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March 5, 2008 at 23:46:31

Headlined on 3/5/08:
Winter Soldier: Can the Mainstream Media Handle the Truth?

by Cheryl Biren-Wright     Page 1 of 3 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com


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Media Misteps

The track record of the mainstream media’s efforts to unearth and report the truth about the war in Iraq is shoddy at best. When one considers that this war has been a big money maker for the corporate owned media and its sponsors, the integrity of the reporting - or lack thereof - becomes suspect. Whether the failure to engage in authentic investigative journalism is a result of incompetence or of manipulation, there is little doubt that it contributed to the nightmare that is the Iraq war.

Recently, the Center for Public Integrity exposed 935 false statements made by the Bush administration between October 2001 and August 2003, regarding the national security threat posed by Saddam Hussein. Had any major news outlet in the United States pressed for the truth and exposed just a fraction of those lies, we may very well not be in Iraq today.

Instead of asking leaders the hard questions, the talking heads and pundits engaged in nightly cheerleading to the rhythm of a steady drumbeat with slick graphics, Pentagon-approved experts and mind numbing flag waving.

Five Years Later

Today, we turn on the tube to find those same faces salivating over discussions about whether a presidential candidate’s voice is too shrill, whether one has enough substance or if another is conservative enough for his own good. They do occasionally talk about each candidate’s campaign-issued platform on Iraq, but what continues to be overlooked are the facts on the ground.

What is not evidenced is a sincere level of obligation to the men and women whom they cheered on as they marched off to war, or to the country that has been obliterated by five years of a bloody occupation.

Next week, the media will have an opportunity to chart a course of redemption. From March 13-16, veterans will gather in the Washington, D.C. area for the chance to speak out and share their experiences about what is happening on a daily basis on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War  will provide an outlet for veterans to be speak out and for the American people to gain a better understanding of the human cost of this war.

The title, Winter Soldier, arises from the writings of Thomas Paine who in 1776, declared "These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

Stepping Up

In 1971, a group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. Following in their footsteps, today’s Winter Soldiers will bare their souls for the sake of their country. A FAQ sheet provided by IVAW states, "We are fighting for the soul of our country. We will demonstrate our patriotism by speaking out with honor and integrity instead of blindly following failed policy."

Kelly Dougherty, executive director of IVAW and a former sergeant who served as a military police officer in Iraq explains, "We’ve heard from the politicians, we’ve heard from the generals, we’ve heard from the media - now it’s our turn." "It’s not going to be easy to hear what we have to say. It’s not going to be easy for us to tell it. But we believe that the only way this war is going to end is if the American people truly understand what we have done in their name."


IVAWs Kelly Dougherty (Photo: Cheryl Biren-Wright)

Liam Madden, an Iraq war veteran and cofounder of Appeal for Redress  serves on the Board of Directors of IVAW. In an article published by AlterNet, Madden writes, "Thanks to our nation’s leadership, history will come to know this as an era of unabashed torture and war, led by the United States and its amorphous War on Terror."

Regarding Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan, he explains "We understand that truth, honesty and integrity are essential components to a functioning democracy. That is why American citizens must have informed opinions and take action in keeping with their principles - millions of lives depend on it."

Madden makes clear that this is not about pointing fingers at his brothers and sisters in uniform. "Soldiers and Marines are not to blame for the suffering of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan; these veterans’ stories will indicate that responsibility belongs to those in the seat of power. Winter Soldier will prove that the problem goes much deeper than the atrocities of Abu Ghraib or the massacre in Haditha."

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Writer/Photographer/Activist. Advocate for clean government, media reform and civil liberties. Chair of the PDA-SJ Impeachment Team and co-leader of the NJ Impeach Groups. Founder of the Strike08 campaign. Working to end the war in Iraq and prevent one with Iran. Writer and editor for OpEdNews.com. cherylbirenwright.wordpress.com

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Hater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired
John HanksHater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired

The mainstream media can spin anything.

War is never a traffic accident.  It is always an exercise in heroism or tragedy.

by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 859 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 12:14:01 PM
 


Student of history, religion, exoteric and esoteric, the Humanities in general and advocate for peace, justice and the unity of humankind, not through force, but through self-realization and mutual respect.
Mac McKinneyStudent of history, religion, exoteric and esoteric, the Humanities in general and advocate for peace, justice and the unity of humankind, not through force, but through self-realization and mutual respect.

