Role of MilBlogs (so far) in the War on Terror

Posted By Blackfive

If you're here from seeing the "On the Story" program on CNN, thank you for stopping by...for all of you regulars, thank you for doing what you do to help our troops (and thank you for supporting Soldiers' Angels).

The "On the Story" segment that I participated in was about the coverage of the IED attack and ambush that injured ABC newsman Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt.

First, I hope and pray for a complete and speedy recovery of the people injured by the attack.  Second, I don't bear any ill will towards Woodruff or Vogt.  Both are among the best in their profession.  Woodruff didn't get the anchor job because he uses the best hair gel.  His resume is impressive by anyone's standards.

That said, I do think that the coverage, the uber-coverage, has been more than excessive.    For example, while we continually hear liberal politician soundbites that the Iraqi Army has only one effective battalion, Woodruff and Vogt were saved by Iraqis.  Their interpreter and the soldiers that they were with fought for and saved their lives.  The Americans had a lot to do with their saving as well and I would expect a story about the amazing medics and doctors that helped the ABC news team.  But what about the Iraqi sacrifices?

Maybe the headlines should have read "Iraqis save Woodruff!" - maybe that would have been more accurate?

You can go back and read what I wrote about seeing Katie Couric display her emotions about her colleague.  I was angry and frustrated.  Frustrated that the news media values Woodruff more than the soldiers.  Frustrated that the terrorists do not have nearly as much criticism directed at them as we do.  Frustrated that the terrorists lie and are not checked.  Frustrated that the local ABC news affiliate in Washington DC used footage of exploding vehicles provided by the terrorists to open their segment about Woodruff and Vogt.

The US Military will NOT lose this war.  We can lose only if the country loses it's will to fight.  And the media plays a very large role in the will of our country.

I wasn't able to say everything that I wanted to say "On the Story".  I think that I was asked two questions, and it went by quickly.  I did say that while Iraqi school openings weren't exactly newsworthy, the heroism of our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines IS NEWSWORTHY.

I asked if anyone had heard of Brad Kasal, or Rafael Peralta or Paul Smith?

I believe that I didn't get much of a response.  I had a long list that I didn't have time to present - starting with Rick Rescorla, then Jason Dunham, Zach Wobler, Kenneth Conde, Hoby Bradfield...You can read more about military people that you should know here and more about our fallen heroes here.

Until the media stops celebrating it's own celebrity and starts focusing on people that are real heroes, we stand to lose.  When Sean Penn's words matter more than Corporal Jeff Starr's, we stand to lose.  And when the media does pay attention to the words of a Jeff Starr, they select only the words that serve their own agenda.  What other conclusion is there other than much of the media wants us to lose the will to fight the war.

And that's a big reason why the MilBloggers are popular right now.  And why I started Blackfive.  I'll never forget sitting across from COL (ret.) Austin Bay at breakfast one morning last summer.  We were talking about a lot of things - some of the successes and some of the mistakes the government, military, and media had made during this war.  Naturally, the topic turned to milblogs and our role in this war.  Austin, leaned across the table, intensely said, "Matt...I. Just. Want. Us. To. Win."

Damn right, Sir.  Charlie Mike.

We are pro-victory.

If you want to read more from/about more milbloggers, start here for a brief history and you can go here to see some of my favorites (a somewhat outdated list).  And you can buy the MilBlog Book when it is available for pre-sale in a few short months.

Finally, to some of you (friends) who will not be happy that I was on the network that gave in to demands from Saddam, predicted our invasion to fail, and claimed the military was targeting journalists...In my defense, I would mention that there ARE journalists who are working on having our words read and our voices heard, and, if I can tell thousands of people about milblogs, I'm going to take the opportunity to do so.

Update:  Transcript of CNN's "On the Story" is here.

Reactions here and here.

Update 2:  Carrie points out this really great commentary about combat reporting from LtCol (ret) Oliver North at Townhall.

