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Audacity of Truth
Spinsational:
"We were so busy just getting stuff done and dealing with the immediate crises that were in front of us that I think we lost some of that sense of speaking directly to the American people about what their core values are and why we have to make sure those institutions are matching up with those values."
-Obama, explaining recent Democrat losses, 1/20/10
Velvet Lair- The sexiness of winning the battle of good versus evil January 26, 2010
- Ever wonder why? January 12, 2010
- The decision to bench Peyton Manning: Right or wrong? December 28, 2009
- Is my dad turning into a metrosexual? November 24, 2009
- My “Things To Do For Christmas” list November 23, 2009
Zarqawigate?
*scroll down for updates*
Just when you think the press couldn’t get any more absurd. Read this from John at Powerline:
General William Caldwell told a press conference this morning that Musab al-Zarqawi survived the bombing of this safe house, at least briefly, and was still alive when the first U.S. and Iraqi forces arrived on the scene. This strikes me as a point of little importance, although I would like to think that, at least for a brief moment, Zarqawi knew what hit him.
But the journalists who participated in the press conference, apparently by satellite, seemed to think they were on the trail of a Cover-Up. I saw most of the press conference early this morning. News of Zarqawi’s brief survival immediately led to questions about whether he had been finished off by the troops, and whether our soldiers had tried to render first aid. At one point, a reporter asked whether the published photos of Zarqawi’s face had been Photoshopped to make them look more like Zarqawi. I don’t think Caldwell had any idea what the guy was talking about; he said Yes, we decided to clean up Zarqawi’s face before photographing him. This led to a follow-up question about whether the photos had been digitally enhanced.
At this and other points in the press conference, Gen. Caldwell had the look, I thought, of a normal person who wonders whether he has been transported into a world of lunatics. It seemed that some of the reporters, at least, thought they were on to another “scandal”–Zarqawi murdered by U.S. troops! In cold blood, as Jack Murtha likes to say.
What’s happening here is that, obviously the demise of Zarqawi is good for Iraq, and for the President. The MSM has already made it clear they don’t like this development (something they have in common with the hardcore anti-war left Bush-hating crowd). Right now they’re looking for something, anything they can use to detract from the good news that Zarqawi – a vicious menace and bane to the security and stability of Iraq – won’t be around to behead anymore innocent people, won’t be around to strike fear into the hearts of people who desire peace.
And won’t be around to hamper the US mission for democracy in Iraq.
It’s the same thing the hardcore anti-war left are doing except they’re doing it in a different way. Instead of worrying about when he met his demise, the anti-war left are saying it’s no big deal, Bush created him, he was just a figurehead, yada yada. But the most interesting thing about that is the fact that the left has asserted for two years now, thanks to this story, that the President “let Zarqawi get away” with the implication being that “Bush is bad! Incompetent! He let this terrorist mastermind who likes to terrorize innocent Iraqis almost as much as our military live to see another day!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
But now that Zarqawi is gone? Their reaction: ‘Bush created him!!!!!!!!!!! Figurehead!!!!! We [the US] have killed more Iraqis than Zarqawi ever did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’. In other words, their b*tching that Bush ‘let him get away’ was nothing but pure BS.
If lives weren’t at stake here, this flip-flopping, spin game on Zarqawi’s death perpetrated by the press and the anti-war left would be amusing. But lives ARE at stake, and the reactions of the media and the hard left to the death of a well known terrorist mastermind are absolutely pathetic. You’d almost think neither one of them (the media or the anti-war left) don’t want the US to see their goal of a free, stable, and democratic Iraq come to full fruition.
But we mustn’t question their patriotism ….
As a sidenote, I think it’s cool as hell to know that the last thing Zarqawi saw before he bit the dust were the US military and members of the Iraqi police force. Justice well served.
Oh, and check out this picture found from the rubble of Zarqawi’s safe house. Heh.
On a more upbeat note, make sure to check out Jeff Goldstein’s interview w/ Zarqawi post-mortem. It’s a world exclusive you don’t want to miss 
Update I: More media idiocy (we’ll call it mediocy):
Iraqi raises questions on al-Zarqawi death
BAGHDAD, Iraq – U.S. officials have altered their account of the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, saying he was alive and partly conscious after bombs destroyed his hideout, and an Iraqi man raised fresh questions Saturday about the events surrounding the end of Iraq’s most-wanted militant.
