Washington Post Lies Again

[cwo_ghwebb]

Original Story: Rocket Attack Kills 3 U.S. Soldiers in Iraq - washingtonpost.com

The deaths came the day after an explosion killed 16 passengers on a bus traveling near Nasiriyah, about 45 miles from Basra. Conflicting accounts emerged Wednesday about the incident, with the bus driver and a passenger asserting that passing American soldiers opened fire on them, an allegation that U.S. military officials denied.

The bus was carrying about 60 people, all but five of them women and children, who were traveling home to Basra after attending a memorial service, as an American military supply convoy drove past them in the northbound lane, according to passengers. About 1:40 p.m., an explosion tore into the driver's side of the bus and blew out the other side, filling the vehicle with black smoke and the screams of the passengers, witnesses said.

The U.S. military said in a statement that a lethal roadside bomb known as an explosively formed penetrator, or EFP, slammed into the bus and also blasted the passing convoy, wounding a U.S. soldier and a civilian traveling in the convoy. The bomb, which shoots heated copper slugs, was similar to EFPs that American military officials say are manufactured in Iran.

But the driver, Zeki Abdul Qader, and a passenger, Qasim Salih Jubur, said they believed the U.S. soldiers opened fire on the bus after it had already safely passed what they were later told was a spot where a roadside bomb had exploded. They said their bus was struck with bullets seconds before they were hit with the explosion, which they believed was some sort of rocket or grenade fired from the U.S. convoy.

"The Americans shot us," Jubur said. "One hundred percent it was the Americans."

"We absolutely did not fire on the bus," said Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad. "Absolutely not."


Story contradicted by someone actually there:

Telephonic Journalism the new Saigon news technique

In an account printed in the coveted Washington Post, the reporter quoted the bus driver and passengers from the damaged bus as saying the US Army engaged the bus with machine guns and rockets after the nearby convoy was attacked by an EID or Road Side Bomb. There was a qoute saying that the driver was 100% positive he was attacked by Americans. I also noted that the reporter at no time mentioned even an attempt to contact the US unit involved for a statement but only a Army representative in Baghdad. This Saigon style of reporting should not be tolerated. The media's political agenda's SHOULD NOT outweigh their ethical obligation to report the news objectively and accurately. If the reporter is even here in Iraq he should know that US Soldiers do not carry Rockets so how could the bus driver have been attacked by some? Where did the casualty numbers come from? How were the facts checked? THEY WEREN'T plain and simple.

The true story of the event was the Iraqi security forces took point on the attack. The police responded, brought ambulances and helped secure the scene with out prompting or prodding. Their execution was not great BUT the spirit in the attempt was amazing. It might seem like a small step but its monumental in the advancement of a fledgling force to operate organically. I was proud to see them in action.

Sorry Joshua Partlow and Saad Sarhan of the Washington Post foreign service, your account was completely inaccurate with potentially the only truth being an Iranian influenced Improvised Explosive Device. There were no American casualties and the US forces never fired a shot just helped some innocent bus riders. The two of you should be ashamed and have your credentials pulled for your utter lack of journalism or professional ethics. Perhaps I should write and submit an article on Iceland's cruelty to Unicorns because it will be as objective, honest and accurate as your sorry offering.

These milbloggers are doing a great job countering the propaganda printed by our so-called 'respectable' journalists.

Curiosity, but if the Washington Post is quoting what they were told by an Army representative how is it a lie conceived by the Washington Post? And how do you know that the milbloggers are telling the truth or were actually there for that matter? There may have been more to the story but I see the post reporting what the Army told them and what the civilians said. Shouldn't both sides of the story be reported?

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Curiosity, but if the Washington Post is quoting what they were told by an Army representative how is it a lie conceived by the Washington Post?

You don't find it interesting that a story about 3 US soldiers killed in a rocket attack segues into an unrelated story about an alleged and disputed US attack on innocent civilians?

And do you feel US newspapers have an obligation to report every bit of silly propaganda from our enemies, which is obviously designed to fuel anti-American and anti-military sentiments? At some point, don't you think there should be proof or at least corroboration before a story goes to print? Or should the WashPost just fill their paper with speculation and allegation?

Originally Posted by vraiblonde

You don't find it interesting that a story about 3 US soldiers killed in a rocket attack segues into an unrelated story about an alleged and disputed US attack on innocent civilians?

Now, Now Vrial ..... do not let facts get in the way of a Good Mil bashing story ..... that supports the Anti War Theme .....

[cwo_ghwebb]

The Army representative denied Americans were involved in the attack.

From the Post article:

"They shot me with small arms from the beginning of the bus to the end, the whole side, then they shot this rocket," Qader, 58, said in a telephone interview.

Qader and Jubur said they themselves did not see American soldiers firing but heard the gunfire and were told by the Iraqi soldiers that the American troops had fired.

The links are there for a reason.

Quiz from the other link - do American soldiers carry rockets?

[soul4sale]

Originally Posted by RadioPatrol

Now, Now Vrial ..... do not let facts get in the way of a Good Mil bashing story ..... that supports the Anti War Theme .....

In the words of Maynard Keenen, "Get off your phucking cross." Blubbering MI Complex whiners. How much more money is it going to take to finally do the damn job? It's not like we're fighting the Chinese army over there or anything. This isn't a war; this is a taxpayer boondoggle.

Originally Posted by soul4sale

In the words of Maynard Keenen, "Get off your phucking cross." Blubbering MI Complex whiners. How much more money is it going to take to finally do the damn job? It's not like we're fighting the Chinese army over there or anything. This isn't a war; this is a taxpayer boondoggle.

Untie our hands and lets get the JOB DONE .............

[cwo_ghwebb]

Originally Posted by soul4sale

In the words of Maynard Keenen, "Get off your phucking cross." Blubbering MI Complex whiners. How much more money is it going to take to finally do the damn job? It's not like we're fighting the Chinese army over there or anything. This isn't a war; this is a taxpayer boondoggle.

Get the job done by leaving? Just what is the job in your opinion?