Former Liberal Democrat Geraldo's perspective on Iraq

[Torimeg]

No matter what your political convictions, you need to read this. Interesting... Geraldo's War Comments! Former Liberal Democrat Geraldo's perspective on Iraq :

The buildings that AREN'T burning in Iraq. . . . . . . . . . "They have a saying in the news business," Geraldo Rivera related this week. "Reporters don't report buildings that don't burn." And with that introduction, he told a TV audience about the story that is being systematically denied to our entire nation: the success story of post-Saddam Iraq.



Are we losing some soldiers each week? Yes.

Is there some frustration in the public about electricity and water service? Yes.

Are some Saddam Hussein loyalists throughout the land, making trouble? Yes.


Has this opened a window for some terrorist mischief? Yes.

But that's ALL we hear. No wonder the country is in a mixed mood about Iraq.

If you hear about the buildings that are not burning, though, it is a different story indeed.

Rivera is no shill for George W. Bush. But Bush, Condi Rice, and Colin Powell together could not have been as effective as Geraldo was Thursday night on the Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes program.

"When I got to Baghdad, I barely recognized it," he began, comparing his just completed trip to two others he made during and just after the battle to topple Saddam. "You have over 30,000 Iraqi cops and militiamen already on the job.

This is four months after major fighting stopped. Can you imagine that kind of gearing up in this country?

Law and order is better.

Archaeological sites are being preserved.

Factories, schools are being guarded."

But, what about the secondhand griping that the media have been so efficiently relating about power, water and other infrastructure?

"To say that Iraq is being REBUILT is not true," answered Rivera.
"IRAQ IS BEING BUILT". There was no infrastructure before; we are doing it. I just think the good news is being underestimated and underreported." At this juncture, one must evaluate how to feel about the voices telling us only about the bad news in Iraq, whether from the mouths of news anchors or Democratic presidential hopefuls. At best, they are under-informed. At worst, their one-sided assessments of post-Saddam Iraq are intentional falsehoods for obvious reasons.

If I hear one more person mock that "Mission Accomplished" banner beneath which President Bush thanked a shipload of sailors and Marines a few months back, I'm going to spit. That was a reference to the ouster of Saddam's regime, and that mission was indeed accomplished, apparently to the great chagrin of the American left.

No one said what followed would be easy or cheap, and that's why the dripping-water torture of the cost and casualty stories is so infuriating.

Remember we pay our soldiers whether they are in Iraq or in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

We should all mourn the loss of every fallen soldier. But context cries out to be heard. Our present news media is not performing this task. As some dare to wonder if this might become a Vietnam-like quagmire, I'll remind whoever needs it that most of our 58,000 Vietnam war toll died between 1966 and 1972, during which we lost an average of about 8,000 per year. That's about 22 per day, every day, for thousands of days on end.

Let us hear NO MORE Vietnam comparisons. They do not equate! What I hope to hear is more truth, even if we have to wrench it from the mouths of the media and political hacks predisposed to bash the remarkable job we are doing every day in what was not so long ago a totalitarian wasteland.

Local elections are under way across Iraq, Rivera reported. "Where Kurds and Arabs have been battling for decades, things have been settling down. Administrator Paul Bremer is doing a great job." Do does Geraldo think his media colleagues are intentionally painting with the side of the brush? "I'm not into conspiracy theories, ..but there's just more bang for your buck when you report the GI who got killed rather than the 99 who didn't get killed, who make friends, who helped schedule elections, who helped shops get open for business, who helped traffic flow again.

"The vast majority of Iraqis are very happy to have us there. I would like to see a bit more balance." This needs to be reported to the American Public who are presently being duped. I expect the dominant media culture to nitpick and attack Bush, and Democrats to blast him with reckless abandon. But when that leads to the willful exclusion of facts that would shine truthful light on the great work of the American armed forces, that level of malice plumbs new depths.

[Echewta]

Elections are on the way. Of course, only for some, which is better than none, right? Have a majority vote and disinfranchising a minority wont cause trouble.

No WMD?

Bremmer said we needed more troops?

99 troops being ok makes up for that one who died?

How much money has been spent?

Was is the real number of Iraqis that have been trained and active?

Good job firing the entire army?

on and on...

[deita]

No matter what your political convictions, you need to read this. Interesting... Geraldo's War Comments! Former Liberal Democrat Geraldo's perspective on Iraq :

The buildings that AREN'T burning in Iraq. . . . . . . . . . "They have a saying in the news business," Geraldo Rivera related this week. "Reporters don't report buildings that don't burn." And with that introduction, he told a TV audience about the story that is being systematically denied to our entire nation: the success story of post-Saddam Iraq.



Are we losing some soldiers each week? Yes.

Is there some frustration in the public about electricity and water service? Yes.

Are some Saddam Hussein loyalists throughout the land, making trouble? Yes.


Has this opened a window for some terrorist mischief? Yes.

But that's ALL we hear. No wonder the country is in a mixed mood about Iraq.

If you hear about the buildings that are not burning, though, it is a different story indeed.

Rivera is no shill for George W. Bush. But Bush, Condi Rice, and Colin Powell together could not have been as effective as Geraldo was Thursday night on the Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes program.

"When I got to Baghdad, I barely recognized it," he began, comparing his just completed trip to two others he made during and just after the battle to topple Saddam. "You have over 30,000 Iraqi cops and militiamen already on the job.

This is four months after major fighting stopped. Can you imagine that kind of gearing up in this country?

Law and order is better.

Archaeological sites are being preserved.

Factories, schools are being guarded."

But, what about the secondhand griping that the media have been so efficiently relating about power, water and other infrastructure?

"To say that Iraq is being REBUILT is not true," answered Rivera.
"IRAQ IS BEING BUILT". There was no infrastructure before; we are doing it. I just think the good news is being underestimated and underreported." At this juncture, one must evaluate how to feel about the voices telling us only about the bad news in Iraq, whether from the mouths of news anchors or Democratic presidential hopefuls. At best, they are under-informed. At worst, their one-sided assessments of post-Saddam Iraq are intentional falsehoods for obvious reasons.

If I hear one more person mock that "Mission Accomplished" banner beneath which President Bush thanked a shipload of sailors and Marines a few months back, I'm going to spit. That was a reference to the ouster of Saddam's regime, and that mission was indeed accomplished, apparently to the great chagrin of the American left.

No one said what followed would be easy or cheap, and that's why the dripping-water torture of the cost and casualty stories is so infuriating.

Remember we pay our soldiers whether they are in Iraq or in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

We should all mourn the loss of every fallen soldier. But context cries out to be heard. Our present news media is not performing this task. As some dare to wonder if this might become a Vietnam-like quagmire, I'll remind whoever needs it that most of our 58,000 Vietnam war toll died between 1966 and 1972, during which we lost an average of about 8,000 per year. That's about 22 per day, every day, for thousands of days on end.

Let us hear NO MORE Vietnam comparisons. They do not equate! What I hope to hear is more truth, even if we have to wrench it from the mouths of the media and political hacks predisposed to bash the remarkable job we are doing every day in what was not so long ago a totalitarian wasteland.

Local elections are under way across Iraq, Rivera reported. "Where Kurds and Arabs have been battling for decades, things have been settling down. Administrator Paul Bremer is doing a great job." Do does Geraldo think his media colleagues are intentionally painting with the side of the brush? "I'm not into conspiracy theories, ..but there's just more bang for your buck when you report the GI who got killed rather than the 99 who didn't get killed, who make friends, who helped schedule elections, who helped shops get open for business, who helped traffic flow again.

"The vast majority of Iraqis are very happy to have us there. I would like to see a bit more balance." This needs to be reported to the American Public who are presently being duped. I expect the dominant media culture to nitpick and attack Bush, and Democrats to blast him with reckless abandon. But when that leads to the willful exclusion of facts that would shine truthful light on the great work of the American armed forces, that level of malice plumbs new depths.you need to watch the news(CNN) right now. 12:43e

[Torimeg]

I missed it... what did CNN have to say?

