by Frank James
For all the self-styled media critics who call into C-Span and other talk shows to insist the MSM don't ever tell the good news about what's happening in Iraq, I suggest they actually read the coverage being produced by reporters there.
In recent weeks, there've been a number of front-page stories about the drop of violence in Iraq, especially in Baghdad, a result of the U.S.-Iraqi military surge and the resistance of Sunnis tribal leaders to the insurgency, particularly that fueled by al Qaeda in Iraq.
The latest such story comes today in the Washington Post, which reports that Iraqis are returning to Baghdad as the violence levels fall and the city literally becomes more livable.
Here's how the story starts:
BAGHDAD, Nov. 22 -- Iraqis are returning to their homeland by the hundreds each day, by bus, car and plane, encouraged by weeks of decreased violence and increased security, or compelled by visa and residency restrictions in neighboring countries and the depletion of their savings.
Those returning make up only a tiny fraction of the 2.2 million Iraqis who have fled Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. But they represent the largest number of returnees since February 2006, when sectarian violence began to rise dramatically, speeding the exodus from Iraq.
Many find a Baghdad they no longer recognize, a city altered by blast walls and sectarian rifts. Under the improved security, Iraqis are gingerly testing how far their new liberties allow them to go. But they are also facing many barriers, geographical and psychological, hardened by violence and mistrust.
This too was in the top half of the story:
"Security is better," said Melal al-Zubaidi, who has a degree in engineering. "But we still have fear inside ourselves."
Over the past two months, the level of nearly every type of violence -- car bombings, assassinations, suicide attacks -- has dropped from earlier this year. The downturn is a result of a confluence of factors: This year, 30,000 U.S. military reinforcements were funneled into Baghdad and other areas. Sunni tribes and insurgents turned against the al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgent group and partnered with U.S. forces to patrol neighborhoods and towns. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, seeking to improve his movement's image, ordered his Mahdi Army militia to freeze operations.
U.N. refugee officials estimate that 45,000 Iraqis returned from Syria last month, while Iraqi officials say 1,000 are arriving each day.
The returnees find a capital that offers greater freedom of movement. Shops are open later in many neighborhoods, and curfews have been reduced.
But those freedoms still come with constraints. Weddings, accompanied by honking cars and lively bands, are reappearing on the streets, but they still end before darkness falls.
Visits to relatives and friends across Baghdad are more possible but still hinge on which group or sect controls each neighborhood. Some stores are selling alcohol, but fundamentalists watch for those who breach their codes.
Again, this report parallels other MSM stories in recent weeks. The reports have been balanced, noting the continued challenges facing Iraqis and the U.S. military but clearly reporting the improvements in the security situation and a rising optimism among Iraqis who are voting with their feet and returning in significant numbers to Baghdad.
So the good news from Iraq isn't being hidden or unreported from the field. Far from it.
What will likely go unreported, however, at least by MSM critics, is that such stories are being reported.
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Comments
Was it the surge, was it Muktada al-Sadr calling a cease-fire, or was it the ethnic cleansing that caused violence to drop?
Posted by: john | November 23, 2007 9:53 AM
Attn.Baghdad shoppers,Prez Bush and the NUTTY NEO-CONS have declared "Mission Accomplished" again and all Blue Light specials are WHOOPS!!!!!!!
GHAZIL MARKET, Baghdad, Nov. 23 â At least 13 people were killed and more than 50 wounded by a bomb at a crowded pet market in central Baghdad today, the deadliest attack in the capital for weeks.
The explosion left headless bodies, dead birds and shattered fish tanks around the Ghazil animal market in east Baghdad where many families of all sects visit one of the most popular attractions in the city on the Muslim day of prayer.
Tension has eased in Baghdad in recent weeks, with American and Iraqi commanders reporting a steep decline in bombings, suicide attacks and militia killings.
However, the bomber today managed to get past police checkpoints and tight security to sneak the explosives into the market, which is in a predominantly Shiite area and is sealed off to most vehicles on Friday mornings.
Initial police reports said they believed the explosives may have been hidden inside a box containing birds. One stall holder said it was planted beneath a wooden pushcart selling hummus.
"The explosion occurred around 9:00 a.m. at a busy hour,â said Haidar Ali, 30, a store owner. âThere were many casualties." He added: "I was standing here in my shop, 30 meters away from the explosion. I saw a head resting on the sidewalk, guts, and limbs. I just collected guts and put them in a plastic bag."
Another stall holder, Wasfi Adid, 47, blamed the security forces.
"In the early morning the market was swarming with people," he said. "I canât blame anyone but there are no security procedures inside the market, there is no searching in the market, there are only two or three police cars.
