Why we are going to Iraq
It's time to stop criticizing war reporting, and start participating in it
By Coates and Emanuel Posted in RedState to Iraq | War — Comments (17) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Why do we do this? Because the evidence we see suggests a very different picture of the situation on the ground in Iraq than the one which the media presents day in and day out.
RedState’s cast of Contributors is as intellectually diverse as its readers, and there is no more consensus on Iraq among our writers than there is on immigration, on gay marriage, or on our choice of Presidential candidate for 2008. But within this framework, the two of us share the view of this conflict as an historic enterprise with profound ramifications for Americans and Iraqis--and also for our world. We see hard-won progress and noble sacrifice that can and should lead to victory; however, we see that being threatened by an inexplicable willingness among our political leaders to despair and to capitulate – a willingness which is both fed by, and reflected in, our media, which has embraced the promotion of a vicious and escalating cycle of defeatism.
Against the combined MSM and Congressional juggernaut, our voices can seem very small. We have to wonder every now and again if we are actually seeing the situation clearly – and what we can do to improve our grasp on these events, and on the situation on the ground in the Middle East.
So to that end, we’ve decided to address such doubts by heading over to Iraq ourselves and getting the real story, straight from the source.
After months of emails, telephone calls, offers, and negotiations, the two of us have reached an agreement with the Department of Defense to take part in a trip to Kuwait and to Iraq in late April. This extraordinary opportunity, which stems from the DoD’s renewed emphasis on “new media” outreach, will enable us, and a few of our fellow bloggers, to get some of the first-hand perspective generally reserved for the larger and more heavily financed “old media.”
We are very aware that we're following in the footsteps of New Media pioneers such as Michael Yon, Bill Roggio and Michael Totten, and we look forward to taking similar advantage of this opportunity to bring fresh eyes to Iraq. Of course, in our case, we're going as representatives of the RedState community, and our goal will be to report on the issues that are most important to our readers.
We're very excited about this opportunity to bring you the direct story of what's happening in Iraq, and we hope you'll join us for the journey.
-Victoria Coates and Jeff Emanuel
« Underscoring the danger — Comments (4)
Why we are going to Iraq 17 Comments (0 topical, 17 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Sorry, we can't give out specific info (and we checked with the DOD on that). Suffice to say, a couple of weeks, and everybody we can (including leadership).
Cool? :-)
is that too much to ask?.. :)
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln
RedState’s cast of Contributors is as intellectually diverse as its readers, and there is no more consensus on Iraq among our writers than there is on . . . our choice of Presidential candidate for 2008.
I was under the impression that all of the Contributors here hated Romney. I haven't participated here actively for awhile so could someone please point me to the relevant posts? Thanks. I would greatly appreciate it.
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They that are with us are more than they that are against us.
First, assuming arguendo that we've all eliminated one candidate from our options, does not mean we've settled on one either.
Second, look through Erick's posts.
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We are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice!
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We are all heroes, you and Boo and I. Hamsters and rangers everywhere, rejoice!
First of all, do you know if you will be seeing much of Iraq, or mostly interviewing command in the green zone (if you can comment on that)?
Are you scared? Even if you are confined to the green zone, you do still have the airport road, and the green zone still gets shelled from time to time.
Certainly, it seems like a chance of a lifetime that you can't pass up, but I would be pretty nervous. I wisk you the best of luck.
Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. - Douglas Adams
We can't comment on the specifics, but we'll be dividing our time about half and half in Baghdad and out, and we'll be both in the green zone and in other parts of the city.
Am I scared? Sure I'm a little nervous--this isn't like a quick trip to London. But my feeling is that I could get hit by a bus walking to class this afternoon, or struck by a stray bullet in my own urban environment--and if something happens in Iraq at least it will be in the course of doing something about which I feel very strongly. But I'm pretty sanguine that nothing of that nature will happen. After all, a large number of people get in and out of Iraq and go about their business--we just don't see them on the news.
And have you seen pictures of Jeff? He's pretty impressive. I think I'm safe.
"I'm kind of old-fashioned. I like to engage my brain before my mouth." Donald Rumsfeld
any museums and comment on arts related stuff currently going on in Iraq. I've seen nothing of that sort of commentary, and I think a lively arts community would indicate a pacification in the country...
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Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
Our convergent professions of Art History and Archaeology would appear to meet very nicely amidst a building full of Mesopotamian articacts :-)
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Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
they've allowed you on the trip because with your lack of experience it will be easier to control what you post back to your easily manipulated readers. They can't do that with the MSM which is why they don't want them on these trips.
[grin]
But seriously, Good get! Good luck and may God protect you while you are there.
you keep her and yourself safe Jeff.
Godspeed.
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Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words...-Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes
My assumption, and It's NOT a criticism, is that you are two reporters with a strong bias toward our military success in Iraq.
Will you be tempted to see only what is working?
What sort of hard questions, 'devil's advocate positions', do you plan to pose?
This question aside, I applaud both of you. The more eyes and ears on the ground, the more likely we'll have the information we need to plan our way forward.
...take about a 30-second glance at my writing archives to see that I have no trouble being critical of something which is done (or is going) wrong.
Regarding your first sentence, you are correct - I'm an American, and as such believe that I have a vested interest in my country's success.
That being said, "success" isn't painting a rosy picture of something which headed to the underworld in a handbasket; "success" is "success." I'm a guy who calls 'em like I see 'em - what's going right AND what's going wrong will be noted.
well said.
and I missed it..do you two have any idea how long your stay will be?...what units you'll be hanging with?..
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln