Friday, February 02, 2007

Beyond Outrage - It’s All Out War

By now it should be news all over America that the New York Times aired on its website, footage of a U.S. Soldier being shot in the head. They did this in direct violation of their agreement with the military and never bothered to ask the unfortunate family - who had not yet been notified of their son’s death - before airing it. Read about it here. And even after issuing a quasi-apology, they continued showing the video! What kind of apology is that??

In another outrage, CBS reporter Lara Logan recently filed a video report from Iraq, showing recently killed Iraqi soldiers, which looks like footage she actually took. She did not mention anything about the video’s source, which makes a point of lambasting U.S. troops. Turns out much of it is an al Qaeda propaganda film aired a few weeks ago. Where did she get it? How did she get it? Most importantly, Why did she work it into her story as though it were her own? Why didn’t she tell us it was an al Qaeda video? See Michelle Malkins’ report on it here.

This week, CNN’s parent, Turner Broadcasting, revealed yet again its blatant contempt for our national security in a TV promotional stunt which closed down highways, bridges and even part of the Charles River in Boston, MA. The gag used blinking electronic devices lit in the shapes of cartoon characters, one of which was reportedly giving the finger. They were placed on bridges, highways and a subway station. What were police bomb squads supposed to do, ignore these devices and laugh it off? Is it all just a joke to Turner?

Boston’s mayor was not amused and is planning to press charges. It’s about time. District Attorney Daniel Conley was quoted as saying:

Everyone can play a part by holding Turner Broadcasting to account for today’s events. Viewers, advertisers, license holders, can and should make clear to them this sort of behavior is reckless, irresponsible and illegal. Commerce was disrupted, transportation routes were paralyzed, residents were stranded and relatives across the nation were in fear for their loved ones in the city of Boston…

Apparently however, Boston was not the only victim. Turner later admitted having placed similar devices in 9 other cities over the past few weeks: New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Atlanta; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Austin; Philadelphia; and San Francisco. One must ask: are they insane? Or are they so engorged with heedless arrogance that they feel they can do whatever they want? Either way, concern for the American people has to be at the bottom
of their list.

Yet another demonstration of media contempt can be found in the following insulting screed by Washington Post columnist William Arkin “The Troops Also Need to Support the American People.” He wrote it in reaction to an NBC imbed’s report citing soldiers’ frequent complaints that the media misreports their efforts in Iraq and damages morale. He calls them “naïve,” and answers their complaints with the following rebuke:

These soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President’s handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect.

As though that weren’t enough, he offers this cynical observation about the true character of our fighting forces:

...the recent NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer - force that thinks it is doing the dirty work.

The final paragraph is especially repugnant:

America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform. I don’t believe America needs a draft though I imagine we’d be having a different discussion if we had one.

Can you believe that? “America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform.” No. Mr. Arkin, you need to ponder what you owe those in uniform. I think Mr. Arkin might feel far differently if he found himself staring at the cutting of an al Qaeda butcher’s knife a la Daniel Pearl or Nick Berg – a very distinct possibility if they succeed in getting a foothold here, rather than being eliminated in Iraq as they are now by our “naïve,” “ungrateful” troops.

Words cannot express what kind of despicable character this “journalist” must be. What towering arrogance! Words cannot express the contemptible depths to which the Washington Post must have sunk to hire such scum and willingly publish such tripe.

The mass media has gone beyond decency in this conflict. If anyone had any doubt before that the news media is actively against us, this evidence should settle it once and for all.

At this point I can’t even imagine what kind of restitution the leftist media could pay to restore their credibility in the eyes of the public. They are not only giving aid and comfort to our enemies, they are our enemies. It’s time to take matters into our own hands and boycott these organizations into bankruptcy. As far as I’m concerned, giving them a cent of our time or money is tantamount to aiding and abetting treason.

Freelance writer Jim Simpson is a former White House staff economist and budget analyst (1987-1993). His writings have been published in the Washington Times, American Daughter, FrontPage Magazine, DefenseWatch, Soldier of Fortune and others.