Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

mayflower — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:11:52 GMT

what a shame,people try to find some news out of other people's miseries.
what a shame for bush to start a war in the name of WMD,and destroying millions of innocentpeople's life.love & peace to world.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Mark Rupert, Alameda, NM — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:53:01 GMT

Nice title for your book, Jim. Better take it and copyright it before hundreds of other authors use it to describe the strategy leading up and during this war...

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

robert celaya, san jose, ca — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:04:32 GMT

Shows that you and your group fall under the same ignorance this administration brainwash this country to belief. A good journalist snoops around for supporting facts instead of sitting around for the story to come to him. But then again, good American journalists are something of the past. It’s easier to fabricate and improvise news then do the research. Even the public channel reporting is getting sloppy. Still find integrity and honesty in the BBC reporting network.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Allen Poppleton Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33315 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:36:49 GMT

zPresident Bush has lied to us repeartely, and repeartedly, and so what is the purose? Sue the bastard!

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

LINDA LUCAS — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:54:13 GMT

I wish bush had totally checked it out, before he jumped into that situation. That Reagen of the world is not normal, by our standards. they will never join the modern world all they want it to pull us back into the dark ages..

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Dale P, Hollywood, FL — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:03:24 GMT

Neat story. No Iraqies, no comments, no news, no sense. Sounds like we had Iraq all figured out, huh?
Maybe we'll guess better in Iran....

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Ric Sanders — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:16:45 GMT

Don't feal bad...alot of Americans got it wrong about Iraq; and still continue to!

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

conor gorey HB CALI — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 05:44:10 GMT

Years of journalism it took to write 16 paragraphs of nothing. It must be the plan B when nothing realy bad is happening in Iraq.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Jill Infidel Seattle WA — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:06:13 GMT

No WMDs? Did anyone check the 34 civilian flights that left Iraq and went to Syria??? Of course not.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:51:53 GMT

This should be used as an example of the kind of reporting that the high school sophmores and Jerry Springer drama queens that do most of the news for MSNBC should aspire too.

The simple, direct and plainly-worded report is such a welcome relief that the fact that it doesn't really say anything extraordinary becomes secondary. You can believe this one. No stupid opinions on the war, it's cost, America's resolve or what the pot-head teenagers back home think about it. This might be the first time in 10 years I've read an actual "report", rather than an over-hyped, gasping and wailing series of hysterical flutters.

Good work. Bet this guy either wins a Pulitzer or ends-up owning a do-it-yourself car wash, as he completely lacks the strident medicocrity that determines the potential for "success" in today's misbegotten media.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Mike Brannigan, Cleveland, OH — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:45:14 GMT

Yes you got it wrong. Bush got it wrong. The whole of the US got it wrong. Now look at the mess we are in. The US is virtually financially bankrupt. The US is definitely morally bankrupt.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

gijoe — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:00:20 GMT

Yes mistakes sure wish we had a democrat in charge during real combat and Clinton really took care of Osama and got back for the ship getting a big hole blown in it. Oh that's right he let Osama go on the tarmac and he did NOTHING about the any attacks and Osama would undoubtedly still be operating in Afghanistan to launch more attacks as he probably will under Obama Osama the MSNBC choice for blame America first and yea he's going to reach across the isle (can you say Jimmy Carter foreign policy?). Wonderful........But the French may love us as we get butchered wholesale because the Dems gutted the Patriot act thanks to MSNBC you got it wrong on the surge and you got it wrong on dealing with terrorist and unfortunately you will cost more American lives that Bush ever did.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Paul Kingston, Rugby, Warwickshire, UK — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:58:25 GMT

You got it wrong alright Jim !
The war has created 4 million Iraqi refugees of which 2 million are living in Jordan and Syria. This is the greatest humanitarian crisis facing the world right now. If you return to Jordan now, you will find these camps overflowing.You can then tell a story worth reporting, rather than a non story, on how you kept getting it wrong.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Jim Doe — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:21:33 GMT

i think its funny people still think theres frontlines haha wow get a grip with reality please. Good article, people have to know how these knucklehead over the hillers are killing america and its image as a great military power in the world. Doubt i was the only one wondering where the iraqi military disapeared too. Remember how big the news said their military was too haha, wow wow wow.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Erik A. Tobiason — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:22:05 GMT

Dear Sir:

The "Shock and Awe" campaign as the initial bombing of Iraq was coined is just an indication of the lack of intelligent thinking evident in the higher command of the US Military.

The process of using huge precision bombs to destroy vacant administration buildings, target restaurants in search of Sadam, and otherwise destroy transportation and communication infrastructure facilities were the first missteps in a continuing series of huge missteps in the Iraq war.

All the initial bombing campaign did was to infuriate the local population to fight to the death in retaliation -- once the US ground forces were in close proximity. The deaths of civilians including women and children - viewed as "unfortunate" by US high command and "senseless" by the local population -is the motivation for the continuing violence in Iraq.

It has always been that way in war... The Boston Massacre in the American revolution, the bombing of defenseless Chinese cities by the Japanese and then German cities by the Allies in WWII, and the burning of villages in Vietnam are just a few of many historical examples.