"Police must search everyone who carries a carton or a box. There are not enough policemen, there is no government over here, they should spread policemen around here and there and everywhere in the market."
Despite the evidence of the lingering threat from bombers, customers continued to arrive at the market after the blast, bringing their children and families. Stalls remained open, selling fish, birds, dogs and other animals. Some said that despite the optimism of recent weeks, they were not surprised by such reverses.
"We expected such a thing to happen despite the security improvement that has been achieved," said Ali Kadhum, 34, a government employee.
"Three months ago, the situation was calm until a bomb attack occurred," he said. "I donât think the situation is moving towards the better. There is no security as long as there are occupation forces."
Ghazil market is a regular target for bombers intent on disrupting normal life in Baghdad.
It had only just started recovering from a bomb last January in which 15 people were killed by a bomb hidden in a box of pigeons, set off as people gathered around to examine the birds inside.
A month earlier, militants launched a mortar into the market, killing three and wounding 28, and in June 2006 four people were killed and 50 wounded in a double bombing.
In more violence today in Iraq, further north in Mosul, a car bomber blew up himself at an Iraqi police checkpoint in the Methaq neighborhood, killing five people, including two policemen.
Mudhafer al-Husaini and Khalid al-Ansary contributed reporting from Baghdad. An Iraqi reporter for the New York Times contributed reporting from Mosul.
Posted by: Raving Loon | November 23, 2007 10:03 AM
This Frank James article must be some sort of satire.
The good news on Iraq has been there for all to see for a long while. But Frank James and his media buddies do their best to hide that news--the best evidence of which is the Iraq reporting in the Swamp.
Perhaps Frank James should read the "Swamp". In the last two months of the "Swamp", there have been exactly two (2) articles giving the good news in Iraq: an 11-9 article where a Dem Congresswoman acknowledges the improvement, and a 10-15 article on the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq. TWO articles, sandwiched amongst the usual DNC/Swamp anti-victory barrage that included such headlines as "Exit Iraq now", "stupidity of war spending", "2007 deadliest year yet", "I will get every soldier out", "Fear of terrorism overblown", "Iraqis doubtful of improvement" and many more in the last 2 months.
Posted by: Bruce | November 23, 2007 10:25 AM
10-15 article on the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Posted by: Bruce | November 23, 2007 10:25 AM
Blogbot Bruce,
If we have defeated Al-Qaeda in Iraq, why are we still there?
Posted by: janet | November 23, 2007 11:24 AM
I hope no American thinks we can celebrate a victory in Iraq. We still have no working government there. The surge was to give Iraq a chancd to form one. To date we have invested in Iraq:...
3874 American dead and counting.
28530 American wounded and counting.
12764 maimed Americans and countin.
700 billion dollars of debt for our children and counting.
Hundreds of billions of dollars for injured veterans ans counting.
You may report the end of a disaster in Iraq some day in the future but never a victory.
Posted by: c. perry | November 23, 2007 11:57 AM
The MSM is finally beginning to present some coverage of the good news out of Iraq and Liz Sly actually had a fairly well balanced article on Thanksgiving, though key elements (like the U.S. being called protectors and saviors, and the presence of Al Qeada) being toward the end of the article.
But overall the good news still pales to the reporting of bad news.
Dumb Dumb Janet, if you bothered to read the Liz Sly piece in the Thursday Trib you would have read the importance of us still being there. I believe it was quoted by the Iraqis that if we pull out now, then Iraq becomes another Iran.
Dumb Dumb Janet, why were we in Germany all those years even though WWII ended in 1945? Or why were we in Japan for years following the end of WWII as well?
Why are we still in Bosnia, Dumb Dumb Janet?
Janet, I suggest you can go back to school and read up on history. In fact, just go back to school, period. And begin with kindergarten. You need to start from the ground up.
And Loon, no one is claiming mission accomplished. Even Bush's mission accomplished in 2003 had more to do with the defeat of the Iraqi military and removal of Hussein as leader than anything else, as Bush even said in that speech much work still had to be done and difficult days still ahead too. The fact remains, things, as of now and since summer, have been getting better in Iraq and much of that is because all factions are working with the U.S. to make things better and to weed out the Al Qaeda terrorists.
Posted by: John D | November 23, 2007 12:12 PM
Other reasons Iraqis are returning is due to their Visas expiring and all their saving is spent. They have no way to earn money in Syria or the other countries they fled to. They have no choice but to move back.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | November 23, 2007 12:35 PM
Violence is down in Iraq because we have 160,000 troops over there, but it doesn't make a damn bit of difference because the Iraqi's refuse to reconcile and our troops have been overextended because Republican President Butthead has broken our military.
