I'm sure you know by now that the MSM does not accurately portray the GWoT, especially the ongoing war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have seen many examples of this, courtesy of the LA Times, the NY Times etc. Deliberate efforts by the Left to discredit our military and POTUS.
I was flipping through the news channels yesterday and stopped at CNN when I saw that they were talking about snipers in Iraq. I missed the first part of the broadcast (my stomach is too weak, generally, to watch CNN) but saw the last part of the segment with Anderson Cooper.
Today, I looked this up for background: Video shows snipers' chilling work in Iraq - CNN.com. Quoting:
The graphic video of 10 sniper attacks was obtained by CNN -- through intermediaries -- from the Islamic Army of Iraq, one of the most active insurgent organizations in Iraq.
In one scene, U.S. soldiers mingle among Iraqi civilians on a city street as a U.S. Humvee with a gunner in its turret stands guard nearby.
From a distance, possibly hundreds of yards away, a sniper watches for his opportunity to strike as a fellow insurgent operates a camera to capture the video for propaganda purposes.
In the video, street sounds mix with male Arabic voices as the sniper and his spotter talk off-camera.
"People are around them," warns the spotter, who seems to be operating the video camera. "Want me to find another place?"
"No, no," comes the reply, "give me a moment."
And then, the crack of gunfire is heard and the soldier in the turret slumps forward.
"Allahu Akbar (God is Great)!" is the exclamation as the sniper's vehicle starts and they slip away.
The deadly tactic is one the U.S. military also uses to take out insurgents.
Retired Gunnery Sgt. Jack Coughlin was one of the top U.S. Marine Corps snipers in Iraq and has written a book about his experiences -- "Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper."
"I have over 60 kills," he told CNN's Gary Tuchman. "We seek out the enemy and eliminate them with precision fire."
Tuchman used Coughlin's critical eye to analyze the Islamic Army of Iraq video.
Coughlin said the time lapse between the sound of the shot and the man getting hit indicates the gunfire is coming from about 300 to 500 yards away and probably from a higher angle.
But Couglin said he's sure this team of at least three people has been trained well because they're so calm.
"They have their stuff wired," he said. "They know what they're doing." (Watch the ex-Marine describe snipers' deadly work -- 2:46)
By the way, "obtained by CNN" means that they actually paid for it!
Now, it's troubling enough that a news network based in Atlanta would show these unprovoked attacks on American troops, the outright assassination of a turret gunner who was protecting innocent civilians from just such an attack.
It's more disturbing still that they show the video from the point of view of the sniper - terrorist - looking to commit unprovoked outright murder.
But then they say that our troops do the same thing! Un-effing-believable!
Now, I don't know anything about this Gunny they interviewed in the piece, or even if he's the same one from the show, but I would hate to think that he let CNN prostitute him this way just to sell more copies of his book. That would truly piss me off.
BLACKFIVE is also commenting both here and here.
I know these left-wing nut jobs like Ted Turner and Rosie O'Donnell hate the POTUS, hate our military, hate all things American and actually want us to lose in Iraq. (If you want proof, check out this exchange between Bill O'Reilly and O'Donnell recently courtesy of Hot Air.)
But CNN claims to be a news service, which indicates to me that they report the news, not define it. They have clearly crossed the line of departure, as far as I am concerned.
CNN: just another hate the military, hate patriotism, hate freedom, blame America first organization. I hope you aren't wasting your time watching them.
Michelle Malkin isn't impressed, either!
More good reading:
***UPDATED 10/20/06***: CNN is now defending their decision to air this footage in the face of mounting outrage. The AP reports that:
A CNN executive said Thursday the network's effort to present the "unvarnished truth" about the Iraq war led it to televise portions of a video that shows insurgent snipers targeting U.S. military personnel.
The tape, which came to the network unexpectedly through contact with an insurgent leader, was aired first Wednesday night on "Anderson Cooper 360" and repeated on Thursday.
