Why is the military lying in Iraq?
For the second time in a week, the US military command in Iraq has released what appears to be bad information in direct contradiction to the statements of the Maliki government. (You may remember me losing it over now abandoned US claims that a car bomb attack was a gas explosion.)
Take a look at this relating to the sniper attacks on the Shia pilgrimmage yesterday.
Again, this is verifiable fact that the US military is contradicting. The commonality I see is that both cases are pretty horrific attacks by Sunnis on innocent Shia civilians.
Is the US lying is some sort of effort to tamp down reprisals?
How does that work with Maliki's Shia government telling a different story? And even if the Shia don't believe the government, there are a dozen Iraqi papers telling the story with details and eyewitnesses and pictures.
Does the US military command really expect the Iraqi Shia militants to believe the US press releases over all the other reports? Or is it meant for US consumption? I just don't get it.
Take a look at this relating to the sniper attacks on the Shia pilgrimmage yesterday.
The Iraqi government said 20 people were killed by the snipers who hid in buildings and sprayed bullets into Shiite religious processions Sunday. The U.S. military, however, said only five people were killed. The discrepancy in the toll could not be immediately reconciled.
Again, this is verifiable fact that the US military is contradicting. The commonality I see is that both cases are pretty horrific attacks by Sunnis on innocent Shia civilians.
Is the US lying is some sort of effort to tamp down reprisals?
How does that work with Maliki's Shia government telling a different story? And even if the Shia don't believe the government, there are a dozen Iraqi papers telling the story with details and eyewitnesses and pictures.
Does the US military command really expect the Iraqi Shia militants to believe the US press releases over all the other reports? Or is it meant for US consumption? I just don't get it.
posted by mikevotes at
8:26 AM
4 Comments:
Honestly I believe it's just for the consumption of the general US Public. I see it a lot all over the place.
By
Tamara, at 12:40 AM
Yeah, I'd buy that, because certainly, the Iraqis have to know.
(Technically, propagandizing the US public is illegal. )
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 6:11 AM
The military/our government, by constantly contradicting any information on something they are involved in, can assure a perpetuated us/them situation, where there are those who believe the enemies (liars), and those who believe us (patriots). This allows the feeble who do not see through this lie of a war to continue on in their state of fear and ignorance.
It keeps the press in check by identifying them as traitors for printing the contrary, citizens in check by associating them with lunatics and weirdos for citing the contrary.
Fear of ostracision is powerful, and the whole political machine is aligned against those in positions of power who step forth as nay-sayers- just look at Sergeant First Class Donald Buswell, or Kevin Barrett.
Gawd bless Merrikuh.
By
Anonymous, at 5:53 PM
I wouldn't go as far as some of the stroger language you used, but I think you nailed a pretty big underlying point.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 9:07 PM
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