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An American 'martyr' is being hailed in the Sunni Triangle for restoring peace to a town where soldiers now fight only water leaks.
When we went out on patrol, the London Times reporter, Martin Fletcher, accompanied by the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, felt so secure, he did not bother to wear his flakjacket or helmut.
Jeff Emanuel wrote a story for the National Review today concerning the recent headline-grabbing announcement that CBS Evening News
anchor Katie Couric will be going to Iraq. Couric will be touring for 12 days in September and it has
caused, as it should, new attention to be cast on combat-zone
journalism.
Jeff made some excellent points about the mainstream journalist including the fact that:
This statement is worth repeating, "If the media are the eyes, ears and voice of a nation, we are currently deaf, dumb and blind."
Click here to read Iraqi Information Deficit by Jeff Emanuel
Matt Sanchez was a guest on The Martha Zoller Show on Georgia's WDUN AM 550 Wednesday.
Sanchez spoke to Zoller via an internet telephone from Ramadi, a city of 400,000 people, located about 62 miles west of Baghdad. He gave Zoller his opinion of the present situation in Iraq and relayed the message he is getting from the soldiers who are stationed there.
By Matt Sanchez
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
BAGHDAD, Iraq – It was a very nice street. The residents of Dora came out as the 1-4 Cav walked down the mostly paved road.
Paving
a road is a good sign of safety in Baghdad, where deep-buried IEDs are
deadliest. An Army staff sergeant explained how the terrorists liked to
burn tires over a pressure-plate IED and set it off under an
unsuspecting Humvee. This street had no pressure plates, but plenty of
residents who had felt the pressure of day-to-day life.
An English-speaking man in his mid-40s was one of the first to greet Lt. Col. James Crider and his men. He was animated but welcoming, even when he complained that he had waited in line and got no propane. Propane was the main means of cooking in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. During the Saddam era, propane, gasoline and electricity were given out in a type of spoils system. With United Nations sanctions imposed over several years, the era following the first Persian Gulf War was a difficult one for the people of Iraq, but several older Iraqis pointed to the Iran-Iraq war of '79-'88 as the beginning of the downward trend in living standards. Ration cards and long waits were the only means for securing the essentials. No ration – no gas, propane or other amenities. Thereafter, the black market was your only option, and that put you in the vulnerable illegal sphere that more and more Iraqis entered as the arrival of American forces became inevitable.
(cont.)
HERE'S WHAT YOU THOUGHT!
Last week, we polled you, the viewers of this site, on the following question.
"German Nazi concentration camps were responsible for the massive and catastrophic genocide of innocent Jewish people. Do you think that a U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq now would result in the genocide of innocent Iraqi people?"
Here are the results of that poll and the areas around the world where the votes were cast.
Pollster,
Matt-Sanchez.com
There should be no doubt, the so-called surge is working, but, in
September, I am afraid General Petraeus will downplay the positive
effect for fear of appearing too partisan. It is sad that in today's
society and political environment it is unacceptable for a general to
be…well, a general. Even worse is an ambivalent public afraid to root
for their own team.
"Our strategy in going after this army is very simple. First we are going to cut it off, and then we are going to kill it."
It's an honor to cover the men and women here in Iraq, they are truly the best our country has to offer. I really thank all those who have supported me so far, I could not have done it without you.
I promise to keep bringing you the stories, images and details you won't find in the mainstream media, I also promise to bring you the voices of those you hear the least--the troops here on the ground.
Thanks for listening and I appreciate all the mail.
Keep those comments coming and take the polls!
Sincerely,
Matt Sanchez
Col. Frank Whismur is a soft-spoken, 25 year veteran and Army Chaplain. In his own words, Col. Whismur explains why the military needs chaplains. In this audio interview, the Chaplain tells the story of a soldier who struggled after shooting an Iraqi citizen who was a passenger in a vehicle that was driving in the wrong direction at a check point. Col. Whismur also talks about some soldiers who are self-described atheists who have a change of heart.
One of the most popular news sites on the web today is the latest to recruit Matt Sanchez for factual first-person coverage of the war in Iraq.
WorldNetDaily.com posted Sanchez' first exclusive dispatch for the web site today in its Morning Edition with more dispatches planned for the future.
Sanchez said, "I'm honored WordNetDaily.com has asked me to be a part of such a respectable organization. WorldNetDaily has some of the most talented people I've had the privilege of working with in the media since arriving in Iraq earlier this year.
