The number of embedded reporters in Iraq has plummeted 74 percent over the past nine months, from 219 in September 2007 to a low of 58 in June, as U.S. troop casualties have plunged, according to Department Of Defense data analysis by CNSNews.com Staff Writer Kevin Mooney. U.S. casualties were down 84 percent in May and 75 percent in June from year-ago numbers, for example.
The number of embedded reporters peaked in September 2007, the month Gen. David Petraeus testified in Congress that the surge strategy was working and that violence was decreasing in the country. Immediately following Gen. Petraeus' testimony came the largest single-month drop off in embedded reporters in October -- from 219 to 78.
At the time, Petraeus's testimony was met with derision by some prominent Democratic members of Congress. "The reports that you provide to us really require the willing suspension of disbelief," Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y), then a presidential candidate told him. "In any of the metrics that have been referenced in your many hours of testimony, any fair reading of the advantages and disadvantages accruing post-surge, in my view, end up on the downside."
"I ask you to take off your rosy glasses," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told Petraeus. "We are sending our troops where they're not wanted, where there's no end in sight."
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"I ask you to take off your
July 23, 2008 - 22:01 ET by MidAmerica"I ask you to take off your rosy glasses," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told Petraeus. "We are sending our troops where they're not wanted, where there's no end in sight."
Putting up with incompetence while projecting a calm demeanor has to be one of the hardest parts of being a General. Just recently General Petraeus had to set little obie up in his lap so the little tyke could play with the steering wheel and shift the gears. And when he got down he was exclaiming "Did you see me! Did you see me? I was driving!!".
MidAmerica
July 23, 2008 - 23:18 ET by Rush Fan"set little obie up in his lap so the little tyke could play with the steering wheel"
Good analogy.
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I'm voting for Barack Obama now that an unbiased AP poll shows people would rather barbecue burgers with Barack Obama than with John McCain.
The new strategy
July 23, 2008 - 18:01 ET by FoolicanThe number of embedded reporters in Iraq has plummeted 74 percent over
the past nine months, from 219 in September 2007 to a low of 58 in
June, as U.S. troop casualties have plunged, according to Department Of
Defense data analysis by CNSNews.com Staff Writer Kevin Mooney. U.S. casualties were down 84 percent in May and 75 percent in June from year-ago numbers, for example.
Aha! Clearly this represents a shift in Al-Qaeda and insurgency strategy. Shooting American soldiers only makes the hive bees angrier, so now they've resorted to shooting the reporters. That will kill troop morale, yessiree.
</tongue-firmly-in-cheek>
Actually it's because. . .
July 23, 2008 - 18:18 ET by WingletDriverLara Logan left Iraq. The other reporters found it harder to score.
"Reporters Flee Iraq As
July 23, 2008 - 18:40 ET by jdhawk"Reporters Flee Iraq As Casualties Plummet"
I gotta ask. The ones that were there and the ones that are still there - where are the stories of our heroes? Where are the stories of their courageous self sacrifice? Where are the stories of the gratefulness on the part of the Iraqi people having given them at great sacrifice in blood and treasure, a chance at the freedom's that we hold so dear?
It appears that whether there are 10 or 10,000 "journalists" there, we will never read or view anything about the above.
jdhawk
July 23, 2008 - 18:58 ET by MrShyVery true. Very sad.
And very, very dispicable.
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
A journalistic gold mine
July 24, 2008 - 01:17 ET by UnsaneA journalist, if they cared about the story, might leave the "green zone" and hit a few bases in country for some great material, not to mention some stories the world needs to hear. One hospital in particular that I am familiar with could supply enough news to burn up several episodes of 60 Minutes or several weeks in the New York Times in a series of articles.
But, as that (for one example) would portray the United States and its military in a positive light, the media won't DARE cover the story. Sad and very pathetic.
Whoever casts a vote for Barack Obama is nothing more than a common thief. Whoever fails to vote against him is nothing more than a moral coward.
I don't know about you, but
July 24, 2008 - 08:10 ET by BDI don't know about you, but I never saw a journo while I was in country. NOt like I wandered about looking for them in my small ammount of off duty time, but you would think that in the times I left my camp and headed elsewhere, I would have seen one in transit or something.
For BD
July 25, 2008 - 04:19 ET by UnsaneBD, as always, good to hear from you again.
In my position as a loggie, I knew who came and went from my base. I did not see ONE journalist come in. And without going into too much detail lest I give myself away: at my base I knew who came and went; and had tons of access to people who could give the details on this. (A wise nurse once told me, when I told her what I did, that it was good to know an LRO for a reason: they knew everything that was happening on a given base.)
Oh, wait. There was Martha Raddatz. I got pictures of that when she showed up to cover the VPs visit. I was pretty sure that she had some good material: Cheney took some time to pin on some Bronze Stars during his visit. But nah, her #1 job there was to find troops who couldn't wait to vote for Obama. (NB reported on that late this past March.)
And that, friends, was all she wrote.
Whoever casts a vote for Barack Obama is nothing more than a common thief. Whoever fails to vote against him is nothing more than a moral coward.
If it bleeds, it leads.
July 23, 2008 - 19:56 ET by Eileen RightIf it bleeds, it leads. Does this prove
that the press were only there to report the loss of American lives?
For our troops I am sure it's maddening that their success has been
largely ignored, but since the press only wants to report about
their sacrifice. I say no news really IS good news.
Yes the reporters are
July 23, 2008 - 21:05 ET by Dan The Man 2Yes the reporters are standing down and the terrorists are standing down because of that. Isn't that MSM logic? I mean it could not be because the troops drove them out?
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
You've got to admire our
July 23, 2008 - 21:59 ET by MidAmericaYou've got to admire our troops. Under very difficult conditions they have defeated al-quaida, sunni/shia terrorists, the democrats, left-wingers, and the media. Now all their adversaries are fleeing the battlefield.
The number of embedded reporters
July 23, 2008 - 23:59 ET by JPR1has plummeted.
Well sure, they have been redeployed and are now crowding the bars on Diego Garcia wondering if they really want to cover dem precincts in West Undershirt, Idaho or sit tight and hope something exciting pops in the Middle East.
Perhaps they followed the
July 24, 2008 - 08:11 ET by BDPerhaps they followed the Murtha plan and are sitting in Guam "Waiting for a crisis?????"
Love that headline!
July 24, 2008 - 07:22 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsD
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.