After posting on the Washington Post's Lake Havasu article, I contacted Multi-National Force Iraq with the following questions:
Dear MNF-Iraq- ...The Washington Post wrote a disturbing article today on Iraq. ( 'I Don't Think This Place Is Worth Another Soldier's Life')MNF-Iraq replied with this on the WaPo's sad and hopeless "Lake Havasu" spin piece:
In the article -- a Sgt. Victor Alarcon said this:
Sgt. Victor Alarcon's Humvee rolls into a vast pool of knee-high brown sewage water -- the soldiers call it Lake Havasu, after the Arizona spring-break party spot -- that seeps in the doors of the vehicle and wets his boots.1- Are you familiar with "Lake Havasu"?
2- Does Sgt. Victor Alarcon speak for MNF-Iraq?
3- In the article Maj. Eric Timmerman says "It's just a slow, somewhat government-supported sectarian cleansing," on thhe descent of Sadiyah. Is that the official MNF-I position?
4- Does Maj. Eric Timmerman speak for MNF-Iraq?
Thank you for your time.
Mr. Hoft:It is interesting that "Lake Havasu" sounds strangely like "Little Venice" described by discredited Scott (Thomas) Beauchamp at The New Republic:
1. I am not familiar with the "Lake Havasu" mentioned in the article.
That said, Soldiers have many informal names for various landmarks in their battle space. Some are pleasant, some are not.
2. Sgt. Victor Alarcon is entitled to his opinions, but he does not speak for MNF-I.
3. Maj. Eric Timmerman is also entitled to his opinion, but the fact on the ground, in both Baghdad specifically and across Iraq in general, is that sectarian violence is down.
4. Timmerman also does not speak for MNF-I.
This is in no way to belittle the service of either of these Soldiers.
They are great Americans who answered when their nation called. I just want to make it clear their comments are their own, they do not speak for MNF-I, and that their story does not reflect the overall situation in Iraq or Baghdad.
Thanks,
- MAJ Danielson
Maj. Winfield S. Danielson III
Press Desk Officer
Multinational Force - Iraq
An area in Baghdad called "Little Venice" where "The sector we soldiers patrol is known unaffectionately as "Little Venice" because of the dark brown rivers of sewage that backwash from broken pipes. The biggest fear in these parts isn't sniper fire or IEDs, but a flat tire that forces you to wade through the reeking fluids."The WaPo reporter is also traveling with Scott Beauchamp’s unit in Iraq.
Maybe "Little Venice" has changed its name to "Lake Havasu"?
Same sewage swamp, different name I guess... Sorta like Congress.
Truly, the WaPo missed the mark on this one.
Just this week it was reported:
** Sectarian deaths down 70% in Baghdad
** Car bombings down by 65% over last year
** Attacks on civilians down 59%
** Attacks on Iraqi forces down 62%
** Attacks against journalists down 70%
That should have been their story.
It is so sad that the Left and their media have to destroy the latest accomplishments in Iraq with some flowery sewage prose because the facts are just not on their side.
You know how to write an email. Congrats GP.
ReplyDeleteI think this may very well be Beauchamp's unit.
ReplyDeleteThe WAPO piece contained opinions of ordinary soldiers, and largely mirrored comments I heard when I was there this summer.
ReplyDeleteOf course it isn't the "official" position, that is the point - sometimes official positions don't reflect the sense on the ground.
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ReplyDeletemy "opinion" re: "Lake Havasu"..
i have no doubt that there are places in Iraq some of us would dread even approaching with a 20 foot pole (so to speak).. however, to take what is most likely a serious sanitation problem that is also most likely on the "to fix asap" list (if it hasn't been tended to already).. and not only write an overly dramatic MSM piece about it.. not to mention omitting certain valid facts which would result in a more fair & balanced opinionated report.. but apply it to Iraq in general.. hence, giving the perception that ALL OF IRAQ IS A SEWER.. is not only reprehensible, but yet another fine example of WaPO & others "truthiness" credo.. :-:
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BG,
ReplyDelete"Asked if the American endeavor here was worth their sacrifice -- 20 soldiers from the battalion have been killed in Baghdad -- Alarcon said no: "I don't think this place is worth another soldier's life."
