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July 23, 2005

"Truth is the First Civilian Casualty"

A Newsweek 'Web Exclusive'

Tens of thousands of Iraqis have died since 2003. But killings by U.S. troops are not nearly as common as the war’s critics would like us to believe.

...But how often, really? The answer: not very often, in fact. And not nearly often enough to make the 150,000 U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq the leading scourge of Iraq's civilians. That dishonor goes, hands down, to the insurgents. Even one incident is bad, of course, and there have been many. But civilian killings by U.S. troops are not nearly as common as the critics of the war in Iraq would like us to believe. It has become an article of faith among them that American troops have been slaughtering Iraqi civilians indiscriminately, and that one of the consequences of the war has been an unconscionable loss of life among the civilian population. It just isn't true.

READ it. Then email Newsweek to ask why they didn't have the cajones to put this in all their print editions. This way they can say, "look at us - we've told the other side of the story!" 'Web exclusive', indeed. Everyone who buys the print edition has a right to read this.

Posted by tree hugging sister at July 23, 2005 05:08 PM

Comments

This is an excellent article. It's even balanced, unlike a lot of the dreck I read in most MSM publications.

And, as you say, that's probably why Newsweek didn't print it in their hardcopy edition.

What's the right e-mail address for the Newsweek editorial staff, THS?

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at July 23, 2005 05:33 PM

JeffS, what I have found in this week's print edition is: letters@newsweek.com

..."and must include name address and telephone number" (which should be a hoot for you).

I'll keep digging through this, because the print is teenytiny and I've probably missed something.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at July 23, 2005 06:04 PM

More stuff Newstard fails to trumpet.
In its issue dated January 11, 1999, Newsweek quoted an anonymous "Arab intelligence officer who knows Saddam personally" as warning that "very soon you will be witnessing large-scale terrorist activity run by the Iraqis" against Western targets. The Iraqi plan would be run under one of three "false flags": Palestinian, Iranian, and the "al Qaeda apparatus." All of these groups, Newsweek reported, had representatives in Baghdad.

The Four Day War
(page 2, halfway down)

Posted by: guinsPen at July 23, 2005 07:22 PM

"If the news don't fit, you must omit"

Posted by: Ken Summers at July 23, 2005 11:19 PM

Thanks, THS, I'll see if I can figure out how to explain DSN to editorial staff who likely have, ummmmm, "limited" military experience.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at July 24, 2005 06:23 AM

guinsPen, great link for a good read. Thanks for sharing and a swill welcome aboard!

Posted by: tree hugging sister at July 24, 2005 02:20 PM