Proof the media is a lefty...

[Lindaloo]

Sundus Strickland says the national media is distorting the reality about life in Iraq.

The Gautier resident says living conditions are improving quickly, as are the spirits of the Iraqi people, despite what many Americans may see on the nightly news.

Her information is firsthand; she calls her mother in Baghdad several times a week.

WLOX News first interviewed the Iraqi native in early April, as US troops were advancing toward the Iraqi capital.

Sundus Strickland left Iraq following the first Gulf war. The 31 year old woman is a staunch supporter of President Bush and his decision to wage war against Saddam Hussein. She's overjoyed about the capture of Saddam and optimistic about a brighter future for her native land.

She says the national media is giving America a distorted view about conditions in Iraq.

"I think things are improving a lot. But nobody's talking about it. Nobody's showing it. They always talk about the bad things and the killing and the violence. But lots of good things is happening there," she said.

For instance, she says, the Iraqi people are now receiving humanitarian food and medicine. Strickland says Saddam's sons used to peddle relief supplies on the black market instead of giving it to those in need.

"Now they get it for free. My mother tells me they have food, they have medicine. They give them lots of food. The American soldiers are helping people there and giving them food," she said.

President Bush himself assures Strickland the mission in Iraq will be worth the sacrifice. She wrote the President before the war started and received a reply in early November.

Strickland reacted with disbelief over the recent capture of Saddam Hussein. An overseas phone call from a brother-in-law in Saudi Arabia alerted her to the news.

"And there he is. After all these years of living in marble palaces that he built for himself from my people's money and my country's wealth. He ends up in a hole like a rat," Strickland said.

She says Saddam must answer to the Iraqi people he brutalized. She also predicts a swift judgement.

"And I think, if this decision is up to the Iraqi people, he has no chance of living," she predicted.

Sundus Strickland knows about the brutality of Saddam Hussein. During the conflict between Iran and Iraq, her 21 year old brother grew weary of war and refused to fight. He was shot to death.


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Finally.... some truth for a change!!

[rainstorm]

the media is largely liberal. thank goodness for the internet and fox news

[Lindaloo]

I know this lady personally. She works in the tag & title department of the courthouse. She is a gem. I did not believe that WLOX was going to do her story. Matter of fact I told her that they would probably twist her words. I am so glad I was wrong!! Kudos to my friend Rene' at WLOX.

She told me her Mother was so excited that American and British troops had finally come to set them free. You hardly ever hear stuff like this on the news.

[streetsoldier]

Iraq is being treated like an international "Columbine", with the same symptoms from the media...no one is saying a WORD about the millions who AREN'T shooting or bombing us and the Iraqi people, just like the media swoons over every little tidbit about some "epidemic" of American school violence...and ignoring the 99.47 % of students who are NOT trying to kill their teachers and classmates.

Same mentality, folks...think about it.

[wx247]

Iraq is being treated like an international "Columbine", with the same symptoms from the media...no one is saying a WORD about the millions who AREN'T shooting or bombing us and the Iraqi people, just like the media swoons over every little tidbit about some "epidemic" of American school violence...and ignoring the 99.47 % of students who are NOT trying to kill their teachers and classmates.

Same mentality, folks...think about it.

Exactly... I don't think this is because the media is biased (although the media is biased...just not in this instance) because they always report on the bad stuff and not the good stuff very much. Columbine was a great example, but you can use virtually anything in this case... take for example crime... the news doesn't spend time focusing on all the people NOT committing crimes, they focus on the crimes/acts committed themselves. I just don't believe the liberal bias argument works here. Now, if you want to talk about the coverage of the upcoming election -- then you have a much more valid argument.

And on a positive note... I have heard a lot more positive coming from Iraq in recent days than I have in a while... on all the networks.

[streetsoldier]

OK, let's take crime, for example; particularly the all-too-often depictions of law officers being shot, run over, etc. as part of what we have come to see as "entertainment".

THIS is the truth of it....since 1795, the TOTAL number of officers who have died in the line of duty is...what?

13,465 as of this date. That's right...over 208 years of recorded law enforcement on all levels of Federal, State, county and municipal officers, this is the actual number. But, if you believe the media, the inference is MUCH higher...another "big lie" that we, the people, are living in a far more dangerous country than we actually ARE.

This, of course, plays into the hands of those who would deny us our right to arm and defend ourselves by artificially inflating the "dangers"...and, by fiat, pass laws that further centralize every government function into the hands of a VERY few, "in the name of public safety".

[wx247]

That is a good point... but do you think that the media is doing this on purpose? Maybe I am just naive, but that connection was never made by me. But I am young so I am sure I will learn over time.

I didn't mean to upset you if I did Bill. I just don't believe that the media is biased in the manner that Lindaloo mentions. In other ways, yes, but not about Iraq. It is more about what the public expects as "news".

[Lindaloo]

Garrett, people do not have a choice but to accept what the news wants us to see. You never hear anything good about what is going on over there and anywhere for that matter. If they told us any good news from there then that means they would support the Conservative view.

So what you are saying is that there is all bad news about Iraq? No good news at all? Well believe it or not, there is more good news than bad news.

[chadtm80]

Garrett, people do not have a choice but to accept what the news wants us to see. You never hear anything good about what is going on over there and anywhere for that matter. If they told us any good news from there then that means they would support the Conservative view.

So what you are saying is that there is all bad news about Iraq? No good news at all? Well believe it or not, there is more good news than bad news.

Well said Linda

[Rainband]

Garrett, people do not have a choice but to accept what the news wants us to see. You never hear anything good about what is going on over there and anywhere for that matter. If they told us any good news from there then that means they would support the Conservative view.

