Why are there no “Good News Stories” in Iraq anymore?
One of the oldest critiques that supporters of the Iraq war offer is the charge that the liberal, anti-war mainstream media (usually acronymed as MSM) deliberately ignores the “good news” stories from Iraq. Instead, so the claim goes, the media plays up the acts of violence in order to drive home the larger anti-war narrative of chaos and failure. Some war supporters, when feeling generous, attribute this pessimistic reporting to mere sensationalism: “If it bleeds, it leads.” Thus, stories of peace, progress and reconstruction would never make it to the front pages of the news. In many ways, war supporters hope to stave off what they deem as the press’s complicity in undermining the Vietnam War.
I find it striking how rare we hear this claim anymore. Not even the White House or Congressional Republicans bother to say that the war is going much better than reported. In fact, as Atrios noticed, even the Congressional Armed Services Committee website has left its “Good News” link untouched since May 2005. Arthur Chrenkoff, who once kept a regular blog entitled “Good News From Iraq” gave up his regular blogging gig in September 2005. Tellingly, nobody has picked up the tab. And then there was the infamous “truth in Iraq” tour promoted by right-wing talk radio hosts like Laura Ingraham. And Steven Moore’s blog that purported to cut through the media’s anti-war bias. It’s last posting was in 2004. There are certainly still some “truth in Iraq” style blogs out there, like this grammatically incorrect site entitled Truth on Iraq that tout the handovers of authority from the Iraqi military to Iraqis and other such stories publicized in the MNF’s own site.
But perhaps the real reason we no longer hear about “the good news” from Iraq is that reporters cannot leave the Green Zone to report on it. Assume, for a moment, that there really is a lot of substantive progress in the development of a free and democratic Iraq. The only problem is that the media is unable to report on it for fear of assassination, mob attack or kidnapping. In a recent interview with Editor and Publisher Magazine, NY Times journalist Dexter Filkins notes that total anarchy outside the Green Zone prohibits journalists from visiting sites of reconstruction with their own eyes. Seasoned journalists must now rely on Iraqi stringers to bring in news, and even they have to remain anonymous about their employers. Ominously, Filkins remarks that even US soldiers have less to say about life in Iraqi communities because they stay holed up in bases much of the time.
I recently heard Iraqi Shia expert Valy Nasr speak at my school and one student ask him if the media was shielding the truth from the American public. The student did not say, specifically, that the media was making the war look worse than it actually is, but the implication was clear in his tone. Anyway, Nasr echoed Filkins’ observation that Iraq was actually much worse than the media reports because journalists cannot cover the story with any degree of safety and security.
I remember reading a story a year ago about why stories of reconstruction suddenly disappeared from the news – even the pro-war outlets like Fox. The reason was that insurgents were watching the video stories of school paintings and the like and regularly destroyed any evidence of progress revealed to a world audience. In response, US military officials actually turned away reporters from pro-war media outlets because their reporting only served to invite terrorism.
Even this story is less common now because reconstruction has, to a large extent, vanished from the US agenda. Though the recently written US Army Counterinsurgency Manual specifically recommends the sort of “hearts and minds” strategy that war supporters once regularly touted, the extent of civil war and chaos has made this “clear, hold and build” strategy less tenable.
In many ways, the changing tone of the Bush Administration from progress to fear of failure reflects this deteriorating situation on the ground. But most striking is the silence from pro-war bloggers, analysts and others who used to trumpet relatively minor “good news” stories as evidence of MSM foul play. Instead, supporters of the war have finally accepted the fact that the situation in Iraq really is dire, and the leadership from US and Iraqi civilian authorities is increasingly rudderless.
13 Responses to “Why are there no “Good News Stories” in Iraq anymore?”
Elrod,
Thank you for that round up of sources and your opinion. I had some vague notions in this direction but it was refreshing to see it put into some detail.
I was particularly amazed by the point that the insurgents were destroying any positive news reported. Do you think it was simply to destroy the progress that was reported–or are they actively preventing the reporting of “good news” as has been noted?
Gary
My question. In Iraq with controlled reporting and a majority of ‘embedded’ journalists present wouldn’t any ‘good’ or ‘bad’ news item taken with a bagful of salt?
Morever talking of ‘good’ stories, in the case of Iraq, is like first entering a woman’s house, criminally assaulting her, and then asking the world why is she complaining when she is being provided the ‘good things’ in life!!!
There has to be some dividing line between fact and fiction!!!
Gary,
I’m trying to find the link to that story about insurgents blowing up reconstruction projects but I couldn’t find it. I distinctly remember reading it about a year ago when a US military guy was trying to show why he couldn’t invite the media to see his work. I think the insurgents were trying to do both things. All of which was part of a propaganda campaign (on both sides). The problem, now, is that the reconstruction work is largely on hold.