He was contacted by WorldNetDaily.com earlier this month and did not hesitate when asked to write for the 8-million-hits-per-day news site. "I felt very humble when they approached me and also saw a tremendous opportunity to further spread the word that there's another side to the war than what Americans are seeing on the nightly news from the mainstream media," he stated.
Sanchez is also a correspondent for PajamasMedia.com, another highly respectable news site, and is featured regularly on RightWingNews.com His work has also appeared on NationalReview.com and numerous conservative and mil blogs across the net.
In his first dispatch for WorldNetDaily.com, Sanchez points out that Iraqis actually like the U.S. military. The article features an in-depth report complete with photos and video footage and takes readers into one of the most dangerous areas of Baghdad.
Click here to read Sanchez' first dispatch on WorldNetDaily.com
A soldier had a message he wanted to send to Pat Dullard. Wait a minute! You don't know who Pat Dollard is? Keep reading after watching this video!
Click here to watch the Quicktime video
Matt Sanchez was a guest on the Lee Rodgers and Melanie Morgan Program on KSFO's Radio Morning show this week. The show debuted in 1995 and, since then, has risen to rank among the most listened to morning radio
programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. The host, Lee Rodgers, guides the show with
his years of experience. Melanie Morgan, reporter turned soccer-mom
turned talk-show host, delivers the news with her unique conservative
spin. Lee and Melanie have
taken the show to the steps of the California capital to end the use of
MTBE and to the streets of San Francisco to register their displeasure
with then President Bill Clinton.
Matt welcomed the opportunity when asked to be a guest on KSFO. Afer all, he was born and grew up in the San Francisco/San Jose area. "It felt like I was back home," he said.
Anbar is at the center of the famous Sunni Triangle, the triangle of death. Just last September a "secret" intelligence report, that somehow reached the hands of the mainstream media, declared the former Baathist stronghold "lost" to American forces. Al Qaeda declared Anbar city of Ramadi, the capital of The Islamic State of Iraq.
Things have changed since the "spurge". Over the next few days, we'll bring you commentary and analysis of the people who have caused that change, as well as assessments of where things are heading in a place the media declared the "Key to Victory in Iraq"
Captain Dennison relates his experience in the Anbar Awakening.
Baghdad Iraq
French foreign minister makes a surprise visit to Baghdad. Bernard Kouchner, one of the few Frenchmen who defended pre-emptive strikes back in 2003 and the co-founder of Doctors without Borders, visited the monument erected to the former UN Baghdad headquarters in the capital city.
Kouchner recently made a very perceptive comment that I've translated here.
"If we stayed by their (American) side, we could have avoided this war." Bernard Kouchner
"Si nous avions continué à être à leur côté, nous aurions pu éviter la guerre", avait-il déclaré."
You'll notice a new poll has been posted (at left) on Matt-Sanchez.com The newest poll was suggested by Mary Thompson, a faithful visitor of this site, who felt passionate about the question and wanted to find out what the world thought. Thanks, Mary!
Now, Matt Sanchez wants to let you pick the next poll! Go ahead, don't be shy! Use the 'comment' link below to suggest a question that's on your mind. Maybe it'll be chosen as our next weekly poll! And be sure to let your voice be heard by casting a vote in the newest poll in the left column of this page.
Pollster,
Matt-Sanchez.com
PREVIOUS POLL RESULTS
Here are the results of last week's poll in which we posed the following question, "Leading Democratic candidates for the presidency support the repeal of
the military Don't Ask Don't Tell policy on homosexuals openly serving
in the military. Would openly homosexual conduct in the military
strengthen or harm the military?"
By Matt Sanchez
Both sides of the ideological split have drawn a line in the sand over what a soldier's story really means, that is if the tales of Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp are just a story or a state of mind. On the left, the dramatic details Beauchamp described were a confirmation of the argument that an unjust war will numb a man into a callous monster. On the other side, critics accuse Private Beauchamp of disparaging his fellow soldiers and distorting reality. One side stands opposed to the other and like watching a dog chase its tail, everyone will spin in circles convinced one good bite will eventually be worth all the fuss.
