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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Elroy who wrote (54694)	1/26/2007 2:12:55 PM
From: Ichy Smith	Respond to of 90947

If no information comparing the cleared and uncleared sections of Baghdad are available, we have no idea whether the surge is working or not. Do you prefer that "no data" option? That makes no sense to me. My Mother is quite conservative. She saw Wolf Blitzer the other night, and saw Blitzer try to force Cheney to repudiate either his Daughter or his grandchild. She was incensed at this attack on Cheney's family. Then as she watched the commercials, she started to change her mind. The reporting had an agenda. Like it or not, CNN was manipulating what happened to conform to CNN's agenda. Giving CNN information that it can and will twist to it's own agenda is foolish. I will not comment of Fox as i don't see it.

To: Elroy who wrote (54694)	1/26/2007 2:26:48 PM
From: Jim S	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

I've told you my thoughts several times, Elroy, and you still don't seem to understand. I will make no decisions on troop deployment or employment. Neither will you. We don't need that level of detail to understand the success or failure of the strategy. The bad guys are like cockroaches, and will scamper from one sector of Baghdad to another depending on the pressure applied, so knowing which sector they are in is a matter for the local commanders, not us. Such detailed information made public would only benefit the insurgents and those who want to whine and criticize, and wouldn't do a thing to help anyone else's understanding of the situation. You clearly have no military experience, and no understanding of what information the local commanders need to keep out of the media.

To: Elroy who wrote (54694)	1/28/2007 6:11:57 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

"If no information comparing the cleared and uncleared sections of Baghdad are available, we have no idea whether the surge is working or not" You are not competent to interpret or evaluate the progress of a complicated war engagement on the basis of statistics, numbers, or logistical details. The commanders at the various levels will tell you whether progress is being made (as they have and as they do). If you respect professionals at their job, you will take their word for it. If you don't, then you won't. Generally speaking, if your goal is to second guess the experts and to speak over your competence and your authority, then the less you know the better. If you are carrying a weapon, your commander will let you know what your mission is and what his/her expectations are. If you are not, then you will be privy to the overall strategic plan and a general progress report as related by you Commander in Chief and others authorized to inform the media.