Michael or Joe,
Thanks for the “good news, bad news” graphic. I love it!
The Kurdish areas are relatively peaceful, but only because Arabs are not allowed in, more of a proof that a split up of the country produces peace than “staying the course“. The statement was made not too long ago by a member of Congress that Iraq was no more dangerous than some major cities in the US, and with 60 or so bodies showing up everyday in the Tigress easily disproved. “Dismal� intelligence reports not disclosed to the press only reinforce the perception that the White House is not telling us all. Credibility is everything and the constant proclamations of progress has been shown false as far as seeing some decline in the violence, which ultimately is the only way we can judge how things are truly going.
If you want good news from Iraq then you need to read B36 News.
I remember back when Laura Ingrahm made her ‘good news’ tour. All one had to do is look at the itinerary on her own website. She reported from the Green zone, a large US military base and with a large security detail fro another base. She didn’t go to Mosul or Basra. Her comments were disgraceful(Nancy Grace like – LOL) considering the dead and wounded reporters.
I remember back when Laura Ingrahm made her ‘good news’ tour. All one had to do is look at the itinerary on her own website. She reported from the Green zone, a large US military base and with a large security detail fro another base. She didn’t go to Mosul or Basra. Her comments were disgraceful(Nancy Grace like – LOL) considering the dead and wounded reporters.
sorry about the double post.
bandit.three.six,
Thanks for the link…your blog looks very interesting and I’ll be checking back. I wonder if you could give us your insider’s view of the situation, for example:
1. What is your opinion on the troop density now in Baghdad…enough to accomplish the mission or not?
2. You had one blog post about Ramadi tribes organizing to support efforts to roust terrorists. Is this going on elsewhere, and in general, what is the feeling on the ground about Maliki’s political clout? Do people generally feel that he is sincere in the reconcilation agreement, and if so, do they think that he has the political power to implement it?
3. Is it your experience that most Iraqis want the US troops there for now, or that they see them as a hindrance?
Thanks in advance, and more importantly, thank you for your sacrifice and service.
I just wanted to say that as someone who disagreed with the invasion of Iraq, essentially because it seemed to be playing dice with a nation and its people, I very much want to hear the good news. I want to know what is working and what isn’t. If we know what we are able to do successfully, then that will help us adjust failing strategies to improve them. And if we are not able to do the reconstruction the way we desire, then we will learn why. This could help us in making correct decisions in the future.
The media repeatedly failed to report the bad news. although it touched on the story only a few days ago to the Post come out and describe how competent individuals were excluded from the CPA in favor of the politically correct. The degree of corruption with Iraqi funds that we awere involved in dwarfs the food for oil scandal. The degree of criminality following the fall was not stressed. Nor the damage to infrastructure. The rise of the militias is years old and there is still no mention of the potential tensions of the Kurds and Kirkuk.
Maybe we didn’t get enough of the 3,000 painted schools and 500 painted clinics, we certainly didn’t get enough of the individuals struggling some with some success in clinics without drugs and all those other places. There were lots of heroes American and Iraqi true to our hopes. As in Southeast Asia they will pay most deeply.
The tragedy will be veneered because we don’t like to here things like how when Saigon fell we didn’t bother to destroy the records of a half million Vietnamese who cooperated with us. We always have good intentiions and if you say that’s not enough young lads from Holland will call you an appeaser.
Andrew Wilson-
Let him say it. Good intentions are NOT enough. In this case our success was based 100% on our performance, and our performance was laughable.
I agree with everything you wrote, and hope you write more- as it has the ring of something you seldom hear anymore -from the left OR right-the truth!
C Stanley,
1 – My personal observation is that the level of troops in Baghdad is high enough to accomplish the mission. There are very few US troops that are conducting the “hold” phase of the operation, that is being conducted by the Iraqi Security Forces which outnumber Coalition forces by 2 to 1. US troops are focusing on active clearing; door to door searches and patrols. Once an area is cleared the US troops move on to the next along with the Iraqi troops who will be holding the area.
2 – As for tribal leaders coming together, I’d have to say that things are definately looking positive. Several weeks ago here in Baghdad, hundreds of sheiks from around the country gathered and signed a pact of honor aimed at unity and getting rid of terrorism, embracing the political process.
As for Maliki’s clout; people realize that he’s in a tough position, but he’s making good progress. Everything I’ve seen so far points toward sincerity.
3 – Most Iraqis see US troops as a necessary unpleasantness. No one want’s to see foreign troops in their cities, but Iraqis know what the alternative is and that would be much worse. For the time, it seems that Iraqis are content to tolerate the presence of Coalition troops, but as the ISF steps up and gains the trust of those they protect then we will increasingly be a 5th wheel – which is good because it means that we’ll be winning and heading home.