Dana Priest: Washington Post Avoids ‘Civil War’ Language Because Iraqi Gov’t Does Not Use It
Dana Priest: Washington Post Avoids ‘Civil War’ Language Because Iraqi Gov’t Does Not Use It
Today on MSNBC’s Hardball, Washington Post national security reporter Dana Priest explained that her newspaper does not use the phrase “civil war” to describe the current violence in Iraq in part because Iraqi government officials say it is not a civil war.
Priest said she “absolutely” believes the “level of violence [in Iraq] equals a civil war.” But she acknowledged that the Post has “not labeled it a civil war,” explaining, “We try to avoid the labels, particularly when the elected government itself does not call its situation a civil war.” Watch it:
Government officials in Iraq have a direct interest in avoiding the characterization of violence there as a civil war. The Washington Post’s job is not to act as stenographers for officials in positions of power, but rather to report facts as they exist on the ground.
Not surprisingly, experts disagree with Iraqi officials about the current conditions. According to scholars surveyed by the New York Times, not only is Iraq in the midst of a civil war, the current level of bloodshed “already puts Iraq in the top ranks of the civil wars of the last half-century.”
Full transcript:
MATTHEWS: It seems to me the President’s afraid that people will begin to think it is a civil war and not the way he wants to define it, which is we gotta fight them there before they fight us here.
PRIEST: Well, I think one of the reasons the President resists that label is because it equates almost with a failure of U.S. policy. I will say for the Washington Post, we have not labeled it a civil war. I have asked around to see why not or see what’s the thinking on thatm and really our reporters have not filed that. We try to avoid the labels, particularly when the elected government itself does not call its situation a civil war. I certainly — and I would agree with General McCaffrey on this — absolutely the level of violence equals a civil war.
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That’s par for the deeply serious WaPo.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:25 pmIm beginning to believe that what is so wrong with the media is not that it is all garbage, but that those at the top, the ones with the real power, are controlling the underlings much more than I had previously imagined. Reporters like Priest remind me of the situation I was in, in a previous job, where I could produce independent info, but it was always filtered, if not completely censored. Even if I knew I was right, it was irrelevant. The end result was always the party line. Of course, I quit, but not after a fight. I just hope that some of these reporters can find a way to fight it and not be fired or quit out of frustration.
So, the media isnt really media anymore. It’s controlled info, spun to the likings of the particular media conglomerates top controlling interests - board, ceo, etc.
No wonder we have barely a clue as to what is going on and have to fight through so much mis/disinformation. If you are a good reporter, you are suppresed if the info isnt what the top wants out, and to the extent that you have this problem to deal with, the best way to dilute it is to surround the good reporters with party line hacks. Scary stuff..
I’ll take the award now for stating the obvious. Thank you…
p.s. My 95 year old grandmother, watching tv, just stated out loud to my parents, “a civil war might be starting in Iraq”….well that about sums it up, dunnit?
November 27th, 2006 at 6:29 pmMATTHEWS: It seems to me the President’s afraid that people will begin to think it is a civil war and not the way he wants to define it
So, better to kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and American soldiers than wound the Presidunce’s ego?
Chris Matthews, really, quit your day job.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:32 pmAh, the jig is up!
This just in…
Everybody, stop using terms like “black sites” because the Bush administration doesn’t use them. Instead, use “happy camp.”
November 27th, 2006 at 6:33 pmp.s. My 95 year old grandmother, watching tv, just stated out loud to my parents, “a civil war might be starting in Iraqâ€â€¦.well that about sums it up, dunnit?
Comment by Geoff — November 27, 2006 @ 6:29 pm
When as a culture did we decide that words speak louder than actions?
November 27th, 2006 at 6:34 pmSo Priest and the WaPo are now on record admitting that their function is to represent the views of government officials. Thanks for clearing that up, guys.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:36 pm200 dead people a day doesn’t equal a civil war? I guess this is another reason I quit reading my hometown newspaper. The first reason was Bob Woodward walking around with Bush’s cock in his mouth as he wrote glowing books about the Chimp.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:39 pmHmmmm….
Angry Shiites hurl stones at Maliki’s motorcade
By Louise Roug, Times Staff Writer LA Times
12:13 PM PST, November 26, 2006
BAGHDAD — Angry Shiite Muslims pelted Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s motorcade with stones today after the Iraqi leader pleaded for national reconciliation at a memorial in Sadr City held for victims of a large-scale bombing attack last week.
Maliki, who is also a Shiite, left the scene after he tried without success to calm a crowd of mourners calling for revenge against Sunni Arabs. His pleas were met with shouts of “coward” and “collaborator.”
November 27th, 2006 at 6:41 pmThose aren’t “permanent” bases there, are they?
November 27th, 2006 at 6:42 pmMaybe just not so temporary.
If the systematic killing of one’s neighbours in the order of a hundred or so a day does not constitute a civil war, I don’t know what would.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:43 pmMaybe just not so temporary.
