Glad MSNBC is being more flexible -- stay well and safe and post as often as you can.

Welcome back Kevin, I look forward to reading your updates. Stay safe.

New to the blog, but you can guarantee I will not be a stranger. I enjoy and appreciate your style, dood.

Great to have you back, Kevin. I enjoyed reading your site and watching you this spring. Your insight is really priceless. Be well.

~Susan
http://easybakecoven.net/

Welcome back Kevin and thanks for the great work and sharing it...

"Every American television network covered the on-time opening of the Iraqi school year with thousands of students treated to rehabilitated buildings, new desks and textbooks. But when American troops are killed in Iraq—no one can argue which story should take precedence."

Well, I'm going to argue. Yes, it is important to cover the occurance of casualties in Iraq. But, to do so in the order of precedence you state is to ignore the fact that they are there to conduct a mission. The mission's progress is story number one, not story number two. To extend your logic to it's ultimate conclusion is to suggest that all deaths in the military worldwide should eat up our airwaves, night in and night out. This approach takes the sacrifice out of context, and in so doing, belittles it.

Kate
http://www.katewerk.com

Terrorism exploits a democracy's free press to attack the morale of its people by dominating the news cycle. It is really scary to read how you so uncritically let them to do this.

Can anyone explain to me the systematic destruction by the U.S. Army of palm groves and citrus orchards in and around Baghdad?

Are they truly for security reasons or reprisals for locals who have refused to cooperate with coalition forces in flushing out dissidents?

How "dangerous" can these trees possibly be?

It is the first principle of journalistic ethics, “learn the truth and report it.”Responsible media don’t pursue these casualties as just a policy scorecard, but as an indication of the actual human costs of this endeavor as well as a documentation of the sacrifice made by those individuals.

So is the only truth that our Soldiers are being killed?
Maybe if you read Chief Wiggles (GI Blogging from Baghdad http://chiefwiggles.blog-city.com/) you'd have some other truth to report on. He has asked his readers to send toys and he is handing them out to some of the children in Baghdad. What about all the GOOD things our Troops are doing? Doesn't that also document their sacifice? The American people do not ask for journalist to report only the good just the ENTIRE story. Good AND Bad! Or as one major news network says, Fair and Balanced!

Edited by author 10-13-2003 11:36 PM
Lance,

maybe it is not the trees that are dangerous maybe it is what hides in those trees. I don't know about you but I'd rather save a soldiers life than save a tree. But that is me.

Kevin, glad your blog is back. To expand on Ordi's point, I'll paraphrase what one blogger (I can't recall who) said. A roller coaster death at Disneyland is news. A happy uneventfull day is not. But, when you have a country, like Iraq, that has been brutalized for the past 30 years, good news IS news. Alas, far too many in your profession don't see it that way, and prefer to treat it like a gang banging in Watts. The reality is, that when you compare the casualties the U.S. military has suffered in two years of war, to the yearly murder toll in Washington, D.C., the military comes out ahead. Mayor Williams would be esctatic, if he could report a one year toll to match. That, however, is not the reality the media is reporting from Iraq.

Kevin,
You said "They make no bones about it, they are happy that Saddam and the Bathists have been ousted, but they are not comfortable being occupied by foreign troops."
Yet the latest Gallup poll shows 71% of the capital city's residents do not want the troops to leave in the next few months.
Will you expand upon this, please?
Nice to have you blogging again!

Edited by author 10-14-2003 11:32 PM
Ordi, I too agree a soldier is worth more than a tree.

But where are these trees? From what I've heard and read, these are ordinary farms nowhere near strategic areas where a sniper could indeed be hiding, waiting to cause havoc.

But on isolated farms on the outskirts of the city? Unless there is more information that we are not yet privy to, it seems more vindictive than security-conscious.

