Why is there next to zero concern on Du ,the Kerry Campaign

[saracat]

and any of the American media, about the hostages? First, there is no concern for humanity and second, cynically, there is no interest in what could be the political implications. My,God! Hostages brought the Carter Campaign down. Our media barely reports this. And the public seems absolutely callous! Apparently Americans have to have some sort of feeling manufactured for them by the news media who are too concerned with a stupid little girl and a ripped Bush Cheney sign. And for the politically correct among you, you are right ,I don't give a shit about the little girl, and her sign. We have Americans who are about to be beheaded, and we don't even seem to be interested.If we ever needed proof as to what we have become under Bush, this is it!

[abrock]

1. Sad but true. Lets hope Nov 2 puts us all back on the right track.

[imax2268]

2. because it looks

bad for BushCo...they would rather talk about forged memos, kobe, scott peterson and slamming Kerry...they don't want the dimson to look bad...

I don't know why the Kerry campaign hasn't jumped on it...but they do continue to bring up the fact that Iraq is a mess...

[saracat]

3. But what about us? What's our excuse?

I will hold these people in my thoughts today. And their families. We gave so much attention to the first hostages,but I guess this is now commonplace, like violence on TV. We are a sick nation.

[imax2268]

4. I hear ya...

I have seen it mentioned a few times on here...

I continue to look for this in the media...but the only place to hear about it is on the net as far as I can see...

[OnceUponATime]

5. Remember the Iranian hostage crisis...

when a little program called Nightline appeared to cover the crisis each night? Every night, they would count the days since the hostages were taken. "Day No. 5". "Day No. 16". "Day No. 50". On an on. Other news programs followed their lead, beginning each nightly broadcast with the hostage count and the length of captivity.

Obviously, the huge death toll, rising insurgency and constant hostage-taking in Iraq is a situation far larger in scope and consequence than the Iranian hostage situation. Why not the same kind of coverage now?

I can't remember just now who said, "Truth is the first casualty of war."
They were onto something.
Perhaps we should amend that casualty list to include context, perspective and compassion.

phew, I feel better after venting a bit.

[saracat]

6. Me,Too!

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I think there is a difference between

being taken hostage in a war zone and being take hostage while visiting a foreign country?

If you go into a war zone, then that is the risk you take. Even though Iran was 'hostile' to us, we were not at war with them at that time. People weren't getting car bombed on a daily basis and we were dropping bombs on a nightly basis on their cities.

[bowens43]

8. We're at war remember?

Frankly I'm far more concerned about the dead Iraqi civilians and the future of the Iraqi people than I am about members of the occupying forces. They shouldn't have been there. They knew the risks and they accepted them.

Do you really think that just because they happen to be American that they are more important then the tens of thousands who have been killed and the even greater number who have been wounded and maimed?
Do you really think that beheading a couple of people is a greater crime then dropping bombs from 30,000 feet?

I find it very difficult to get myself worked up about this.

[saracat]

13. War? Snicker.

We are not at war. Hostile takeover maybe. but not "war". And you are right about the Iraqi casualties.These hostages however are civilians and two are Americans.That may not make a difference to you, and maybe it shouldn't ,but it shows that flag wavers can't even excite themselves over this and they claim some version of Compassion and patriotism. Violence is so acceptable, we don't care even if it is our own.

[leftchick]

9. Also, Sept. Is the deadliest Month for Soldiers besides April....

You wouldn't know it watching the "news"

Military Fatalities: By Month
Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
9-2004 52 1 3 56 3.11 18
8-2004 66 4 5 75 2.42 31
7-2004 54 1 3 58 1.87 31
6-2004 42 1 7 50 1.67 30
5-2004 80 0 4 84 2.71 31
4-2004 135 0 5 140 4.67 30
3-2004 52 0 0 52 1.68 31
2-2004 20 1 2 23 0.79 29
1-2004 47 5 0 52 1.68 31
12-2003 40 0 8 48 1.55 31
11-2003 82 1 27 110 3.67 30
10-2003 43 1 2 46 1.48 31
9-2003 30 1 1 32 1.07 30
8-2003 35 6 2 43 1.39 31
7-2003 47 1 0 48 1.55 31
6-2003 30 6 0 36 1.2 30
5-2003 37 4 0 41 1.32 31
4-2003 73 6 0 79 2.63 30
3-2003 65 27 0 92 7.67 12
Total 1030 66 69 1165 2.12 549

To View Period Details Click The Period Number
View Fatality Names and Details Fatality Metrics
Casualties Trends Since Fall of Baghdad U.S. Fatalities By Month
U.S. Fatalities with DOD Links U.S. Fatalities By State
U.S. Fatalities City Map Hostile/NonHostile Timeline
U.S. Fatalities State Map

Missing or Captured: 1

[sandnsea]

10. It rallies the warmongers

Makes them want to kill all them ungrateful ragheads. That's why.

[bigtree]

11. Man, you post the info and you get ignored

Most of the interest here is in scandal or telling Kerry how to run his campaign. Skinner made a post about the importance of focusing on issues like Iraq but you don't get much of a rise unless the poster happens to insult the nominee. Straightfoward news gets a shrug and drops like a rock. I love scandal talk but I would sure like to find a constituency here to discuss current events that have a low profile. These stories just don't generate many responses.

edit: as far as Kerry goes, maybe it isn't such a good idea for him to politicize the hostages. Might encourage more hostage taking just to get attention.

[bigtree]

12. We did have a lot of posts here about hostages beheaded in Saudi Arabia

a month or so ago. Keep posting your concerns.

[Auntie Bush]

14. Well...we covered that topic already...now on to some interesting

scandal. That's not NEWS anymore. Plus, the media are afraid it might harm so let's talk about a cute little crying 3 year old.

[partygirl]

15. OK it sounds like

the hostages in Iran made Carter look ineffective and helped bring him down.

I think we need to start harping on the hostages that are being held in Iraq. It makes Bush look ineffective and helpless. We should make sure that people are talking about hostages.

And this is even worse because these hostages are getting KILLED. The Iran ones came home safe and sound I think? So this is FAR WORSE than the Carter Hostage situation.