The man, who lived near the scene of the bombing, claimed in an interview with AP Television News to have seen U.S. soldiers beating an injured man resembling al-Zarqawi until blood flowed from the man’s nose.
When asked about the man’s allegations, military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said he would check. In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Jeffrey Gordon said Saturday he was unaware of the claim.
The Iraqi, identified as Mohammed Ahmed, claimed that residents put the man in an ambulance before U.S. forces arrived. The American military team then pulled the man from the ambulance and beat him, Ahmed said. He gave a similar account to The Washington Post.
No other witnesses have come forward to corroborate the account of a man resembling al-Zarqawi being beaten. U.S. officials have only said al-Zarqawi mumbled and tried to roll off a stretcher before dying.
Sigh. Somebody call Human Rights Watch! /mediocy font
Update II: Wanted to add this as well: Let’s assume for a moment that this unidentified Iraqi’s story is true: if so, who cares? This animal beheaded countless innocent people – and videotaped the beheadings for the world to see, recruited jihadists, coordinated and participated in terrorist attacks all over Iraq … so would I feel any differently if I found out US troops completed the job that the 500 lb bombs did not? Not one bit. The damn bomb was supposed to kill him anyway – if US troops finished the job the bomb started, more power to ‘em.
Update III: The first page ofthis story would give the casual reader the impression that Zarqawi was just a little fish swimming in a sea of sharks. I’m sure the writers don’t mean to give that impression, though …
Also blogging about this: Captain Ed, Tigerhawk, All Things Beautiful, Riehl World View
(Original post time 8:29 a.m.)
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Assuming, for the moment, that the MSM speculation that Mr al Zarqawi survived the bombing and was subsequently killed by an American soldier when found, why would anyone think that this was a bad thing?
After all, we knocked on his door with a 500 lb bomb! It’s kind of obvious that we weren’t out to capture him.
These are the times that try the MSM’s soul. The US is winning the war in Iraq and has al Qaeda on the run worldwide. Iraqi brigades are taking more and more responsibility for defending their country. The unity Iraqi government has been formed and there is no sign of the MSM hoped-for civil war. There have been three successful elections in Iraq which both terrorists and the MSM failed to prevent or disrupt. Terrorists have not mounted a successful attack on American soil since 9/11 while Canada – arguably the world’s poster boy for appeasement – finds terror cells growing and thriving within its borders.
The US economy is booming. The Democrats lost the CA 50 congressional race after the MSM predicted they would win, spotlighting the problems of bogus polls and overconfidence in Democratic ranks. Every week brings new ethics problems for yet another Congressional Democrat.
And last (but certainly not least) an MSM’s hero – al Zarqawi – has been eliminated. Who will the MSM insist that the US surrender to now? How can defeat be salvaged from victory?
- Does anyone in the free world need any more stark evidence of just which side the drive-by mediots, and the Left wingnuts are on, in this WOT?
- Bang
There’s a tide turning, which I’ve been looking for and hope to see in the near future. The power of the Internet to focus attention on any part of the world with independent reporting/observers will someday make the world unsafe for liars. By that I mean, the MSM still has the attention of most of the population, as they’ve grown up trusting the same sources implicitly-”They couldn’t bare-face lie to me every day-it has to be true!” no, it doesn’t.
The bloggers who did service with Rathergate and the memos will be followed by the Michael Yons, and native observers who can report what is really happening, with video and sound, where they live.
Right now there is still enough room for evasive manuvering with ragard to the truth-but the liars are on the run, and it’s hard to keep claiming one thing when direct evidence that it is untrue is romping around the Internet. A brighter, more honest future looms.
- I heartily aggree Doug…. The advent of the alternate media, and almost instant highspeed worldwide communications has changed the old troup that: “A Lie is halway around the world by the time the truth gets its pants on”.
- Now the truth follows a lie right out the door, and soon they’ll be shoulder to shoulder. I think the moonbat brigade is in deep denial, since it used to be one of their fav tools.