Comment by RUCerious — November 27, 2006 @ 6:42 pm
You’re good at the newspeak… comrade : )
November 27th, 2006 at 6:44 pmsemantics schemantics…
November 27th, 2006 at 6:45 pmA rose by any other name…
November 27th, 2006 at 6:48 pmMost disturbingly, she thinks this is a sufficient explanation.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:50 pmThis just in the Iraqi government will now refer to torture as “Severe Tickling”.
This just in the Iraqi government will now refer to death squads as “Riders on the Further Bus”.
I like her logic…it makes for fun commenting.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:56 pm[…] Update: I should have paid for attention to Hardball; I missed this part (from Think Progress). […]
November 27th, 2006 at 6:59 pmI am sure the deaths of thousands and their sadden families feel better because this isn’t a civil war. Bushco can call it a Sunday picnic for all I care, the truth is they have never been the the real world. Remember, these are the clowns who crowed that “Reality is what we say it is.” Don’t expect this non-reality crowd to agree with reality any time soon.
November 27th, 2006 at 6:59 pmIt’s a Civil War, Stupid
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Monday, November 27, 2006; 1:02 PM
After nearly four years of letting the Bush Administration set the terms of the national debate over Iraq, some major news organizations are finally calling the conflict there what it is: a civil war. The White House is howling in protest.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:12 pmsemantics schemantics…
Comment by Pete_Bogs — November 27, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
You left out smucks.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:19 pmAnd Sudanese officials are on record denying the existence of a genocide in their country.
But that has not alwasy stopped the Washington Post from reporting it as such.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:19 pmThe Bush New Dictionary of English Language
To Adapt = Stay the Course
Losing = Winning
Civil War = Insurgency/Ethnic Clashes
Withdrawal = Anti-American
Soldiers = Canon Fodder
My Pet Goat = War and Peace
(Feel Free to Add-on)
November 27th, 2006 at 7:19 pm> So, better to kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and American soldiers than wound the
> Presidunce’s ego?
Cylons don’t have egos, dude.
I understand now why Uzbekistan can be a “strategic ally” with access privileges to the White House. As long as they do not label themselves “murdering fascist thugs”, everything is all right, right?
November 27th, 2006 at 7:20 pmI guess the Establishment media is going to wait for the last helicopter to take off from the roof before they call the Iraq policy a failure.
But who cares, the public knows it’s a failure, they didn’t need the media to tell them that.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:22 pmDana Priest looked like a buffoon having to go on the air and be ridiculed into admitting that, even though she has not been allowed to call it a civil war, she, in fact, realized that it is. How sad to have to prostitute your morals for a paycheck from a propagandized organization! How utterly sad to see people who once had credibility sell their souls on national television in order to keep their job. Well, they may keep their job but will be cast aside as the spineless fools that they’ve allowed themselves to become.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:23 pmLincoln didn’t use the term civil war either, but…
November 27th, 2006 at 7:24 pmDana Priest looked like a brain-dead zombie today. Enough of having to witness individuals descending into the personal “hell” on national television.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:24 pmMatthews had her hoist on her own pitard and it wasn’t at all pretty….neither was Dana, btw….this having to lie for a paycheck is beginning to take it’s toll on her appearance and health. It’s showing. Stress kills.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:25 pm#22— feel free to add on
hungry = very low food security.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:28 pm#22 Deficit Reduction = Somthing for your Grandkids to do.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:30 pmIf the systematic killing of one’s neighbours in the order of a hundred or so a day does not constitute a civil war, I don’t know what would.
Well, the Bush Administration has all sorts of special criteria for a “civil war” that are not met by Iraq. Yesterday Tony Snow said it’s not a civil war because there is no single, identifiable leader of the insurgency. Earlier they have said that as long as the central government is not split, it’s not a civil war. Whatever. They are professional liars and they do a damn good job of it.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:32 pmgrytpype,
Soooo, if the insurgency would get it’s ass in gear and get organized, we could call it a civil war? According to Snowflake, of course.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:42 pmI don’t think Dana Priest wanted to say those things. Just a feeling, so ya’ll can drag me through the mud if you want.
She broke the story about the secret prisons. I don’t think she’d have a single problem calling this a civil war. I wonder why the WaPo had her do thisinterview anyway.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:45 pmSoooo, the installed Iraqi governtment won’t use the “civil war” language. They are doing their job.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:48 pmBnF posted a great one last night about them not having blue and gray uniforms- needs to be posted again it is a classic.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:48 pmUh Zooey, I swear I didn’t read your post before I began with Soooo. Wierd.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:49 pmIs this what they call “micro”?
November 27th, 2006 at 7:58 pmCylons don’t have egos, dude.
Comment by El Tonno — November 27, 2006 @ 7:20 pm
What’s a Cylon?
BTW, I’m not a dude.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:05 pmZ & FT
November 27th, 2006 at 8:06 pmY’all just need to add a eeeey to the end and yer doin a heckuva hog call!!
