Iraq Study Group Settles Debate Over 'Negative' War Coverage (under reporting)

[radfringe]

Iraq Study Group Settles Debate Over 'Negative' War Coverage
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003493869
By E&P Staff
Published: December 06, 2006 7:10 PM ET

NEW YORK: For years now, the debate has raged: Does the press overstate the level of violence in Iraq and ignore the overall positive aspect of the U.S. involvment? The Iraq Study Group report today, in its main claim that the situation in Iraq is now "grave" and "deteriorating" would seem to offer a clue to the answer, but more specific details -- providing a "slam dunk" (if we may use that phrase) on the side of the press -- are found in the Intelligence section of the report near its end, starting on page 93.

There we learn, bluntly, that "there is significant underreporting of the violence in Iraq" by the U.S. military. "The standard for recording attacks acts as a filter to keep events out of reports and databases," the report continues.

Looking at one day, the report found undercounting of violent attacks by more than 1000 percent.

--snip--

"Good policy is difficult to make when information is systematically collected in a way that minimizes its discrepancy with policy goals."

[maddezmom]

1. K&R looks like this has hit yahoo, too

Pressure on Bush to do about-turn on Iraq as study reveals bloodshed is under-reported
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1814772006

Bush underreported Iraq violence, report says
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/16180017.htm?source=rss&channel=miamiherald_nation

Too-low tally of attacks serves Bush policy, report says
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1165473592149130.xml&coll=1

[wake.up.america]

3. Anybody who talks to ground troops, as have, who are on R&R , will tell you it's much ...

worse than what we see on most MSM US sources.

[MGKrebs]

21. "Bush underreported..." but I wonder,

if Rummy has been lying to George all this time, and the ISG kind of insisted that he go if there was to be an honest report. Or at least George got pissed at having been lied to so much. Not making excuses for him, just wondering... if Rummy lied about all this, I wonder if Negroponte has been lyingh to George too? Of course he must have been. Shouldn't he be fired too?

[peacetalksforall]

28. I think his handlers have a very delicate problem. I think they

need to stabalize him for a couple of reasons - feed and balance his delusions and keep his ego above a certain level so that he doesn't fall back on liquids or relief that comes in other forms.

I think they've sold him on the idea of being briefed which fits his attention problems and makes him feel important (king like). This also fits in with the way they protect him on motor routes and in audience access to his fund raising and memorial talks and appearances.

I believe it is a full time job for a circle of people and that anyone who gets through the circle must go through serious briefings about what can and cannot be said to him.

In addition, they are always playing the lie game - where he says one thing and just before or after someone else high up says the opposite. Purposeful obfuscation for intentional reasons. People with little time cannot check it out - everyone is saying the opposite - everyone is believing the opposite of each other. It also protects them from future lawsuits. If they tutor him on what to say because they don't want him to slip up, they are playing with continual risk - progressing an agenda of lies without mistakes related to what comes out of his mouth.

[MGKrebs]

36. From a different angle:

They are all about P.R. It's not that they don't care about results, it's just that they think that if they act like (pretend) that they are achieving what they want, then it must be so. When they are confronted with discrepancies I don't think we can really expect them to get serious about substantive changes. They will just pretend to be responsive. Their real goal may be getting control of oil, or enriching themselves, or just reveling in the power, but whatever it is, it evidently can't be spoken about openly because their actions don't even come close to matching their words most of the time.

[Mythsaje]

2. Well, I don't know about anyone else, but it doesn't sound

as though the ISG report is any kind of a "whitewash."

Now whether or not it will do any good, that's another matter.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. I was quite surprised by parts of it.

Coming from a group that counts career diplomats amongst its members, some of the criticisms were downright harsh.

[radfringe]

4. another nugget -- Oil for Sale: Iraq Study Group Recommends Privatization

Oil for Sale: Iraq Study Group Recommends Privatization
By Antonia Juhasz, AlterNet
Posted on December 7, 2006, Printed on December 7, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/story/45190

In its heavily anticipated report released on Wednesday, the Iraq Study Group made at least four truly radical proposals.

The report calls for the United States to assist in privatizing Iraq's national oil industry, opening Iraq to private foreign oil and energy companies, providing direct technical assistance for the "drafting" of a new national oil law for Iraq, and assuring that all of Iraq's oil revenues accrue to the central government. President Bush hired an employee from the U.S. consultancy firm Bearing Point Inc. over a year ago to advise the Iraq Oil Ministry on the drafting and passage of a new national oil law. As previously drafted, the law opens Iraq's nationalized oil sector to private foreign corporate investment, but stops short of full privatization. The ISG report, however, goes further, stating that "the United States should assist Iraqi leaders to reorganize the national oil industry as a commercial enterprise." In addition, the current Constitution of Iraq is ambiguous as to whether control over Iraq's oil should be shared among its regional provinces or held under the central government. The report specifically recommends the latter: "Oil revenues should accrue to the central government and be shared on the basis of population." If these proposals are followed, Iraq's national oil industry will be privatized and opened to foreign firms, and in control of all of Iraq's oil wealth.

