WP: Fallujah Fighting Images Compel at Diff. Levels (military v blogger)

[DeepModem Mom]

Images of Fighting in Fallujah Compel at Different Levels
Blogger's Display Is More Graphic Than a Military Slide Show

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 5, 2004; Page A20


Two photo-rich summaries of the battle of Fallujah -- one produced by the U.S. military in Iraq, the other by an anonymous American blogger -- highlight how the terrain in such counterinsurgency fights can be as much psychological as physical.

Both presentations have gained increasing Internet audiences recently and attempt to convey, among other things, the suffering imposed on Iraqi civilians in Fallujah.

That is where similarities end, however. The military's presentation depicts the fight for Fallujah as a liberation of a city from the insurgents. The Web log posts far more graphic wire service and other photos, and tends to point the finger of blame for civilian suffering at the military.

Judging by the reaction of several soldiers and military experts, a comparison of the two presentations shows, among other things, how the might of the U.S. military can be matched by a single blogger working part time....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35955-2004Dec4.html

[UL_Approved]

1. The Internet is the undoing of 1984

The book 1984 depicted state-controlled television as the ultimate and final tool of totalitarianism. Independent news and television has worn away at this structure. But this pales in comparison to the Internet. Freedom of information coupled with broadcast to entities across the globe, anonymity, transmission without physical location being known, and high-level encryption possible as a result of the bitwise nature of data encoding all converge to a system beyond the reaches of the most savvy dictator. Even if they try to eradicate the physical infrastructure, wireless and satellite transmission will be put in place by individuals with skills. This blogger is the most dangerous man alive, just like all other bloggers. The state will lose its grip, and others will take up the fight if these people are sent away. It may take a long time, but the technology is here to stay.

[izzie]

7. I can see why he does not say who he is. Bet govt. knows

Cole has had trouble also I guess. Truth does not seem to want to come out. I wish they would just say that in the last number of wars we have figured out how not to kill many men in the service but that the everyday people have taking up the death count. And all those dear men dreaming up the wars are in their safe bubbles.That leave us people I guess.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Hopeful words, UL -- thanks --

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. They post a link in the article to fallujahinpictures.com

I know that most of us here have seen it. It still makes me cry every time I go there.

Once more people see this they will know why we lost the battle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. It's hard to welcome someone who's destroying your friends/family/culture/country.

From the article:

"A competing vision of the Fallujah operation is presented by the blog titled "Iraq in Pictures" (www.fallujahinpictures.com), which Krohn says is far more similar to what Iraqis, and the Arab world, see on their satellite news channels."

[leftchick]

4. and that is what matters in the end...

no matter what bullshit the US military spews to the AmeriKans the fact is what is viewed as truth in the Arab world is what matters.

[Supersedeas]

11. but the 'Merican Media has the hots for Kofi...all Kofi all the time.

[orpupilofnature57]

3. Need to teach third graders about (theorovery) and the ilk

[eleonora]

5. This blog makes me cry

It's just so appaling the state of the world we're in that so many innocent people are dragged into this mess.

[Disturbed]

6. Photos are the Enemy!!!

The new war will be The War On Photos!

[DeepModem Mom]

8. sorry -- posted in wrong place --

[0007]

10. These photos tell a lot about this country

I would hope that everyone gets a change to view them.

http://www.fallujahinpictures.com/