Please explain the media bias in that statement.
Well, there you go: You know more about Beauchamp's unit (and it is his unit: "LTC Glaze" Google it) than any reporter who's actually there.
ReplyDelete(Although it's strange you didn't know it was Beauchamp's unit. Hmmm.)
The last four months have established that: you know all about how Bradley armored vehicles handle, what is truth and what is distortion, and what secret Army investigations conclude.
So how could you NOT know what the Washington Post reporter ACTUALLY saw and heard? Your clairvoyant powers are well established.
And, writing an army PAO immediately refutes the Washington Post reporter.
Man, I don't know what you're smoking, but I want to know where I can get some.
-- Hart Williams
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ReplyDeleteXanthippas @ 3:08pm
i don't know how having had 20 soldiers from one battalion killed qualified one soldier to give an opinion that more or less "speaks for them"..
all of the troops blogs, etc, that i read.. not a one says any such thing about their mission not being worth it, not even close.. as matter of fact, most feel the job they are doing is very much worth it no matter how hard they may have it..
the way i see it, there's the grasshoppers who presume to talk for everyone (for a price no doubt).. then you have the ants who do their job (because they feel it's worth it) period.. only you won't read or hear any their stories via the MSM..
hell, they won't even run any of ie: Michael Yon's embed stories, and he's offered them to the MSM for free (as in no charge), go fig..
look, i don't know where you've been, but most people are aware of the fact that the MSM is bias (not to mention studies & admitting so), which is perhaps why they are on a losing streak.. one sided, not to mention lies by omission, a newspaper report does not make anymore..
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ReplyDelete"Lake Havasu"
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Freedom Journal Iraq
HT : DJ Elliot @ ITM
What goes around - Comes around
excerpt:
[Unfortunately, most Americans do not consider Iraqis as people. We see them as terrorists or victims, not as everyday people with the same values as our friends, neighbors and relatives. Yet, most Iraqis are decent human beings with the same concerns, dreams, and compassion as most Americans. They want peace and are concerned about their fellow man.
Is it no wonder that we feel differently about the people of Iraq, when the American media only reports sensational news? If it doesn’t bleed or explode, you just aren’t going to see it on the evening news.]
[The money was collected from Iraqi officers and enlisted soldiers in Besmaya. In a speech given during the presentation, Col. Abbass stated that he and the Iraqi soldiers were connected with the American people in many ways, and they will not forget the help that the American government has given the Iraqi people. Abbass was honored to participate by sending a simple fund of $1,000 to the American people in San Diego, to lower the suffering felt by the tragedy.]
you certainly won't be reading that
"priceless" story via the MSM.. gah!!
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the Left and their media have to destroy the latest accomplishments in Iraq
ReplyDeleteIs this guy also a leftist?
http://tinyurl.com/ypyo38
September 11, 2007
By Bush's Own Standard, Surge Has Failed
By George Will
Sadiyah's Second Chance: For the Washington Post it may be victory in Ramadi but it's defeat in Sadiyah and Iraq
ReplyDeleteIt's a civil war, dontcha know.
I have been to Falcon, recently. It is a -hole, and the soldiers there are in a bad fight. I have also been to other FOBS. Generally speaking, the ground is crap. The living conditions are crap.
ReplyDeleteOK, so on to the real question: what makes this worthwhile?
Don't tell me freedom and peace for Iraqis; that is their problem. Tell me some compelling reason why we have to spend blood and treasure in Iraq. Petraeus just said AQI is crippled; great! Now bring our soldiers home.
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ReplyDeleteone of many article's re: Shiite/Sunni alliances with each other, the US/ISF & IG ..
Successful Concerned Local Citizens program makes way for others
excerpts:
[Sunnis and Shias are banning together in Besamaya and establishing a Concerned Local Citizens
program in their area.]
[ “As a Sunni, I am happy to see Shia people fighting al-Qaeda and Shia extremists with us,” said Ammosh through an interpreter. “Both sides are now fighting the same enemy. Four years ago there was a separation of the people in the area and we lived in a bad situation. We must accept what has happened, but then come together and become one body.”]