Edited by author 10-15-2003 05:32 AM
Hey guys, good debate about media coverage in Iraq. Some of you Rob, CGeib, Kate -- believe we focus too much on casualties here. I'm curious what you would have us do
when American soldiers are killed and injured? Not report it? Drop it from the front page or to the bottom of the broadcast? If I had a loved one here and they were killed serving their country and that sacrifice only managed a page 15 mention or came after a story about a military toy drive I'd be pretty upset. A soldier who makes the ultimate sacrifice of his or her life here deserves the proper respect of factual and honest reporting concerning the circumstance of their death. This fuels civil debate (like what we're doing here), provides you with information on the challenges faced in this effort and give you a way to keep government and military leaders accountable for the life and death choices that are being made on your behalf.

The motives of most here, the Iraqis, the military the Coalition Provisional Authority, are rarely if every immediately transparent. It takes work to understand what is happening. We in the media don't have an omniscient view. We are making mistakes here--but I assure you, in Iraq we're not alone in that venture. We look, we see, we hear, we report. We hope that eventually these observations will provide a somewhat coherent picture. Somedays deaths dominate the news--because that's what happened here. Sometimes the success of a fledgling democratic governing council in Kirkuk is highlighed because that's what happened.

Hello again What made you go back again? For you was it sort of like gettng back on the horse after the ordeal you had going through Sadams hometown. How long is your coverage there gonna go for. Theres a great deal of work yet to do there in Iraq.I was hoping it was done with but apparently not. take care and be safe Glad to hear you checked it on this sit if that was you on the last msg. bye bye for now

Kevin,

We understand where you are coming from but you missed our point. Civil debate is great; except you do not seem to want to get what we are saying. In a debate, you must also listen and evaluate what your opponent is saying.

Without question, it is important, respectful and proper to report the deaths and the circumstances. We NEVER asked you not to report them nor have we asked you to drop them from the front page or put them at the bottom of the broadcast. Where did you get the false impression of what we are asking for from reporters? We ask you to report the ENTIRE picture. The good, the bad and the ugly! It is that simple.

Despite what some in the media think American soldiers dying is NOT the only thing happening over there! How does reporting the deaths rank as the only story that effectively provides information showing the challenges faced by our soldiers in their effort or the only way to hold government or military leaders accountable for the choices that are being made on our behalf? If you really believe this is the only effective way to obtain that goal then no one can help you understand what we ask of you. That view is such a myopic position that it is chilling as well a disservice to the entire country. To turn one of your arguments around, if you had a loved one stationed over there won’t you be pretty upset that only the bad news is being reported? What about the good things our soldiers are doing for the Iraqi people. Shouldn’t a wife, a child, a mother and father be given the information to be proud of what their loved one is accomplishing to help the Iraqi people and fighting the War on Terror? Don’t those things matter too?

You raise the question of the transparency of the motives of the Iraqis, the military, the CPA but fail to mention the news media also seems to have a problem with the transparency of their motives for only reporting a portion of what is actually happening over there. We, the American public do not have an omniscient view! The press is supposed to be our eyes and ears! You have become partially blind and deaf! Is it the media’s agenda getting in the way?

It is absurd to state that in the entire country on a day-to-day basis a death or a fledgling democratic governing council meeting in Kirkuk is the sole happening worth reporting! How much longer would it take to add a line or paragraph stating another school opened or another so many watts were added to the power grid, oil production is up so many barrels or a group of soldiers visit an orphanage or organized a soccer game. You have all the space you want on your blog; the newscasters could add a sentence or two with film included, the newspapers can add a story and picture on the front page! It is ridiculous to pretend there is not enough time or space for items of this nature! It is also outrageous to deny the importance of items of this nature!

Stay Safe!

Ordi,

let's clarify a few things--
>> Civil debate is great; except you do not seem to want to get what we are saying.<<
why would i not want to "get" what you're saying? i think i understand it very clearly. you think the media focus on the bad news and not the good. how's my comprehension?