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Earlier tonight Matt of Blackfive was a guest "On the Story" on CNN. (it replays tomorrow at 1pm EST tomorrow Sunday Feb 5th). If you haven't seen this show, it appears to be a kind of reporter's love fest, where... [Read More]

Comments

[Homefrontsix]

I have yet to watch the segment (we're a little behind out here in Paradise) but I'm sure you were wonderful. If what you said on TV was anywhere near what you just said here, then you were terrific!

And how could anyone be upset over your appearance on CNN? So what if the network itself panders to the left? You used them and the opprortunity to get out there, in front of millions of Americans, and say what NEEDS TO BE SAID. It needs to be said - screamed, even - often...relentlessly and loudly. And, if the only way to get that message out is to use an outlet such as CNN, so be it. Anyone who gives you grief over that is missing the big picture. Then ends justify the means.

Way to go Matt.

- hfs

[SGT Tom]

Hoo-ahh, and drive on with that message. You make me proud to serve this country, Matt. Thank you. I only wish that you appearance could be longer and more people would be drawn to your site and sites like it. I firmly believe that NOTHING you see on the news on TV is anywhere near reality. Before I was deployed I read Michael Yon religously, and I am much better off over here for having done so.

Keep up the good work, your mission is a necessary one. I desperately want the people of America to tell Sean Penn where he can stick it, and I'm sure if more people are exposed more directly to soldiers who are articulate and can explain themselves, Sean Penn would be getting told where he can stick it more often.

Ok, now I'm rambling, have a nice day.
Essayons.

[red river]

Way to go!

Imagine if Yon had been on NBC twice a week. Then tied in a blog with his broadcast? Talk about ratings!

The fact that you were on TV ( and CNN as well ) says a lot. Stick with it.

The suits who run the shows will do all this incrementally. Crawl. Walk. Run.

This is but one small step. Be ready for more bloggers on more TV shows. And when Yon wins the Pulitzer prize, bloggers will break into the mainstream.

As for the MSM - its fine when its Sgt Sixpack Redneck from Lost Hawg Holler, TN who gets blown up - but when its one of their own, then they can finally get some empathy for what the military is doing and the Iraqis are doing - and they can finally begin to soul search about their studied "neutrality".

I have a lot of respect for the broadcast MSM - they do a heck of a job and they are the best at it - but they need to make changes to how they present and choose the news to make it more meaningful to more Americans. By adding in bloggers - Milbloggers - who may be the best embeds there are - and Political Bloggers - who are the experts - they can give a much better picture - or Wretchard and Austin Bay doing their own Sunday news hour?

And I might start watching TV again.

Come to think of it - why can bloggers start their own virtual TV station on the internet?

[Harvey]

I think it's appropriate that you were on CNN.

When you have a message, you take it to where the sinners are :-)

[Uncle Jimbo]

First comment after airing.

You gave as good as they were gonna let you and it served a valuable purpose. The fact that they need your voice shows a major change in the way they operate.

Get some Matty O. Nice shirt this time.

Cordially,

Uncle J

[Stevo]

Good Job on CNN! I loved to see their reactions to you as if they couldn't believe that the people think their coverage sucks! They are so out of TOUCH!!! Keep it up!

[Richmond]

I thought it was a great segment, and though they didn't give you nearly enough time you came across as very articulate and credible. Excellent work! Thanks for all of the hard work that you do! Were it not for you, so many heroes would go unnamed and unsung....

(AR coating will reduce the glare on your specs for your next interview, btw.)

[BobDC]

Everything you said on CNN is true: the media do pay more attention to one of their own than the average servicemember. The problem I have with you is that you only want coverage of the glorious. I seriously doubt that you want MORE coverage of servicemembers' injuries and deaths. Your goal is to promote the war and make it seem like the sacrifices and deaths and the price being paid by our troops are something that makes sense. Whereas the real truth is that the war has been a foolish and tragic endeavor from the very inception. Like everyone else, your reaction to this topic is colored totally by whether or not you agree with the war. You're pro-war, so you're angry at the media. And that's the sum total of it.

[LongTabSigo]

Matt:
I just finished watching the segment on CNN. Nice job.

The blonde gal got really defensive about your criticism of the media's over-doing it on Woodruff/Vogt.

I thought you made your points rather succinctly, representing not only what you said in your blog initially, but echoing alot of our concerns as readers/supporters of Blackfive and other MilBlogs.

In my view, the money quote (and the one that clearly knocked the CNN folks off balance for a second) was your point that the Iraqi Army not only performed well, but "fought thru the ambushed and saved both of those guys".

Hats off to you! Ya done good!

[Todd]

Way to go Matt! Just watched your piece on the show. Wish they'd have let you talk a little longer than they did, but thats' how it goes I guess. You made some excellent points on the news coverage - I am thinking maybe in our short attention-span world, the news media goes for flash, and a lot of the good stories out there take more than a soundbite to drive home.

By the way, I have always been a CNN guy, from back in the 80s and continuing to this day. I DO think they do a better job showing 'all sides' of the story than FNC does. I don't want to see only opinions that agree with my own - I want to see all sides, that I can think about and take them for what they're worth.

Again Matt, thanks for being our voice to the nation tonight. And you DO look good for 67..

[Gypsy]

I'm with Harvey, take the message to the sinners wherever you can. LOL! Wish you would have had more airtime but it was better than nothing. BZ B5.

[LongTabSigo]

BobDC:

We already get the bad things. They are going to be covered because the media are genetically incapable of NOT covering them.

All we (who, like Matt, want fairness in coverage) are saying is that there are OTHER things as well.

If the military is messing up, it's news. But why not when we win? Or at least we're trying to win?

Seems like the only Soldiers we know anything about are those that are fallen.

[Huntress]

Great Interview Matt!
You got your point across!

[Eric]

... good stuff, homeboy... you carried yourself and the message through well.... you did good....

[Laughing Wolf]

As I said elsewhere, good job esp. in a hostile env. Much better shirt this time too... Good points, well made, hope some people do check things out. Thanks for taking this task on.

[Debbie]

Matt, great job on CNN - while we never watch that network, and it was indeed painful, we watched it because of you. And, I agree with the others, YOU GOT THE MESSAGE OUT! Bless you, Matt for all that you do.

[Diane]

As a new reader, it was nice to put a face on a fellow blogger. Richmond put my thoughts into words better than I can. I completely agree with his comment.

Good Job and Thank You.
An Army Mom.
Diane F.

[Huntress]

DC Bob - I won't speak for Matt - but I will say that I want more coverage of the good, not just the bad and the ugly.

And we are NOT pro war - we are pro democracy, pro freedom, pro victory against those who would cut YOUR tongue out for speaking against your gov't. Do you think when Iran 's mullahs decide to launch nuclear weapons at Europe that the Iranian man on the street will be able to tell their gov't that they are pursuing a "foolish and tragic endeavor from the very inception". Do you think they enjoy having all the progressive democratic changes of the past 15 yrs ERADICATED by their newly "elected" mullah. Do you think the Iraqi's who step up to the plate day in day out and saved those two embeds remininse about the good old days of oppression under Saddam?

The sum total of it, DCBob, is that YOUR angry that others have the strength of their convictions to stand up to tyranny while you cower in fear!

You along with the MSM need to be reminded that YOUR freedom to speak out against this gov''t exists BECAUSE of the SOLDIER!

It is the soldier, not the journalist, who guarantees freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the politician, who guarantees our democracy
It is the soldier, not the diplomat that becomes a tangible expression of a nation's willingness to extend its calues and its ideals worldwide.
And is the soldier whose flag drapped coffin vividly democnastrates the ultimate cost of representing our beliefs in difficult and dangerous places.

And by the way- that was read as the eulogy at the funeral of two CANADIAN soldiers, by Lt.Gen Hillier, the CANADIAN Chief of Defense!

Americans like you Bob, and Katie Couric, would be wise to REMEMBER that truth.

A little more focus on our soldiers in a positive light, of their successes and accomplishments, as well as their sacrifices is sorely needed!

It is NOT the media responsibility to spew forth any ONE political agenda but rather to report ALL the news fairly, regardless, of political leanings.

NOT ONE REPORT mentioned WHO SAVED Bob's life!

NOT ONE mention of the Iraqi soldiers and the American medics and soldiers. NOT ONE!

That, DCBob, is biased, unprofessional, left wing, narcissistic, self indulgent media bullshit being passed off as news.

[jordan]

Almost missed your segment because I dozed off during the prior two hours they spent on Woodruff, and Nick Robert's courage and security gear. Great job!

All that bristling at the suggestion that their coverage might not be balanced! They did not handle that with mature professionalism. But you were not accusatory, and kept a dispassionate attitude - good.

Ali seemed rather resentful at the notion that there ARE any soldiers' heroics on the battlefield to cover. They had no response for your comment about covering more positive aspects of the war. He and the girl seemed completely clueless about how their "war coverage" is viewed by others. Ali was running around trying to disprove the "Woodruff over-coverage" theory and wasn't listening to the rest of what you said.

As was the case with Capt. Z., the story is all about them, their own safety, and how impressed they are with themselves that they're in a "combat zone" and have to wear "big-boy armor" like the real men.

Your comments could also be taken to apply to the rest of the media, which I liked, especially on a day when the WashPo front page shows a triple amputee, to follow up on last week's amputee cartoon as if to say, "See? Its real." They're playing mind games and politics, not covering a war. Shows how deep that JCS letter bit.

[armywifetoddlermom]

Mr. Blackfive,

You always pay it forward, thank you for mentioning "names" of those that need and deserve our attention, and gratitude.

[Tammi]

GREAT job Blackfive. You did us all proud. You got the point across - and that is the most important part.

Thank you Sir. As I've said a million times - You ROCK!

[Melinda]

B5,
I thought your segment went really well & I smiled when you were able to mention the names of those people should know & those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for a just and noble cause.

You were honest, concise and stayed on point even when you were interrupted with the defensive probing questions.

Nice work!

[Kathi]

Matt Great job, and way to go!!!

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

Great job, Matt! As they did with Capt Z, they tried to interrupt and spin what you had to say, trying to make themselves the heros, then quickly decided they had to "move on". Glad you were able to get so much said! Thank you!

[toni]

Matt - I watched and thought you did great with the time given. You got out a some salient points like what the Iraqi troops did for Woodruff and also the names of a fallen heroes which was followed by dead silence. They have no clue. But maybe, just maybe it will give some watching something to think about. I doubt if there will be much effect on the reporters present. Can't stop trying because of that though. Every little bit helps I think. Thanks for getting yourself out there.

[kay]

Too bad someone can't have people like you Blackfive, along with Michael Yon, and others on a weekly program with stories that are real and personal of our troops. Could you imagine the ratings for that..I started with Michael Yon a long time ago and his writings are great. We have a local radio personality who is back in Iraq, his 2nd time and he and Laura Ingraham will be live all next week from there. He is a real supporter of our troops and his name is Edd Hendee and he is from Houston, Texas. He is a guy who on his first trip raised over a $100,000 in less than two weeks here in Houston for the Humvee armor, and a company here is still sending it to our troops. We have a lot of great people out here trying to do their part. so God Bless Everyone! We will win this thing...You guys just keep up the good work..

[hunterk2]

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/tt.html

Show transcript, 04FEB. Matt is about half-way down the page. No video that I could find.
Did Matt wear a fly-tie this time? LOL

Good show, sir!

[Sean]

Matt,

You did great on CNN. You did the right thing going on there and I am sure many people are looking up the names you were able to get in.

I was actually surprised they let you say so much, you really got a few good points across.

Thank-You Matt. What you do is very important.

