A Top U.S. General In Iraq Blames Public’s Antiwar Views On The Media
NEW YORK Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said Thursday, back in the U.S. on leave at Fort Stewart, that the war in Iraq is “a winnable mission” if the the media would only cooperate.
“If the American people are informed properly,” Lynch told reporters after he arrived home on leave, “I believe they will be supportive of the mission. But they’re not getting the right story. As a result, they’re anti the war.”
The media use a “filter” that downplays information about American successes: “All I’m seeing when I watch TV … is the bad news and not the good news.”
After listing severall alleged signs of progress, Lynch said, “But you never see that by watching Fox, CNN and NBC….
“We would not have put soldiers in harm’s way if we didn’t think this was a winnable mission,” he said.
“If you’re getting your news from the national media, you’re not getting the whole picture. To say you support soldiers, but not the war is just silly. I believe Americans, if they knew everything, would be supporting the mission.”
The Savannah Morning News and local TV stations carried his remarks.
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He is saying things that we’ve spoken about for years…and amazingly it was picked up in the press…
Now if I can only try to convince lackluster peers about the damage the MSM does to our troops…they look at me like I’m from Mars…or like this
At least everyone I send to this site changes their opinions…
Thanks Pat, you rule!
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:15 am“If you’re getting your news from the national media, you’re not getting the whole picture…”
Well now, someone finally said it. And he mentioned that Fox is no better than the rest. To those of us who are members of Dollard Nation, Yon Nation Roggio Nation or Sanchez Nation, that’s just a fine “no shit sherlock” assesment of the current hostile terrain that we find ourselves in.
Excellent report…Kudos to the General.
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:15 amAmen!
Peace!
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 amDan2
“The Savannah Morning News and local TV stations carried his remarks.”
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 amWill this reach national? I think not.
Thank you, Gen. Lynch.
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:24 amNow if our elected officials could just muster enough courage to follow-up on these words and hold our domestic enemies accountable, we’ed be getting somewhere.
Huah!
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 am[…] A Top U.S. General In Iraq Blames Public’s Antiwar Views On The Media — Pat Dollard […]
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:07 amMaybe the MoveOn.org Party (formerly the Democratic Party) can issue another ad trashing this general, too.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:09 amPreaching to the choir, General.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 amI don’t really buy that there are large numbers of Americans who are against the war; I believe that the questions they are asked inherently bias the outcome of the polls. What would Americans answer if asked these questions:
1. Do you think our military should protect America?
2. Do you think we should try to bring about peace in the middle east?
3. Do you think we should stop countries who support terrorism?
4. Do you think we should stop countries from developing weapons of mass destruction that will be used against America or her allies?
5. Do you think it is wise to fight America’s enemies elsewhere rather than on American soil?
6. Do you think we should liberate millions of people so that they can live under a system of self-determination rather than dictatorship?
I really don’t know how anyone can truly understand the long-term benefits of our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as our coming involvement in Syria, Iran, and North Korea, among others.
Of course, our country’s current leadership (Reid, Pelosi, et. al.) along with the current crop of Democrat candidates, don’t exactly provide a shining example of democracy.
September 22nd, 2007 at 10:55 amThe 3 major stations have been hijack and used for a long time to the experience of staged news by sub contractors from the middle east and abroad.
http://www.exposetheleft.com/2006/07/
http://www.mrc.org/biasbasics/pdf/BiasBasics.pdf
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:06 amIf the dhims win, he is ‘retired’, effective immediately.
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:18 amStevenD
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:20 amI’m totally with you on this point. The polsters do not want to report what americans actually think about the war, they only report what they WANT us to think about the war. Thus, they word their questions very carefully. The results are dutifully reported by the MSM as fact.
The problem with the mainstream media is not just their reporting on the war, but what and how they report on in general. 99% of the stories are about death, murder, crime, corruption, and every kind of potential threat or bad thing that may happen to you and your family at any moment.
Their purpose should be to inform, uplift, and give hope. Instead all they do is broadcast every reason they can find to feel that life is hopeless and no matter how hard you strive for things in life you probably won’t get them so don’t bother trying.
It’s all about everything that is wrong with this world and no solutions are ever offered to help make people’s lives better.
Their negative reporting continues to scar the emotional fabric of our society.
Every single endeavor that we as a nation, groups of people, or individuals embark upon is ridiculed, trashed, and attacked as doomed to failure.
When the stock market is going up their head lines read “stock market ready to crash?”
When real estate was booming the headlines were “real estate bubble ready to burst?”
When the first gulf war started they said we will probably lose hundreds of thousands of troops and Saddam will probably win.
When a sports team gets a new head coach they focus on all the obstacles the coach faces and conclude the team will never get any better. When it does then they say it won’t last.
The mainstream media is the most destructive propaganda machine in the world. Its continually destroys people’s lives, attacks people’s character, reports false and misleading information, and all this destruction is done in pursuit of a shocking headline.
Many Americans go to jobs they hate or do not enjoy, are in loveless relationships, and/or some are just not happy. They for a moment consider doing something to make their situation better only to turn on the news which totally de-motivates them from trying anything new because the media convinces them… Why try? It’s not going to work out anyway.
Thank god for the internet and sites like this one. I believe the day is fast approaching when getting the real truth about anything and everything will relegate the mainstream media to the dustbin of history.
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:27 amFor that reason I come here to this blog. All the people I know in business and my personal life have no clue as to what’s going on. They read Newsday and watch CNN or one of the other left-wing propaganda machines. Not one bit of reliable information is reaching the general public via the MSM. Even Fox seems to be ignoring important stories about Iraq. I think all the Fox-bashing is having an effect on their reporting. They seem to be intimidated by the label of “Republican Party Mouthpiece”. Is it just me?
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:53 amThis is a classic media line….
“After listing severall alleged signs of progress, Lynch said, “But you never see that by watching Fox, CNN and NBC….”
Gee a sample of media bias, in an article about media bias…
If the General enumerated several positive items why didn’t the reporter list those items. Instead the reporter chose to describe them as “alleged” signs of progress. I.e. the reporter is saying the general is lying or the general’s information is not to be trusted.
That takes the cake. A slanted article within an article talking about the newsmedia’s slant. ROFLMAO. The journalist’s just can’t help themselves. Gotta get your digs in.
You would think the reporter might take the time to show how he isn’t biased by talking about the positive information, but the reporter just can’t do it.
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:31 pmJarhead68: No, you are exactly right. I think they have turned tabloid. Everytime I tried to turn it to Fox last weekend, it was wall-to-wall OJ. Before that, Paris, before that Anna (I’m sure you know who), before that it was Natalie. Corey is right too, but when you are dealing with liberals, you are dealing strictly and totally with pessimism. I find myself scratching my head over it…
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:35 pmI have watched several press conferences with Maj.General Lynch and I always thought that he was thinking”man I would like to slap this reporter”. Lynch has been biting his lower lip for awhile and apparently he has decided he has had enough. My son is in the 3rd Infantry and I am glad a man like Lynch is in charge.
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:27 pmI think this is true. I mean, in an age where how famous a person is takes precident over their importance, anything is possible. :roll:I just wish the news would cover important stories in an unbiased manner, and save the opions for the op-ed.
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:33 pmCorey wayne
You have it exactly right!!! The MSM is the most evil force on the planet!!!!
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:10 pm