Private Beauchamp said he wanted Americans to, "have one soldier's view of the war in Iraq." Unfortunately, the Private didn't limit his views to himself, but did limit accusations of potential misconduct to the men serving with him. Although he insisted he wanted to be "discreet," publishing his work in a national magazine meant, on some level, he hoped his experiences would inform and convince the readership. Private Beauchamp had a cause and that's something to be respected.
The Jamia District is the home to the Baghdad "killing field". It's nothing impressive to look at, lots of trash in an empty field, but more bodies have been dumped in this plot than any other place before. Major Norrie also fought in the Haifa Street Ambush on January 6th, 2007.
I'd like to continue to provide my audience with unique first-person reports that you won't get from the mainstream media. I can only do that with your support. I've had enormous feedback and support so far and I thank you for your contribution.
A U.S. military transition team stands up Iraqi troops
By Matt Sanchez
IRAQ
BRIEFING BEGINS at 0800 at FOB Prosperity, and I was ready for the typical "SIGACTS." Small push pins on a magnified satellite image map on the wall showed where each significant act occurred: SAF, IED, EFP, a morse-code of letters that usually meant danger, explosions, and possibly a dead body. But these were the Rogues, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division Military Transitional Team (MiTT), and they had a different mission than most stationed here in Baghdad. First Sergeant Joseph McFarlane, a career Army man whose father served in Vietnam and whose grandfathers both served in WWII, read the latest news from the place the soldiers cared about most--back home.
Dora is a dangerous neighborhood. Due, in part to the "surge", 1st Squadron 4th Cavalry, of Fort Riley Kansas, increased their presence in this small area. Soldiers talk to Iraqis on a daily basis and form relations. These personal relations between Iraqis and the American military may just be the least reported aspect of the war.
Children get to the point really fast. So, I like to ask them direct questions, because they'll usually give disarmingly honest answers.
Soon after I met the 118th Military Police (Airborne), I learned that, unlike many of the "surge" units who deployed at the beginning of the year, the Mighty 118th MPs were actually extended.
Back in April, the 118th were getting ready to return home, in fact, they had even packed their bags. The original mission was to train the Iraqi police and they performed magnificently. That's when the news came--Extension Three Months! After having spent one grueling summer in Baghdad, no one was happy about staying through another. By the time I met the men and women of the 118th, everyone was smiling at the mention of finally going home--and crossing their fingers.
Continue reading "Finally Coming Home--After an Extension" »
This morning, while trying to catch up on all the news, I had one of those "Gee, I wish I wrote that!" moments.
Michael Yon, the Adam of Military Bloggers, gives the type of detail that simply cannot be faked. In this dispatch, he evaluates the campaign slogan "No political progress in Iraq." I found the following quote to be especially insightful.
"To an enemy in need of assets, a press that is increasingly disengaged is like an empty car with keys in the ignition—begging to be stolen. How the keys came to be left in the car, and how the inevitable theft managed to go unreported are questions for a different dispatch. To really understand the dynamics of the Battle for Mosul, it suffices to say the enemy started with a media advantage that they continue to exploit even now."
If you frequent this shite regularly you may notice something a little different! Once a web site reaches a certain sustained level of viewership, Pajamas Media becomes interested! Pajamas has now asked me to join its network as a correspondent and I am glad to officially be a part of one of the best rangs in the business. Thanks Pajamas!
Matt Sanchez
I was with the 3rd Squad Leader, 3rd Platoon, 118th MP Co. (Airborne) in a convoy to the Sadr City JSS (Joint Service Station), when we saw this flock of the faithful heading toward the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim mosque.
At the JSS, the Sadr City police chief told me they expected up to 4 million of the faithful This early morning shot was taken from an overpass, on Route Vernon, looking away from Beirut Square.
Two years ago, during this same celebration, nearly 1000 people died in a stampede. According to witnesses, someone started a panic when they thought a car bomb was about to explode. The ensuing tumult killed more people than any amount of conventional explosive would have.
A hacker has been going through my site for some time now. My apologies to Cpl. McDonald for the dishonorable juveniles who are just desperate for attention.
I just got this e-mail from one of the Marines at Baharia, Fallujah.
I have a bone to pick with you. In one of your
articles you said that I had a pocket full of candy
and handing it out to the kids and they were
distracting me ............ I don't know where that
came from but I have never handed out candy or
anything for that matter.