The Wages of Lies are Death

Five years of lies after lies have produced a holocaust. Time for America to look at the gulf between its rhetoric and Iraqi reality and then ponder what the Universe has in store for every American complicit in this atrocity.

Despite the best efforts of the Empire to make people think it IS God, God is not impressed and isn't about to surrender the moral laws of the Universe to Fox News and Dick Cheney. Most of the American churches may, but the German churches in Nazi Germany did the same thing and look where that got them.

That's one reason Dante wrote the Inferno, by the way, so we can get an idea of where the Cheneys of this world, who pop up generation after generation, will end up.

Look at Winter Soldier as one last chance for America to confront itself in the mirror and come clean. Run from this too and face the consequences of our government's actions.

by Mac McKinney (41 articles, 56 quicklinks, 127 diaries, 899 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 3:15:28 PM
 


Currently I'm a cartoonist and contributing writer for The New Orleans Levee.
Mr MCurrently I'm a cartoonist and contributing writer for The New Orleans Levee.

Won't happen ...

If you're waiting for a Howard Beale moment coming from anyone in M$M of today you'll be waiting a long time. I'd love to see it happen, but there is no way that happens outside of Hollywood.

I support these brave patriots with all I have but they'd have to physically attack the Washington Post offices to get any coverage, and maybe not even then, let alone get on national TV.

by Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 1059 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 8:38:08 PM
 


Writer/Photographer/Activist. Advocate for clean government, media reform and civil liberties. Chair of the PDA-SJ Impeachment Team and co-leader of the NJ Impeach Groups. Founder of the Strike08 campaign. Working to end the war in Iraq and prevent one with Iran. Writer and editor for OpEdNews.com. cherylbirenwright.wordpress.com
Cheryl Biren-WrightWriter/Photographer/Activist. Advocate for clean government, media reform and civil liberties. Chair of the PDA-SJ Impeachment Team and co-leader of the NJ Impeach Groups. Founder of the Strike08 campaign. Working to end the war in Iraq and prevent one with Iran. Writer and editor for OpEdNews.com. cherylbirenwright.wordpress.com

no

not looking for nor expecting an "I'm mad as hell" moment. but i sure as hell am going to call them out at every opportunity for continuing to suppress the news that matters most. not even asking them to rally behind the winter soldiers, just report the damn news.  

also, mr. m. the vets are already doing their share. if you do sincerely support them with all you have, then i hope you are doing that in an actionable way. the bottom line is that word needs to get out about this. maybe the major news outlets aren't going to come through, but the only way that any will - national or local - is through pressure from the public. if you haven't already, i hope you will use your keyboard for doing more than acting as a naysayer. organize a letter to the editor campaign so that readers may know what's happening and so the editorial boards might take notice as well. no hollywood magic needed there. 

thanks for reading.

by Cheryl Biren-Wright (16 articles, 13 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 258 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 9:06:53 PM
 


My goal at this point in my life is to wake up the sleeping American public. Am a lowly public servant who'll likely be working til I'm 65 since universal healthcare doesn't seem to be on its way to our nation any time soon. My spare time is spent speaking out for Peace and an end to war as the solution to any problem our country sees as affecting it.
paz loveMy goal at this point in my life is to wake up the sleeping American public. Am a lowly public servant who'll likely be working til I'm 65 since universal healthcare doesn't seem to be on its way to our nation any time soon. My spare time is spent speaking out for Peace and an end to war as the solution to any problem our country sees as affecting it.

Brave Patriots

These men and women deserve our heartfelt support in all ways. Spread the word and ask your friends and neighbors to support them, too. Check out the video on the IVAW.org website which will give you a little preview of the coming Winter Soldier Hearings. It lasts around 15 minutes. It is not pleasant. The photos, taken by the troops themselves will tear your heart out. What will you be doing on March 19th? Take to the streets, call your Senators and Congressperson, but please don't just ignore this. Five years is 5+ years to many.

by paz love (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 67 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 10:31:48 PM
 

 

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