>> We ask you to report the ENTIRE picture. The good, the bad and the ugly! It is that simple.<<
I could easily do an archive count for my current network and show you plenty of stories in each category. and i can probably say that for all the networks--with the exception of fox which has taken on the role of U.S.cheerleader. you say you want a balanced approach but that's not true. if you did you know how many stories we've done here that do take into consideration the successes. you just don't want to see the ugly. but unfortunately that's a big part of war coverage--and that is what is still going on here. ninety-six american soldiers killed since the president declared the war was over on may 1st.

>>Despite what some in the media think American soldiers dying is NOT the only thing happening over there!<<
tell that to their wives or mothers. i just went to a memorial service in tikrit this morning.

>>How does reporting the deaths rank as the only story that effectively provides information showing the challenges faced by our soldiers in their effort or the only way to hold government or military leaders accountable for the choices that are being made on our behalf?<<
it's not the only way. just the most important. people are always the story. people dying has a real way of making you focus on an issue. and, to paraphrase you, if you can't see that then "no one can help you understand what we ask of you."

>>That view is such a myopic position that it is chilling as well a disservice to the entire country.<<
oh don't be so dramatic! the only thing chilling is your need to stifle the voice of those who disagree with you with broad, false and insulting statements.

>>fail to mention the news media also seems to have a problem with the transparency of their motives for only reporting a portion of what is actually happening over<<
we make plenty of mistakes. i say so all the time. but what is it that you think we have to gain by reporting only a portion of the story. you think we have some kind of cabal over here and plot to distort the truth. those kind of arguments are beyond silly--they're igonorant. the media who work here or in any conflict zone risk their lives to get you information. we don't get paid more for a certain slant, omission or addition. i've had friends and colleagues die doing this job. They were as most are--highly professional and committed to the whole truth.

>> Is it the media’s agenda getting in the way?<<
please tell me what this agenda is--and what it's getting in the way of?

>>It is absurd to state that in the entire country on a day-to-day basis a death or a fledgling democratic governing council meeting in Kirkuk is the sole happening worth reporting!<<
i would never say anything is the sole happening worth reporting.

>> How much longer would it take to add a line or paragraph stating another school opened or another so many watts were added to the power grid, oil production is up so many barrels or a group of soldiers visit an orphanage or organized a soccer game.<<
these sound like great story ideas.and we've done them all in one form or another--either on tv or in print. maybe you're just not watching or reading enough. or like everyone else--when you hear a story of a soldier's death--that's the one that you remember. that's the one that impacts you--because that is the highest cost of any endeavor.

Hello Kevin,
Thanks for your efforts to provide your first-hand unfiltered (review process) perspective of the news in Iraq. I hope you are open to discuss other topics than what I've seen on your board so far. I see this as an opportunity for me to gain your insights into news events as the rebuilding grinds on.
  Do you see the rebuilding effort more of a European vs. American capitalistic struggle, or do you really see good intentions from all sides of the allied forces that are rebuilding Iraq?
let me try to clarify my thoughts. It seems that the lag of the rebuilding, which is causing unrest of the local Iraqi population, is a result of a power struggle for economic exploitation. It appears the west wants a piece of the oil revenue, and each western govt is trying to make sure theirs is biggest bucket in the well.
Do you see signs of this from your vantage point?
- I probaly only check for responses once per week, but your thoughts are appreciated.

Well kevin on your reponse to ordi. You said there were 96 i believe thats what you said died after war was declared stopped by President Bush. Why do you think we are really there is oil the big reason and how long can our men keep order there. Saddam regime over thrown I thought we would exit then.Are we really helping families there that we may have torn apart by this war and is real progress being made ? And yes there is a respect for men and women like yourself for covering such a dangerous war. And David Bloom comes to my mind his sudden passing. Good job & brave work

I think it's unproductive to blame Kevin for shortcomings we perceive in reporting by the major dailies and radio and TV networks. He can only focus on events that occur in the vicinity where he's working, and, presumably, has less influence than we imagine in deciding what news content finds its way into our homes. However, he did volunteer to hear our complaints.