[Sean]

One more thing, I would be interested to see how much higher CNNs ratings were tonight compared to most Saturday nights. Since we don't watch MSM if you find out let us know. Thanks

Like Toni said..if only.

[Enigma]

I'm sorry I missed the show, but I did enjoy reading the transcript (thanks hunterk2!). This excerpt from the transcript is very revealing:

"MATT: Sure. And that's understandable. I think that in terms of stories, I would ask them, have you ever heard of a Paul Smith? He won the Medal of Honor. Have you ever heard of a Brad Castle? Have you heard of Rafael Peralta?

And those are the stories that you're not hearing. You're not hearing about the heroics. You might hear about a school being opened, but I don't see wide coverage of a lot of these other acts of the individual that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.

SCHECHNER: Well, to bring me to a close here, but a good point, Matt. Matt is a top mill blogger. There are hundreds of mill bloggers out there, Ali, and plenty of voices. And that's where you can go to get a lot of these stories that we're not hearing elsewhere."

And THAT'S where you can go? That's where you HAVE to go because the MSM won't. Keep up the good work, Matt.

[Steve J.]

The US Military will NOT lose this war.
===========================================

2004:

Stunningly, last week, Chairman of Joint Chiefs Richard Myers, with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at his side, said: "There is no way to militarily lose in Iraq. There is also no way to militarily win in Iraq." WSJ, 5/20/04

2005:

"This insurgency is not going to be settled - the terrorists and the terrorism in Iraq is not going to be settled - through military options or military operations," Brig. Gen. Donald Alston, the chief military spokesman in Iraq, told Knight Ridder earlier this month. "It's going to be settled in the political process." 6/20/05

[Janie]

Thank you Matt!

[flythemig29]

The Woodruff ambush happened outside our post and you are correct that the Iraqis did a great job. They are FAST becoming a force to be reckoned with and we see more professionalism every day.

I have been here since summer of 2003 and I won't go home until we win.

[Blackfive]

Steve J - thanks for pointing out the quotes about the insurgency. Yes, the political process is how we will win. But if we lose the will to keep our troops there, then what will happen to the political process? Without military and other support, Iraq will not succeed.

Ergo, we won't win.

Sorry, I thought that was obvious.

[Carrie]

I'm going to catch it this afternoon.
Oliver North has an interesting column on the subject in today's Washington Times.
In the column, he quotes Mrs. Woodruff as saying that her husband would NOT have wanted to become the story.
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/ollienorth/2006/02/03/185063.html

[jordan]

Thanks for the link to Ollie North's column -- it really says it all.

Christiane Amanpour's ludicrous overstatements discredit the MSM even further. They've given me a new respect for the true war correspondents of WWII, as well as the daring combat photographers whose sole focus was the war, the fighting, and the soldiers.

[Saoirse]

Okay, so we sat and watched like teenagers seeing our favorite rockstar get interviewed!!! I read that blog!! Woohoo!!! That's Matt!! HOORAH!!

I think you managed to cover some very important points. Within the two seconds you got to speak!! I like how you went on, not allowing them to cut you short as they have a way of doing, if they do not like what you had to say. Defensive doesn't even begin to cover there stance. Your Military training came into play here, I would think. Offensive, you knew what you wanted to say, and said it with bravado!! Iraq who? You mean there were Iraqs with them? Yes!! Excellent!!!

I could hear the cheering from overseas could you? Because they were!!!

Thank you!!

Ps, My daughter wants to start a blog so she can comment here too. I told her its a bit intimidating. Could you post something 8th gradish?

God Bless!!

[Byron Audler]

Outstanding job, Matty! The best part, was the young lass at the end, who admitted that the best place to get the rest of the story, was "the hundreds of milbloggers out there" Damn straight, it is. It just goes to show you, the power of the Internet and the people that inhabit it, and most importantly, those who's mission it is, to bring the truth to the rest of us.

[Ellis]

Yes I saw the story today on CNN. It's encouraging to know that there is a site detailing the positives of the Iraq War and I'll definitely be visiting this site as often as possible.