Unfortunately for the American public, very little advanced thinking is included in military strategy formulation since the ability to “think ahead” is viewed as a liability rather than an asset to a professional military career.

Respectfully submitted,

Erik A. Tobiason,
US Naval Academy 1972 BS Aerospace Engineering
M.I.T 1988 MBA Strategic Management
CDR USNR Retired

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

persephone — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:00:42 GMT

Did you know that over 70% of the food at your grocery contains genetically engineered ingredients that some independent tests have shown to be harmful to mammals? Did you know many of these crops contain pesticides in every cell that cannot be washed off? Did you know gm crops are allowed a heavier residue of the endocrine disruptor pesticides?
Did you know you have been eating this for over 10 years?
Did you know cross-contamination of conventional and organic crops and seeds has occurred and cannot be stopped? Did you know the EU has rejected our contaminated rice and corn shipments?
Did you know?
March 20
http://www.thecampaign.org/
http://www.bioneers.org/node/1950

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

paolo — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:00:57 GMT

the shock will be paying the bills for this mis-guided war, and the awe will be wondering how is all came to be...

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Withheld, Oshkosh, WI — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:11:59 GMT

No War, no Modular Conversion. Research that.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

James Scanlon, Seoul, Republic of Korea — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:06:37 GMT

Dear Jim Maceda,

As a big fan of the USA, and the ideals it supposedly stands for, it was very disappointing to read this article.

Journalists are meant to report the story. Not write about their own foibles. The mistakes you mention in this story are all simply a product of ignorance. Whether yours, or your producers, it is frankly embarassing for you to write about meaningless subjects such as your cringeworthy attempts to "create" news.

The fact that you didn't succeed isn't the story. The fact that you think your failed attempt is in any way "news" reveals a fatal misunderstanding of your occupation, and of your own morality.

Should you choose to stop being a blogger (personal rants) and choose instead to be a journalist (reporting salient facts), you may regain some sense of professional dignity.

It is now over five years since the current Bush administration launched an illegal war against the Iraqi nation. Under international law, this is the a war crime. The most serious, in fact.

Your President and all of his close cohorts (Karl Rove, Paul Wolfawitz, SecDef Donald Rumsfeld, VP Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Zalmay Khazhilazad, President Harmid Karzai, Colin Powell and a host of others in the current administration are undoubtably war criminals.
(Sorry for the spelling errors on the names).

It may not be fashionable to write about the truth, but if you did, you would discover the world is more than willing to read.

The facts are easy to find. America was attacked on 9/11 by religious extremists intent on stopping the USA's immoral interference in Muslim countries (Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Sria, Lebanon etc).

There method of attack was reprehensible, but their motives were rational and just. Your country may have the right to punish anyone involved in that immoral attack on the USA, but please understand that your country cannot keep attacking innocent humans without some form of blowback.

The group that attacked the USA were a small group of mentally deranged people. Angry souls who had no democratic recourse for the grievances the USA has enacted upon the innocent people of the middle east. The USA started the fight by acting illegally and immorally.

Did the USA think that they could just kill and steal without any consequences? The Phillippines, Hawai'i, Mexico, Panama, Grenada, Guatemala, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, El Salvador, Columbia and many other countries have been the recipients of "American justice". Tens of millions of innocent humans have been killed for no other reason that to satisfy the USA's insatiable desire for wealth/power/oil etc.

Except for the USA, the rest of the world understands this. Just since 1945, the USA has illegally invaded over 18 countries. Bombed over 25 countries and illegally overthrown over 40 governments (most of them democratic).

Is this what you support?

Why don't you report about that? Please, wake up. The rest of the world needs you to do your job.

Until the USA, and its partners, leave Iraq, pay war reparations, apologise for the hundreds of thousands of needless deaths of civilians, and send the guilty parties to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, there will never be any reconciliation between the USA and the rest of the world, there will not be any justice and therefore, no peace.

You work for MSNBC. Not some uncredentialed rag. I am aghast that a person in such a responsible position would act so flippantly and ignorantly.

I am sorry to address you in such a fashion, since I don't know you.
I apologise for my rude introduction.

But because your column was such an egregious attack upon the truth (i.e facts, not propaganda or self-aggrandisement), I felt compelled to respond. For that, I apologise.

If you have any professional credibility, you would use your position to expose the criminals running your country. Perhaps you are too afraid. Perhaps you know the truth, but cannot face it. Perhaps you have a mortgage to pay, so you adopt the positon of "my country, right or wrong". Or perhaps you too have swallowed the Kool-Aid and are just ignorant.

Whatever it is, this column is a disgrace. Once again, I apologise for my strong language. I have never written a response to a column before. And yes, there are many, many more columns that are worse than yours.

But alas, your column was the straw that broke this camel's back.
I realise you will not be happy to read what I have written and I am quite willing to discuss this further with you in a civilised manner.