I bet they have used “warrantless wire tapping” even though this government won’t use those words. Hollow words from the Post.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:10 pmun - Cylons are aliens from (I think) Battlestar Galactica. You are, however, a dudette, aren’t you?
November 27th, 2006 at 8:10 pmSince Rob’t E. Lee hasn’t risen from the grave to lead the rebel troops, it can’t be a damn civil war.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:11 pmUh Zooey, I swear I didn’t read your post before I began with Soooo. Wierd.
Comment by ForTruth
Great minds…
November 27th, 2006 at 8:14 pmAnother “news” organization that lacks for the news.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:16 pmThis maybe the begining of the end of print. You can’t sell this shit for long and expect to attract an audience.
RUCerious,
Dudette?
Are you serious?
November 27th, 2006 at 8:17 pm> Cylons are aliens from (I think) Battlestar Galactica.
Err..something like that. The refrain goes:
The Cylons were created by Man.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:20 pmThey Evolved.
They Rebelled.
They Look and Feel Human.
Some are programmed to think they are Human.
There are many copies.
And they have a Plan.
Cylons are aliens from (I think) Battlestar Galactica. You are, however, a dudette, aren’t you?
Comment by RUCerious — November 27, 2006 @ 8:10 pm
I’m assuming ‘retarded’ aliens?
Dudette? You just make that up?
Yep - I do have two X chromosomes and, unlike MA, no Ys… : )
November 27th, 2006 at 8:27 pmThey Evolved.
Comment by El Tonno — November 27, 2006 @ 8:20 pm
I think that right there rules out the Chimp… :)
November 27th, 2006 at 8:28 pmSome are programmed to think they are Human.
There are many copies.
And they have a Plan.
Comment by El Tonno
So close — yet so far =)
November 27th, 2006 at 8:46 pmThey Evolved
Blue Goo!
November 27th, 2006 at 8:48 pm#49 - Zep,
Ok, so even if a robot were programmed to think it was human, it’s still a robot. Do they get their feelings hurt if you call them a robot? I must be missing something.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:52 pmBattlestar Galactica:
Born of reptilian aliens who were eventually overthrown by the machine race they had created, the mechanical menace known, as the Cylon Empire is one of the greatest threats to life and freedom in the cosmos.
Built to labor, think and wage the wars of their organic Cylon masters the original Cylon Federation was destroyed when their machine warriors turned on them in a quest to fulfill their programming. purify the universe of imperfection.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:59 pm#51
November 27th, 2006 at 9:01 pmZooey,
They don’t know they are robots. They are programmed to be human, infiltrate then do something bad….very bad. Sleeper robots….if you will.;)
36, 38 41, 43, 45–51: El Tonno, ForTruth, RUCerious, unbelievable, Zep Tepi, Zooey
20% of this imporant thread has been hijacked by you.
Why do you people insist on ruining threads?
Why do you insist on wasting other people’s bandwidth?
Why do you people chat here just as rude obnoxious people talk aloud in movies?
Why do you people chat here instead of chatting in a private area.
Are you people trolls?
November 27th, 2006 at 9:04 pmI think one of the reasons the President resists that label is because it equates almost with a failure of U.S. policy.
In other words, even Pres Bush himself realises he is looking at a civil war in Iraq. He simply refuses to call it by its name. All in the name of saving face, rather than accepting reality and getting people out of harm’s way.
How many more will have to die so Pres Bush is spared an embarrassment?
We try to avoid the labels, particularly when the elected government itself does not call its situation a civil war.
What Priest is saying here is that she (as well as others at the Washington Post) also realises Iraq is in the middle of a civil war but she’d rather be a stenographer and enable both the White House, Maliki’s government to deny reality.
Such is the sad state of affairs in the American media. Is anyone interested in objective reporting anymore?
November 27th, 2006 at 9:08 pmOK Goodscarrier it is a Quagmire.
Now do you want to debate the difference between a quagmire and sectarian violence?
Either way, not matter what Iraq PM, or you, the media, or I call it its still a bad situation and this above is just wasteful semantics, how much bandwidth has CNN and FOX wasted on that?
So How are you today goodscarrier?
your not missing something Zoo, your missing nothing.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:11 pmhttp://www.virtuescience.com/letter-triangle.jpg
Goodscarrier,
I’m pretty sure all of the people you list have commented on topic on this very thread today. HAVE YOU?
November 27th, 2006 at 9:19 pmOther than your usual cut & paste crap, of course, goodscarrier.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:20 pmWhy was that posted twice?
Why must all my bandwidth get taken up by someone elses need to repost comments.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:25 pmThis Dana Priest thing is an example of why I quit watching MSM several years ago-it is just plain brain rot. We get our news off the NET from a wide variety of sources. There is no surprise in what she said. Can someone fact check that Bush stated that if Iraq turned into a civil war he would pull out our troops. If so, maybe that is why “civil War” is taboo.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:31 pmZooey,
They don’t know they are robots. They are programmed to be human, infiltrate then do something bad….very bad. Sleeper robots….if you will.;)
Comment by dlet
Evil anti-war clades!=]
In either case, Iran’s support of Al Dawa is unacceptable and cessation of hostilities favorable to Iraq is now the preferred option for the White House.
