Online War Coverage

[GuyJean]

I'm curious what other FG's use for their online sources for the war.

I'm jumping back and forth between CNN - http://www.cnn.com and BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/ , but have recently noticed FOX - http://www.foxnews.com has most of the 'breaking' stories, with free video.

FOX is now reporting a possible chemical attack (DOH! I was a victim of headline deception.. The US is AFRAID of a 'possible' chemical attack. Typical FOX hype.. gomen), but nothing on CNN. And CNN STILL hasn't metioned the Syrians killed by the US in the mistaken bus attack..

CNN basically made it's mark in GWI.. It's seems they've lost their edge.

One good thing about living in Japan; we get Aljezira - http://www.aljezira.net on NHK to see what the Arab world is seeing. It's interesting to see the differences.. and a little scary.

GJ

[ramchop]

I'm curious what other FG's use for their online sources for the war.

Mainly BBC. Also the Daily Telegraph for a more hawkish position on the war. Plus a couple of news sites back home, including Hard News (opinion not news) which gives an interesting critique of CNN's performance:

CNN's coverage is not, as some would have it, propaganda - it's a bit more complex than that. But what is clear already is that CNN, with its omnipresent but anaemic coverage of the war, is losing the journalistic battle. It presents the strange combination of a constant flow of information and a raging lack of curiosity.

[cstaylor]

I mainly read the NY Times and Slate.

[Big Booger]

http://www.aljazeera.net/news/arabic/2003/3/3-22-26.htm


Take a look at that.. beware it is extremely graphic in nature and shows several civilian casualities..
which, as one might point out, could be from the US and could very well be from the Iraqis themselves... who knows, odds are though, that it was the US coalition.

Really, don't view the images if you are repulsed by horrendous scenes of war...

But it does show you the other side and what they are going through.

[Taro Toporific]

I'm curious what other FG's use for their online sources for the war.

Hey, is this a trick question? We all just read the MDNonline of course. Sheesh.

Here at work I use the Reuters RAWFEED.
here,or here.. Online, just useGoogleNews and RSS feeds.

At home, I use a split screen of CNN (CS sat) and BBC (BS sat). On a separate TV, I have Bloomberg News babbling away. Then there's regular Japanese TV to amuse. CBS TV is playing AFN radio. Oops did I mention 100MB fibre connection and my flat screen farm?

TV Rankings:
1st: BBC and CNN tie for the best.
2nd: Reuters and Bloomberg TV are surprising honest.
ABC(USA) and CBC are interesting but partisan.
Aljezira is good for a laugh.
FOX is an embarrassment.
And NHK is good for sleep.

[GuyJean]

But it does show you the other side and what they are going through.

I saw that last night, and wondered what most Iraqis are thinking.. I mean, I'm sure most of them hate Saddam, but they just might end up defending him if they're continuously shown images like this..

I REALLY don't like Bush, but if another country stormed the US to kill him, and in the process wasted numerous civilians, I'd probably end up defending both the US AND Bush..

GJ

[cstaylor]

There's a world of difference between REALLY DISLIKE and GASSING citizens, don't you think?

Can't anyone see this for what it is? The elite Sunni minority knows they're in the doghouse if America and England pull this off, so for the sake of their own skins they're putting up a huge fight... I think I would too if I was a member of the privileged elite, about to have all of my possesions stripped and redistributed.

I really feel for the Shiites... thanks to those Ba'ath assholes dressing up as civilians and faking surrenders, the Brits and Americans aren't so likely to take prisoners now.

[Marked Trail]

I'm curious what other FG's use for their online sources for the war.

The best online source is WeeklyWorldNews.com with such headlines as:

HOW YOU CAN OWN A PIECE OF IRAQ LAND
LET'S TURN IRAQ INTO THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRISON!
AMERICA SHOULD BE A BAD-ASS COWBOY

[ramchop]

Can't anyone see this for what it is? The elite Sunni minority knows they're in the doghouse if America and England pull this off

It's not as though the Sunnis are a tiny minority. They make up a significant part of the Iraqi population.

Iraq has a population of 22,219,289 as of 1997, of whom about 77 percent were Arabs and 19 percent Kurds. A small percentage were Turkmen, Persians, and Assyrians. Almost all Iraqis are Muslims]

The Sunnis aren't the bad guys, Saddam is. If the Sunnis are supporting Saddam that doesn't make them inherently bad, just misled.

so for the sake of their own skins they're putting up a huge fight... I think I would too if I was a member of the privileged elite, about to have all of my possesions stripped and redistributed.

Yes, just like the elite of the South Vietnamese were noted for their fierce and courageous fighting ability.

[GuyJean]

There's a world of difference between REALLY DISLIKE and GASSING citizens, don't you think?

Touche.. (Oh, shit. That's French).. Nevermind..

Can't anyone see this for what it is?

Hey, I can and DO.. I was just trying to understand what MOST Iraqi citizens might feel if they see foreign tanks rolling through there fields, and fellow Iraqis massacred on TV. Propoganda is a powerful thing.. In fact, I'm a little surprised Iraqi TV is still up n' running.

I think I play the devil's advocate just to see how people defend their opinions... Plus, it helps me learn what my own opinions are. Thanks, CS!

GJ

[cstaylor]

The Sunnis aren't the bad guys, Saddam is. If the Sunnis are supporting Saddam that doesn't make them inherently bad, just misled

Maybe I should have been a little more specific: Ba'ath party card-carrying members, who are predominantly Sunni, are going to fight to the finish on this one.

[ramchop]

Maybe I should have been a little more specific: Ba'ath party card-carrying members, who are predominantly Sunni, are going to fight to the finish on this one.

You may be right, but I doubt they're fighting for their wealth and possessions. I'd wager they believe they're fighting for their lives.

[GomiGirl]

From Where is Raed? Blog..

[cstaylor]

You may be right, but I doubt they're fighting for their wealth and possessions. I'd wager they believe they're fighting for their lives.

Let's hope one of them offs the Husseins soon and puts an end to the senseless bloodshed.

[cstaylor]

Now they are also saying that the Iraq military may resort to chemical and/or biological weapons as a last resort

I've heard that too, but I'll believe it when I (hopefully don't) see it.

It's one thing for Hussein and sons to order the destruction of his own people, it's another for his soldiers to carry out that order (unless all of the weapons are on remote).

[American Oyaji]

I bet the Electronic Warfare unit of the military is behind this.

[GomiGirl]

Well the CNN i-mode site has my 300 yen this month.. I cancelled it ages ago, but now I can check the news on the subway.