I also think many of us will find that the internet provides more of what we're looking for in terms of "balance" and in-depth reporting. Excite News carries stories from news services with reporters based in cities all over Iraq where reconstruction and humanitarian activities are taking place. I read an interesting piece today that dealt with tribal rivalries which present difficulties for the coalition in constructing water stations. Regrettably, one has to own a computer to access much of the information that's being generated.

Hey Kev,
Now that you've been back on Iraqi soil for a few days what impressions do you get regarding troop morale. It has made some headlines in the last couple of days. Do you see this as expected frustration from a long tour in a dangerous zone or is there more to it than that?
Thanks,
JC

Bonjour Kevin,
So nice to see you again. Here in Geneva this is the big "Messe" for world telecommunication. Telecom World 2003 will close at the end of the week. Wireless: that the big cry for the next year market. Using wireless or not you plugged us again into the real life. Continue to shoot, to write... Stay alive, we need you here ! A link to our blog would appear on the home page of www.genevacityguide.com
So long
Pier

Great Blogsite, Hey if you got the Time Please visit my Site at www.hoskinson.motime.com The Demagogue Hunter

Edited by author 10-17-2003 05:58 AM
Kevin,

I am pleased you understand what was being said to you on this subject.

I could easily do an archive count for my current network and show you plenty of stories in each category. and i can probably say that for all the networks--with the exception of fox which has taken on the role of U.S.cheerleader.

It is interesting how you’ve label Fox News as a US cheerleader. They must be doing something right, their viewer ship is larger than CNN and MSNBC put together and they are now the number one cable news network in the US. The research disproves your claim. Have a look. http://www.cmpa.com/pressrel/IraqWarPR.htm While the research is only coverage during the war from the first missile strike on March 19th to the fall of Tikrit on April 14th and while reporters were embedded, it does disprove your claim that Fox is the US’s cheerleader. That claim to fame goes to CBS with 74% of its coverage on the nightly news as positive.

What Americans are currently complaining about is the news coverage after the war. I know you use to work at ABC so I don’t think I can make a better case than by using the words of David Westin, President of ABC. Mr. Westin has authored an internal memo. You can find an article on this memo in USA Today at http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20031015/5589826s.htm I am sure you find Mr. Westin and USA Today credible and hopefully impartial in this discussion. Or email one of your old co-workers at ABC to get the full version. I searched the web and could not come up with it.

In the paragraph below, I separated the quotes because I do not know in what order Mr. Westin put them in his memo because I pulled them from the article and I did not want to misrepresent his memo in anyway.

In the memo, he said he has been dissatisfied with media coverage of the war. Also in the memo: “I've been troubled for some time about the reporting of all news organizations on the situation in Iraq,” Also in the memo: “We often seem to be captive to the individual dramatic incidents (emphasis added) -- and those of us in television subject to one that comes with great video. Also in the memo: “ABC News is now going to address this conspicuous (emphasis added) lacking in the reporting to date,” Also in the memo: “Our goal is essentially to conduct an audit across several parts of Iraq, gauging the quality of life for the average citizen.” ABC has joined with Time Magazine in this project. I hope you find Time Magazine credible and unbiased in this discussion. Please realize, the sources I use to craft my expostulation are colleagues of yours. Also realize, Mr. Westin is a businessman giving his customers what they are requesting. Note, it is the same thing I have requested.

you say you want a balanced approach but that's not true. if you did you know how many stories we've done here that do take into consideration the successes. you just don't want to see the ugly. but unfortunately that's a big part of war coverage--and that is what is still going on here. ninety-six american soldiers killed since the president declared the war was over on may 1st. Yes, It is TRUE! The good the bad and the ugly! Yes, the ugly is part of the war coverage! I may be blonde and female but I am not DUMB! Please, do not treat me as if I am and don’t treat me as if I don’t know my own mind or what I want! Do you know me better than I know myself? You are a talented journalist but considering we have never met that is highly unlikely. I came here for a debate not to be insulted and treated rudely. If you don’t want the debate then be manly enough to tell me to go away and I will.
 
tell that to their wives or mothers. I was one of those wives in the first gulf war, believe me when I say any news and all the news we can get is better than sitting there with little or no news! Tell us what our husband and sons are doing not just that they are dying! Moralizing and preaching to us day after day about the deaths is pure torture!

