“IraqSlogger” warmly endorsing crude propaganda

26 thoughts on ““IraqSlogger” warmly endorsing crude propaganda”

1. What makes no sense to me is how Nir Rosen fits into all this, considering his views seemingly could not be more divergent than those of Zuckerman et. al.

2. Helena,
   This bit of news reported by our friend John C. long time ago here, I think might these guys get the shot…
   U.S. military leaders in Baghdad have put out for bid a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for extensive monitoring of U.S. and Middle Eastern media in an effort to promote more positive coverage of news from Iraq.
   The contract calls for assembling a database of selected news stories and assessing their tone as part of a program to provide “public relations products” that would improve coverage of the military command’s performance, according to a statement of work attached to the proposal.
   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/30/AR2006083003011.html

3. Helena,
   You’re no boy! But, you know a naked emperor when you see one.
   I can’t begin to express the respect and appreciation I hold for your outstanding analysis of Iraqslooger.

4. When it comes to Irag, The New York Times has endorsed crude propaganda; the Washington Post has endorsed crude propaganda; and we all know that FAUX NEWS — if not CNN, NBC, and CBS, et al — has endorsed little else. Compared to the damage these so-called “mainstream” media outlets have done to the truth, I don’t suppose an insignificant little You-Tube website offers much to fear.
   As for tasteless humor, I spent almost six years in Uncle Sam’s Canoe Club (a.k.a., the United States Navy) and cannot truthfully say that I heard any other sort during all that time; so even Dick Cheney’s language cannot make me blush. The profligate looting of the treasury by Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, on the other hand, does lead me to protest that drunken sailors get a bum rap by comparison when it comes to fiscal discipline.
   Anyway, I believe the Buddha said that you can’t give offense to anyone unwilling to take it; so if you find yourself tempted to accept someone’s offer of free offense, you might want to just refuse the gift and let it remain with the giver. Personally, the old sailor in me prefers to compose tasteless poetry as my way of leaving our government’s intended insults (like “surges” of more staying in Iraq) unopened, dead on arrival, and marked “return to sender.”

5. Helena, Mike:
   I too wonder about Nir Rosen’s involvement. He has always been a solid journalist with a beating conscience.

6. Zucker’s anti-Baker video is scarcely more than a visualization of the verbiage that runs rife across the pages of National Review, Weekly Standard, the WSJ editorial page, and The American Prospect, to say nothing of the slogans that abound on talk radio. One-thrid to one-half the people who dail into programs on CSPAN recite the same tirades. Loads of Democrats gleefully ape and promote the same world-views. Great Apes Silvestre Reyes and Harry Reid want to send more troops to Iraq than even King Kong McCain. Watch them all whoop up a scare over the consequences of a failure to *surge* US forces to prevent disaster–Muqtada chasing us back to Peoria, etc. Hilary will be the model … waffler, concurring with a surge, but later disavowing guilt for its failure.

7. He has always been a solid journalist with a beating conscience.
   That’s what he prepared for!
   They let you believe in him and now what he said reflecting the image that stored in the minds most of you about him…. call this “Nir Propaganda”

8. Maneuver planner Dennis Tighe: The insurgency in Iraq hit the US military like an earthquake.

9. I’d like to know where IraqSlogger gets their money.

10. Direct hit! Conclusive and very timely. Brava

11. Salah,
    I really don’t know any “behind the scene” secrets. Yet he has consistently been a strong advocate for Iraqis and their rights, and has been quite relentless in bringing their suffering at the hands of the occupation to the forefront of the Western public eye.