- In connection with Zarqawi, I hope the military does a full autopsy, with a gaggle of attending neutral physicians and some human rights observers in attendence, to document in detail this scumbags cause of death. Otherwise we’ll get to hear an endless torrent of idiotic conspiracy myths from the tinhats, aided and abetted by the drive-by media.
- Bang
How long before we, the people, force the Media to close its doors due to lack of belief in their product?
GAD! It makes me want to scream!
- The good news benning, is the really hard nose left-wing media is on its last throes, all in deep financial trouble. At some point when the acid and craziness of the left gets so bad the Dem leadership has to cut them free just to survive, the media will lose interest.
- The Kos kiddies are already making threats to cut off support if they don’t get a fast track to power brokering, the Deniacs group. Comments like “The DNC tried it their way, now its our turn”. Cults don’t cut it in American politics, and the DNC knows it. I think its just a matter of time.
- With Murtha’s latest hijinks, and the resulting meetings by Pelosi and Reid tellimg him to knock it off, coupled with the Black Caucus reaction to the Dem request for Jefferson to step down, the Dems are really rattled. Throw in the Hilldebeast amd Clintonista’s and things are really getting dicey for the Donkeys, and just as we’re heading into an election cycle.
- The take down of Zarqawi was the last thing they wanted, and you’ll be able to watch their blood pressure rise with each uptick of Bush’s poll numbers. Time is running out, and the poor showing in California this week didn’t help.
- Bang
Yeahhhh, but it was a ‘moral’ victory!
Heheheee!
Right now they’re looking for something, anything they can use to detract from the good news that Zarqawi – a vicious menace and bane to the security and stability of Iraq – won’t be around to behead anymore innocent people, won’t be around to strike fear into the hearts of people who desire peace.
It’s ironic to me that you would write this just when insurgents have released a video showing the beheading of three more Iraqis. Zarqawi is gone, but somehow the beheadings go on.
When was the video taken and who was in it?
Just curious.
Yes yes Kathy sweetie….thats because the insurgents are still trying bravely to impose Sharia’ on all of mankind, by cutting off innocent heads, like all true brave soldiers are want too do….
Now slip into your Burka before someone see’s your face and they have to beat your unworthy self…
“People who refuse to stand for liberty, and fight for their freedoms, deserv neither” – T. Jefferson
- Bang
So then why all the celebrating and rejoicing over Zarqawi’s death? I understand that it’s personally joyful for you, but how does it help Iraqis?
- Heres my response Kathy, since I tend too not want to talk around the truth of whats really going on, but cut too the chase. Hope you understand.
- The constant Liberal push for failure in Iraq, in fact the very words the Left uses, which is simply silly at this point, stems from the fact that – “Iraq is a failure because it hasn’t failed like the Left so desperately needs it too.”
History shows us that the party in power in any successful war, tends to maintain incumbancy for at least a generation. Take Bush’s two remaining years, tack on 2 more terms of GOP leadership and you get 12 years, and the meltdown possibilities facing the Left with the advent of a stable ME becomes quite understandable.
All the Lefty “young turks” would be in their midage by then, and probably have entirely different axes too grind. No matter how you slice it, that would decidedly suck. When you consider that prospect for things political, the Lefts actions, and comments, are really not all that mysterious.
- Bang
So then why all the celebrating and rejoicing over Zarqawi’s death? I understand that it’s personally joyful for you, but how does it help Iraqis?
Personally Joyful??? You amaze me with how heartless you are toward Conservatives. We are not “personally joyful” that Zarqawi is dead, we are personally joyful that this is yet another milestone in this war being over. I like how you bring up the beheadings, but insinuate that these weren’t part of the 17 heads that were found in this animals home. Seems to me you have more compassion for Zarqawi than your fellow Americans who just happen to be to the right of your position politically. Your crappy attitude toward conservatives simply amazes me. Why are you so full of hate. You know what I would find personally joyful, is if you on the left would stop with your hateful snide comments with your insinuations that we are the enemy, and get with the reality. One of the top commanders in OBL’s organization, our real enemy, was killed. Maybe somehow due to this our sons and daughters can come home just that much earlier. If there is a reason to be personally joyful over this death, that is it. Now Stop being such a horrible human being toward conservatives, and help us win this damn war so we can get on with our lives. – Lorica