Thank you for crating this blog site...

Support The Troops
E

[D]

Ive heard the media compare this war to the war my father fought in, Vietnam.

It in no way resembles that conflict other than the media's insidious information campaign against it, and the constant attack on truth and morale.

I hope my fellow citizens will remember the history lesson that Vietnam taught us, which is that we can only be defeated at home in our living rooms, not the field of battle.

The rest of the world, and our enemies have learned it well-

D

[Lisa Gilliam]

Too bad the media can't take what they dish out.

[That 1 Guy]

You did good, Matt! Very "understandable"... heheheheh....

Nah, seriously, I'm proud of you making the points you made. Not letting Schechner roll over you.

Yeah, you did well, bro. Even in that cornflower blue shirt.

[patrick trotter]

Happened to catch you on Sunday's repeat. Thanks for speaking up and out. I am one who does believe we are not getting the good stories out and in fact is how I came to your blog. I thank you for leading me to many exciting and wonderful news from the front and to other sources for my news. I am now learning more and sometimes sooner the news of the day from the front. I can then inform more people of the real truth. I thank you and others for all you have done.
I would also like to say that there has been some good from the coverage of the ambush. Many people now know how our wounded soldiers are treated and how quickly they can recieve treatment. Woodruff and Voght recieved and are recieving the same care our troops recieve(will codepink picket their hospital?).
As the word is spread via people like me, milblogs can help combat the lack of news from the MSM. Keep up the good work.

[Carrie]

Matt,
Caught you on CNN today as I planned to.
Wonderful!!! I don't think that chick was too pleased with your last question and it did seem to me (biased, I know) that she was wearing a little egg.
Thank you for all that you do.
Carrie

[Byron Audler]

You know, there's something that wasn't said during this CNN segment: CNN, and the rest of the MSM, now know that the milblogs are onto them, and now have a pretty good size audience (would love to know how the demographics match up). It'll be interesting to see how they begin to adjust with this new "oversight"

[homefrontsix]

Hey!!! What happened to the fly green shirt?!? I was SO looking forward to that!

Finally had a chance to watch this afternoon and I was quite impressed. Had to yell at the TV a few times but all in all, it was a good show.

Of COURSE the answers to the question that was posed ("Do you think that the coverage of the Woodruff situaiton was appropriate?" or something along those lines...) were 50-50. You asked an audience that WANTED TO BE AT CNN for the filming. Duh.

It was good to see you.

- hfs

[Blackfive]

The audience was mostly journalism students with a few poly sci students thrown in...

[MikeW]

Matt,

Caught the program and I thought you did just fine. That mil training about succinctness came in handy. It was the only way you were going to get anything of substance into the fray. I agree with comments from LongTabSigo and Huntress, among others. Of course, your segment was way too short for anybody unfamiliar with milblogs and the counter they provide to MSM to get a better perspective. You just have to hope that your short time there will direct/redirect some to places to find the info about those heroes and other properly positive stories of what our troops (including my baby brother - the 4th in my immediate family (me included) to be placed in harm's way in a total of 4 wars/conflicts and expeditions) are doing over there. For that purpose alone, your time on the show was important! Keep it up, man. Read you every day, too.

[Mike Driehorst]

Job well-done Matt. (I didn't see the segment, but from what I read, you represented yourself and Milbloggers well.)

As I'm sure you knew going in, guests rarely get much in during those types of shows. The host/moderator tends to steer it to get his/her view in, or to jack up ratings.

With such a high profile media victim of bombings (Woodruff, especially), I think it really hit home for some media, and that is why the coverage is so biased. They can be cold, unfeeling and report on others being killed and injured. But, when it comes to "one of their own," the media's human nature takes over. It's not right, but will always be.
Take care,
Mike

[night heron]

Sean Penn is a traitor and i will never watch any of his crummy movies

[Britney]

Wien ist mir im moment zu distanziert... Dann will ich dir wenigstens auf diesem wege meine lieben grube zukommen lassen!!! :)