Comment by goodscarrier
I agree Goods.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:32 pmI can’t believe you don’t watch Battlestar Galactica Zoe ….
Comment by ren
Wasn’t that on approximately one million years ago?
PS - You’re going to make goodscarrier’s shit list.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:33 pmHere’s some 1984 info on the Al Dawa that is from The Iran-Iraq War: Struggle Without End
Is this a book?
may have been responsible for the bombings of the American Marine
Do you have a source?
The present leader of Al Dawa, Hojatoleslam Mohammed Baqr Hakim, is operating from Tehran where he has directed terrorist attacks against targets throughout the Middle East.
Why havn’t we seen this guy in the news?
Goodscarrier, I think you are making a lame attempt at trying to be “above” everyone else, and at the same time still wanting interaction with the people on this thread.
Goodscarrier, I am a troll thank you.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:36 pmGoodScaryer,
The new People just came today, and its all about Katie and Tom’s wedding, with photos of the baby. I think you would love it.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:42 pmSleeper robots….if you will.;)
Comment by dlet
Can’t you just tell by looking at the thing that it’s a frickin’ robot?
November 27th, 2006 at 9:43 pmFrom the WaPo (co-authored by T. Ricks, “Fiasco”):
November 27th, 2006 at 9:46 pmA five-page report — written by Col. Peter Devlin, a senior and seasoned military intelligence officer with the Marine Expeditionary Force — is marked secret, for dissemination to U.S. and allied troops in Iraq only.
It says in part:
Al-Qaeda itself, now an “integral part of the social fabric of western Iraq,” has become so entrenched, autonomous and financially independent that U.S. forces no longer have the option “for a decapitating strike that would cripple the organization,” the report says. That is why, it says, the death of al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al- Zarqawi in June “had so little impact on the structure and capabilities of al-Qaeda,” especially in Anbar province.
Devlin suggested that without the deployment of an additional U.S. military division — 15,000 to 20,000 troops — plus billions of dollars in aid to the province, “there is nothing” U.S. troops “can do to influence” the insurgency.
Note: Al Qaeda, the organization that attacked America on 9/11/01, wasn’t a factor in Iraq before we invaded.
They don’t know they are robots. They are programmed to be human, infiltrate then do something bad….very bad. Sleeper robots….if you will.;)
Comment by dlet — November 27, 2006 @ 9:01 pm
Would they kill R2D2?
November 27th, 2006 at 9:46 pmCan’t you just tell by looking at the thing that it’s a frickin’ robot?
Comment by Zooey — November 27, 2006 @ 9:43 pm
No, those were the old ones. The new ones are more like this
http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Number_Six_%28Battlestar_Galactica%29
Oh and as not to get in trouble: Yuppers those darn Dana Priest type people.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:49 pmunknown.ord.scnet.net
Gee everytime I refresh the TP page, without posting. this website in Jordan hogs my bandwidth!
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Those dang TP images are hogging my bandwidth!!!
Grr stupid bandwidth hogging images and tracking cookies!
November 27th, 2006 at 9:50 pmSo the press is not calling it a civil war because it might upset the boy-king? That’s what journalism has become?
November 27th, 2006 at 9:52 pmHe acts like a spoiled brat and he is treated like one — let’s not tell him the bad news, he might cry, and we don’t want to upset him.
So the foundation for journalism is how the president will react to the “labeling.” Thousands upon thousands are dead, more thousands are wounded, billions have been spent, we are dangerously under-prepared should a new crisis arise elsewhere - and they are worried about making him angry??!
Tundra,
Oh, now I see the reason for great love of the Battlestar show. Jeebus, I guess I am a troll — the under the bridge type.
Yeah…..that damn Dana Priest…
November 27th, 2006 at 9:54 pmSo I guess the general principle is that you use the descriptive language that the country referred to decides to use? So does that mean the press should not call a genocide a genocide if the relevant country does not call it a genocide? Jeesh, what a moronic explanation.
The only reason you might hesitate to call something a genocide is if you didn’t have enough facts. And the same would at least make sense as an explanation in this case (though in that case they would have to admit that they don’t have the relevant facts).
November 27th, 2006 at 9:55 pmIsn’t Battlestar Galactica being re-made? I used to watch the old ones with Lorne Green. The new show apparently has hot space bitches.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:03 pmOk, bandwidth, I pick C.C.R and cookies, make mine choclate chip and I’m a bleeding heart libral troll…Blessings all.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:10 pmSo I guess the general principle is that you use the descriptive language that the country referred to decides to use? So does that mean the press should not call a genocide a genocide if the relevant country does not call it a genocide? Jeesh, what a moronic explanation.
