major press. Col. Ryan confirms how the media, by ignoring the far greater number of good stories in Iraq, while focusing on the few bad stories, is in effect, a supporting arm of the terrorists and the Baathist die—hards. As evidenced by his observations, the enemy continues its Netwar campaign against the Coalition and the American people on the homefront:
We seldom are seen doing anything right or positive in the news. People believe what they see, and what people of the world see almost on a daily basis is negative. How could they see it any other way? These images and stories, out of scale and context to the greater good going on over here, are just the sort of thing the terrorists are looking for. This focus on the enemy's successes strengthens his resolve and aids and abets his cause. It's the American image abroad that suffers in the end.
Lt. Col. Ryan further examines the battles of Najaf and Fallujah in detail and unequivocally states what many of us in the new media had already reported: that they were tremendous victories for the Coalition and the Iraqi people. He also takes us down the dark alleyways and cemeteries of Najaf and Fallujah and paints a grisly picture of the so—called 'militia' and 'freedom fighters' that the left and the mainstream media routinely fawn over to promote the terrorists' cause *. Never fear, Col., TAT and other alternative media have joined the Netwar fight and are a powerful combat multiplier in getting the truth out to the American people.
Doug Hanson 01—15—05
* For those readers who are unfamiliar with the battles Lt. Col. Ryan mentions, here are several articles from AT covering the fights that the mainstream press has refused to talk about in detail:
