Matty O' represents on FOX with John Gibson

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I missed it live but the Mighty Allah at Hot Air took care of business, as usual. Here is Mr. Burden on The Big Story talking about the least knowledgeable (about the military) Military Affairs writer he knows of.

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Comments

[Bill Faith]

Caught the video on Hot Air earlier, linked to it from my post. Well done, B5.

I think I finally figured out what it is about the situation that upsets me the most. As far as I'm concerned by letting something like that be posted on their site al-WaPo's management gave their stamp of approval to treating our Iraq vets like my fellow Namvets and I were treated. I want blood. I want heads on a platter. Being too sick to travel that far is probably the only thing keeping me out of jail right now.  I'll settle for just seeing the dumbass fired.

[Byron]

Very restrained, Matt. You should have let people know just how pissed, how truly fucking PISSED those of us ARE in full support of the troops really are. My son-in-law is an AD1 in the Navy, and hopefully by June will be a Chief. This asshole just spit on a fine young man and an outstanding service man. I'd like to drop his fat ass out in the middle of Sadr City, and give him a radio, and see how long it takes him to scream for those "mercenaries" to come save his sorry ass.

[toni]

It seems like this anti-military/anti-war rhetoric has been increasing at an exponential rate. Considering how the media over covered the "peace protestors" and pretty much ignored the pro-life rally those of Arkin's ilk think they've been given a green light to bash and trash the troops.

They got away with it in the 60's but I don't think they will get away with it today.

btw - you were awesome Matt.

[Mike H.]

Byron, if you'll invite me to listen I'd appreciate it. I'd like to laugh while he's screaming. Even if it breaks radio discpline.

[Michael in MI]

Excellent job, Matt.

Not only is he the least knowledgable, but I also hope you all know that he is very anti-military and is involved with numerous leftist, anti-military groups.

You may have already posted this info (I have been busy the last couple days and have not gotten to read all the blogs I usually do yet), but I found this on LGF:

William Arkin, the former "military affairs columnist" for the Los Angeles Times, has a first-class hard left pedigree, having also worked for the Institute for Policy Studies (an affiliate of the Workers World Party and International ANSWER), Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Human Rights Watch -- none of which, oddly enough, is mentioned in his biography page.

So this latest blast of hatred shouldn't surprise anyone.

Previously at LGF:
Who Is William Arkin?

So knowing his background, this is not suprising. However, it should be telling that a major "mainstream" news outlet decides to use him as their "military expert". Shows everyone just how completely clueless (or completely hateful) is the media of the military.

The Wolf was right that this is only going to get worse. Now the liberals are emboldened to let their true feelings show. All of us on the homefront better take up arms (our pens, keyboards and mouths) in defense of these attacks on our soldiers. They all have a job to do putting their lives on the line for us in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have a job to do here on the homefront to put it all on the line for them.

[alexa kim]

You were great Matt! BTW, the suit was quite credible. ;)

[Michael in MI]

Here is more info on the groups to which Mr. Arkin belongs:

International ANSWER

* Marxist-Leninist sect founded by former Socialist Workers Party member Sam Marcy
* Has organized some of the major national demonstrations against the War in Iraq
* Has lionized and supported such dictators as Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro, Slobodan Milocevic, and Kim Jong Il

Greenpeace

* Most prominent group on the environmentalist Left
* Attempted to blockade ships delivering supplies to coalition forces in Iraq
* Leads environmentalist opposition to technological progress

Human Rights Watch

* Human rights organization founded in 1978
* Has often condemned democratic Israel, while turning a blind eye to the terrorist Palestinian Authority
* Opposes capital punishment in all circumstances
* Supports International Criminal Court

And as Charles Johnson noted, none of these affiliations are noted in his Washington Post biography. Hmmm, I wonder why? Is he not proud to be associated/involved with rabid military haters, America-haters and Communists?

[Charles]

The Chavez comparison was right on and very smooth. Nice job!

You always wish you could have said more - or said something differently, etc. (considering the emotions Arkin aroused), but I thought the segment was great.

[olddawg]

Well done, Matt. You came across as a thoughtful, concerned supporter of our troops, rather than the slavering pro-war monster that the left would have expected.
As for Mr. Arkin, what a piece of work! How the WaPoo could call him their military "expert" is beyond me. He is a flaming idiot.

[Teresa]

Excellent job Matt. Excellent. I'm glad they gave you so much time to speak out!

[FbL]

Great job, Matt!

I think that was your best media appearance to date. Proud to know you...

[Eric Jette , SantaFe , USA]

After that verbal Nuking, Perhaps it would be appropriate to send the Wa-Post a mop-suit and a broom to clean up its mess.

Mr. Burden, well done.

(hat tip to his host for asking some good questions)

[Chap]

Good volley. Well done.

What's next?

[Steve V.]

Thanks for such a fine interview. You are good.

[CAPT Craig Landon USN (ret)]

I'm glad you got the shot with Gibson, but wish you'd had some talking points prepared that more adequately (i.e. beyond the mercenary crack) got to the heart of Arkin's perfidy. I know it's not easy for our ilk, but we have to hit home runs with the few pitches we get. BE the hammer. --Fair Winds, Following Seas

[LilToni]

Way to go Matty!

[Andrea & Mark]

Well done, sir!

We hope you'll join us on Constitutional Public Radio again as soon as you are able. Good job tonight on Gibson's show.

Andrea / Mark
The Radio Patriots

[K]

I think that now that the Dems have taken over, things are going to change. They've been very restrained up until now, saying they support the troops, but not the war, but they can't understand how cutting off funding would piss off the troops, and at this point I don't think they care.

Hillary saying that Bush shouldn't hand off this war is a perfect example. Hell, a month ago Hillary and her colleagues were demanding we send in more troops, then when Bush calls for it they roast him. The Democrats are doing everything they can to make sure Bush loses this war so that they can take the next elections.

They're not supporting the troops and I'm sick of hearing them saying that they are. Tell that to me when my husband deploys soon and I have to listen to all their anti-war, dying for nothing spewing. I'm sick of it.

But I think that now that the Dems are in control that people will start speaking out more and the rhetoric and ugliness is going to continue to amp up and it will be another post-Vietnam. The difference is that the troops and their families and supporters are calling it for what it is this time, and are going to do all we can to not let it happen again. I hope so, anyway.

[SoCalAngel]

Great job Matt! So when are you running for Congress?

[kat-missouri]

I think that Mr. Arkin is confused. I think he thinks the US has two armies. One for Afghanistan, where they are apparently upstanding, intelligent citizen soldiers doing the bidding of the American people and protecting us from threats and one for Iraq, where they are a bunch of murdering mercenaries.

At least, he didn't mention anything about Afghanistan.

This guy apparently doesn't know, military analyst that he is, that the same units that serve in Afghanistan cycle through Iraq as well. Maybe he thinks they are like Jekyll and Hyde?

Does anybody not get that, if these soldiers feel unsupported in Iraq they feel unsupported in Afghanistan?

To them, it maybe two different places, but they are doing the same thing and fighting the same war.

[Nike in NY]

Black5,
Well Done. I saw a twitch in your eye, were you trying not to go into combat mode or the lights in the studio got to you? How can any "sane" media let this guy post. So much for MSM getting into blogging(boy do they expose more attiude). Why do they always point to "polls/voting say Americans are not for this war" What war? Iraq? War on Terrorist?
Who gets polled?
DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU READ/WATCH/LISTEN TO IN THE MSM. AND THEN CUT THAT IN HALF

[Geo]

Well done B5! Wish they would put you and Uncle Jimbo on, would decidely boost Fox's ratings.

[Rich Casebolt]

Matt ... thanks for taking the lead, with competence.

[SusannainChicago]

Arkin is a world-class piece of dung. He is not fit to serve as a welcome mat for our soldiers.

[bodemillerjokes]

For a bunch of militarists, you guys sure are P.C. pussies.

[El Coqui]

Thanks for sharing Bodemillerjokes.

Is always uplifting to hear from such an outstanding member of the nomenclature.

Long live the Socialist Revolution, NOT!
:)

Jose

[HomefrontSix]

Thanks for saying what was on my mind - as a blogger, as a supporter of our military, and as a military spouse - a thousand times more eloquently (and with far fewer F-bombs) than I ever could have.

Missed the fly mint green shirt. Beer's on me in D.C. (well, a few...not ALL of them! I know how much you can drink!)

[JD]

This clown isn't unique. His types fathers and older brothers were spitting on us in the late 60's. I'm surprised it's taken this long for these creatures to begin their elitist braying again. I guess the ability to mobilize now, via the net, has restrained them to a degree.

Don't be fooled though. The same amount of animosity by such creatures exists now as it did during the 60's and 70's. These snobs, who think only their opinions are right and voicable, are still there in force. Ready to inflict their expertise onto us anytime they can get traction.
These people have lived insulated lives of great privelege and consider people outside their circle to be subhuman at best.

It's a shame the law forbids it, I'd love to invite this guy to coffee and pistols at dawn.

[gedicht]

Your painting of him as "ignorant" was diplomatic at best, I know with all these commentators you have to maintain a semblance of apropriety (unless you belong to the left). The comments he made are the true feelings of much of our population that leans to dialectic dreams (look at San Fransisco!). But we persevere regardless.

[Mark schallow]

Arkin spent a total of four years in the U.S. Army over 30 years ago, and considers himself an, "expert?"

Ha!

Semper Fidelis!

[gedicht]

Letter to WPNI and Mr Arkin:

Your comments (of course taken out of context) were at best insulting to any uniformed service member. My family sacrifices every day for the greater good, while most of you live selfish petty lives throwing stones at us, denigrating our intelligence, insulting our loyalty and classifying us as people from the margins of a society, ones who could not get "a real job". Nobody joins the infantry "for the money", the highest average intelligence scores are contained in combat arms units (we who close with the enemy) not in the technical fields. We are not the dregs, not the racially marginalized, not the poor classified by wealth and intelligence, we are the best this society produces by any measure. We sacrifice every day for pennies. Abu Ghraib and Haditha were abherrations being punished as I write this.

We are not the "heroes" of Ouradour, of Hama, of Lidice. Our Grandfathers liberated Auschwitz and Buchenwald, our fathers stood up to soldiers run riot in My Lai and said "enough". We rebuilt a culture of loyalty, faith, obligation and sacrifice after much of the country decided we were criminals (in the 70's). While most of you focused ever more on self ueber alles, we asked more and more of ourselves for others. We maintain good faith and loyalty in each other, while it seems most of you look at us as saps, as poor downtrodden, or mercenary criminals.

Comments like yours bring it ever clearer to us that the only people deserving of trust are our own, that politics always trumps mission and lives, and that most of you in the media look at our deaths as opportunities for Pulitzer prizes and advertising sales.

The UCMJ and the Laws of land warfare are words on paper that all of us take very seriously, as well as oath taking. To most of you all of those things are just abstracts, to us they are standards we adhere to. When one of us breaks faith, breaks those tenets we live by, we punish them. Those crimes you seem to describe as "norms" for us are beyond criminal. Abu Ghraib, Haditha and any incident like them are not "Our" norms (though you seem to wish that were so), they are our shame and we punish those who abuse their trust (unlike you who seem to reward it).

I hope one day you have time to reflect and realize the gross insult you have perpetrated, but somehow your words betray a dialectic dream . . .so I doubt this will come to pass.

[valerie]

What is "a former Army intelligence analyst"? What does that mean, specifically in William Arkin's case?

[Big D]

nicely done, gedicht!

great job at restraint & making your point, B5. I'd recommend less restraint next time!

[Rita]

I recommend we dust off The Guillotine.....:)

The man needs a shrink, or a pointed toe high heel shoved up his ass. What garbage, he is a disgrace to this country. Let's buy him a one way ticket to North Korea. Lets see if he speaks his mind there. Have fun with the electric anal probe Comrade Arkin.

[PhotoJim]

Arkin's commentary, completing and thoroughly trashing the honor, commitment to duty, sacrifice and integrity of those who choose to wear the uniform of the United States military, is representative of the false sense of security that the left wing loonies now feel with the recent changes that have taken place in the political climate of Washington, D.C. It's as if these people (who by the way are well protected and insulated from the harsh realities of the world we live in by those who choose to serve in uniform) feel that they have been given the green light to let loose and let it fly with something that I've always suspected about their true nature - a deep-seated, condescending contempt for all those willing to sacrifice, serve and work toward a higher purpose beyond themselves. And that contempt, ladies and gentlemen, originates from fear, insecurity and guilt.

Most of all, guilt. Gotta love those left wing elitists who are so well represented amongst the baby boomers.

[bthun]

Please don't start up with the boomer stuff again... I don't want to go OT or rat hole the thread, but jackasses of which you speak are well represented across the age spectrum.

[Mr. Wolf]

Michelle Malkin has given the advantage to B5- and has the SHRILL retort by Arkin. It's on her site...

Wolf

[drillanwr]

Matt,

You did look a bit as if you wanted to spit ... And I wouldn't have blamed you if you had. You showed great restraint, Sir.

COMING SOON: "William Arkin: Victim ... The Interview."

Since Arkin is an NBC operative in addition to his fantasy writing position at the WaPo, I would imagine NBC/MSNBC is scrambling right now and over the weekend to get the victim angle on this guy. Hmmm, who to do it? Who to do it? The lisping Matt Lauer or the "I'm Not Katie But I Play Her On TV" Meredith Viera on Monday morning's lead on "Today" or the currently profusely slobbering Chris Matthews ... Orrrr it may even come Sunday a.m. with Tim - Soon To Take The Witness Stand - Russert.

Whoever it will be, Arkin will be spider-spun into the biggest victim of trampled "free speech" and hate mongering by the public he deludes himself into believing he reflects the views of ...

Yeah, Arkin has an opinion ... But so do we ... and most importantly so does our military. Least he forget, they ARE citizens too ... REAL Citizens who don't even get the "obscene amenities" illegal aliens enjoy from our country.

"America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform ..."

Hmmm, well, I don't know, Mr. Arkin. What do you really owe the woman that gave birth to you and fed and clothed you and wiped your arse until you could do it yourself? Will you repay HER in kind when the time comes?

Yeah, we put our military on a "pedestal". They've earned it time and time again!

BTW, check out michellemalkin.com, who also has been following this fiasco and has linked here to Blackfive. She is carrying links to the Gibson/Arkin radio interview.

Not sure what Arkin's tripe will do for new enlistments, but I'm sure he'll have the impact of pissing gasoline on a fire of reenlistments of troops who have been following his slime line.

Radio talk show host Jim Quinn out of Pittsburgh says it best (and I paraphrase here), `Liberalism ALWAYS results in the exact opposite outcome it had intended'.

[jordan]

Great job, B5. Good point Jim. Some of them feel "safe" expressing their thoughts now with the liberal left prevailing at this time. However, political winds ebb and flow, and the guy on the bottom can at any time rise to the top. This is actually a good thing, as it is "outing" the true positions of some in that camp, on the record. It leaves them vulnerable in the future when, as is always inevitable, the winds shift.

[Esoterik]

If Arkin's service record spanned a total of 4 years, how could he have possibly attained an MOS level of "intelligence analyst," at anything above "Skill Level 1?" I am sure putting “Intelligence Analyst” on a resume is very impressive to some people; the job does require a top secret security clearance. But there are 5 skill levels involved in the discipline, and actual analysis or interpretation does not occur at Level 1.
I suppose that I could work in the mail room of a major trading house on Wall Street, and call myself a “Stock Broker.” That would not qualify me as an expert capable of formulating and writing opinions about what occurred today on the Trading Floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Nor does it seem probable that Arkin is qualified to submit opinions as a “military affairs analyst” beyond any degree of pretension.
Now I want to be sure to let those of you who hold a Level 1 Intelligence Analyst MOS know that I am in no way trying to depreciate or degrade your service with the above broad brush analogy. I realize that you deserve a higher accord then being relegated to “clerk” status. My intent is only to pose the supposition that Arkin is likely far less then he has passed himself off to be in terms of his experience. I have done so in a somewhat imperfect manner, and would apologize to any that may feel offended.
It would be interesting if someone with the means would add to or clarify this supposition. Mr. Wolf, I believe you have some Intel background?

[LongTabSigO]

Repost from another thread:

Re the Gibson interview:

Matt did fine, but John G didn't do a good job of teeing up shots for Matt to hit. Clearly, Gibson was outraged (the segment was called "The Big Outrage"), but I didn't really articulate the true outrage.

Luckily, Matt is adept enough to get the right kind of info out.

Gibson spent a lot more time telling us all the places where we can see/hear/read Arkin's screeds then he did talking up Matt's site (or any blog). Again, luckily, Matt was able to get it in, and in a way that was appropriate to the conversation.

Good job by Matt, who rescued the effort.

[Merry]

Just watched the Hot Air clip from FoxNews. Excellent job! You expressed your outrage and disgust in a way that demonstrated your superiority (both as a human being and a spokesman) to Arkin. If NBC or the Post had ANY integrity they would reign him in. But they don't, so they won't. Which is precisely why I don't bother with that trash anymore. Between incidents like this, the NYT publishing video of a dying soldier without notifying his family and the CBS reporter who recently used parts of an al Qaeda training video and passed it off as her own in her report, I am more convinced than ever that the media should be completely removed from Iraq. They have no respect for the military or the U.S. in general. They have no right to be there (freedom of the press is NOT absolute and when balanced about the contravailing needs of security would LOSE) and should be sent home.

Maybe Arkin should be sent to Iraq to discover first-hand how "plush" the lives of our military are there. But that would expose another trait Arkin lacks - courage.

[Borzoi]

Just my POV here, I could be wrong even if evidance backs up what I say. Please Matt, do not let up on this so-called anylist and do not hold back on him. Find, Fix, Finish! If I seem like I am on a war footing here, I am!

"So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage."

$1,804 every two weeks and some change for SGT E-5 w/ 10 years in. Oh and a lot of that $1,800 goes to buy stuff the taxpayers are allegedly providing soldiers. You know small items, like SAPI plates out of our own pockets. Tier 2 PSS or PSS/DDM at Blackwater troops clear a hell of a lot more than that. So do KBR Logistics techs and Tobi-Hanna Depot contractors.

"take care of their families"

Yeah, thats why we've been jerked around and moved places only to be told I cant be there with my wife, including an OCONUS move.

"provide them with housing"

We have not been able to get housing on Ft. Drum, Korea, or at Ft Huachuca since 2003. Waiting list at Huachuca right now is 8+ months for a 2 BDRM. Going to live off post in the Sierra Vista Ghettos, why because I have not seen my wife in 798 of the past 1095 days!

"and medical care"

Now that I am in region west I MAY get medical care, but all the time I was in TRY TO GET CARE northeast region I was constantly dropped from enrollment due to a clerical error that took over three years to fix."

"and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them"

Social support systems? Yeah what crack is he smoking. I suppose he is not aware of the fights soldiers go through to get those so-called support systems working for them as intended. I guess Arkin has never been through an MEB and been told his spinal injuries, hearing loss, respiratory system degradation, arthritis,and reactions to vaccinations only rate him at 20% service connected.

Oh does the Arkin mean like the sat phones joe pays for, the laptops joe pays for, the time killers joe pays for or the internet connections that are already hardwired into any army signal unit at the company level or above where joe piggybacks and sends an e-mail once in awhile?

"we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?"

Yeah thats why soldiers and spouses lose most constitutional rights eh, because we are above everyone else. Give me a break, the tax payers for the most part have zero stake in this war and even financially it is limited. Their elected officials fail them constantly and reporters as well. Don't blame the soldiers for that. After all in the constitution we are subject to the whims of civil authority and have no choice as to how and where we fight wars, police actions, peacekeeping operations, etc, etc, etc.

[jordan]

The irony is it is actual the media and reporters who hold themselves above society. Soldiers police their own and punish the Abu Graibs and Hadithas when required. Many times, journalists do not penalize or correct infractions in accuracy or ethics in their reporting, because no one really holds them accountable.

Case in point, NPR, in covering the media elites testifying at the Libby trial, says the most disturbing thing is that this will discourage anonymous sources from coming forward to them for fear that they could be exposed in any legal process. Therefore, they argue, reporters should not be subject to these legal proceedings, and should not be hounded about their sources. They claim that giving reporters that exception is critical to democracy, which the media has an important role to uphold.

Arkin also seems to think he is above the questioning, criticizing fray. It's amazing, the thin skin on these reporters when they get a taste of their own medicine.

[bodemillerjokes]

Militarists = whiners

[charron]

fake bodemillers=Ass Clowns

[SteveG]

I was wondering why Arkin;s outrage over soldier's opinions did not include those of the active duty soldiers that showed up to protest the war in DC. Kinda weird if the only public voice of the troops that is allowed is anti war... I mean since the whole point of a military is to wage war.
the guy is a bigger hemmorhoid than bode

[drillanwr]

For what it's worth, I recently "discovered" youtube.com. Loads of useless crap on that site, but once in a while you come across a gem:

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! (MUST WATCH)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq2hDr1sqWo

I liked it. I liked it a lot.

[Patti Bader]

Matt, you look wonderful,
what fountain of youth have you found!!
Well handled interveiw,
thank you!!
P

[Ymarsakar]

what fountain of youth have you found!!

Depends upon whether he went through the Fox news makeup room before going on the air.

[Blackfive]

No makeup this time around. CNN always cakes it on me though...must be the broadcasters from Atlanta are tan and they don't want the guests to pale in comparsion. [OUCH!]

[jordan]

Oh my God. Michelle Malkin has audio of Gibson's radio show with Arkin, where he educates us as to who is who's servant. But just when it got fun, it was over. Do you hear, you uniformed people! You work for me! Do as I say! You are my slave! It makes me nervous when you big, dangerous warrior types with biceps and guns talk! It shows you're thinking too much! We can't have that! So no more talking! Crikey.

[bthun]

Heheh,

You do have a way of putting a fine point on the issue Jordan.

[Ymarsakar]

Matt, your rapid eye movements were a bit freaky to watch. It looked like you were constantly checking your situational awareness. Left, right.

That very excellent body language expert on O'Reilly's show said something to the effect that rapid eye blinking is a sign of unconscious nervousness (for Pelosi anyway). She was pretty good in her other assessments.

It almost seemed like (can't see your hands so incomplete data) you couldn't move too far in the seat, so that energy went somewhere else.

[Terri]

Great interview Matt. I think I've got a copy of a SSG LES lying around somewhere that shows the supposed obscene amount of money they're making. I'd like to see Arkin live off of that!

[Jen from SA]

You know the Angels love and support you!! You did a fantastic job! Thank you for speaking out in defense of our heroes.

[Blackfive]

Ymar - Didja HEAR the sirens? They were a lot louder in the studio. I really do appreciate the feedback. I have a lot to work on if I'm gonna do this more often. But it's tough with fifteen bright lights in your face (you can hardly see the camera) and talking to a ghost.

It's something that is tougher for me than some. I'll work on it.

[Red State Rocketeer]

Great job Matt. Thank you for taking down this little Arkin dweeb on Fox.

[sean]

A Fisking of Arkin on the First Amendment:

Here is what Mr Arkin stated in the first of three pieces addressing US Soldiers first amendment rights:

ARKIN:“I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people.”

ME: Mr Arkin states that in his opinion, those members of the military do not have the right to criticize the American people. I did not know there were limits on such speech IAW the First amendment but lets go on to his more tortured replies to criticism of his article and Soldier’s 1st Amendment rights:

Here is what MR Arkin stated next:

ARKIN: “Contrary to the typically inaccurate and overstated assertion in dozens of blogs, hundreds of comments, and thousands of e-mails I've received, I've never written that soldiers should "shut up," quit whining, be spit upon, or that they have no right to an opinion.
I said I was bothered by the notion that "the troops" were somehow becoming hallowed beings above society, that they had an attitude that only they had the means - or the right - to judge the worthiness of the Iraq endeavor.”

ME; Mr Arkin here states that he never stated that Soldiers do not have a right to an opinion, but his statement is rather clear that he does believe they do not have a right to an opinion on the American people…his quote again “and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people.” To me he stated exactly what he meant to say. He is “bothered by the notion” that soldiers feel that their opinion on Iraq should matter in discussions on policy. He is essentially saying that they have too much power in the world of opinions and he does not have enough. His arguments are not being heard above those who are actually serving the policy, and he does not like it, so the soldiers should be muzzled.

Next Mr Arkin is in apology mode:

ARKIN: “When I hear soldiers and war supporters expressing their frustrations about the American public or the news media, something doesn't quite seem right -- even when the soldiers and war supporters aren't talking about me. I know that those in uniform would like to bring the war to an honorable conclusion, but are they blaming those who are against the war and the news media for having tied their hands under a Bush administration which is certainly the most warrior-oriented in the past 20 years? Is there no space for respectful acceptance of the possibility that people who also love the nation and care about our security think that the country is wasting national treasure - lives and money - on an unwinnable cause?…
I also reiterate my core point, which is that military attitudes should not serve as a censor of the civilian debate at home, either literally or through intimidation.”

ME:Mr Arkin’s first amendment point is that since the troops speaking to the media seem to support the Iraq policy and they express that feeling it is intimidating to him. IF the troops feel that the negativity from the press is undermining their mission, they should not “intimidate” the discussions back home with their opinions. If the soldiers feel opposition to the war and the policy is bad for troop morale, they should keep it to themselves. It appears that Mr Arkin feels threatened for some reason by troops voicing their opinion, as is theie First Amendment right. He feels that military attitudes are a “censor” to debate and are “intimidating. ” What Mr Arkin apparently is against is the troops stating their opinion and that opinion is taken at a higher value than his “elitist” “opinion” columns are. He does not like that. However, there is no intimidation in this clash of ideas or opinions. No one is getting the IRS to look at Mr Arkin’s finances, no one is bugging his phones…there is no intimidation here at all. It is a bogeyman for his real issue…he does not like the opinions of those who are fighting. He does not like it one bit so he wants to muzzle them.

Mr Arkin then says:

ARKIN:“Spec. Johnson, everyone supports the troops. But if supporting the troops comes to mean that we cannot raise questions about the military, about how wars are being fought in our name, that we cannot criticize those in uniform, can't protest, can't write, can't demand better, then what kind of country do we have?”

ME: What MR Arkin wants here is to be able to criticize those in uniform, to protest, write and demand better without getting criticized himself. He is amazed that people do not agree with him and that he gets criticized for his views. He feels that he should not be called unpatriotic, even if that is the opinion of those who read his columns. He feels that the military should not be able to criticize protestors or those who criticize those soldiers because those soldiers act as censors. Please give me one example Mr Arkin of this so called censorship by the government.

More from Mr Arkin:

ARKIN: “I know you are out there every day risking your life, and for that I am grateful. But I just can't stand by and do nothing when I can see that your risk is no longer being matched by a commitment or a plan or the prospect for victory or a just ending. I can't be silent when I can also see that you are a pawn in a Washington political tug-of-war that has become more about the Bush legacy and future power here at home than about Iraq.”

ME: Mr Arkin is now “grateful” which was not the tone he used in his original article. He goes back to the canard that he is fighting for the troops because he cannot “just stand by” because he knows the war is lost (and he is the security “EXPERT” for the Washington Post so listen to him). His “opinion” is that soldiers are pawns for a “Bush legacy” but he fails to realize that his opinion is just that, an opinion. Others have opinions exactly opposite of his, from people on the ground and those opinions are the ones he seeks to muzzle.

Mr Arkin says

ARKIN: “ Spec. Johnson, I also firmly believe that you are wrong if you believe that Iraq represents the difference between freedom and slavery for all of us in the future. I understand, and respect, that you think it. I understand, and respect, that that's what keeps you going.”

ME: As a serving soldier, I think Mr Arkin is saying that the soldier’s opinion is not based in reality, it is based on a way to keep you motivated in a war zone. Specialist Johnson to Mr Arkin is nothing more than an uneducated rube who thinks that Specialist Johnson is brainwashed. I don’t know if that is Mr Arkin’s intent, but that is my opinion and that is how I view it. It is my perception of Mr Arkin and that is my reality, which I can express as an opinion...I wonder why he fears that?

Mr Arkin then says:

ARKIN: “I'm just asking you to understand that different people have different views of the world, and that those views don't mean that they are un-American, anti-American, or contemptuous of the military.”

ME: Mr Arkin needs to reread this entire sentence. He needs to understand that different people have different views on the world and in a democracy, they can express them. He was obviously contemptuous of the military, in MY OPINION. The far left is anti-American and contemptuous of the military in MY OPINION. He needs to learn tolerance for other ideas and he needs to find his moral courage to stick by them when those ideas are attacked. He displays intolerance for military opinion and when confronted, hides behind his “I support the troops” rhetoric that falls flat to those he insulted so grieviously.

[Ymarsakar]

But it's tough with fifteen bright lights in your face (you can hardly see the camera) and talking to a ghost.

So that was what it was.

And I definitely heard the sirens. I was like, what is this, out on the streets.

I don't know much about dealing with the cameras, but there might be some good advice from the "Fox News" personalities on the air. Surely they would know some tricks in the job.

[Ymarsakar]

Personally, when I first saw it, you didn't even look like you heard the sirens. You looked like you were considering the question of the host, and concentrating on answering it. That made the sirens a lot easier to ignore for me.

Reminds me of that Atlas Shrugged vid talk where the phone ringing in the background was so loud I couldn't hear the blogger talk, yet the speaker she seemed totally not hearing it. No body language leaks at all, that I could percieve at least.

[Blackfive]

Ymar - Thanks. I don't get to talk to on-air personalities to get advice from...LOL! I have a producer chattering in my ear over the sound of the broadcast. It's not that hard, I just am not that good at staring into the lights like they are John Gibson. I'll get better. The remote tv stuff is always tough for me. Live is another story.

[Oldcrow]

Here is a list of companies who advertise in the Wapo:
www.thewindowplace.com
office depot
sports authority
belefort furniture
comp usa
circuit city
linens-n-things
rite aid
staples
bray & scarff
best buy
cvs
jc penny
eckerd
sprint-motorola (Red Razor)
kmart
don pablo's restaurant
kitchen magic
wegmans
marlo furniture
kohls
havertys
longhorn steakhouse
walmart
shoppers
radio shack

Start emailing them about this and make it clear they will suffer if they don't put pressure on the Wapo and NBC.

[Ymarsakar]

I have a producer chattering in my ear over the sound of the broadcast.

No wonder reporters and anchors at CBS/CNN act schizophrenic. The voices in their heads must be murderous. Maybe we should give them some PTSD counseling Matt... the poor poor souls.

[Otto Schwab]

Great interview, this should NOT be allowed to be dropped. This is the same crap Nam vets got, and the left is trying it again. Only fault in the interview was Gibsons reference to Haditha. Lets wait until someone is charged and the facts brought out. It's bad enough that they're found guilty by the press and certain politicians, lets not do it ourselves.