What if most of the news you received from home was there was a sniper in YOUR neighborhood and your girlfriend was in danger every day of being killed by the sniper. I mean no harm to you or your girlfriend but I thought if you could envision the shoe on the other foot MAYBE you would understand what the press is putting us thru! Go ahead, close your eyes, and imagine that scenario, really imagine it. Just thinking about it is agonizing, isn’t it! Our way is civilized and more importantly honest! Remember, you are our eyes and ears! Tell us the good, the bad and the ugly! We are grown ups we can take it.

people are always the story. people dying has a real way of making you focus on an issue. You got it, it’s about the people. ALL the people not just the dying ones! It’s about the living Iraqis, and the living soldiers too. Boy, if you are going around interviewing dead people then you are in the wrong business! Have you thought about becoming a mortician? (that was a joke)

oh don't be so dramatic! the only thing chilling is your need to stifle the voice of those who disagree with you with broad, false and insulting statements. Here you go again! Now you’re the one being dramatic! You say, I have a need to stifle the voice of those who disagree with me???????????????? Now that is laughable! And you accused me of making broad, false and insulting statements???? Look at you! In case you have not noticed I am asking for more information from YOU, not asking you to shut up!!!!!!!How is that stifling YOU???? So let me get this straight, you ask for debate, I engage and challenge you and now I am stifling you? I guess I am dumb! I thought a debate was about EXCHANGING IDEAS!!! OH, which turns out to be the exercise of what? FREE SPEECH! Or were you trying to intimidate me or were you projecting? I don’t know you tell me.

but what is it that you think we have to gain by reporting only a portion of the story. you think we have some kind of cabal over here and plot to distort the truth. I don’t know you tell me. I was only asking questions not making statements. I apologize if you misunderstood my intent.

those kind of arguments are beyond silly--they're ignorant. Again with the broad and insulting statements! You have no clue concerning my intellect or the level of education I achieved.

the media who work here or in any conflict zone risk their lives to get you information. we don't get paid more for a certain slant, omission or addition. I’ve had friends and colleagues die doing this job. They were as most are--highly professional and committed to the whole truth. I appreciate the job the media does for us. I really do. All I asked for was a balance. Yes, your job is VERY dangerous. I appreciate it and think you are courageous. But at the risk of sounding rude, didn’t you choose to be a journalist and didn’t you choose to go BACK over there and didn’t you get added insurance which demonstrates you knew what you were getting into. To play the martyr now, I don’t know it just does not seem quite right. Forgive me, I do not mean to insult you. I really don’t. But I see interviews of families of solders killed over there and they say, “My son would not have had it any other way. Yes, we will miss him but he was proud to serve and defend his country. We are proud of him.” Those sons were also highly professional and committed. Maybe it’s just where I come from. You probably call it “Fly-Over Country”. My Dad served in WWII, besides his family that was the thing he was most proud of! Despite the fact that he was 100% disabled he was never bitter nor did he complain. There was only pride. Fittingly, he died on Veterans Day, Nov 11, 95. My father in law and husband are both retired US Air Force (20 Years). One is 71 the other 45. They both wanted to reenlist and serve in this war. They want to defend this country so we all remain free. I wonder if you have as much respect for them as we have of you and other members of the press. Do you even know a member of the US military in your NORMAL life? You can not count the ones you have met over there. Those are people you have met in the line of duty. You may think it silly, sappy or jingoistic. I don’t know. I do know our military men and women are the only thing standing between the US Citizens and the terrorist and the only thing that has ever kept us free. Your words no matter how eloquent, meaningful, honest and truthful will never keep us free, never have never will. Sorry, that’s the truth.

maybe you're just not watching or reading enough Now this is just silly! LOL I am a self-professed news junkie! I do not jest when I say this. I watch, listen to or read the news at least 12 hours a day! OK, called me obsessed! I will admit that.