Sadly everything is politically correct now. As an example even my favorite show “Battlestar Galactica” took our beloved Starbuck and made him a woman (Silly huh). They also took my buddy Boomer who use to be an African American male and made him an Asian Woman. It’s all about not offending anyone.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:12 pmIsn’t Battlestar Galactica being re-made? I used to watch the old ones with Lorne Green.
That’s the one I was thinking about. It was terrible.
The new show apparently has hot space bitches.
Comment by ForTruth
I didn’t know it had been re-made. Did you check the link in #72? She must be a robot.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:12 pmIt’s all about not offending anyone.
Comment by Tundra
If they all look like the one in your link, I can’t imagine you’re offended.
F*cking WaPo…
November 27th, 2006 at 10:14 pmIf they all look like the one in your link, I can’t imagine you’re offended.
F*cking WaPo…
Comment by Zooey — November 27, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
How often do I get offended, hehe? Especially when it comes to sexy robotic space chics.
Yo Tundra… They just wanted to use some Honnies to liven up the show, Geeez…
Comment by ren — November 27, 2006 @ 10:16 pm
I was reaching for a way to tie battlestar galactica into the topic :)
You know who’s not a sexy robotic space chic?
November 27th, 2006 at 10:20 pmDana Priest
So I guess the general principle is that you use the descriptive language that the country referred to decides to use? So does that mean the press should not call a genocide a genocide if the relevant country does not call it a genocide? Jeesh, what a moronic explanation.
Perhaps we should coin a new word, like misremember. and maybe call it ethnocivicocide?
BTW I just bought the Battlestar Galactica DVD set!
November 27th, 2006 at 10:21 pmWhat kind of excuse is that?
November 27th, 2006 at 10:22 pmWhat an absolutely bizarre answer by Priest! And a complete admission of conspiratorial guilt of collaborating with the Bush Administration.
I wonder is Dana calls Kim Jong Il the “Dear Leader”, since that what the government if North Korea calls him!?!?
Does Dana think there’s no problems in Darfor, since the government of Sudan sees no problems of genocide there?
The Iraqi government is U.S. controlled, so a Washington Post reporter is admitting it’s cow-towing to the Bush Administration’s talking points about the Iraq situation.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:26 pmThe Washington Post has become nothing more thatn Pravda on the Potomac. So very sad.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:27 pmAlright, here’s the babes of Battlestar Galactica.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:27 pmYou know I think Bush, the guy who started the non-civil-war freedom operation, that wasn’t, looks in no way like Maren Jensen who was on some show
I forget the name…
Battlestar Galactica mebbe.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:31 pmIt looks like goodscarrier inspired his very own thread hijacking — with theme. Not too shabby…
Heh.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:37 pmIf I see another Christmas Lexus commercial, I’m going to drive my honda accord through the next Lexus dealership i see….
Comment by ren — November 27, 2006 @ 10:28 pm
Maybe the sales persons at the Lexus dealerships are really Cylon robots that think they are human and go home after work and watch Battlestar Galactica.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:40 pmIt looks like goodscarrier inspired his very own thread hijacking — with theme. Not too shabby…
Heh.
Comment by Zooey
Zooey that one was the topper, the fatal swipe.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:41 pmIt looks like goodscarrier inspired his very own thread hijacking — with theme. Not too shabby…
Heh.
Comment by Zooey
I think Goodscarrier is a good person and is concerned about this war, as many of us are, and I too get a little angry at the carnage brought about by a peace operation, and well goods a little chit chat is good for people, like going into a bar and talking to someone you don’t know, because I find I always learn something from then.
So Goodscarrier what do you do for a living, or are you a student?
Me I like to watch Battlestar Galactica reruns.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:45 pmMost of my post’s not showing up…Oh well!….Zooey, how much snow over you’re way.?..About a foot here and cold….Blessings
November 27th, 2006 at 10:45 pmZooey that one was the topper, the fatal swipe.
Comment by ForTruth
What can I do? Sometimes I’m inspired…
November 27th, 2006 at 10:51 pmAbout a foot here and cold….Blessings
Comment by Sharon Cox
Only aobut 3-4 inches here, Sharon, but frickin’ cold. It’s supposed to be about 9 degrees tonight. More snow would be ok, though.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:55 pmComment by ren
Do you think there is a chance the better and brighter may be used anytime soon?
November 27th, 2006 at 10:56 pmGood post’s all, even the funnies..Ren, nothing will improve untill bull shit bush is gone and all his inept, non qualafied enablers are gone with him…Good post….Thank’s…Blessings
November 27th, 2006 at 11:12 pm36, 38 41, 43, 45–51, 52, 53, 58, 61, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 80, 82, 83, 86, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 103: El Tonno, ForTruth, Joefriday, Sharon Cox, RUCerious, Tundra, unbelievable, Zep Tepi, Zooey
Almost half of this important thread has been hijacked by you.
Have you no sense of decency, etiquette, or respect?
With no concern at all Zooey (Norm!) writes at # 95: It looks like goodscarrier inspired his very own thread hijacking — with theme. Not too shabby… Heh.