[Funkaloyd]

Misstatements and understatements are abound, either because the article is way out of date ("Administrator Paul Bremer"?), or because Geraldo is indeed a tool. Or both.

My favorites:

Has this opened a window for some terrorist mischief? Yes.

Mischief, eh? Why even fight a war on terror? All they need is a good spanking.

Are some Saddam Hussein loyalists throughout the land, making trouble? Yes.

Wow, did this statement become untrue quickly or what? I remember when we were told that opposition was only being put up by remnants of Hussein's "death squads", with the majority or Iraq welcoming the "liberators". Then it was just a few rogue Sunni Muslims. The Shiites were still happy. Now most of the opposition to the occupation is coming from Shiites.

"IRAQ IS BEING BUILT". There was no infrastructure before; we are doing it.

Err, no. Though Iraq's infrastructure was poor before the invasion, largely thanks to years of sanctions and bombings.

Remember we pay our soldiers whether they are in Iraq or in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Hah, how much of the nearly $130,000,000,000 is actually going into troop's pockets? Are they paid $500,000 a year?

[ASsman]

Haha, also Bush thinks they are getting paid too much. Halliburton's budget is too small.

Also, Geraldo is a douche bag. And you think I'll listen to him because hes "liberal", hell no. Also he still sees himself as a democrat, so he can't be that liberal.

[ClifRa JOnes]

Hah, how much of the nearly $130,000,000,000 is actually going into troop's pockets? Are they paid $500,000 a year?

What ever thier pay rate requires. The other moneys go into thier stomachs, into the fuel tanks of thier vehicles, buys bullets and missles, jet fuel, the list goes on. War is a costly endevor. You can't recycle a bomb.

Progress does not come through peace, it comes through conflict and struggle! Without war we would still be living in caves! The Shadow philosophy is the only way to achieve progress! We will build our new world on the ashes of the old!

Peace is an illusion! It is only the absence of war!

[yeahwho]

Peace is an illusion! It is only the absence of war!

War is an illusion! It is only the absence of peace!

Now get your ass in Iraq and participate in the illusion.

[Funkaloyd]

What ever thier pay rate requires. The other moneys go into thier stomachs, into the fuel tanks of thier vehicles, buys bullets and missles, jet fuel, the list goes on. War is a costly endevor. You can't recycle a bomb.

Exactly, but Geraldo seems to think that even if the US hadn't invaded Iraq, the 100 billion plus that has been spent in Iraq would have gone to the military anyway.

[ClifRa JOnes]

War is an illusion! It is only the absence of peace!

Now get your ass in Iraq and participate in the illusion.

Name one day in Am. History when we were at PEACE with the world? Peace meaning that no one out there wishes to do us harm. (Or we did not wish to someone else harm) You can't. Peace as we have seen it is just that, the absence of war. We were not at peace we were just not actively killing each other.

[SobaViolence]

it's all a state of mind.



if they only asked politely, maybe we could all get along, but they think the world owes them something for being white anglo-saxxon americans.

[infidel]

Anyone else notice the military only reports US troop deaths and insurgent deaths but not Iraqi Army deaths?
I have a feeling the reason they don't because the death toll is real high.

[ASsman]

It's as high as US forces, last I checked. But if Bush said Kerry "dishonoured" the Iraqis who are dieing for the same "reason", then so is the media.

[yeahwho]

Progress does not come through peace, it comes through conflict and struggle! Without war we would still be living in caves! The Shadow philosophy is the only way to achieve progress! We will build our new world on the ashes of the old! Quote ClifRa JOnes

Whoever wins the war writes the history. I'm not convinced that the war in Iraq is only about WMD, regime change, a democratic society or terrorism. Are you? I'm about sure it's oil. That is a business decision, not progress.


Peace is an illusion! It is only the absence of war!

Peace is not an illusion, not in my life, the strife and struggles of the world are a reality, but peace is earned by those who keep it. To those that keep the peace, the absence of war is the goal.