or like everyone else--when you hear a story of a soldier's death--that's the one that you remember. that's the one that impacts you--because that is the highest cost of any endeavor. No, I don’t see, read and hear things and let most of it slip out of my pretty blonde head. Nor do most people. We are not all dim-witted. Yes, the deaths have an impact but this is no Vietnam. We had anywhere from 40 to 200 soldiers killed on any given day during Veitnam. This may sound cold it is not meant to be but in reality three to six soldiers killed a week is nothing. No the highest cost is not their deaths it is failure!

I know, I know you are going to say, how dare I, what about the wives and mothers. Truth be known they understand this they really do. I live in a military town, I have many friends with sons, and husbands over there right now! They understand the sentiment because they have themselves said it. So have I! You see, Kevin, my older son (24) is on a ship somewhere in the deep blue sea at this very moment. We do not know where or what he is doing but he is there protecting you, me and my two other sons who are in college. (19 & 22) So we can do the things we want to do, with whom we wish, when we wish. No the highest cost is not their deaths it is failure!

Now you can call that dramatic. It was meant to be. I speak from experience! I have lived 26 years of my life with the privilege, yes privilege of being married to a man who served his country 24/7 for 20 years. Some times, he’d call to tell me he did not know how long he would be gone nor could he tell me where he was going. Try explaining that to a 5 year old. Once while on an undisclosed mission in an undisclosed area he was shot. In the arm and the chest. Thank God, he had a bullet-proof vest on. Being a female, I felt something was very wrong and called him. I had this connection with my Dad too. It took me 15 hours to get a hold of him. I think I pulled out half my hair by the time I talked to him. At the time, he could only tell me he had hurt his back. It was years later when he was retired for a few years that he told me the basics of what had happened. He had been shot by one of the very terrorist groups we are currently fighting, in an area of the world we are currently fighting in. Several service men in his charge were killed in the incident. He was given a purple heart but because the mission was undisclosed the medal never appeared on his record nor will he ever be allowed to wear it or display it. I am sorry for the vagueness of this account but it was an undisclosed mission and we are at war. Now you can call that dramatic. It was not meant to be. It is just something that has happened to me in my life.

I am sorry I may seem emotional about all this but I think you understand! I've told you these things so you could get another perspective. I apologize this is so lengthy. Stay Safe and send your girlfriend flowers! (Sorry, that’s the mom in me)

Our media has always been biased, so what's new? Whether newspapers, television, radio or news magazines, they have had a Republican or Democrat bias. Don't blame that on the reporters. The EDITORS determine what will be printed or aired.

Right, Kevin? Stay safe.

Hello Kevin glad you are back .
I'm wondering for a while now if it was good , bad ...to go in Irak, I would like the Irakis opinions. Do they hate americans ? Are they happyer now ? Do they resent the fact that europeans country like France , Germany didn't come ? Do you think there is hope for the democratisation of the country ?
I'm french and live in US , I read the news in both country , and for on point I have to say that ,it's very difficult to see, read something else than " the bad " .
Stay safe.

Kevin Sites is right. Fox IS a US cheerleader. A recent survey showed that the most uninformed Americans rely on Fox News as their primary source of news. They are most likely to believe Saddam was involved in 9/11 and that WMD have been found in Iraq.

Fox is a useless propaganda outfit and people who pay attention to it end up more ignorant than if they had not watched any news or read any newspaper at all.

Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch know what they're doing.....taking advantage of the ignorance, fears, and prejudices of the least educated fools among us and making them into Republican army that will deregulate the media and put more $$$ in their pockets.

Hey Kevin! So nice to have you back up and running! Hopefully, now, we will recieve some feedback on what is really going on over there. Quite frankly, I have tuned out a lot of the news that is over in Iraq. Can't stand to hear Fox because as you say they are the cheerleaders for the US. Anyway, good luck and stay safe. Looking forward to hearing much more from you!

Elle