Why do you people insist on ruining threads?
Why do you insist on wasting other people’s bandwidth?
Why do you people chat here just as rude obnoxious people talk aloud in movies?
Why do you people chat here instead of chatting in a private area.
Are you people trolls?
Keep typing, you are making my case.
: )
November 27th, 2006 at 11:13 pmWhat do 54 and 107 have to do with this thread?
I mean seriously please try and stay on topic, Some of us have bandwidth concerns. Your like that guy that yells at the person yelling at the person talking in a movie theatre.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:19 pmI got an idea, how about we all leave and let goodscarrier play all alone…..By the way you have used up more space on this thread than I have in 5 day’s on all the thread’s. I have been gone with the exception on one or two posts my computer has been down……
November 27th, 2006 at 11:21 pmtrolling
Surfing, or browsing, the Web.(Me)
Posting derogatory messages about sensitive subjects on newsgroups and chat rooms to bait users into responding.(Me)
Hanging around in a chat room without saying anything, like a “peeping tom.”(Not me)
November 27th, 2006 at 11:23 pmYour like that guy that yells at the person yelling at the person talking in a movie theatre.
Comment by Tundra
I laughed so hard, I got hiccups — thanks. :)
At least he’s paying attention…look, I got the bold…
November 27th, 2006 at 11:23 pmSo, what’s happening in Darfur is not genocide because the government doesn’t call it that, right?
Wow. Who needs free press? Just let the governments put some PR.
Oh, yeah….
November 27th, 2006 at 11:25 pm#95: It looks like goodscarrier inspired his very own thread hijacking — with theme. Not too shabby… Heh. Comment by Zooey #97: Zooey that one was the topper, the fatal swipe. Comment by ForTruth #101: What can I do? Sometimes I’m inspired…Comment by Zooey
Keep typing!!
It shows you have zero respect for TP and those who come to TP to read about their largely copy and pasted postings.
I am sure the financial backers to APAF will be really happy to know that their cash is being used to provide a chat room for you instead of providing a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:25 pmIt shows you have zero respect for TP and those who come to TP to read about their largely copy and pasted postings.
LOL, Yeah we have no respect for them, but you insult them at the same time.
I am sure the financial backers to APAF will be really happy to know that their cash is being used to provide a chat room for you instead of providing a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:31 pmWell people are here aren’t they? OK you go tell them that you want all their regular posters to leave, because you think it would be better without all those comment things mucking up the place.
108, 109, 110, 111
Yes!
Keep typing!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:31 pmIsn’t that special Zooey.?…..Now there’s a bunch of us not just you and I being chastized..Geees when will the madness and anger of every one end. Another sickness bull shit is responsabile for..Creating anger, fear and hatred for every one who doe’s not comply….Blessings
November 27th, 2006 at 11:32 pm[…] I really don’t understand our contemporary press. […]
November 27th, 2006 at 11:32 pm113, 115
Yes!
Keep typing!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:33 pmGoodscarrier, well its all worth it, you’ve had an effect on at least one person, I’m outta here.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:34 pm108, 109, 110, 111
Yes!
Keep typing!
Comment by goodscarrier
And what…exactly?
November 27th, 2006 at 11:34 pm#114, Tundra: Well people are here aren’t they? OK you go tell them that you want all their regular posters to leave, because you think it would be better without all those comment things mucking up the place.
Want all their regular posters to leave?
Are your parents first cousins?
Your view has nothing to do with my position.
Here are my questions:
Why do you people insist on ruining threads?
Why do you insist on wasting other people’s bandwidth?
Why do you people chat here just as rude obnoxious people talk aloud in movies?
Why do you people chat here instead of chatting in a private area.
Are you people trolls?
November 27th, 2006 at 11:36 pm#120, Zooey: And what…exactly?
And you will continue to make my case…..
DOH!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:38 pm#122 - Frickin’ clever.
You even cut & paste your own stuff, huh? Whatever…
Thanks for not blaming only me for once.
Oh, you’re still off topic. I know how much you hate that.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:44 pmYou even cut & paste your own stuff, huh?
Yes he does, I don’t know how many times those same questions are in this poor thread.
I even tried to tell him I was a troll, but he keeps posting this off topic stuff.
Ah Well, some people never learn.
November 27th, 2006 at 11:50 pmAh Well, some people never learn.
Comment by Tundra
I’m not trying to teach him anything. Good luck!
Goodnight!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:52 pmDana - would you call Hitler’s Final Solution a ‘relocation program’?
November 27th, 2006 at 11:58 pmI guess it depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is….
-
November 28th, 2006 at 12:40 amI’m sick of these talking heads.
People are dying. Chris Matthews is blabbering.
November 28th, 2006 at 12:44 amI guess it depends on what the meaning of the word “is†is….
Comment by Hank Essay
Effectively it’s admitting guilt
I did what I did
What I did I did
what was was
what is…..is
Clinton framed it as a question however. =)
November 28th, 2006 at 1:07 am“Are you people trolls?