Name one day in Am. History when we were at PEACE with the world? Peace meaning that no one out there wishes to do us harm. (Or we did not wish to someone else harm) You can't. Peace as we have seen it is just that, the absence of war. We were not at peace we were just not actively killing each other ClifRa JOnes

You want to redefine what peace is, then redefine what war is. I take your point only so far, but peace is on earth, even in places like Texas, New York and California.
I think your working on glimmering generalities when you ask a question of that nature. That is something akin to cancer, aids, drought, ozone depletion, it is the the ying and yang of the human nature, forces are always eroding away at mankind and the planet.....this doesn't mean we don't know peace. I know peace. It is not an illusion. I have had several days of peace, so have millions of Americans. I do not remember it being anything at all like an illusion.


Peace (Dictionary.com)
1.The absence of war or other hostilities.
2.An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
3.Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other.
War (Dictionary.com)
1.A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.
2.The period of such conflict.
3.The techniques and procedures of war; military science.
Illusion (Dictionary.com)
1.
a.An erroneous perception of reality.
b.An erroneous concept or belief.

Peace does not = happiness, just peace.

[ClifRa JOnes]

it's all a state of mind.



if they only asked politely, maybe we could all get along, but they think the world owes them something for being white anglo-saxxon americans.

The world doesn't owe us shit! What we have we got on our own. To believe that any other RACE of people in the world, if they had the technology the Europeans had in the 1400's would not have colonized the world is nieve.

We are not the ones who believe we are entitled.

[ClifRa JOnes]

Anyone else notice the military only reports US troop deaths and insurgent deaths but not Iraqi Army deaths?
I have a feeling the reason they don't because the death toll is real high.

It is. Fortunatly the military learned the hard lesson of body counts in VietNam. Dick Chaney talked about Iraqi deaths in his debate with the ambulance chaser. Unfortunatly it's Kerry/Edwards who wants to keep this information from the American People.

[hellojello]

The world doesn't owe us shit! What we have we got on our own. To believe that any other RACE of people in the world, if they had the technology the Europeans had in the 1400's would not have colonized the world is nieve.

We are not the ones who believe we are entitled.
what u say is so stupid its funny

[ClifRa JOnes]

Whoever wins the war writes the history. I'm not convinced that the war in Iraq is only about WMD, regime change, a democratic society or terrorism. Are you? I'm about sure it's oil. That is a business decision, not progress.

Of course it's about oil. "The spice must flow!" Why should we hide from this fact. BUT, if it was like the leftist say, then we would have slaughtered most of the Iraqi people and just took over. we wouldn't be going through the hard work of setting up a government we would just annex Iraq. We didn't, we are establishing a new government so that the Iraqi nation can sell us thier oil.


Peace is not an illusion, not in my life, the strife and struggles of the world are a reality, but peace is earned by those who keep it. To those that keep the peace, the absence of war is the goal.


But you cannot keep the "peace" by acquiescing to evil. "peace comes out of the end of a gun". When your enemy knows that war with you is suicide they may not attack you. Problem is the current enemy doesn't care about thier lives. The illuision is that you can have peace without being strong. The illusion is that if only America would eliminate thier military power the rest of the world would do likewise. The illusion is that the only reason other nations have a military is because we do.


You want to redefine what peace is, then redefine what war is. I take your point only so far, but peace is on earth, even in places like Texas, New York and California.
I think your working on glimmering generalities when you ask a question of that nature. That is something akin to cancer, aids, drought, ozone depletion, it is the the ying and yang of the human nature, forces are always eroding away at mankind and the planet.....this doesn't mean we don't know peace. I know peace. It is not an illusion. I have had several days of peace, so have millions of Americans. I do not remember it being anything at all like an illusion.


Peace (Dictionary.com)
1.The absence of war or other hostilities.
2.An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
3.Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other.
War (Dictionary.com)
1.A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.
2.The period of such conflict.
3.The techniques and procedures of war; military science.
Illusion (Dictionary.com)
1.
a.An erroneous perception of reality.
b.An erroneous concept or belief.

Peace does not = happiness, just peace.