12. Salah,
    I just read some of your comments about NR on another string. In US colloquial language, kids can mean young people, as in college kids, party kids, etc. I don’t personally know NR, but I don’t think he was practicing pedophilia in Iraq, or elsewhere. And I understand that you don’t like Iran and Shia, and that makes him more “suspect”, but objectively, I have not seen anything to assume he is a spy or … Yes he has said some things that you or I may disagree with, but how many Western journalists have repeatedly made statements like:
    “Americans cannot simply observe the horror of Iraq and shake their heads in wonder, as if it were Rwanda and they had no role. America is responsible for the new chaos in Iraq, which began following the invasion and the botched and brutal occupation. Iraq’s people continue to suffer under the American occupation and civil war, just as they did under the American-imposed sanctions and bombings before the war, and just as they did under the years of dictatorship. Once more they are mere victims of powers they cannot control. Saddam is out and the Americans are in, but Iraq is still a republic of fear.”
    or: “Would the withdrawal of U.S. troops ignite a civil war between Sunnis and Shiites? No! The civil war is already under way—in large part because of the American presence. The longer the United States stays, the more it fuels …”

13. David,
    I really don’t know any “behind the scene” secrets
    David, I believe you, I did not questioning you.
    But sorry to say I don’t agree with you about he is “a strong advocate for Iraqis and their rights” he is the man he makes the stories, if you read his 2003 story first of all he highlights “Shia’a” which is in any Iraqi mind at that time means nothing and its a shame if any Iraqi talk about these things, he put it and bring it as some thing he discovered or widely exist in Iraqi society to make you believe in some thing which is not right, if he were went to a poor Sunni area and “joined a local gym, mostly Shia neighborhood kids who worked out under horrible conditions.” as he likes to state he will find same poor kids and he will not have problems at that time, but he made his story to you, we all know all Iraqi kids “under horrible conditions.” because of 13 years of sanction and very corrupted and hatred regime.
    BTW, in Iraq I tell you there are no pure Shia’at area even to street level in Iraq this is fake, the recent killing and forcing Iraqis to move is a plan to make this on the ground that’s you see the dead bodies on the street in Baghdad because simply people refusing leaving their homes and friends, it reach to point they give notice one week if you don’t move you will be killed.
    The other point from same his writing 2003 he painted himself under threats and hiding, moving under a lot of fear from Iraqis this just obsolete fake and untrue Iraqi in 2003 when American get to Baghdad they throw their weapons and they welcomed the new reality and every one waiting from the American what next, as fare I know ( this from inside Iraq from my family)no Iraqi like to fight for dead and hatred regime but if they humiliated like US did after 2004 they will be angry and its easy they will fights if they threaten or insulted by foreigners, and I believe this is common sense and will happing any where in the world but the reactions vary.
    So for him he painted a picture of some one make Hollywood show mixing it with the suffering and humiliations of Iraq which is every one talking and there are many journalists, normal Iraqis did and doing it but the most western media and western ears turn their back to them, most of those high voices Iraqi journalists killed like Atwar Bahajet and others simply they talking and tried to uncover the truths what’s happing they are “a strong advocate for Iraqis and their rights” but not serving US propaganda in any shape or form.

14. And I understand that you don’t like Iran and Shia,
    David, I hate Iran’s Regime and Iran Mullahs not Iran or Iranians, I knew Mullahs with their doggy things and you may be now see their acts in Iraq or you did knew Khomeini time when the west exposed to Mullahs, for me I seeing them went I am 12 years old and I heard and I saw their practices in our Iraqi society (most if not all them are Iranian citizens “illegally in Najaf, Karbalah, Kadimiyah”.
    I don’t how you reach to this “And I understand that you don’t like …..and Shia!!, Please don’t put your words in my mouth, I am Iraqi Muslim.
    I think I demonstrated the opposite when one Iraqi joined our discussion her he was bashing me but in the end he agrees with me and apologise of his strong words when he started and I think Helena recall that well.

15. David,
    but I don’t think he was practicing pedophilia in Iraq, or elsewhere.
    He is not an angel, this behaver so common in US

16. Lastly David, Nir and all who set himself as “a strong advocate for Iraqis and their rights,” I like to tell me your reactions and your behaviours if you “a nation” living as the Iraqi living right now because of your occupation , your polices and your troops and all those involved in this Man Made Disastrous case for 26 Millions people because of one criminal stupid man supported by US 35yeras ago who jumped to the power by your approval and massacre the nation for a long 35 years but what you did in 4yeras its more fare than what he did in 35 years to these incants 26millions people in Iraq.