In one instance, the tape shows a uniformed member of the U.S. military milling in a public area with Iraqis. A shot rings out. CNN fades the screen to black before the result — described as a victim falling forward — is visible.
[...]
The decision was subject to "hours of intense editorial debate" at CNN's highest levels, he said.
Doss said he had already received several angry responses from viewers of Wednesday's five-minute report, some wondering whether CNN was helping the enemy and others concerned that the tape was inappropriate for young viewers who may have happened upon it.
"Whether or not you agree with us in this case, our goal, as always, is to present the unvarnished truth as best we can," Doss said.
The "unvarnished truth" about Iraq? Are you kidding me? That was enemy propaganda, Ted Turner-style, pure and simple. Aid and comfort to the enemy. Treason.
And if you read this post, you'll not that this type of attack nearly cost a Missouri Representative, Republican naturally, his life, so CNN gets two birds with one stone.
And if you really want the "unvarnished truth" about Iraq, read the words of the men and women who are actually there, or have served there, instead of the pathetic reporting of a biased news media with an anti-american agenda. Here's where to start:
***UPDATED 10/10/06***: CNN reporters who are embedded with U.S. troops may soon be getting the boot.
The chair of the House Armed Services Committee asked the Pentagon today to remove C-N-N reporters embedded with U-S combat units.The network televised portions of a video on Wednesday showing insurgent snipers targeting U-S military personnel.
Executives said the tape came to the network unexpectedly through contact with an insurgent leader.
Representative Duncan Hunter wrote in his letter that, quote, "C-N-N has now served as the publicist for an enemy propaganda film featuring the killing of an American soldier."
San Diego-area Republicans Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray also signed the letter.
C-N-N executives defended their decision to air the footage, saying its news value outweighed other concerns.
We'll see how this plays out, but how long do you think that CNN will keep reporters in country when they don't have the protection and assistance of the U.S. military?
More good info at Confederate Yankee
Oh geeze, that makes me so mad. Shouldn't THEY be charged with treason, consorting with the enemy, something?
Posted by: Debbie | October 19, 2006 at 12:37 PM
Makes me sick. But sadly not surprised.
Posted by: Kelly | October 19, 2006 at 01:08 PM
I read this here first, then found it over at Op-For as well. I'm just sooo ... twisted up inside.
As I just noted over at Op-For, there is more to this, I believe. I think that Hanoi Jane and Ted turner are going about something more sinister ... shades of bygone years ... a woman on a weapon ... a big cannon ... a pact with the North Vietnamese ...
Ugh. I'm sure that sounds like a conspiracy. But, I wouldn't put it past these two - even if they are divorced. This is, after all, an election year and they are both hard-core socialists who want Howard Dean and his ilk to win.
And, the Liberal Democrats have NEVER played fair. Ever.
They wanna win, badly, and they are pulling out all the stops.
IMHO, of course ... :)
Posted by: Fix4RSO | October 19, 2006 at 11:49 PM
@#%$ CNN. I quit reading their biased "news" years ago when I was disgusted to read their reports on our troops from the early stages of the GWoT. These bastards have committed treason in my opinion. Here are two definitions:
Treason: Violation of allegiance toward one's country or sovereign, especially the betrayal of one's country by waging war against it or by consciously and purposely acting to aid its enemies.
A betrayal of trust or confidence.
Isn't this exactly what we are seeing here? Now, I am all for freedom of speech, although it often makes me sick to my stomach, but aiding the enemy by using their propaganda is entirely differernt. These are the same SOBs that aired footage of our mutilated troops being trampled on and drug through the streets of Somalia -before the wives and family back home even knew that their loved ones had been killed in action. The effect was: they learned from watching it on television. Truly disgusting and unforgivable. In older days of this country, people from CNN would have been shot for such conduct.
Posted by: Eric | October 21, 2006 at 03:35 AM
"Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR."
-Lessons of a Vietnam helicopter Crewman
Posted by: Eric | October 21, 2006 at 04:44 AM