Group Donates TV Equipment to Promote Balanced News Coverage (in Iraq)

[Robbien]

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2004 — A shipment of television equipment is on its way to Iraq to help Iraqi broadcasters offer more balanced news coverage than what is currently available in the region.

Members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq's Anbar province expressed concerned that extremely negative news coverage by the local media was stoking resentment toward the U.S. military and encouraging conflict.

They turned to Spirit of America, a nonprofit group committed to helping Americans serving abroad improve people's lives, to request television equipment to be used to offer more balanced news.

On April 29 — just three weeks after Spirit of America received the Marines' request — Spirit of America founder Jim Hake delivered $82,687 in television studio equipment to Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Marines packed the donated equipment and prepared it for shipment, and on May 1, the U.S. military flew it from March Air Force Base, Calif., to Iraq.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2004/n05032004_200405033.html

[markses]

1. Ridiculous

That the US is now complaining about "biased" news coverage is one of the more comical absurdities of our times. Let us not forget that the "balanced" US news coverage, starting in late summer 2002, bought every single Bush lie about Iraq, prese4nted it with little evidence, and can be generally credited with whipping the country up into a completely irrational war fever. Americans were salivating for war, in a veritable lather about it. Thanks to our so-called news coverage.

[plurality]

2. maybe it's not the news thats inflaming Iraqis

but all the Iraqis fresh from Abu Ghraib with tales of having broom handles shoved up their asses.

These fucks think that since Americans are stupid enough to believe everything TV says that the rest of the world will follow suit. I imagine a few more RPG barrages won't get them to discard these fallacies any time soon either. A pity it's going to take thousands more dead Iraqis and Americans before this idiocy can end.

[qb]

3. I hope none of the troops mistake the TV equipment for grenade launchers.

[mom cat]

7. I hope that they do make such a mistake.

[MichaelHarris]

4. its just labeled

TV equipment. Whats really in it is the missing WMD's

[riverwalker]

5. whats "stoking resentment"

is being slaughtered, starved, and beaten. They think they can spin that into a "positive"? Thats like saying if Pol Pot had the "more balanced" media coverage, he would be thought of as a Mother Theresa.

[plurality]

6. if Cambodians and the rest of the world were as stupid as Americans

maybe they could. After all, all it takes is 'balanced' media to convince more than 50% of America that George Bush isn't a lying, thieving, evil bastard, who's hell bent on Armageddon. Maher had it right, "Bush (or anyone with a good marketing team) could convince Americans to drink paint with enough money."

[saigon68]

8. I wonder if JERRY FALWELL will appear on "Fair and Balanced" IRAQ

Lots of heathen souls to save. Maybe Hannity can spread some fair political commentary too.

Like that Plastic Flashlight shoved up your ass is really there to check your Colon Polyps

[progressivebydesign]

9. excsue me? The only media there now is GOP controlled!!!

What total BS! WE are paying for the GOP staff to run the media in Iraq now! These people that are now involved sound like a religious group, with their own agenda. The Marines just don't want the truth to come out... I just fucking hate everyone this morning. :grr:

[sniffa]

10. non threatening news 24/7

aLL is weLL. the regime is great and aLL powerfuL. pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

[w4rma]

11. I doubt anything will come of this.

The folks, over here, who are willing to go over there, and put their lives in danger, to report mostly are true believers. But, I think, when alot of them actually get over there and personally see what's going on, their belief will be shattered.

[damnraddem]

12. Hey, they could have checked it out by recording ...

the caskets being loaded onto the plane the equipment just flew in on.

Well, too late now -- how about just checking it out in the nearest detention center?

[markus]

13. Have these guys ever heard of the Voice of America

Given the choice of happy-talk, happy-face news or something that corresponds to their own experience, the Iraqi's are going to choose the latter.

[Jacobin]

14. Geeze, reminds me of Paul Revere's news paper

"creating problems for the British".

From King George to King George we have come full circle and have become what we once loathed and rebelled against.

[daleo]

15. What a touching tale

Soon the news there will be (even more) fair and balanced. What could be more neutral, than a television station requested and delivered by the marines.

[bobthedrummer]

16. SAIC has at least 7 DoD contracts to run broadcast media in Iraq

:puke::grr::argh:

[Blasphemer]

17. LOL

They should spend some of that money here in the good 'ol USA - WE need balanced coverage.

[Zhade]

18. Further info on Voice--er, Spirit of America

The "Leadership" of SoA (not to be confused with the School of the Americas):

Jim Hake, Founder

Ambassador Diana Lady Dougan, Advisor (on the Board of Directors at Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies under the Advisory Board's cochair Zbigniew Brzezinski; former member of the Council on Foreign Relations)

Ambassador Brandon Grove, Advisor (member of the Council on Foreign Relations; Reagan’s ambassador to Zaire)

Admiral Jeremiah Denton, Advisor (former Viet Nam POW; former Senator from Alabama; big-time Kerry hater, in the worst sense)

Jack Vaughn, Former Director U.S. Peace Corps, Advisor

Lieutenant General Mike DeLong, Advisor (involved in investigating the deaths of 4 Canadian soldiers killed by U.S. fighter pilots hopped up on speed in Afghanistan)