17. Salah,
    1- “… your reactions and your behaviours if you “a nation” living as the Iraqi living right now because of your occupation , your polices and your troops …” You are writing all the sins of the US on my tab. Why? Do you know where I am from?
    2-“He is not an angel, this behaver so common in US” I don’t know of any proper statistics that shows sexual deviancy is more or less common in certain nations. Again, I am not defending anyone. All I say, you cannot insinuate he’s a pedophile since he went to gym with some “kids” (meaning young men).
    3-“Please don’t put your words in my mouth” I don’t know what you categorically think about Shia, but I have seen on different threads how you find Shia responsible for all varieties of problems, whether in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, etc. Again, I am not their defender either, but is is quite clear that you do not view them with any sympathy.
    4- “I hate Iran’s Regime and Iran Mullahs” I am not fond of them either, not a bit. But if I had to chose between them and the Jordanian, Saudi or Egyptian governments, I would not have a doubt. That is the thing about your posts that I don’t understand. You are on the people’s side, though you sometimes side with the worst enemies of the people. Excuse my honesty, but when it comes to the interest of Palestinians, I don’t see much difference between Olmert and the 2 Abdullah’s.
    5- “…there are no pure Shia’at area even to street level in Iraq this is fake, the recent killing and forcing Iraqis to move …” I was in Baghdad before 2003, long before the killing. There were very distinct Shia areas, the most prominent being Al-Thura (later Sadr city). Yes, I did not interview everyone on the street, but all the shops were hanging Ashura banners (It was Moharram).
    6- In summary, I am not NR’s attorney! But compared to most White/Western reporters, I have seen that he has been remarkably pro-Iraqi and anti-occupation (remarkable exception being Cockburn). I may very well be wrong about his intentions, but I have not seen any facts yet.
    Peace to you.

18. ““There are two ways to become a journalist. One way is to start as a cub reporter and work your way up through the ranks. The other way is to wait for a war to break out and then get to the frontlines as a freelancer and report from there, hoping your stories get picked up by mainstream media. Rosen chose the second approach and, while working as a bouncer in a Washington, D.C., nightclub, waited for the right foreign destination to explode, where he would then use his dissident views to help expose the myriad wrongs done around the world in the name of American imperialism.”

19. Lastly David, Nir and all who set him
    David I did not include you in these “Sins” my apology “for my (English/writing)”.

20. Salah,
    No problem; I am sure your English is still better than my Arabic!
    You have quoted this blog entry:
    http://jarrarsupariver.blogspot.com/2006/11/education-of-nir-rosen.html
    I don’t see anything in it that shows him to be evil or a spy. Again, what will be revealed in the future, I can’t tell, but so far I don’t see any evidence (other than this creepy Iraqslogger thing). If you have a hunch about him, I respect that, and will wait to see if it pans out.

21. Salah,
    CC: David
    As you know, we disagree about Nir Rosen’s motives for what he does. I have seen nothing in his writing or behaviour that indicates anything like what you are alleging, nor have you shown us anything specific that amounts to evidence. However, I understand and respect your feelings about that. However, to suggest that he is a pedophile is simply ridiculous, and also a very serious charge to make without any evidence at all. Hanging out with Iraqi “kids” in a gym is hardly evidence, even if they WERE young kids, which we really have no way of knowing. My guess is that if they were in a gym they were not little kids. I am also sure if they were little kids, or even teenagers in a gym there was some adult supervision. It’s also extremely unlikely that he, an obvious foreigner (he looks Middle Eastern, but his Arabic, and especially his Iraqi dialect are not good enough to fool anyone – just his pronunciation would give him away), would last for very long in Iraq if he was molesting children because someone would find out. As you know, it is not very easy to keep secrets in that society, and he would be lucky to get out with his life, let alone all his body parts.