Starting Jan 09 troops will begin coming home because they will have to, not because the mission has been accomplished.
The violence will return and we'll be right back where we started from.
I would say that I'm surprised that some of the Republic Party weenies on here (Brucie, John D.epends) are dancing in the end zone and acting like there's been some sort of major victory in Iraq but I'm not because those two twits are so dumb that they still believe that Iraq had WMD's.
IMPEACH!
http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/Devoir26/?action=view¤t=y1696_450.jpg
Posted by: Gunny Sarge | November 23, 2007 1:17 PM
The good news on Iraq has been there for all to see for a long while. But Frank James and his media buddies do their best to hide that news--the best evidence of which is the Iraq reporting in the Swamp.
Posted by: Bruce | November 23, 2007 10:25 AM
RNC Bruce,
I guess this means "Mission Accomplished" and we can bring all the troops home, huh?
http://s123.photobucket.com/albums/o291/g8orb8_2006/?action=view¤t=newspeak_sm.jpg
Does this mean that the Republicans in Congress will stop obstructing the Democrats efforts to bring our troops home from the pre-emptive war that the Republicans started?
The so called "surge" was meant to give time to the Iraqi govt to reconcile, they have failed to do so and they've told us to leave...twice.
So, we are left occupying a country that doesn't want us there and we're proping up a govt that can't leave the "green zone" for fear of being killed by the freedom loving Iraqi citizens
....meanwhile, back at the Crawford ranch, Afganistan has become a cluster*#@! again, Turkey is poised to invade the Kurdish north of Iraq, Pakistan (a Nuke country) is being ruled by an American backed dictator wannabe and is on the verge of collapse....and Dick Cheney and the gang of Neocon fools at the White House continue to intimdate and threaton Iran.....GREAT F-ING JOB, GEORGE W BUSH and Happy Thanksgiving to the Neocons, who in reality should be on patrol over in Iraq and not spouting hatred here on the Swamp today
Posted by: John E | November 23, 2007 1:32 PM
The fact remains, things, as of now and since summer, have been getting better in Iraq and much of that is because all factions are working with the U.S. to make things better and to weed out the Al Qaeda terrorists.
Posted by: John D | November 23, 2007 12:12 PM
The fact is there were no Al Qaeda terrorists to weed out in Iraq until this fiasco created them.
BAGHDAD - Two bombs exploded hours apart Friday in a central Baghdad pet market and a police checkpoint in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing 26 people and wounding dozens, officials said.
The attacks were among the deadliest in recent weeks, underscoring warnings by senior U.S. commanders that extremists still pose a threat to Iraq's fragile security despite a downturn in violence since a U.S.-Iraqi security plan began in mid-February.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-iraq,1,7982944.story
Yep John D, things are going real well as long as you cower behind your keyboard. John D, the keyboard commando, guzzeling Kool-Aid while real men fight and die.
Posted by: Jello Biafra | November 23, 2007 1:41 PM
Littly Johnny D,
You keep assuming that the longer we stay in Iraq the better things will get. Why is that? What if our presence is impeding political reconciliation. Over 60% of Iraqis believe it is ok to shoot and kill American troops. Would you send you child to a school were 3 out of 5 students that it would be ok to beat him/her up?
As to your nonsense about comparing Iraq to Germany or Japan, completely absurd. Our presence their was to add a counterweight to Soviet and Chinese influence in the region. Ask any terrorism expert and they will tell you there is no threat of a terrorist group taking over a country. They have become decentralized the many terror groups that exist do not share common goals (Gasp! I know that is a shock to you). They simply do not have the power. And they have little popularity among the population unless you are comparing the favorable opinions of these groups to the United States. Case in point Pakistan. There is little to no support for Islamic fundamentalist parties within their elected parliament. But alas, these are facts and we all know you despise facts. In fact you don't even know what the definition of a fact is. Otherwise you would apologize to the Swampees for insisting that an impeachment is a "conviction of sorts". Good night.
Posted by: janet | November 23, 2007 1:56 PM
Is it because you have the hots for Janet or is it your hatred of women that has you so hostile? As we slide into the season of Peace on earth, Good Will etc., I am eagerly awaiting a sign of your alleged Christianity. Oh I know, the mean Liberals started it.
Posted by: Catherine | November 23, 2007 2:13 PM
Ahhhhhh....The defeatist lefty loons!
