Whether or not the truths were told to the american people.....

[warcrow]

Whether or not the truths were told to the american people about Iraq from the beginning is something the investigative commisions need to decide. That I can deal with since is in progression.

But one year after the invasion of Iraq and the world to me doesnt seem like a safer place at all! Granted I do not recall a single attack on US soil. Attacks by terrorist are taking place all over the world. The death of thousands of innocent Iraqis and hundreds (thousands?) of coalition troops have only served to increase the threat of global terrorism.

But this is just how I feel. I don't knwo whats correct anymore, because I feel like everything has a spin to it and is not the "straight dope".

I'm at the point now, were I want to stop reading articles in Time or cnn.com or whatever b/c i don't know where to get the truth. Who is telling the truth? Can someone point me in the direction of where to get something w/o a spin on it?

I appologize if this comes across as confused....l know I am.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: warcrow
Whether or not the truths were told to the american people about Iraq from the beginning is something the investigative commisions need to decide. That I can deal with since is in progression.

But one year after the invasion of Iraq and the world to me doesnt seem like a safer place at all! Granted I do not recall a single attack on US soil. Attacks by terrorist are taking place all over the world. The death of thousands of innocent Iraqis and hundreds (thousands?) of coalition troops have only served to increase the threat of global terrorism.

But this is just how I feel. I don't knwo whats correct anymore, because I feel like everything has a spin to it and is not the "straight dope".

I'm at the point now, were I want to stop reading articles in Time or cnn.com or whatever b/c i don't know where to get the truth. Who is telling the truth? Can someone point me in the direction of where to get something w/o a spin on it?

I appologize if this comes across as confused....l know I am.

The truth doesn't exist...there is just interpretation. Learn what you can, then make your best guess--try not to let biases or peer pressure influence your opinion...that's all any of us can do.

 

[Infohawk]

It is hard to find good sources of news. But I liken the situation to tech news. You have the mainstream stuff (like cnet or general publications) that is for light-techies and average people who do not care too much about tech. Then you have the stuff that's a little harder to find like anandtech and other sites. It's out there, you just have to find it.

First I would suggest going to foreign websites. If you can speak another language, great-- get it from there. If not, there's still good foreign news where they don't need to pander to pin-wearing you're-not-an-american-unless-you-support-GWB. I read foreign sites and they have headlines like, "major setback in iraq." They don't sugar-coat anything.

Finally, if you're adventuresome, you can try places like alternet.org and other "alternative" news sites. You have to take these sites with a grain of salt though because they can be extreme in the left side. But in grave times like these where the mainstream media is not doing it's job (e.g., calling Iraqis "insurgents" when they are really just normal Iraqis fighting against occupation (as Americans did against the British, etc.)), then the left-wing stuff /can/ be a source of no-spin info. But I'd go to foreign sources first.

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
It is hard to find good sources of news. But I liken the situation to tech news. You have the mainstream stuff (like cnet or general publications) that is for light-techies and average people who do not care too much about tech. Then you have the stuff that's a little harder to find like anandtech and other sites. It's out there, you just have to find it.



First I would suggest going to foreign websites. If you can speak another language, great-- get it from there. If not, there's still good foreign news where they don't need to pander to pin-wearing you're-not-an-american-unless-you-support-GWB. I read foreign sites and they have headlines like, "major setback in iraq." They don't sugar-coat anything.



Finally, if you're adventuresome, you can try places like alternet.org and other "alternative" news sites. You have to take these sites with a grain of salt though because they can be extreme in the left side. But in grave times like these where the mainstream media is not doing it's job (e.g., calling Iraqis "insurgents" when they are really just normal Iraqis fighting against occupation (as Americans did against the British, etc.)), then the left-wing stuff /can/ be a source of no-spin info. But I'd go to foreign sources first.

Thanks for the insight. Hrm....

