Educational TV on the Iraq War

[Exnav]

On one of my HD channels, Dan Rather has a weekly news program. Last night he had 2 Marines and a combat reporter on the show and they spoke about what is actually happening on the ground in Iraq. I learned a lot from the show and have better overall understanding of the dynamics now. Check it out if you have the channel.

[lewisclan]

is it on you tube

[Exnav]

It's Dan Rather Reports on HDNet. The episode title was "The Real Iraq".
Couldn't find it on You Tube. I can post a transcript of the episode, but it's fairly lengthy and it probably played better as a video.

[iggys-amsoil]

Hmmm.... That would be good to see but I can't help wonder about what parts were left out that we need to know.

[MICK]

The "Real Iraq". That phrase is even debatable among service members. Go talk to a cook and they'll have a much different opinon based on their experiences than me. Short of enlisting yourself, if you want to know the honest to god truth about what's really going on and how we're shapping Iraq's future, you've got to speak with somebody who spends a lot of time among the locals and away from allied forces. If you asked me, 90% of service members in country don't have the foggiest idea what the fuck is going on. My wife is deploying in a couple weeks. She's a communications specialist. Her and I will likely not agree on what is happening over seas. For the life of me, I can't express enough to her in words what is takeing place right in front of her eyes. Chances are her only experience with Iraq will be via a television or radio like your's is. Deploying to Iraq does not mean a person has had a tangible impact one way or another on the drama that takes place there daily. Among my community, the last five years have become known as "Operation: I Got Mine".

This is the sad truth...from the horses mouth.

[Exnav]

Mick - it was just interesting to actually hear from some real people that have been on the ground working with the tribes as to what was going on---as opposed to journalistic interpretation and agendas.

Call me naive, but I trust the opinion of boots on the ground before the media every time and as you mention, everyone's perspective is going to be varied.

Thoughts and prayers to you and your wife and thanks for the service to our country.

[MICK]

Thank you.

You're absolutely right, if any opinion is going to be generated from the media it should be from the mouths of American men and women living, breathing and dying participating in this endeavor. Those so called experts on television and radio with their suite and ties, loafers and fashionable glasses are fucking us. Forgive me for feeling this way but I think the media's access to such information should be reduced to the level they had during WWII. If they had not one scrap of news to report from Iraq and Afghanistan that would make me all the more pleased. I do not feel those faggots have any god given right to use my comrades and I as daily media cannon fodder.

I take it you were once a volunteer member of the greatest Navy in the world. Thank you Sir for setting the honorable conditions to which our present day volunteers serve today.

[Exnav]

Yep...and served aboard the ship being refueled at sea in my avatar.

[lewisclan]

Thank you for your familys service Mick