I admit it.
OK, I wasn't exactly wrong, I still think the Observer does a daily disservice to our men and women in uniform, and I still think their choice of headline was absurd, but it's becoming obvious that the soldier accused of heinous acts is probably guilty.
The only other thing I'm going to say on this subject with what's left of our Nation's birthday, is that unlike the criminals who routinely rape, torture, kill, mutilate and terrorize Iraqis, Americans and others who don't support their cause, our soldiers who commit crimes will be prosecuted, will be condemned by the entire world, and if found guilty, will be brought to justice, even put to death if that's the punishment they deserve.
I can admit I was wrong to suggest that our soldiers were being framed in this instance, but I still stand by my assertion that it can be, and probably is, a tactic employed by our enemies to accuse of of things we do not do. I also suppose, as one commenter suggests, that there are other cases that go unreported like the one in question here. What galls me is when newspapers try to make it appear as though all that's going on in Iraq are U.S. perpetrated atrocities. The amount of good we are doing over there far outweighs the bad, but you'd never know it, and for sure our enemies and potential friends abroad never would either! If they have a dim view of the U.S., it's not only because these crimes are committed, it's because the media only covers the crimes, not our efforts to fully investigate, prosecute and punish the offenders.
Put another way, when Insurgents recently kidnapped and slaughtered two of our own soldiers, did the papers react with the same degree of horror? Did they print stories about it above the fold, in bold letters, for days? (Hint: the correct answer is NO). Crickets were heard chirping in the E.U. and other allied nations as well. But with this story? As horrible as it is, you'd think it's something we do all the time, all over Iraq, with impunity.
I realize papers exist to sell papers, not to be "balanced," but given that freedom of the press is only protected by the brave actions of soldiers like the ones in Iraq, men and women who volunteer to do so, you'd think--or at least you'd hope--they'd WANT to be more balanced in their reporting, regardless of who sent the soldiers or why they are there.
On that note, I'm going to bed. Happy Birthday America, God bless and keep you free.
Posted by insomnomaniac at July 4, 2006 11:12 PM | TrackBack