BigMac (former combat soldier during peace time): "Right now our army and marines are fighting a series of battles aimed at closing the guerilla’s supply lines. Would you know it from reading the paper? Right now the Iraqi people are shrugging off attempts by foreign fighters to spark a civil war. Would you know it from reading Newsweek? Right now the infant Iraqi military is being bloodied and prepared to take over operations. Would you know it from watching the evening news? Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are winning this war. Casualties are down, Iraqi participation is up, and the country is well on its way to becoming a functioning republic. But that context is lost in the “if it bleeds, it leads” style of reporting. No wonder Americans don’t trust newsmen.

DFO: In last evening's threads, Big Mac responded to an Idaho Statesman poll in which 84-85% of the respondents said the media haven't covered the Iraq war well. Indeed, I look to alternative sources of news to get a fuller picture of what's going on in Iraq beyond the bombings and occasional kidnappings that have fixated the world's media. I applaud Big Mac's service to country. His entire comment can be read on this thread from yesterday here.

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