I'm not saying that peace=happiness. The 1st definition above makes my point exactly. The absence of war. When you define a word by negating another word the word you negate has the greater importance. The absence of war is achieved through strength, nothing else. All other factors are secondary.

As far as illusion I believe you have proven me right also. There are many around the world who have an erroneous perception of reality when it comes to world conflicts. Much of these erroneous perceptions were born out of the "peace propaganda" spread around the world by the KGB. That the greatest threat to world peace is the US. That, "if we only lay down our arms the rest of the world will also do so". The peace movement is a lie! A lie specifically designed to undermine this country.

The cold war is not over. We are still fighting it and the battle front is here at home.

[ClifRa JOnes]

what u say is so stupid its funny

Really? so you are telling me that if Africans had had the sailing ship, the gun and the cannon, they would not have conquered thier nieghbors and colonized the world? If the Chinese had stopped fighting among themselves long enough to achieve technological dominance (and they could have done it easily) they would not have expanded thier empire?

Here is the example that shows your ignorance: JAPAN! Not exactly white European's are they. When they were technologically more advanced then thier neighbors in the 1930's they conquered and colonized much of Asia.

Your naiveté makes me pitty you.

[ClifRa JOnes]

what u say is so stupid its funny

Also. A typical comment from a leftist. No coherant argument, just insults.

[yeahwho]

Of course it's about oil. "The spice must flow!

"peace comes out of the end of a gun".

The absence of war is achieved through strength, nothing else. All other factors are secondary.

As far as illusion I believe you have proven me right also. There are many around the world who have an erroneous perception of reality when it comes to world conflicts. Much of these erroneous perceptions were born out of the "peace propaganda" spread around the world by the KGB. That the greatest threat to world peace is the US. That, "if we only lay down our arms the rest of the world will also do so". The peace movement is a lie! A lie specifically designed to undermine this country.

The cold war is not over. We are still fighting it and the battle front is here at home.

Yep, I've proven you right.

[ClifRa JOnes]

Yep, I've proven you right.

Why thank you.

[Ace42]

Also. A typical comment from a leftist. No coherant argument, just insults.

Pot, Kettle, shadey hue.

[ClifRa JOnes]

Pot, Kettle, shadey hue.

Ok, Find one insult I've thrown out at anyone here.

[Ace42]

Sorry, you think a blanket statement like "A typical comment from a leftist" isn't insulting or lacking in coherant argument?

<sigh>

[ClifRa JOnes]

Sorry, you think a blanket statement like "A typical comment from a leftist" isn't insulting or lacking in coherant argument?

<sigh>

Not when I'm responding to a typical leftist comment.

Riddle me this Batman.

Why are you (not you personally, I don't know you) lefties so afraid of what you are? Why does John Kerry and so many other Libs out there run away from that word. I'm proud to be a Reaganist conservative. Why are they not honest with the American people and come out and say "I'm a Liberal".

At least Allan Combs and Janine Garofalo are proud of what they believe in and I respect the hell out of them for that. Oh, and cookiepuss also because I believe she is proud of her beliefs too.

[Ace42]

Not when I'm responding to a typical leftist comment.

"You think (...) is a coherant argument?" - "Not when I'm responding to ..."

Well I'm glad we agree, I guess... Although I do not think that is what you were driving at.

Why are you (not you personally, I don't know you) lefties so afraid of what you are?

Possibly because the US media and rightwing organisations have managed to demonise them thanks to the work of Coulter et al. Being a liberal is now to be a traitor, or "against our boys on the front" and all manner of other slanders. Maybe that is why. Or maybe they don't like applying restrictive lables to themselves, because they do not feel the need to define themselves is narrow and constrained terminology? Perhaps it is because "conservatives" feel the need to have a political identity, whereas liberals merely have liberal views without feeling the need to be "in a gang"

Why does John Kerry and so many other Libs out there run away from that word.

Maybe because John Kerry is not a liberal. Or is that too easy for you? Liberals don't go on about personally killing terrorists on live TV debates.

I'm proud to be a Reaganist conservative.

You take pride from merely being in agreement with a dead actor's world policies? Whatever gets you through the day, I guess.