22. David
    shows him to be evil!! or a spy
    David,
    First I did not say he is “Evil”! Please show me if I did that…
    In this article, Rosen reveals that he considers religion “backward and absurd” and that as a child he had “dreamed of joining Israel’s elitie special forces.
    Shirin,
    As you know, it is not very easy to keep secrets in that society, and he would be lucky to get out with his life, let alone all his body parts.
    This is right when that society you talking about living in a peace not in horrible chaos time.
    Can you tell us how many Iraqi women rapid these days? Did you hearing or reading about Iraqi Kids smuggled 10 a day outside Iraq?
    Did you know what happing in the Iraqi with Iraqi women?

23. Salah, I reminded you that it is not easy to keep a secret in Iraqi society, and you brought up some of the terrible things that have been happening to women and kids in the terrible days since the Americans invaded the country. That is not really a response to what I said because not one of those things is a secret. Everyone knows about the rapes, the kidnappings, and the other things that happen like that. Therefore they are not secrets. In fact, it is still not easy to keep a secret in Iraqi society just as it has never been easy to keep a secret. If a foreigner came to Iraq, and was molesting children people would start to find out about it eventually, and he would be lucky to get out alive.
    And Nir Rosen is a smart guy. If he were molesting children, he would not write articles about how he was hanging out with children in gyms.
    If you insist upon being suspicious about him, that is your choice, but I suggest you drop the child molesting accusations, because they make no sense at all.

24. (I’ve been busy looking after a sick friend, other wise I would have posted this 24-plus hourse ago… )
    Salah, I think your accusation that Nir was doing something suspicious while “hanging out with kids at a gym” is way over the top and quite inappropriate. I second what David (or someone) pointed out, namely that in US English “kids” can mean anyone up to the age of 30, or even higher. So please don’t think that Nir was making any reference to a possibly pedophilic encounter.
    Yes, I’m perplexed why he has hung his hat with the IraqSlogger crew. There are a number of possible explanations. One has to do with the possibility that he may actually share the simple adrenaline addiction that Pelton apparently suffers from, and see Pelton in that sense as “a kindred soul.” Adrenaline addiction is a common and generally under-recognized condition in war correspondents. To a certain extent, their editors and the owners of media empires– and the readers/viewers– depend on there being men (usually, but not always) who suffer from it, and are willing to run huge risks to “get the story.” Back in the 1970s when my (then-)spouse and I were both war correspondents, we had to continually remind each other that, “No matter how exciting the story, no story is worth risking your life for.”
    Anyway, I do hope Nir severs his relationship with I-S. He certainly doesn’t “need” the affiliation with them in any professional sense.
    So anyway, I’ll delete all future refs or insinuations to any possibility that pedophilia is any part of the Nir Rosen story.

25. Iraq ‘deadliest place for journalists’
    Questions rises who cover Nir? And how he moves without cover from US force specially we all know they fire for no reason although he look like ME so he will be then targeting by US and Death Squad also, is it a bit of good luck?…
    Nir claimed to be moving between Iraqi towns and saw a lot of things, writes his stories which nothing related to US doggy things like Death Squad operations which each Iraq saying and knew the ugly death between different Iraq is a work of occupation helped by Bader /Iranians (Not Iraqi Arab Shia’at) inside Iraq and its operation inside Iraq.
    He saying there is curfew in Bagdad you find in early day dead bodied on the street then who is the IRAQI can get and move under CRAFEW and kill and throw the bodies?
    Is this easy task or its same as his cover inside Iraq although he claimed he is unimpeded with US Force!!

26. Boys in the Bubble
    “Regardless of how the war ends, Iraq is not Vietnam. This is true not just militarily and politically but also in the reporting about the two conflicts. For many journalists who covered Vietnam and subsequently wrote books about the war, the experience could be understood only as a hallucinogenic nightmare, and they described it in gonzo prose to match. The reality of Iraq is much more frightening than a bad acid trip, but the writing about this continuing fiasco has been cleareyed and sober, and all the more powerful for it. Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s “Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone” is a fine example.”
    http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/books/review/Goldfarb.t.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

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