[Vision2020] Nationalism In Iraq

[WMSteed@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/30/03 9:03:01 AM, escape@alt-escape.com writes:

<< you were also probably sucked in by 
the following fifteen bungled stories:

1. Saddam may well have been killed in the first night's surprise attack 
(March 20).

UNTIL HE OR HIS SONS TO HOLD UP A CURRENT NEWSPAPER ON TV, IS THERE ANY 
EVIDENCE HE WASN'T?

2. Even if he wasn't killed, Iraqi command and control was no doubt 
"decapitated" (March 22).

THERE IS EVIDENCE IT WASN'T?

3. Umm Qasr has been taken (March 22).

THERE IS EVIDENCE IT HASN'T?  HOW CAN THE BRITISH BE OFFLOADING HUMANITARIAN 
SUPPLIES THERE IF THE IRAQI FORCES STILL CONTROL THE CITY?

4. Most Iraqis soldiers will not fight for Saddam and instead are 
surrendering in droves (March 22).

GUESS THIS ONE DEPENDS ON THE DEFINITION OF "DROVES"

5. Iraqi citizens are greeting Americans as liberators (March 22).

AGAIN, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF CITIZENS?  SOMEONE HAS BEEN PICTURED ON TV 
DOING SO.

6. An entire division of 8,000 Iraqi soldiers surrendered en masse near 
Basra (March 23).

HEARD THIS ONE AGAIN THIS AM; ACCOMPANIED BY THE STATEMENT IT WAS A MISTAKE 
TO RELEASE THEM AS THEY ARE NOW BEING FORCED TO FIGHT AGAIN.

7. Several Scud missiles, banned weapons, have been launched against U.S. 
forces in Kuwait (March 23).

AND EXACTLY WHAT HAVE THE PATRIOT MISSILES BEEN SHOOTING DOWN?  WAS THE 
CHINESE SILKWORM MISSILE THAT BOUNCED INTO THE MALL A "BANNED WEAPON?'

8. Saddam's Fedayeen militia are few in number and do not pose a serious 
threat (March 23).

AGAIN, DEFINITION OF "SERIOUS"?

9. Basra has been taken (March 23).

IT HASN'T?  DON'T TELL THE BRITISH

10. Umm Qasr has been taken (March 23).

SEE NUMBER 3 ABOVE

11. A captured chemical plant likely produced chemical weapons (March 23).

NOT PROVED EITHER WAY TO MY KNOWLEDGE

12. Nassiriya has been taken (March 23).

EXCEPT FOR POCKETS OF RESISTANCE

13. Umm Qasr has been taken (March 24).

SEE NUMBER 3, ABOVE

14. The Iraqi government faces a "major rebellion" of anti-Saddam citizens 
in Basra (March 24).

DEFINITION OF "MAJOR"

15. A convoy of 1,000 Iraqi vehicles and Republican Guards are speeding 
south from Baghdad to engage U.S. troops (March 25). >>

WISH THEY HAD.  APPARENTLY EITHER UNTRUE OR NONE LEFT TO QUESTION.


ALL THE ABOVE PROVES IS THAT THE MEDIA IS TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF EACH OTHER 
BY REPORTING SOMETHING FIRST, SOMETIMES PREMATURELY OR INACCURATELY.  IF YOUR 
POINT IS IN THE TIMING OF THE REPORTS, IT SEEMS MANY WERE NOT CORRECT AT THE 
MOMENT THEY WERE FIRST REPORTED.  HOWEVER, MOST HAVE NOW COME TO BE THE CASE. 

WALTER STEED