 

[Witling]

Warcrow. One of the big problems is that news is shifting to entertainment in the U.S. It's generally conceded that the U.S. press did a lousy job of covering the origins of war. To a certain extent, that's because people don't like to read long, detailed articles and will not patronize news services that do them. Hero's point is partially correct. Truth does exist, but it's subject to interpretation. It is without a doubt true that George Bush was presented with a presidential briefing that said, Iraq may strike in the U.S. But what that means is an entirely different, and subjective matter. Just remember, how do you know a politician is lying? His or her lips are moving.

 

[Czar]

im with Infohawk on this one, go for foreign sources and about sites like alternet put them in the biased bin with sites like newsmax, intersting to read to get a different perspective but that is as far as it goes

 

[Infohawk]

I agree with Czar about that alternative news sites are biased. But here's why they are useful. They raise issues most sites do not. For example, alternative news sources will mention Negroponte's shady past in Central America when they explain how he's been appointed ambassador to Iraq. I haven't seen mainstream sources spend much time on that.

When I read these sites, I don't accept the facts right away or their analytical conclusions but they raise important issues that you can research independently.

 

[dahunan]

We created the Terror Threat Level Warning System because of the Iraqi Terrorist Threat... where have you been? Iraq and Saudi Arabia are neighbors - so that means that Osama held great influence in Iraq and had many terrorist training camps in Iraq with permission from Saddam. OK.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
I agree with Czar about that alternative news sites are biased. But here's why they are useful. They raise issues most sites do not. For example, alternative news sources will mention Negroponte's shady past in Central America when they explain how he's been appointed ambassador to Iraq. I haven't seen mainstream sources spend much time on that.



When I read these sites, I don't accept the facts right away or their analytical conclusions but they raise important issues that you can research independently.

Exactly. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

 

[Painman]

One might immediately dismiss a site such as AlJazeeraas biased, but hell, if you're going to look at stuff like NewsMax, it ought to be counterbalanced by the Middle Easterner's point of view.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: Painman
One might immediately dismiss a site such as <A class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://english.aljazeera.net" target=blank>AlJazeera</A> as biased, but hell, if you're going to look at stuff like NewsMax, it ought to be counterbalanced by the Middle Easterner's point of view.

Most Republicans I have read do not believe that Middle Easterners are allowed to have a point of view.

 

[SuperTool]

We have restored freedom to Iraqi terrorists, and soon we'll give them a vote to boot. A safer world can't be too far behind

 

[DaFinn]

I have access through my work to some international news agencies (AP, Reuters), and get to see "news" before they actually become news. Just a plain non biased discription of what has happened. It is amusing to read what different medias finally make of this piece.

Example:

4 US soldiers die in an ambush near Fallujah. 6 Iraqis death.

US media:

"Great victory for coalition forces in a battle agains Iraqi insurgents. 4 soldiers die in a heroic battle. Coalition strenghtening it's grip over Fallujah."

World media:

"Another big setback for coalition in Iraq. 4 soldiers and 6 Iraqisdie in an ambush. Coalition loosing grip over Fallujah."

I understand if people are confused of whats really happening, but I can say the US media is 100% controlled and making the best out of every news piece...
Also there are many news that are not reported in US media at all. So much about freedom of press.

 

[smashp]

I think the US media is becoming less interested in doing its job in reporting and keeping government honest, and becoming more of a propaganda piece for the government as a whole. The Media is willingly doing this in the pursuit of ratings. Ratings are all that matters right now. Withe the lead up to War, The media blew it.

The Reason is they wanted the war soo bad just to gain ratings. Factor in the fact that Some major corporations own the majority of all US media outlets. Do you really think the GE owned NBC is going to Push anti war views when their parent corporation has a vested interest in the Defence industry?

The BBC and PBS generally do a decent Job, they are a few of the major outlets that get in depth on issues and Avoid The mass of Talking Heads Spewing their rhetoric.

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: Painman
One might immediately dismiss a site such as <A class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://english.aljazeera.net" target=blank>AlJazeera</A> as biased, but hell, if you're going to look at stuff like NewsMax, it ought to be counterbalanced by the Middle Easterner's point of view.

