NBC calls Iraq conflict civil war, at odds with White House

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N27469827.htm

NBC calls Iraq conflict civil war, at odds with White House


WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - NBC News on Monday branded the Iraq conflict a civil war -- a decision that put it at odds with the White House and that analysts said would increase public disillusionment with the U.S. troop presence there.

NBC, a major U.S. television network, said on "The Today Show" that the Iraqi government's inability to stop spiraling violence between rival factions fit its definition of civil war.

The Bush administration has for months declined to call the violence a civil war -- although the U.S. general overseeing the Iraq operation said in August that there was a risk of this -- and a White House official on Monday disputed NBC's assessment.

National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said while the situation on the ground is serious, neither President George W. Bush nor Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki believe it is a civil war.

[CatWoman]

1. when will the chimperor stop trying to rewrite history????

[Tony Soprano]

6. off the subject but...

those are awesome kitties. Wish I could post photos of my two!

[CatWoman]

13. thanks, Tony

:)

Why can't you post pics of your's?

and welcome to DU!! :hi:

[leftchick]

2. they did not include Ret. Gen. Mccaffrey's take on the WH Statement

The old ex-war cheeleader called it "Nonsense"!

[Kagemusha]

3. Good lord, they're going to take a bite out of NBC for this?

That's just sad and pathetic. Rumsfeld's belief that the war can only be lost through losing the media and PR war lives on. Try winning the real one and get back to us, guys!

[Ilsa]

16. This and everything else with this Mis-Administration has always

been about PR, spin, smoke and mirrors.

When the new Bush FEMA members went into office, they asked the vacating employees how they managed to keep such positive media attention on their job performance, (paraphrased) "you know, how did you get the media to report that you were doing such a good job?" The FEMA employees answered, "Well, we did the job right, otherwise the media would have ripped us to shreds." THe Bush people refused to believe it. They kept insisting that it was all PR, until Katrina. Shit, even after 9-11 they didn't get it. And many people still don't understand that the second lesson about about Katrina (after the discrimination) was that we still weren't prepared to handle a large scale emergency.

[Tony Soprano]

4. If it looks like a duck

and quacks like a duck...it is probably a duck.

[Maeve]

10. And if it limps, it's a lame duck

A NY Times story Sunday said this--The common scholarly definition has two main criteria. The first says that the warring groups must be from the same country and fighting for control of the political center, control over a separatist state or to force a major change in policy. The second says that at least 1,000 people must have been killed in total, with at least 100 from each side.

American professors who specialize in the study of civil wars say that most of their number are in agreement that Iraq’s conflict is a civil war


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/world/middleeast/26war.html?ex=1322197200&en=916272a5feb0f926&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[Dhalgren]

5. So, whether or not it is civil war is based on "belief"?

"Neither President George W. Bush nor Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki believe it is a civil war." So, it only matters, now, what the President "believes"? This is just too fucking beyond surreal for me.... :puke:

[lyonn]

8. CNN has stated (believes) that Iraq is in a Civil War

Michael Ware, correspondent in Iraq, states it is a civil war. When neighbor is killing neighbor throughout the country, with reckless abandonment, over religion/politics, that could be called a civil war.

Only Bush would continue to tell a different story. Like who doesn't think Georgie is a psycho/deranged individual? Looks like the media does a feel an ounce of responsibility to the country that is paying for their false and pandering reporting, finally.

[Cocoa]

7. how long did they deny there was an insurgency?

I recall Don Rumsfeld threatening a reporter who was calling it an insurgency. Rummy told him there were "consequences" for using that word.

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

9. Why is this even news? OOOO media is breaking ranks with he rulers.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Who cares what the WH thinks? They're in denial, pure and simple.

They haven't a shred of credibility anymore. None. Nada. Zip.

[IndianaGreen]

12. Exactly! The White House thinks that freedom is on the march in Iraq

Heck, Osama bin Laden has more credibility than this White House!

We must get our troops out of the FUBAR that Iraq has become at once!

[llmart]

14. Where were all these Bush asskissers.......

from NBC back when DUers knew that nothing good would come from Bush's little folly? They are equally as guilty with all their hype in the run up to the war and their propaganda spreading.

[annabanana]

15. NBC also reported about the arm-twisting

they had been getting NOT to call it a civil war. That they admit this is a move in the right direction.

[Ilsa]

17. I'm wondering if someone at NBC dropped them a hint a couple

of weeks ago. It seems that Dumbya has been a little more involved in international stuff (or just travelling to get away). I can't help but wonder if someone told the WH that they were going to start calling it a civil war soon, so he better start looking like he's interested in resolving the conflict.

[wishlist]

18. CNN's John Roberts came back from Baghdad, says situation is horrific

CNN reporter John Roberts says that American TV news sanitizes the Iraq coverage because it is so horribly violent there that graphic footage cannot be shown so therefore Americans don't yet realize just how bad conditions are for Iraqis and U.S. soldiers. (I read about his comments on an entertainment website that features mostly Hollywood news- IMDB)

[FreeStateDemocrat]

21. Why can't the "graphic footage " be shown, what happen to truth in news reporting?

They already provide warnings for upcoming segments that might have "disturbing" content for some viewers. Is there a law against reporting the entire unvarnished truth?

[Scooter24]

19. not a civil war... just "serious"

please... :eyes:

[Javaman]

23. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a buffalo...

morons* mentality.

[CoffeeCat]

20. The White House is engaging in Public Relations...

...by avoiding the terms "civil war".

Journalists are not Public Relations practitioners and they should stick to reporting the
facts and--for God's sakes--quit worrying what the fricking White House thinks. Just report
the news, spill the facts and call a spade a spade. Then, don't take Karl's calls after
you report the truth.

Just what in the hell is the White House doing, so intertwined with journalists, anyway? Who
gives a shit what the White House thinks? Journalists are not paid to appease irresponsible,
perverse governments. They are supposed to report the news.

I'm so sick and tired of the media kow towing to this administration. I applaud NBC for
calling Iraq what it is--a civil war. If NBC is "at odds with the White House" because
of their reporting, then NBC needs to extricate itself from that unprofessional entanglement.

Report the damn news. Lead with integrity. Don't worry about the propagandists who don't
want you to tell the truth. Certainly, don't "be at odds" with them.

Don't even take their frickin calls.

[progressoid]

22. Oh dear, what will Chris Mathews do?

[lebkuchen]

24. "At odds w/the WH?" Is there a problem?

Isn't that what it means to be a media watchdog, providing checks/balances, and all that stuff?