Continue reading "My apologies to Marine Corporal Kevin McDonald" »
This Marine was so inspirational in his rap, he even had me listening closely and I normally never even go near rap. Oorah devil dog. This video has currently gone viral in the blogosphere. Something tells me it's going to be hard to get work done in the shop this week.
Staff Sergeant Toby Hansen is the 3rd Squad leader of the 3rd platoon, 118th MP Co. (Airborne) out of Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.. This Middletown, New York native is far from home in Sadr City Iraq, but after a tours in Bosnia and Kosovo, the Staff Sergeant has the expedience necessary to deal with prisoners in any situation.
I'd like to continue to provide my audience with unique first-person reports that you won't get from the mainstream media. I can only do that with your support. I've had enormous feedback and support so far and I thank you for your contribution.
Son questions whether Americans really do appreciate the troops in Iraq
People throughout America have various ways of showing their support of U.S. troops serving in Iraq. This mother has decided to go the extra mile, or miles, in this case to show her appreciation.
Nathaniel Fick is the author of one of the best books ever written about the Marine Crops, "One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Corps Officer". Nate wrote a well-thought out opinion piece in the Washtington Post.
I respect Nathan's experience and service enormously, but I really don't agree with him.
In the interest of the diversity that is too often missing from so many media sources, I give you Nathan's article.
Fight Less, Win More
By Nathaniel Fick
Sunday, August 12, 2007; B01
On a highway north of Kabul last month, an American soldier aimed a machine gun at my car from the turret of his armored Humvee. In the split second for which our eyes locked, I had a revelation: To a man with a weapon, everything looks like a threat.
I had served as an infantry officer in Afghanistan in 2001-02 and in Iraq in 2003, but this was my first time on the other end of an American machine gun. It's not something I'll forget. It's not the sort of thing ordinary Afghans forget, either, and it reminded me that heavy-handed military tactics can alienate the people we're trying to help while playing into the hands of the people we're trying to defeat.
Welcome to the paradoxical world of counterinsurgency warfare -- the kind of war you win by not shooting.
*Special thanks to Rush Limbaugh for letting me use this.
A pack of dogs started to follow our convoy headed for Sadr City. It made me think of Beauchamp, the Baghdad Diarist, so I asked the driver about whether he could hit a dog. Here's his reply:
In their latest demonstration of how much they love the troops, liberals have produced yet another anti-war hoax.
The New Republic has been running "true war" stories from a brave, anonymous liberal penning dispatches from Iraq. The famed "Baghdad Diarist" described his comrades joyfully using Bradley fighting vehicles to crush stray dogs, mocking a female whose face had been blown off by an IUD, and defacing Iraqi corpses by wearing skull parts on their own heads.
The Coulter parody makes it official, at some point Franklin Foer will have to resign.
The "forgotten war" or the one that should have been remembered, Afghanistan is a place that looks suspiciously like Palm Springs except the women wear Burkas instead of bathing suits. Logically, this is the "good war", the legal and justified war, but like the sibling to the prodigal son, the son who did everything right, Afghanistan is both neglected and misunderstood.
Beauchamp Recants
THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned from a military source close to the investigation that Pvt. Scott Thomas Beauchamp--author of the much-disputed "Shock Troops" article in the New Republic's July 23 issue as well as two previous "Baghdad Diarist" columns--signed a sworn statement admitting that all three articles he published in the New Republic were exaggerations and falsehoods--fabrications containing only "a smidgen of truth," in the words of our source.
I was with the 1-4 Cavalry, a spurge unit, out of the Dora neighborhood in Western Baghdad. The neighborhood is getting better but sometimes...
What do you think?
Each week, Matt-Sanchez.com features a new pubic poll asking your input on various issues in the world today. Last week, we asked the following question:
The number one statement I get from the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines is that they don't feel the media has reflected the reality of what's going on Iraq. Do you feel the media has been accurate in their reporting from Iraq?
Here are the results of that poll and locations from around America where the votes were cast.
Also, feel free to comment about this poll or suggest a future poll on Matt-Sanchez.com Just look for the 'comment' button below.
Continue reading "The latest Matt-Sanchez.com poll results" »
"If it's true, someone's going to be in trouble.If it's not true, someone's going to be in trouble."
I've met the Colonel on one occasion. For a man who could sit behind his desk staring at satellite images of his battle space, Colonel Gibbs prefers to get out onto the streets just like his soldiers.
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