Setback to US image in war

[Rose Siding]

CAIRO – The killing of a wounded and apparently unarmed Iraqi by a US marine, videotaped by an embedded reporter from NBC on Saturday and broadcast around the world, is stirring anger in the Middle East and elsewhere.
That anger, reminiscent of the outcry that followed the release of torture photos from Abu Ghraib prison, is the latest upsurge in a propaganda war that the US has been embroiled in from the get-go in Iraq. US officials say an investigation has begun.

The act itself, perhaps a result of the fog of war, perhaps an act of revenge, represents a key challenge for the Marines. Keenly aware that US excesses in the past have turned global opinion against the war in Iraq, and thereby threatened US strategic objectives, commanders repeatedly have warned their subordinates not to shoot unarmed or seriously injured men.

The notion that armies are only as good as their least disciplined soldier in the media glare of modern warfare has become almost a matter of doctrine, given the need for enlisted men to think quickly in stressful situations.
...............
Yet in the heat of the moment Saturday, a young marine did severe damage to the image of a precise and clean assault that the US had hoped to project from Fallujah. The footage has already become more fodder on jihadi websites peddling the conspiracy theory that the US is on a crusade against global Islam. It also caused cringing in the capitals of US friends and allies. Tuesday, UN Human Rights chief Louise Arbour called for an investigation of alleged US abuses in Fallujah.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1117/p01s02-woiq.html

[VioletLake]

1. It was already a picture of pornographic barbarity.

How much worse can it get?

[saigon68]

15. AND TO THINK CHENEY THOUGHT THESE PHOTOS WERE THE LAST

Thugs and Hoodlums

[Politicub]

2. Uhm, I think that setback happened with Abu Gharib

Or maybe when we preemtively attacked Iraq is when the "setback" happened. I dunno. Lets ask Jesusland.

[Skittles]

3. the SETBACK happened when that bastard stole the White House

it has been all downhill since then.

[gratuitous]

4. Oh dear! Our image is tarnished

I mean, certainly, it's too bad for that fellow who got his head blown off, but what is that compared to the damage to our nation's reputation? Dearie me! Didn't that fellow think about the consequences to smug Americans' self-image before he put his head in the line of fire?

[wtmusic]

6. I know, it's kinda strange

and all those Iraqis throwing themselves into the way of our bullets, so that they can have liberty...I'm afraid I'll never understand Muslims

[apnu]

19. Odd... how can one tarnish tarnish?

eh Major Major?

[LisaL]

5. Oh boy.

And in the time when we had such a good image.
:eyes:

[Fleurs du Mal]

7. We're rock bottom for a long time now

Very hard to go any lower...without actually digging the hole deeper which is what the Pentagon directive appears to be.

[Atlant]

9. We could go lower.

> We're rock bottom for a long time now
>
> Very hard to go any lower...

We could go lower. Haven't you heard folks in Jesusland suggesting
we should just "glass" the place?

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

Atlant

[NNN0LHI]

10. We already been there. Long time ago n/t

[Brundle_Fly]

8. and after all that hard work in

Grenada, clearing up our "Nam" image

[Zorra]

11. "The act itself, perhaps a result of the fog of war"...

"the image of a precise and clean assault that the US had hoped to project"...

My God, my God, what has happened to my country?
:cry:

[placton]

16. Yeah, again, the press BS's for Bush

Now I know how the Germans felt in Hitler's Germany - you know, the ones who did not buy into the Nazi Party? Remember, that a majority of Germans voted against Hitler the 1st time he ran, too.

I lived thru the 60's, and never imagined it could get this bad. And, it will get worse - much worse.

[tlcandie]

23. Gotta LOVE this language...!!!

<snipped from original article>
...a young marine did severe damage to the image of a precise and clean assault that the US had hoped to project from Fallujah.

[LynnTheDem]

12. Killing 800+ civilians, razing hospitals, and refusing aid convoys entry

in Falluja hasn't helped much either. Nor the killing of 100,000+ Iraqi civilians overall.

But really, America lost all positive image the day bushCartel started their lying to get their illegal invasion & occupation of Iraq.

Rightwingnuts think the entire planet is as stupid as they are.

Rightwingnuts are wrong.

The entire planet knows the 1991 Gulf War was nothing but a pack of lies from bush I administration, and they knew from the get-go that it was nothing but a pack of lies from bush II administration.

US State Media also forgets that their lies are seen by the rest of the world. bushCartel and their pundits are successful at keeping lots of Americans dumb as dirt; they do not, however, dupe anyone else in the world.

[UpInArms]

13. the dumbing down of Amerika is almost complete

and next summer FAUX will be unveiling its "business" channel - thereby convincing the programmed sheeple that 2 + 2 really does equal 5.

:(

[Mandate My Ass]

14. How can war ever have a good image?

Especially this one. Do they really think anybody buys this liberation B.S.?

[saigon68]

17. THESE ARE THE IMAGES THAT WILL BE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/05/06/430_leash,0.jpg

[Voltaire99]

21. And isn't it telling that these images had no power...

...no power, none, to change the election? Nor to change the minds of the so-called Godly?

Nothing new in this: much of Murrica loves to see "our boys" do unto others. It's true of most nations at war. I believe, Saigon, at other times we have discussed the public backlash against the trial of Lt. Calley...

(Then again, if Kerry hadn't been as pro-war as Bush, the images might have been used effectively in the campaign. I suspect it wouldn't have made much difference, but at least he would have been on the right side of the issue.)

[saigon68]

22. You are correct Voltaire99

Lost in all of the troop worship is the fact, that crimes as horrific as the nazis are being committed. The only thing they haven't done is issue a soap stone and a free peg to hang your clothes on--- when you are told to enter the Shower.

[ElectroPrincess]

18. We do have a wonderful image ... to the mindless FOX viewers

The Main Stream Media has gone way right but not quite outFOXed FOX. I just heard on CNN that the lauded and esteemed American Press are oh so much more sensitive to their viewers while the dastardly Muslim and other old European media keeps showing horrific videos over and over ... without concern of the sensitivities of their viewers.

WTF?!? The International Media is giving their viewers the *uncensored* story while those of us in the USA are being spoon fed pro-occupation propaganda.

[__Inanna__]

24. Yes, sad but true

and I have had to severely limit contact with those kind of people, and it's too bad, cause one of 'em is my elderly mother, whom I love. I just cannot stand to hear her say one more time, THEY ARE HAPPY WE ARE THERE. Of course, she gets her news from Faux and is old, but still doesn't make it any easier for me to talk to her without going ballistic. I popped over into Conservative Underground just to check it out. It is DAMN scary. I came across a post with someone advocating, "nuke them," and a smiley face. I really wish I could live in lala land like they do, but I know better. At least I'd be happier until the end. :-(

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. No kidding. The classic photo from Vietnam, with the RVN

security officer executing a VC, drew a firestorm. And that was just an ally.

This one was us.

[saigon68]

25. This one by EDDIE ADAMS