November 28th, 2006 at 1:44 amComment by goodscarrier — November 27, 2006 @ 9:04 pm”
To quote the inimitable Unbelievable, ROTFL!
So glad to see we got under Goodscarrier’s skin. Seems his head explodes when he is asked to encompass two subjects in the same thread.
Wasting bandwidth? WTF? Are you using two tin cans and string?
This totally cracked me up, I enjoyed watching him have a tantrum!
BTW, I don’t care much for BG. Babylon 5 was my favorite space-opera so far.
And Dana looks really uncomfortable carrying water too.
November 28th, 2006 at 1:51 amSo there, Goodsy, I can so be on topic.
Goodscarrier is just another Exley looking for a centrist slant.
November 28th, 2006 at 1:58 amGoodscarriers bandwidth meme has been debunked =)
November 28th, 2006 at 1:59 amI have to say to all people was here, that this was the funniest thread Ive read in the net. It was like a virtual, faceless, multitudinary Seinfeld´s 2 hour show. The Cylon stuff changed it all. It was a fantastic thread, guys. Thanks. Still LMAO!!!
November 28th, 2006 at 2:08 am“A Most Civil War”
“PERVERSIONS TO THE IMPERIALIST AMERICAN PIGSâ€
.
(a day in the life of a Baghdad family - Bashir, a young man, enters his family’s apartment)
Bashir: Greetings Father, Praise be to Allah.
November 28th, 2006 at 4:09 amFather: Praise be to Allah.
Bashir: It’s hot in here. Did we have any electricity today?
Father: One hour, tops. May Allah rain perversions on the Imperialist American Pigs!
Bashir: That sucks. A thousand perversions to the Infidels.
Father: What did you do today?
Bashir: Praise be to Allah, I put out one roadside IED and helped prepare a suicider for a Mosque mission at evening prayers.
Father: Praise be to Allah, but did you stop by the Coalition Forces Outreach Center like your Mother asked you to?
Bashir: Yes, Papa I did.
Father: And did you tell them that death squads have harassing and threatening your Mother, sisters and our neighbors?
Bashir: Yes Papa I did. They said that they already knew and intended to step up patrols. They were very sympathetic and really quite civil.
Father: A thousand perversions to the Imperialist Occupiers.
Bashir: Praise be to Allah, a thousand perversions.
Comment by cognitorex
You are one lame-assed MF, Cog. I read that piece of winger drivel a year ago. Or were we supposed to think you penned that swill? You lost the election - deal with it, loser!
November 28th, 2006 at 5:03 amBushir: Greetings Father, Praise be to Yahweh
November 28th, 2006 at 5:24 amFather: Praise be to Yahweh.
Bushir: It’s damp in here. Did you change your Depends?
Father: I ran out of the extra-absorbent — may Yahweh rain perversions on the 7-11 clerk that sold me these!
Bushir: That sucks. A thousand perversions on Procter and Gamble!
Father: What did you do today?
Bushir: Praise be to God, I put out the eye of a suspected suicider for attempting to pray at evening prayers.
Father: Praise be to Yahweh, and did you make sure the heathen was properly scourged, as was described in the sacred texts?
Bushir: Yes, Papa I did.
Father: And did you tell him that death squads harassing and threatening his mother, sisters and neighbors are just the beginning?
Bushir: Yes Papa I did. He said that they already knew and intended to step up patrols.
Father: A thousand perversions to the heathens.
Bushir: Praise be to Yahweh, a thousand perversions.
We try to avoid the labels
Is pretty much the same as saying “we try to avoid the facts on the ground”.
What exactly does the Washington Post call it? Any thing Bush request or a the disfunctional Iraqi government wants the paper to call it?
A civil war by any other name is still a civil war.
November 28th, 2006 at 6:54 amjkljkgljkljlj
November 28th, 2006 at 7:09 amWhat do you expect when torture isn’t torture anymore and according to Bush the Vietnam war was actually won by America? Orwell would be proud.
November 28th, 2006 at 8:25 amOkay, let’s indulge them for a moment. Since it isn’t a civil war buy hundreds are dying each day in an uncontrolled orgy of violence, it must be called something. I vote for Autogenocide. So Bush didn’t unleash a civil war, he unleashed genocide. Pardon, autogenocide (it’s a real word—applied to Pol Pot’s slaughter of Cambodians).
November 28th, 2006 at 8:40 amIf that were true, then why this morning on CNN did they basically run a short story that says there is no civil war…only a few poor, confused Iraqi citizens think it is a civil war.
I mean, if they don’t want to use the term, that is one thing, but to run a story for no reason other than to convince people there is no civil war is covering up for something.
November 28th, 2006 at 8:54 amNote that Priest is careful to describe the policy and the reasoning as the Post’s, rather than her own. I bet she thinks it is stupid not to call it a civil war, but the neocon editors make that decision.
She’s done some tremendous reporting on secret prisons, Guatanamo, torture and other stuff and is probably one of Cheney’s least favorite reporters.
