7 %. Let's keep this in perspective, MSM. Seven friggin' percent!

Tiny little rant here, but I'm getting sick and tired of MSM humping Zarqawi's corpse to the point that once again, reality is getting drowned out. This article in particular irked me:


Papers Show 'Gloomy' State of Insurgency

Jun 15, 12:51 PM (ET)

By SAMEER N. YACOUB

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A blueprint for trying to start a war between the United States and Iran was among a "huge treasure" of documents found in the hideout of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Iraqi officials said Thursday. The document, purporting to reflect al-Qaida policy and its cooperation with groups loyal to ousted President Saddam Hussein, also appear to show that the insurgency in Iraq was weakening.

The al-Qaida in Iraq document was translated and released by Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie. There was no way to independently confirm the authenticity of the information attributed to al-Qaida.

snip

The document said the insurgency was being hurt by, among other things, the U.S. military's program to train Iraqi security forces, by massive arrests and seizures of weapons, by tightening the militants' financial outlets, and by creating divisions within its ranks.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20060615/D8I8P0NG1.html?PG=home&SEC=news


The average Joe reading this would get the idea that Zarqawi was in charge or on top of what was going on with "the insurgency" as though he had a logistical role in the planting of every IED, every car bombing, and every roadside skirmish in Iraq. How soon MSM forgets just how small and insignificant the role of Al-Qaeda in Iraq really is:


MURTHA: Now, let's talk about terrorism versus insurgency in Iraq itself. We think that foreign fighters are about 7 percent -- might be a little bit more, a little bit less. Very small proportion of the people that are involved in the insurgency are terrorists or how I would interpret them as terrorists.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR2005120701588.html

:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:

That's right, MSM! SEVEN FRIGGIN' PERCENT! This supervillain with the Bush-tagged $25 million price on his head was in charge of only 7% of the "insurgents"! Kind of puts a different slant on why he thinks the "insurgency" is being hurt in Iraq, doesn't it? But wait, it gets better! Zarqawi hadn't even been in charge of that 7% in the two months prior to his death:

Iraqi Insurgents FIRED Zarqawi In APRIL For Incompetence
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1381460

No wonder people were predicting Zarqawi's martyrdom the day before they dropped two 500 pound bombs on his ass:

Interesting article from YESTERDAY: Zarqawi Scheduled for Martyrdom
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1379209


I'm not holding my breath expecting MSM to report any of this. I just had to get it off my chest.

:rant:

common sense would tell you that there is no "treasure trove", but it has given them a fantastic opportunity to fabricate any bogus story they want and get it on every headline without any questions being asked.

...yet we still assign them credibility.

What does that say about us?

is their ability to dupe enough Average Joes and Janes to bump Dumbya's approval rating up a point or two when he snaps his fingers. Aside from calling them on their bullshit for my own amusement, MSM is a waste of time with ZERO credibility.

First, I have to say I think it is very possible that the Iraqi government might have "tweaked a few words and phrases" just a wee bit (by which I mean "lied")to improve the public perception (in Iraq) of the future in general and of the present Iraqi government in particular. But I think this story could help us get out of this mess and avoid another one.

The terrorists WANTED the US to go to war with Iran? It was part of their "plots and plans"? That means it is a truly terrible idea, right?

The military program of training the Iraqis is finally being done right and finally having some effect? So getting the hell out of there OUGHT to be in the foreseeable future, right?

Dean, Murtha, Kerry and all the Dems running this year can fit also this easily into arguments that it took way too damn long for this Admin (and the Repub leaders who stroked them) to even start to accomplish something.

The military always wanted to get to work on making a (positive) difference over there, but it took low poll numbers for the civilians in charge to care enough to let them really try. Before that, it was what - a dozen trainers and no equipment to deal with 100,000 Iraqi recruits? For the first freaking year, or two?

These guys should be held accountable for the horrible human and financial losses we and the Iraqis have suffered in the three years the Admin spent looking in their own asses for a clue.

That's how I would look at it if I were invited on MSM to comment. Go for it, Howard.

You ask some very pertinent questions here:

The terrorists WANTED the US to go to war with Iran? It was part of their "plots and plans"? That means it is a truly terrible idea, right?

The military program of training the Iraqis is finally being done right and finally having some effect? So getting the hell out of there OUGHT to be in the foreseeable future, right?

Your insight exposes the lie the neo-cons have tried to propagate from Zarqawi getting sold out by his former friends that we are now succeeding in Iraq. We have not now, nor will we ever, especially if their insane enough to lob missiles at Iran. You're right, time for the Dem leaders to start harping on these points!