Anybody see the story on CNN about a Liutenant getting a medal in Iraq?

[oxbow]

Last week I posted a thread called "Expect to see alot more fluff stories coming out of Iraq" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4413542

It was about how there is an organized RW letter-writing campaign directed at the MSM, urging them to offer more good stories out of Iraq. They are trying to make this war seem like a heroic endeavor, just as those on the left are trying to make it look like a fool's errand. Towards this end, they are pushing the media to put out more stories like this, about soldiers winning medals, etc..

The story I watched on CNN today was about 7 minutes long. It was about a Lieutenat who received the medal of valor for helping a group of Iraqi soldiers during a firefight with insurgents.


I don't know how I feel about this so called "balance" yet. I do want to point out that the RW's strategy is beginning to work though, and get some opinions about what, if anything, we should do about it.

[MildyRules]

1. One question

What's "the medal of valor?"

[oxbow]

2. perhaps it was the medal of honor

it was for heroic action under fire, or something to that effect.

[tabasco]

3. Just assume that it was a "medal" and drive on.

Your question is chickenshit.

As a combat vet, I assume the OP was referring to a Bronze Star with a "V" for valor device.

[MildyRules]

5. As another combat

vet, that's a poor fucking assupmtion. It helps to post accurate information.

[BOSSHOG]

7. Welcome Teammate

DU is getting chock full of vets. Good for us.

[tabasco]

9. Your question was totally irrelevant. n/t

[unhappycamper]

4. Yup. Things are really going great. . . .

This is Viet Nam all over again.

http://crisispictures.org/news/newspictures/mideast/

[BOSSHOG]

6. I think its great that our servicemen and women

get their heroic actions publicized. Doing that certainly is not "good news" relative to the conduct of the war. I'd like to see a contrast between the medals earned on the field of battle and those which bush has awarded in the oval office. Now that would be some awesome balance. What we should do about it is get our kids home soon so they can spend a lifetime bragging about their heroics and enjoying their I Love Me Wall instead of having a Spouse, or a son or daughter receive a flag from their casket.

[oxbow]

8. Here's my problem with it

Our soldiers are performing nobly. They are understaffed, don't even have adequate armor in some cases, are getting less and less benefits when they return, and still are doing a bangup job over there.

However, they are being betrayed by their leadership, who has not been straight with them or us. They lied to get them into this war, they are doing an incompetent job of things now that we're in there and that should be the story.

I would have no problem with the press celebrating the valor and sacrifice of our guys in the armed forces if they would also spend some time holding accountable their higher ups for their blatant abuses and inability to lead.

Our soldiers can't complain or they get punished. We however, have an obligation to make sure that they are being used in the best way possible, that the leaders are doing everything possible to snatch victory out of this godforsaken mess. When everybody but Rumsfeld and Bush says that we need more troops out there, yet nothing changes, that's a major problem. People are dying because of these idiots' political calculations, and still there is no accountability