So what you are saying is that there is all bad news about Iraq? No good news at all? Well believe it or not, there is more good news than bad news.

I believe half of what I see and NONE of what I hear.. It's sad if people actually really believe everything they see on TV Although I disagree 100% about the media being biased to liberals..all they care about is ratings..plain and simple. This war is about the freedom of Iraq and the war on terrorism..Thats the problem!!! Everyone pointing fingers the liberals did this the conservatives did that. Concentrate on the goal and leave party lines out of it and maybe something might get accomplished..theres a thought

[chadtm80]

Proof the media is a lefty...

Who needs proof????

[Lindaloo]

LOL Chad! Nuff said.

[streetsoldier]

Garrett, Thanks for your concern, but I'm FAR from "upset"!

This "media" thing has been a thorn in my side ever since I became politically active (1964 volunteer for the Barry Goldwater campaign, later Missouri State Board member of Young Americans for Freedom [William F. Buckley's vehicle for conservative young people], etc.), so one may expect some passionate responses from me in that area.

And, please notice..I NEVER get a call from Gallup or any other pollsters...y'think they have a "don't call" list of their own?

[wx247]

Garrett, people do not have a choice but to accept what the news wants us to see. You never hear anything good about what is going on over there and anywhere for that matter. If they told us any good news from there then that means they would support the Conservative view.

So what you are saying is that there is all bad news about Iraq? No good news at all? Well believe it or not, there is more good news than bad news.

Linda... I think you misunderstood. What I was trying to say is that there is good news in Iraq. I think we are making good progress there, but that because of society's car wreck syndrome... in order to get ratings... ie: stay on the air, they try to outdo each other in the "shock and awe" catagory. I am not saying it is right... I would love to hear more good news and I tend to on my local stations, but I don't think that they are doing this just because the media is liberal.

[wx247]

Garrett, Thanks for your concern, but I'm FAR from "upset"!

This "media" thing has been a thorn in my side ever since I became politically active (1964 volunteer for the Barry Goldwater campaign, later Missouri State Board member of Young Americans for Freedom [William F. Buckley's vehicle for conservative young people], etc.), so one may expect some passionate responses from me in that area.

And, please notice..I NEVER get a call from Gallup or any other pollsters...y'think they have a "don't call" list of their own?

Bill, I just saw the angry avatar and first thought of your health. I understand your perspective and I do take it into consideration. I have done extensive research on media bias and I do believe there is A LOT of bias in the media, but I just don't think it applies in this case per the examples I have given in above situations.

[pawlee]

left... left... left writes left!

achtung! sig heil!

(so much spin on iraq out of fear of global abandonment? should things be improving, world community bails on USA? iraq... 51st state?)

[Lindaloo]

Funny that FoxNews is "the media" and they report the good news that happens over there. Guess they could careless about "ratings" which BTW, they are number one.

[Rainband]

Funny that FoxNews is "the media" and they report the good news that happens over there. Guess they could careless about "ratings" which BTW, they are number one.

All our stations here in florida for the most part report all the news in Iraq..good or bad. I hardly think any news organization hides news intentionally and if they do then shame on them BTW I love FOX news

[wx247]

Funny that FoxNews is "the media" and they report the good news that happens over there. Guess they could careless about "ratings" which BTW, they are number one.

Look at the format of their news Linda... how many hours of the day do they lead with what is going right in Iraq versus how many hours do they lead with what is going wrong? They are just as quick to cover the problems as any other news organization... and they will mention it before they mention the progress.

[Anonymous]

Sundus Strickland says the national media is distorting the reality about life in Iraq.

The Gautier resident says living conditions are improving quickly, as are the spirits of the Iraqi people, despite what many Americans may see on the nightly news.

Her information is firsthand; she calls her mother in Baghdad several times a week.

WLOX News first interviewed the Iraqi native in early April, as US troops were advancing toward the Iraqi capital.

Sundus Strickland left Iraq following the first Gulf war. The 31 year old woman is a staunch supporter of President Bush and his decision to wage war against Saddam Hussein. She's overjoyed about the capture of Saddam and optimistic about a brighter future for her native land.

She says the national media is giving America a distorted view about conditions in Iraq.

"I think things are improving a lot. But nobody's talking about it. Nobody's showing it. They always talk about the bad things and the killing and the violence. But lots of good things is happening there," she said.

For instance, she says, the Iraqi people are now receiving humanitarian food and medicine. Strickland says Saddam's sons used to peddle relief supplies on the black market instead of giving it to those in need.

"Now they get it for free. My mother tells me they have food, they have medicine. They give them lots of food. The American soldiers are helping people there and giving them food," she said.

President Bush himself assures Strickland the mission in Iraq will be worth the sacrifice. She wrote the President before the war started and received a reply in early November.

Strickland reacted with disbelief over the recent capture of Saddam Hussein. An overseas phone call from a brother-in-law in Saudi Arabia alerted her to the news.

"And there he is. After all these years of living in marble palaces that he built for himself from my people's money and my country's wealth. He ends up in a hole like a rat," Strickland said.

She says Saddam must answer to the Iraqi people he brutalized. She also predicts a swift judgement.

"And I think, if this decision is up to the Iraqi people, he has no chance of living," she predicted.

Sundus Strickland knows about the brutality of Saddam Hussein. During the conflict between Iran and Iraq, her 21 year old brother grew weary of war and refused to fight. He was shot to death.


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Finally.... some truth for a change!!

The media is not liberal folks, get over it. It's just "politically correct", which it should be. FoxNews and AM radio are the only places blatantly biased towards the right.