Any good news from Iraq is bad news for you ....seems like your going to be getting alot of bad news in the coming months...which is good news for America and The Iraqi's
You must be so proud of yourselves!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | November 23, 2007 2:22 PM
We have no right to be in Iraq, S. Korea, Germany or Japan. The fact we are is just another swindle on taxpayers (sheep.)
What would happen if we were not? Nothing of any interest to me. Only lunacy can justify our presence there.
Posted by: Tory | November 23, 2007 2:34 PM
And how's that Iraqi goverment coming along Paulo, John D and Bruce? I have read that there have been pleas by our military leaders to Iraqi political leaders to not squander the opportunity they have now, but the foundering continues? What is the "truth" there? While you are all high fiving each other over the success of a military strategy that should have been implemented in 2003, please fill us in. Ah, Paulo, YOU must be so proud of your brave self, behind that keyboard, a warrior of the blog, serving his country by justifying deaths and the lies that led to them.
Posted by: kb | November 23, 2007 3:01 PM
Posted by: John D | November 23, 2007 12:12 PM
Posted by: Paulo | November 23, 2007 2:22 PM
To the two stooges (see above),
Why is it that all of you tough guy wannabe Republicans always know someone who is in the military and believes in the mission (whatever the f#*^! that is) but yet you or any of your chickenhawk Republic Party buddies have never served and never have or never would strap on an M-16 and actually go fight in this great war (Iraq) to end all wars that you so heartedly support?
Hey Johnny D and Paolo, weren't you two college Republicans at one time? they just made a nice video about your guys and their "support" for this war in Iraq, enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3inspkrGVbw
America has a message for Neocon chickenhawks like you two, Lil Johnny D and Paolo:
http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/
Quit screwing up our country, you losers.
Posted by: The Reamer | November 23, 2007 3:06 PM
Catherine, in regard to Janet, I just call em as I see em.
Janet, while were in Germany and Japan as counters to the Soviets and Chinese, we also were there rebuilding those countries, POLITICALLY developing Japan and West Germany into democracies. Like I said, go back and read some history.
You Loons on the Left can continue to blindly ignore the truths and realities. It's what you folks do best.
Posted by: John D | November 23, 2007 4:01 PM
"This Frank James article must be some sort of satire."
--Bruce
"But overall the good news still pales to the reporting of bad news."
--John D
Look at these clowns. Tell them what they want to hear and they are STILL unsatisfied...
Considering that only a fraction is coming back I would say it is more because of the visa restrictions and lack of savings than because of the safety issue. They are struggling outside Iraq to prolong their stay and make a life for themselves by getting jobs. If it was because of increased safety more would be coming back not just a fraction as life for Iraqis outside Iraq is not any better economically speaking.
Posted by: hmm | November 23, 2007 4:08 PM
Ahhhhhh! kb and The Reamer!
Defeat...Defeat...Defeat at any cost!
Yes, like I stated...good news from Iraq is bad news for the spineless lefty loon morons that root against this country.
The Germans and the Japanese would of loved you spineless,jellyfish, liberal [America Haters] during W.W.2
Ahhhhh....YOU L-O-S-E-R-S!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | November 23, 2007 6:31 PM
"Janet", when you get your brain back from the Martian aliens who stole it, you might note that in my posting I paraphrased the actual Swamp Oct. 15th headline, "Swamp TV: Defeat for al Qaeda in Iraq".
It was the Swamp saying this. I merely quoted them.
Next time, bother to read what you attack prior to attacking. Alternatively, look up the actual headline. It isn't that difficult ....
Posted by: Bruce | November 23, 2007 9:04 PM
Yes, like I stated...good news from Iraq is bad news for the spineless lefty loon morons that root against this country.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | November 23, 2007 6:31 PM
Are you declaring "mission accomplished" again, fishboy?
How many times has it been now that the rightwing lunitic fringe members (Paolo) have declared "victory" in Iraq now, I've counted about five.
I guess Paula thinks there's some magic way to keep 160,000 troops in Iraq forever while at the same time the Iraqi's have no government, WHICH WAS THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE SO-CALLED SURGE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
The Dems have message for you, Paolo:
http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/
Pass that along to your boyfriends Johnny D and Brucie.
The Reamer
Posted by: The Reamer | November 23, 2007 11:02 PM
Bruce, reading and comprehension are two things Janet cannot do. Run Spot Run books are too complicated for her. That's why as an adult she was finally kicked out of 1st grade, she was just too old for them to keep holding her back.
Posted by: John D | November 24, 2007 12:08 AM
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top commander in Iraq when Baghdad fell, voices support for the Democratic House bill pressing for redeployment:
"The improvements in security produced by the courage and blood of our troops have not been matched by a willingness on the part of Iraqi leaders to make the hard choices necessary to bring peace to their country," Sanchez said in remarks to be aired Saturday for the weekly Democratic radio address.