Sincerely,
James Scanlon

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

James Scanlon, Seoul, Republic of Korea — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:39:38 GMT

The lack of true freedom of speech will ultimately be America's downfall.
Commercial "freedom" is not democracy.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

leo brignac — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:07:12 GMT

It was definately shock and awe for me to see our country invade and bomb a country that was no threat to us. And it was definately shock and awe for us to slaughter innocent civilians. And it was definately shock and awe for the civilians.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Kamal Kishor — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:05:58 GMT

the problem with our media is that they have to believe the Govt provided information which proved to be incorrect most of the times as they were twisted, distorted and retrieved from black hole. Does it seem very familiar? Yes, it is known as Gobbels Propaganda Policy and we can now call it Bush Propaganda Policy.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Steve St. Germain St. Helens, OR — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:32:36 GMT

I don't mind my tax money being spent on the war machine however; I do mind my tax money being used to feed and house muslims. The holy war is in it's infancy, and being they fired the first shot they deserve what they get. If my tax money is going to be used for food and shelter then, feed and house the american people that are homeless, and starving.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Brian, Sacramento CA — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:37:19 GMT

Why doesn't this surprise me? Dubya decides to invade a country under false pretenses to settle an old score for daddy, and NOTHING goes according to "plan". The only shock involved here is how shocked I am that our current president is this stupid.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Deryl, Atlanta GA — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:41:00 GMT

Saddam bluffs about his "massive" wmd collection to the world. He did use chemical weapons against iraqis. Only america calls his bluff so apparently we get to be the bad guys somehow.

I bet if there were a modern nazi party in germany bluffing their "massive" wmd collection to the world and america called their bluff too we'd somehow be the good guys. I wonder why thats any different.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Rupert — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:18:19 GMT

Too bad your rules of "not attacking the comments of others" wasn't applied to the United States of America five years ago. Many thousands would be alive today, our economy would not be in collapse, and our dollar would not be a world joke.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Judith Hofbauer, Springfield, MO — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:25:31 GMT

So, what's the point of your story? You know-it-alls don't know much or is it disappointment not to be able to report yet another negative non-happening? Or was it the last sentence No WMDs? They will be found sooner or later but I hope you jerks miss the scoop.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Maritza, Whittier, CA — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:32:12 GMT

Iraq was ONE big mistake. It is obvious that we didn't know the basic needs of the people, their culture, etc... How could we have possibly predicted what they would do? That our government didn't find any WMD doesn't surprise me. What surprises me is that people actually believed they existed.
The bottom line, once again the US will begin a war, destroy a country and run out when it can no longer handle it. How have we improved the life of the Iraqis? How have we made the world a safer place?
Tragic that we just don't seem to learn.

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

John J. Ondish, Freeland, PA — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:48:44 GMT

So, the American press, the American military, and the UN weapons' inspectors didn't find any WMD in Iraq. Why then, in a 7000+ document which Sadam's government sent to the UN just prior to the start of the Iraq War, did Sadam's government admit, yes admit to making WMD, but they couldn't account for there whereabouts. Just because all the so-called experts didn't find any WMD is no reason to deny their existance or to deny justification for the war.
Does the ALL the American press have ATD?

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

armby, middletown, ohio — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:52:09 GMT

SO MUCH ANTI-AMERICAN TALK........

It must be so very sad to be so jealous of what we have achieved.

These folks who are so envious should spend more time developing their own countries; working to improve their own status, spending and saving for the good of their own economies.

The energy they use "hating" could be so much better spent!

If the USA dropped ALL of its welfare to the rest of the world next week ... just imagine the tragedy and turmoil.

QUIT HATING and START WORKING ......to make YOUR life and the world a better place. Just as we in America have tried to do for the last 200+ years.

If you don't like what we do and what we are ...... then FIX YOURSELF ..... quit asking for aid/aide ...... quit destroying your countries ...... stop the graft and lawless destruction in your countries ...... stop the genocide in your own countries .... stop the incessant poverty that you encourage .... STOP AND TAKE CHARGE OF YOURSELVES .... we will happily stop subsidizing your hate!!!!!! And we will have plenty of money to "repair" ourselves!

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Tim Swanson, Vancouver, WA — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:33:40 GMT

What about NBC's lack of coverage on the Tibet issue. I watched Brian's Nightly news one evening in the middle of this week and there was no mention of the Cruel and not so unusual punishment for protesting against one's government in Tibet.
No response from you (NBC) must mean money (Summer Olympics) is more important than 90+ murders and 100's if not 1,000's of arrests and beatings...My wife and I have lived in China and protests and not uncommon, some 60,000+/year (some very volient). The law students we taught told us that people are arrested, beaten into a signed confession, tried by a judge (no jury of peers, and without any legal appeal process, but with representation-attorney) The Tibet people are in general wonderfully peaceful people but are driven to a course not unlike ours in 1776. 70 years of suppression starting with Mao is enough based on the protests. Freedom is as natural to mankind as drinking water. Will NBC make a statement about this unholy of political control of China's citizen's or not?

Waiting for Iraqis to flee 'Shock & Awe'

Navy Vet, Virginia — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:53:51 GMT

We just didn't get it. Are we held liable?