[“The Concerned Local Citizens (program) is seen by the locals as a way to take control of their neighborhoods,” said Thomas. “For four years the people in Khargulia felt like their hands were tied. It is human nature to want to defend your neighborhoods, your family and your livelihood. Every neighborhood in our AO (area of operation) that has one (CLC) is doing well. The areas that don’t have one, want one.”]
Want more evidence of victory in Iraq?
this stuck out like a sore thumb..
[Now, it is no more than 10 bodies a day, and about 50 percent of them are dying in normal circumstances.]
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look, i don't know where you've been, but most people are aware of the fact that the MSM is bias (not to mention studies & admitting so), which is perhaps why they are on a losing streak.. one sided, not to mention lies by omission, a newspaper report does not make anymore..
ReplyDeleteYou didn't answer my question. Where's the media bias in that soldier's statement?
Also, are you telling me that the soldier who actually lives and fights in those conditions doesn't know as much as other soldiers in Iraq who may be stationed in other areas?
There is an area called "Little Venice" in Baghdad, just up river from the current US Embassy. It's is not anything like the "Little Venice" described by Thomas, but that is in line with his other fabrications.
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ReplyDeleteXanthippas @ 9:29 AM
why is it not worth it, what
evidence is there of that??
that is just his opinion.. this is mine.. yes, there are sanitation problems in Iraq.. hell, we have a slew of them right here in the states.. outside of Baghdad, Iraq was more or less a sewer before we went in, it's being cleaned up & the majority of the Iraqi people are grateful (in case you haven't noticed, the MSM only covers the minorities views).. besides, what evidence did he produce (aside from his dramatic analmouth say so) of a "lake havasu"..
i mean if there is/was such a place (like i stated in my 2:59 PM post), i'm sure many others would know about it.. but that's not the point.. the bias comes in when it's not explained why there is a "lake havasu" if such a place exists in the first place.. and what does it have to do with "I don't think this place is worth another soldier's life."?? as if a little sewage problem here or there is a reason?? clue me in..
Iraqi Army stops 27 terrorist cell members in As Sadiyah
Petraeus: No Al Qaeda Strongholds Left In Baghdad
excerpt:
[Petraeus said he sees uneven progress in terms of stopping Shiite militia violence. He mentioned Bayaa and al-Amil, two neighborhoods in southwestern Baghdad where the Mahdi Army, a Shiite militia loyal to anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, has emerged as a dominant force, as among the more difficult. He described another nearby area, Sadiyah, as probably “the toughest that is out there now.”]
(thumbsup)
God Bless Soldiers everywhere for putting THEIR
lives on the line to protect us ALL from terrorism!
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ReplyDeleteAnon @ 6:19 AM
[Don't tell me freedom and peace for Iraqis; that is their problem. Tell me some compelling reason why we have to spend blood and treasure in Iraq.]
same reason we "better late than never" entered WWII.. National Security (ie: fight the enemy on their turf).. which is one of the reasons we went into Iraq.. that too was "better late than never".. we are fighting a dual war in Iraq.. we won the Iraq war, now we have to finish fighting & win on one of the many battlefronts in the GWOT..
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ReplyDeleteclicked to soon..
re: bg @ 7:48 PM
now we have to finish fighting & win on one of the many battlefronts in the GWOT..
of which Iraq is an ally.. (thumbsup)
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Iraq sounds so great, with all the (obviously conservative) soldiers there with guns and all.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we hear about any soldier who goes off the reservation and says anything bad about the war or President Bush or President-to-be John McCain, we really ought to let him have it and write letters to his commanding officers and get him in trouble and find out where he lives and hassle his mom and stuff.
I mean, I'd be over there myself if it wasn't for this tragic case of high blood sugar that I struggle with on a daily basis. Good thing for me that reading this blog and telling liberals what's what gives me a chance to do my part in the GWOT.
God I hate those smug liberals with their college degrees and hot girlfriends and nice hair. I just wish they would all go away.