The proposals should come as little surprise given that two authors of the report, James A. Baker III and Lawrence Eagleburger, have each spent much of their political and corporate careers in pursuit of greater access to Iraq's oil and wealth.

[maseman]

6. I need to listen to Lush Rimbaugh and Insannity today

What were they saying yesterday? Is Baker a Defeatocrat "cut and runner?" Are these guys losers? Hannity always claims he is a Reagan Conservative so that means he should be licking the boots of Baker and anything he says.

[FreeCajun]

7. "The Iraq Surrender Group" - Rush

Oh yeah, Baker had joined the "Cut and Run" crowd, etc etc.

I didn't listen for too long, his listeners were calling in and talking about how "WE" (meaning the troops) should stay in Iraq forever and ever with hearts and sunshine and rainbows. Once again, these people aren't calling to say that "I am signing up to go over there," so it just irritated me.

[rolfboy]

26. Both Bill Orally and John Gibson were cut and runners last night

just played their "commentaries" on line, and i found it amazing how these neo-cons are now ok with cut and run because Baker and ISG said it was ok.
What's even more incredible is how the masses who soak up everything these Faux journalists say as gospel,and now also become "cut and runners"

[calimary]

30. Welcome to DU!

Indeed. I'd be happy with just the "cut" part.

FWIW - here's my take on it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3006712&mesg_id=3006712

humbly submitted.

[ryanmuegge]

40. Of course. Anything to do the right PR thing for the Republicans...

Principles be damned. All Gibson, O' Riely, Limbaugh, Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, et. al care about are tax cuts. Everything else is just a smoke-screen issue.

[followthemoney]

22. Maybe Limbaugh will declare he is tired of carrying water for Bush.

[maxrandb]

31. Rush wants to make Dec 6TH

the official Baker-Hamilton Day since it's also the day before Pearl Harbor. He equated the ISG Report and the urging of talks with Iran and Syria to the secret cable FDR sent to Japan urging diplomatic solutions.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. I can see it now --

The iraqi oil industry is privatized, bought up by Carlyle Group companies; the military presence is drawn down, leaving only what is needed to protect the oil interests; subsequently, the level of violence drops off, and the repugs proclaim victory, with Poppy's New World Order running the show and the neocons marginalized, and the successful repugs can point to their success to plant someone else they like in the white house in 08.

[Amonester]

27. Won't happen because nothing in Iraq will ever change...

...as long as the Imperialist two-percenters will be there (US), the Iraqi resistance will keep up blowing up pipelines, no matter how much more or how much less troops will be sent there (at the expense of taxpayers). All we're seeing this week is just "window-dressing" in an attempt to "salvage" the criminal chimperor's "legacy" and don't worry (...), their M$M shills will be back at reporting the important news about all things Britney Spears on Monday.

[tabasco]

35. The oil is what it's really all about. Anyone who thinks otherwise

just ain't that bright. CONTROL of the oil, not necessarily pumping it and selling it.

As far as I can see, the robber baron plan is going according to plan. They knew Iraq was going to go to hell, the welfare of the Iraqi people was not a consideration for the neocons. They put our military in a deadly quagmire for corpoRATe profits. If that's not treason, I don't know what is. The ISG seems to be a planned transition point. US troops will completely end all security operations not involving oil facilities.

[Roland99]

24. "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!"

[leftchick]

5. molding events around the policy

it is bushco**s way. I certainly hope this does not come as a shock to anyone.

[saigon68]

8. That's the way War Criminals operate

Especially the War Thugs known at (THE BUSH CRIMINALS)

[LynnTheDem]

11. The Republic Party idiots were right! DAMN that media!!!

"there is significant UNDERREPORTING OF THE VIOLENCE in Iraq"

Oh wait...the Republic Party morans were 100% wrong.

Again.

Gee who could have known.

[A Simple Game]

15. That line alone would have meant four or five additional

Democratic house seats if it had been released before the elections.

Can't politicize an election by firing a secretary of defense or releasing a report before an election now can we?

[mnmoderatedem]

12. has anyone noticed this or is it just me?

that there had actually been less and less bitching about liberally biased media coverage regarding the war than there had been earlier? Seemed to me that for several months prior to yesterday's realease, there has not been much griping from right wingers about biased war coverage; perhaps coming to the grudging realization that - surprise! - it is in fact a freaking disaster over there.

Is it just me?

[originalpckelly]

13. Nope, not just you, I have noticed it too...

I guess they are moving back to reality instead of conservative lala land.

[bobthedrummer]

14. They settled nothing of the sort, only perception managing a bit differently.

"Reality vs. perception management..."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x71919

[radfringe]

16. an attempt to display the disparity of violence reporting

level of Violence according to the bushies:

**********

Violence according to media:

******************************

actualy level of violence:

****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** **********************

[groovedaddy]

17. Idiots from the KY Delegation

The Courier-Journal submitted written questions to our congressional delegation on the Iraq Study Group report, asking them where they stand on a couple of issues.