Thanks for that link. Its a step in the right direction for me to begin reading at places like this. There is alot of good advice in this thread.

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: dahunan
We created the Terror Threat Level Warning System because of the Iraqi Terrorist Threat... where have you been? Iraq and Saudi Arabia are neighbors - so that means that Osama held great influence in Iraq and had many terrorist training camps in Iraq with permission from Saddam. OK.

You're trying to turn this thread into somethings its not :-/

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: warcrow

Originally posted by: dahunan
We created the Terror Threat Level Warning System because of the Iraqi Terrorist Threat... where have you been? Iraq and Saudi Arabia are neighbors - so that means that Osama held great influence in Iraq and had many terrorist training camps in Iraq with permission from Saddam. OK.

You're trying to turn this thread into somethings its not :-/

YHBT

Seriously, does anandtech have any troll protection? :/

 

[Moonbeam]

Ultimately you have to be the judge of what is true and what is not. Nobody can tell you for you and you cannot know if I know. So here are some things That could help you. Study logic and understand the difference between a logical argument and a logical falacy. Study science and the scientific method. Study brainwashing techniques and be sure you can recognize how those tecniques surround every where you turn. Study psychology and infant development and processes of human conditioning. Go into psychoanalysis and relive your past till you have become fully conscious and understand how you were personally programmed. That is to say, destroy merceilessly and without compromise all the belief and feeling inculcated in you about everything under the sun. Recognize that you are not who you thought, but a silent observer present and aware in the now. See that what you seek is not an answer, but death in an explosion of Love.

And if you wouldn't mind when you get done with that, could you check back in. I got a couple of questions I'd like to ask.

 

[LunarRay]

Moonster

And if you wouldn't mind when you get done with that, could you check back in. I got a couple of questions I'd like to ask.

Are you saying that like Jesus one must first visit hell to know he is not there..

The Mulla Nasruden must have said to the suggesting trainee..
Why must I travel and bear such a load when all there is is as I want it to be. And, if it isn't then I am as it wishes me to be..

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: warcrow

Originally posted by: dahunan

We created the Terror Threat Level Warning System because of the Iraqi Terrorist Threat... where have you been? Iraq and Saudi Arabia are neighbors - so that means that Osama held great influence in Iraq and had many terrorist training camps in Iraq with permission from Saddam. OK.

You're trying to turn this thread into somethings its not :-/

YHBT



Seriously, does anandtech have any troll protection? :/

Everything I typed was a lie.. on purpose.. BUT it sure sounds like what we were being told before we invaded

 

[conehead433]

"Truth does exist, but it's subject to interpretation. It is without a doubt true that George Bush was presented with a presidential briefing that said, Iraq may strike in the U.S."

U.S. intelligence knew the Iraqis had missiles with a 100 mile range. The notion that Iraq could strike the U.S. was totally perposterous and the misinformation disseminated by G.W. Bush and our government to move to war against a sovereign nation that had not attacked us is criminal. If we were attempting to rid the world of evil men who massacred thousands of their own people we would have invaded numerous African countries and others to make the world a better place. But Iraq had oil and Afghanistan had a much needed oil pipeline.

 

[Moonbeam]

Why must I travel and bear such a load when all there is is as I want it to be. And, if it isn't then I am as it wishes me to be..

The Mulla said he never saw any body in toruble who went straight ahead. I think living by your statments fills that bill.

 

[FrancesBeansRevenge]

Moonbeam, if you didn't talk so much sh!t perhaps more folks would realise you're right.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

"What is Truth?"

-Pontius Pilate

 

[LunarRay]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Why must I travel and bear such a load when all there is is as I want it to be. And, if it isn't then I am as it wishes me to be..

The Mulla said he never saw any body in toruble who went straight ahead. I think living by your statments fills that bill.

No... actually, the road is as I want or expect it to be or I've been made malliable enough to take the path as it lay.

The Mulla may have also said.. "When you come to the fork in the road... take it."