o'reilly on media war coverage

Bill O'Reilly in the New York Daily News - Monday, April 7th, 2003:

Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about the Iraqi war press coverage has been the misleading headlines that have appeared in some major American newspapers. The words "fierce fighting" and "ferocious resistance" have been used time and time again to describe the Iraqi performance on the battlefield. On more than one occasion, I thought I was reading about Stalingrad or Iwo Jima.

But there was always one major problem with the articles: American and British casualties have been light - very light.

It is, of course, very difficult to know the truth about specific battles, because even the reporters with the troops are often kept away from the direct action for their own safety. And unfortunately, many in the American media hype stories all over the place to attract readers and viewers. Can you imagine the reporting on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima today? I can't.

Also, some media outlets want the war in Iraq to go poorly for the Bush administration for political reasons. Thus, the more chaos and uncertainty that war headlines and stories can produce, the better the ultimate outcome will be as far as they're concerned. These ideologues masquerading as news people are hoping for a Pyrrhic victory so the hawks will not gain power and prestige.

I deeply resent that kind of game playing with news, especially concerning a story that is vitally important to all Americans. So, in this column, I am going to do something about it.

A few days ago, I was handed an E-mail from the Iraqi front. It came from a U.S. Army colonel in the 3rd Infantry Division. He is deeply angered over much of the reporting he is seeing in the American media. I have to protect his identity because the Pentagon does not like its officers going off the reservation and providing journalists like me with this kind of perspective. The following is what his E-mail said:

"The 3rd is making history here. In the past 48 hours, we have destroyed two [Iraqi] divisions, and six other divisions decided not to fight or have formally capitulated. Of course, this is never reported in the news. I do daily air recon in a Black Hawk escorted by Apaches, and we have probably killed close to 10,000 [Iraqi soldiers]. We are continuously sniped at and receive periodic mortar fire. Bottom line, they shoot - they die. Every American soldier is getting a chance to engage and kill the enemy.

"Iraq has these maniacs, death squad guys called Saddam Fedayeen, DGS forces, IIS and Baath Party forces that we spend most of our day killing. They continuously make suicidal charges at our tanks, Brads [Bradley fighting vehicles] and checkpoints. We are happy to send them to hell.

"You would not believe the carnage. Imagine body parts about knee deep, with hundreds of [Iraqi] vehicles burning, occupants inside. We fill up trucks with body parts daily. The plan is going exactly as scripted. The news is full of s---. We have almost total control. Don't know how much longer the division can keep up this pace, but we are prepared to do it."

Compare that account with what you are reading in the papers and hearing on the television news. Does it compute? If it doesn't, then your news outlet may not be doing its job.

The E-mail I quoted is genuine in every way. It was not solicited, it was not hyped. It is an eyewitness report from an American field commander who wants you to know what your military is experiencing.

And now you do.