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The full picture of Baghdad is grim by Thom Jefferson Apr 7, 2007 Sen. John McCain, in Baghdad last weekend, accused the American press of providing an unbalanced, too-negative report on the situation in Iraq. "The American people are not getting the full picture of what is happening here," he said. McCain's comments came following his tour of a Baghdad market intended to show that life in the Iraq capital is peaceful and normal. |
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By Jim Boyd, Star Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/562/story/1098546.html Sen. John McCain, in Baghdad last weekend, accused the American press of providing an unbalanced, too-negative report on the situation in Iraq. "The American people are not getting the full picture of what is happening here," he said. McCain's comments came following his tour of a Baghdad market intended to show that life in the Iraq capital is peaceful and normal. Unfortunately, McCain did not provide the full picture of what his market visit entailed. Prior to his arrival, the entire neighborhood around the market was swept by American troops. They searched for explosives, assigned informants to circulate and set up a perimeter to secure the area. When McCain did arrive at the market, called Shorja, the New York Times reports, it was "with more than 100 soldiers in armored Humvees -- the equivalent of an entire company -- and attack helicopters circled overhead.... The soldiers redirected traffic from the area and restricted access to the Americans, witnesses said, and sharpshooters were posted on the roofs." As the photo above shows, McCain wore a bulletproof vest throughout the visit, which lasted about an hour. When Times reporter Kirk Semple returned to the market Monday and told merchants that McCain's visit was intended "as evidence that the new security plan for the city was working, the merchants were incredulous about the Americans' conclusions." It has become stock in trade for politicians who don't like the brutal reality of Iraq to accuse "the media" of providing a biased view. But in this case, McCain himself contradicted that worn accusation with a simple walkabout that required 100 soldiers, armored Humvees, three Blackhawk helicopters and two Apache gunships to secure. In the reality-based world that reporters inhabit, that is the "full picture." |
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(2007-05-13 14:56:24) Ok....I'll make a note that Sen. John McCain is a big fat liar. Sen. McCain is first on the list since it's just starting. Anyone else have examples? Someone should start a "BIG FAT LIAR" story/list/editorial~ ....isn't this what we want to clean up? Politicians who give us spin and lie to the American people? Maybe it's just something to be expected- right? It's ok, right? We accept your lies as truth Sen. McCain- all's well in Baghdad. I'm sure it's such a great place now- did you buy vacation property while you were there? Sending the kids off to Baghdad U for schooling will you? Of course not. It's likely because we Americans do have an understanding of what it's like there to a degree. You can't pass off horse manure as gold- and that is why you Senator McCain are on The Big Fat Liar list. | |