She has used her position at WaPo to do great reporting and has had to put up with stupid decisions by her editors. I don’t think she needs to fall on her sword over this latest stupid decision.
November 28th, 2006 at 9:02 amThese idiots are so concerned about correctly labeling a war??? LOL???
Then why haven’t they been calling our involvement in Iraq what it is…an OCCUPATION!!!
The war was over when we overthrew Hussein and the president stated mission accomplished.
Are you listening CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX, WaPO, Times, Tribune…
OCCUPATION! OCCUPATION! OCCUPATION! OCCUPATION!
Now why do you think they avoid calling it an occupation? Could it be because to admit that the war (our war, not the civil war) is over would make it very easy to LEAVE. And they don’t ever want our troops to leave.
November 28th, 2006 at 9:19 am#145 Drew
November 28th, 2006 at 9:39 amI share your thoughts on Dana Priest. I have been following her writing for years and I believe she is a credible journalist, but I think the WaPo is not the paper it once was and she is under pressure to not criticize the paper’s policy if she wants to keep her job. She is generally pretty neutral in her reporting, but she doesn’t shy away from criticizing Bush&Co. She wrote many articles questioning the run up to the war in Iraq. As noted in 145, she refers to the decision regarding labeling made by WaPo, and states that in her opinion, the country is absolutely in civil war.
I agree that there is no journalism in most media today. That’s why even the words describing it have changed. What was the “media” years ago? There was no such thing. There was reporting and investigation.
The reason the republicans have always hated the news outlets and called them liberal is because most educated, thoughtful graduates who became journalists understood the role of an independent press, and they looked for the real story buried under the press package handed out by the government. That is their role by definition, to be part of the checks and balances. It all started with Reagan, I think and the white house press corp. He stopped letting anyone ask a question, made them sit quietly and politely in chairs and hand-picked the reporters. The backlash should have started RIGHT THERE. No, you’re not going to tell us what to ask, and no, you’re not going to tell us what to write, and no you can’t go through my phone logs to look for my sources.
Little by little, it got erroded. The big corps bought out the newspapers and tv stations and radio. And the republicans, slowly, started to like the media, which was a bad sign. They love going on FOX. They love having Tony Snow hand out bullshit that reporters are forced to print. They love making big newspapers like the NYTimes censor themselves out of fear.
Someone has to make these people reporters again.
The LA times is up for sale. And also, clearchannel is selling of some stations, I hear. It’s time for the liberal wallets to open, and for them to face the fact that they have to organize and BUY UP these outlets. Buy them, and hopefully make them independent again.
November 28th, 2006 at 10:02 amit is not a civil war until the retard in the white house says it is.
November 28th, 2006 at 10:33 amWhy do you all take a perverse pleasure in the travails of a newly formed democracy and our efforts to help them along? Thank goodness this type of pessimistic negativity isn’t part of the mainstream.
November 28th, 2006 at 11:00 am…because that’s not the reason that we are over there?
…because the president said they were going to be mushroom clouds over our cities when in fact, all Sadaam had was a slingshot?
…because this campaign has been one incompetent move after another?
Are those some reasons?
November 28th, 2006 at 11:23 amIn a chat today, Peter Baker of the Washington Post answered a question about why he didn’t use the term “civil war” and, like Dana Priest, seemed to be delicately pointing a finger at his boss, the WaPo editor. I think both these journalists are being careful not to publicly criticize their boss, while making it clear they don’t necessarily agree with his decision.
Peter Baker: Len Downie, our executive editor, was asked about this yesterday by Editor & Publisher. Here’s what he told them: “We just describe what goes on everyday. We don’t have a policy about it. We are not making judgments one way or another. The language in the stories is very precise when dealing with it. At various times people say it is ‘close to a civil war,’ but we don’t have a policy about it.”
November 28th, 2006 at 11:35 am[…] Wash Post’s Dana Priest: “Absolutely†believes the “level of violence [in Iraq] equals a civil war.†[…]
November 28th, 2006 at 2:05 pmGoodscarrier. Why do you insist on being an ass? Is it an attention thing? Mommy didn’t give you hugs?
November 28th, 2006 at 8:45 pmDo people really think that if we stop fighting them over there, we will start fighting them here??…………………………….So………If I stop having sex with my girlfriend’s friend, will my girlfriend stop having sex with me?
November 28th, 2006 at 10:57 pmWhat’s So Civil About the Iraq War?…
I don’t think the Iraq War is very civil at all….
November 29th, 2006 at 8:34 am[…] the admission part is mere formality. the policy has failed and the ship has sailed. the whole world, including the great majority of americans, want the u.s. out of iraq, which means george bush is leader of the lunatic fringe insisting we should stick around awhile longer. President Bush intensified diplomatic efforts on Monday to quell rising violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, turning to allies as his national security adviser said the conflict in Iraq had entered “a new phase” requiring changes. […]
November 29th, 2006 at 11:53 ami hate the united states.(civil war)
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