What is noteworthy is how Senator Bunning (R) and Rep. Geoff Davis (R) show themselves to be disturbingly out of sync with the rest of the Kentucky delegation over the question: "Should the United States engage in negotiations with Iran and Syria to find ways to stop sectarian violence in Iraq, and why or why not?"


U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky.
"I do not support engaging in negotiations with rogue nations such as Iran and Syria that are known sponsors of terrorist groups in Iraq, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza.

"I do not believe that we should give terrorists a seat at the negotiating table. Such a shift in our nation’s foreign policy could have grave consequences for our national security."

U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky.
"It is important to the stability of the Middle East to increase the diplomatic dialogue between all of Iraq’s neighbors. The United States will not negotiate with Iran and Syria regarding Iraq’s future — that is for the Iraqis to determine."

More at:
http://www.bluegrassreport.org/

[Roland99]

25. Bunning was one of the 2 Repuke Senators to vote against Gates' nomination

Bunning is fucking senile.

[demo_not_full]

29. I am a Kentuckian ...

and I completely agree with you. Davis is over my district and I was surprised to see either one of those incompetents to get reelected. Our state is still behind in the times.

On another note about the war...

Has anyone posted anything regarding the use of depleted Uranium ammunition by the Americans causing extreme birth defects in Iraqi babies and American babies as well??

The name of Dr. Siegwart Horst-Gunther seems to sprk alot of controversy but only because there are those in this country who want the people in the dark it seems. Maybe this is an issue that needs to be more exposed. Just a thought.

[chknltl]

34. Yes... DUers by and large are aware of this.

The topic comes up for discussion here quite often. Last October Senators Jim McDermott and Maria Cantwell (both Wa. Dems), managed to get a bill passed to study the effects of DU, (depleted uranium oxide), poisoning among our returning vets. Senator McDermott was sounding the alarm of DU poisoning of Iraqi citizens (especially children), during the run up to this Iraqi fiasco. McDermott has a medical background, has worked quite closely with Leuren Morett and has collected extensive files on DU and the harm it has/is doing.

I for one would like to see this crime against humanity get the exposure it deserves in the msm. I hope the McDermott/Cantwell bill will be a positive step toward that direction. BTW click on my lil' blue sig. line below, (Beyond Treason), it is a linc to an informative DVD which addresses the topic of PTSD and our troops. About 1/3rd of the DVD is about DU. This DVD is free to all vets...it is a bit tedious to watch but the info is solid. My personal opinion is that the supporters of the bush admin should be forced to watch an honest documentary on what the use of DU has done to the world. I strongly feel that the arms manufacturers and their paid for government officials should be made to personally clean up the DU oxide which has contaminated much of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Iraq before they are shipped off to Gitmo.

If you are able to, use the Democratic Underground Search at the top of the page, you will find lots of great threads here inre this topic. Lastly: a big welcome to the Democratic Underground, (DU too), demo_not_full.
:hi:

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Yeah, but the Iraq Study Group is only reporting the bad news. nt

[sui generis]

19. well, until we start seeing the real war

our soldiers coming home in aluminum boxes, their kids lying shot and blown up in the streets of baghdad, the aftermath of every suicide bomb and i.e.d., we haven't earned the right to report "good" news.

I wonder if we're going to change dumbfuck's pollicy on hiding this war from the news? Let's start with cargo delivery at Dover.

[MethuenProgressive]

20. I'm surprised at the candor of the Study Group..

..considering it's made up completely of Washington Insiders.

[antiimperialist]

23. I agree with you

Some claimed that this was a commission pre-determined to save Bush's reputation. But it makes no sense because it was a bi-partisan commission.

I think the report was ok, but by no means a whitewash.

[madrchsod]

32. every one who opened their eyes

knew we were being lied to. i guess this report is just a confirmation on what has happened since the day bush launched his war.

[Loge23]

33. He has got to go.

If even a Washington Insider report, chaired by the guy who engineered his selection as president, can be this damning in its recap of the events in Iraq then why is this piece of s^#* still in the White House???
He has to go. Now!!
Impeach Immediately!!

[whistle]

37. Under reporting is an under statement....suppression of free journalism

....and official Pentagon and White House intimidation of journalists is much closer to why we know so little about Iraq

[yellowcanine]

38. Sounds like the "credibility gap" form the 60's. This fiasco is more and more like 'Nam every day.

[libodem]

39. Congress should have an oversight committee on the number of

journalists killed in Iraq by 'friendly fire' since this war started. A lot of foreign corespondents have died as well. Freedom of the press is under attack as much as any of the other articles of the constitution destroyed by the Patriot Act. That thing should be illegal because it IS unconstitutional.