Those Who Do Not Study History
Every day the news headlines are filled with stories of how many people were killed by terrorists in Iraq. We are also being told that the average American is now against continuing involvement in the world's newest democracy. When the news only reports the negative, how can we expect anything else? Our troops need our support, not our condemnation. They deserve a hell of a lot more.
I have a real problem with the media continuing to refer to terrorist cowards as "suicide bombers." That term conveys some sort of legitimacy to what they are doing. Let's call it like it is people. These terrorists are nothing but mass murderers who do not observe any acceptable rules of engagement. Terrorism is the domain of extremist groups whose political viewpoint cannot withstand the scrutiny of a free society.
Apparently the media has forgotten the lessons of the terrorist hijackings in the 1970s. Between 1972 and 1978 there were dozens of airline hijackings. It got to be almost so common that it was news-worthy only when there hadn't been one in a while. The media stopped reporting the hijackings and guess what? They stopped! Coincidence? I think not.
Terrorists commit heinous crimes in order to draw attention to themselves and their causes. They firmly believe that any action against any target is justified so long as the world knows who was responsible. They make no distinction between civilian and military targets, other than to shift their tactics to murder those most likely to get them the media coverage they desire.
You don't believe me? After the 9/11 attacks, thousands of Americans went to mosques and Arabic bookstores to find copies of the Quran. We attended lectures on Islam to try to understand why this took place. The result was that during a subsequent meeting of al Qaida senior leadership, they congratulated themselves on the number of "infidels" who were now "curious about Islam." That videotape was widely shown by the various media outlets as proof that al Qaida was responsible. The meaning of the conversation was clearly not understood.
The media needs to focus on the positive things going on in Iraq. Talk about the number of troops alive, not the number dead. Tell us stories of the Iraqis who, like our ancestors, are willing to fight for their own freedom. Surf on over to www.anysoldier.com and read for yourself the first hand accounts of the good our brave soldiers are doing. And please, when they come home, shake their hand, buy them a beer, and give them a job.
I have a real problem with the media continuing to refer to terrorist cowards as "suicide bombers." That term conveys some sort of legitimacy to what they are doing. Let's call it like it is people. These terrorists are nothing but mass murderers who do not observe any acceptable rules of engagement. Terrorism is the domain of extremist groups whose political viewpoint cannot withstand the scrutiny of a free society.
Apparently the media has forgotten the lessons of the terrorist hijackings in the 1970s. Between 1972 and 1978 there were dozens of airline hijackings. It got to be almost so common that it was news-worthy only when there hadn't been one in a while. The media stopped reporting the hijackings and guess what? They stopped! Coincidence? I think not.
Terrorists commit heinous crimes in order to draw attention to themselves and their causes. They firmly believe that any action against any target is justified so long as the world knows who was responsible. They make no distinction between civilian and military targets, other than to shift their tactics to murder those most likely to get them the media coverage they desire.
You don't believe me? After the 9/11 attacks, thousands of Americans went to mosques and Arabic bookstores to find copies of the Quran. We attended lectures on Islam to try to understand why this took place. The result was that during a subsequent meeting of al Qaida senior leadership, they congratulated themselves on the number of "infidels" who were now "curious about Islam." That videotape was widely shown by the various media outlets as proof that al Qaida was responsible. The meaning of the conversation was clearly not understood.
The media needs to focus on the positive things going on in Iraq. Talk about the number of troops alive, not the number dead. Tell us stories of the Iraqis who, like our ancestors, are willing to fight for their own freedom. Surf on over to www.anysoldier.com and read for yourself the first hand accounts of the good our brave soldiers are doing. And please, when they come home, shake their hand, buy them a beer, and give them a job.
posted by exsubdriver at 8:25 AM
1 Comments:
GO GO GO!!! Troops!!!
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