"There is no evidence that the Iraqis will choose to do so in the near future or that we have an ability to force that result," he said.
Posted by: Join Bill-O and I as we fight to save X-Mas | November 24, 2007 12:20 AM
The Coalition of the "Willing" (Poland still-had-troops-there?) just got smaller:
11-23-07
(AP) New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed in a speech to parliament Friday that Warsaw would pull its 900 troops out of Iraq in 2008.
"We have decided that 2008 is the year in which the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq will both begin and end," Tusk said in his first policy speech since defeating Poland's conservative government in a snap election last month."
Those Polanders just don't want to pay the price for freedom like our great war hero President George W Bush does, they're cutters and runners or something, they're the worst mankind has to offer, we don't need their "ilk", they must love the headchoppers.
I predict that the terrorists will follow the Polish troops home because the Polish troops wouldn't fight them over there.
Posted by: John D's twin brother,Chuck | November 24, 2007 1:20 AM
The Germans and the Japanese would of loved you spineless,jellyfish, liberal [America Haters] during W.W.2
Ahhhhh....YOU L-O-S-E-R-S!
Posted by: Paulo | November 23, 2007 6:31 PM
FU, chickenhawk sissy! To talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.
Posted by: Lt Dan | November 24, 2007 2:15 AM
Wow... John D, Paulo, and Bruce are large and in charge in here... We just need Jerry White to chime in and rub our faces in on how peachy everything is in Iraq now and it'll be a neo-con water carrier perfect storm.
Posted by: crafty b | November 24, 2007 2:47 AM
The people (who call themselves Americans) that support the immoral/illegal Irag occupation 'hate' our Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the concept of limited government. They have been brainwashed into believing principles of the banana republic cult.
Adolf Hitler tried to conquer Europe, the US gov't is trying to conquer the third world.
The 'good news' will be the report about our total and complete withdrawal.
Posted by: Tory | November 24, 2007 6:59 AM
Frank James mentioned MSM writing good stories I prefer to call them the driveby media because just like driveby shooters they hit one target after another with bad news. If it doesn't bleed it won't lead.
But, Frank can't say anything good about the New York Times they still have nothing good to say about W and never will. It is the American hating gray lady and it's dropping circulation like a rocket going down a hill.
I love America and you kool-aid drinkers are not patriots you hate your home country and won't leave.
You talk about the Constitution and civil rights but, your idea of the Constitution is a living document protected by the ACLU liberal lawyer predators who wouldn't take down nativity scenes pro-bono no baby they charge predatory fees and get judges to pay their legal fees which are grandiose. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | November 24, 2007 1:41 PM
FU, chickenhawk sissy! To talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.
Posted by: Lt Dan | November 24, 2007 2:15 AM
You obviously don't pay much attention to these types Dan. Walking the walk is something other people do... they talk, talk, and talk and have no shame.
Posted by: crafty b | November 24, 2007 4:00 PM
Bruce, reading and comprehension are two things Janet cannot do. Run Spot Run books are too complicated for her. That's why as an adult she was finally kicked out of 1st grade, she was just too old for them to keep holding her back.
Posted by: John D | November 24, 2007 12:08 AM
Wow, junior high 'journalism' at its best. Back to the playground, boys, to work off some of that adolescent frustration.
So just what counts as 'good news' in this illegal war? Someone makes it to the market and back without getting killed? Woohoo!!!
Let the Iraqis take a vote today on whether they want us there. That's democracy, right?
Posted by: DD | November 24, 2007 5:15 PM
Springfield bombing commence!
Posted by: The Great Reamer | November 25, 2007 2:10 AM
Does this mean that the patriots on their 4th and 5th tours can come home now?
Will those affected finally be treated for their ptsd?
Will god have mercy on the supporters of this hell on earth?
Did god plan this?
Posted by: Fireball | November 25, 2007 2:21 AM
So, we are now measuring success by violence going up or down? Hahahahaha
To me, it's the same old news. A pig is a pig no matter what you try to dress it like. Pink skirt- still a pig. Black pants- still a pig.
Reporting violence in Iraq is like Chicago reporting their murder rates. One year is 900 murders, and the next year is 500 murders. Then back to 800 murders. I guess you can call it progress. But, I call it same old song!
Let's declare victory and let's come home. Let them sort things out for themselves. Then, when the sorting is complete, we'll send troops back in there to promote peace.
Posted by: Lou | November 25, 2007 9:58 AM