Monday, April 07, 2003

The Lost War, According To NPR   Listening to Radio Pinkostan -- NPR for those who haven't grasped my codenames -- in the car this afternoon, I was amazed at their Iraq coverage. There were people actively doubting that US forces are in Baghdad! And I don't mean Iraqi propaganda goons, I mean 'interviewers.' Of course, since their only source -- apart from the Pentagon, or any number of 'real' news media -- appears to be their correspondent looking out of his hotel window, I suppose some doubts might be fair. But even this dude saw the tanks at the presidential palace. Then it was on to 'Nic Robertson'-like concern about the thugs and Ba'athists in the streets on the west bank -- far from the hotel -- 'waving their guns'. Face it, suckers. That's all these bozos can do. Demonstrate and sing their Saddam happy song. When you read of the Iraqi 'guard' at the palace running for their lives in their underwear, you begin to get an idea of what a farce this has turned into. (Is 'elite' a brand of running shoe, by the way?) If these raggletaggle losers are on the streets, mow 'em down, on the principal that "anyone with a gun has declared his side." Also most irritating is the fact that NPR is fundraising, with these heartfelt 'we're the best' pronouncements, and pleas that mean 'pay our salaries.' I'd be happy to contribute, the day they fire all the liberal wimps, the permanently PMS women with their 'concerned' voices, and all the bizarre guys with speech impediments and know-it-all accents, and start reporting, rather than bottom-fishing for all the leftist coverage they can trawl up. It is truly pathetic. 5:00:41 PM    comment []

Assorted Iraq TV Coverage Observations   After seeing telephoto shots of a UAV poodling about over Baghdad in broad daylight, unchallenged, I think we can count out any more 'walkabouts' by Saddam doubles, or preposterous press conferences by old bottlenose. It appeared to me to be a Hunter, a cheap (and obsolete) Army drone. But it could sure call in some fire quickly ... Why no AA fire? Becaause, someone said, leaking, there have been a lot of commando-style raids on the batteries in 'civilian' locations, like apartment roofs. Will the Iraqis benefit from hiding tanks and troops right up close to schools, mosques, apartments, hospitals? Nope. GPS-guided bombs filled with concrete ('solid bombs') are about to come their way. 500-lb of solid mass from 20,000-ft equals el-splatto, whatever you might think. Wesley Clark leaked that on Saturday night. Have you been watching your TV screens carefully? As they show you Iraqi arms caches? And reading the crates? My word, we didn't know what a huge armaments industry Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Yemen had! I am kidding, of course. All these weapons will prove to be Chinese, Russian and French, transhipped via those countries. Interestingly, the gas mask case seen on the floor of Chemical Ali's villa in Basra was German, and prominently labelled as such. It was interesting to see a clash of personalities on CNN last night. Apparently, there's no love lost between Cameron Cooper and Walt Rodgers. When Cooper asked: "what's your situation?" Rodgers snapped back: "What's the point of that question? I'm in the Baghdad suburbs. I've been here for the past five days." 12:38:59 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Peter Savage.