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March 22, 2008

Strange Dichotomy: Abu Graihb Was Good for US

[Kat]

...in the long run.

The short run, immediate propaganda and recruiting material for the jihadists along with the attendant deaths of Iraqis and American soldiers, was terrible and damaging.

On the other hand, ask yourself when people really started taking the idea of an "information war" seriously. What was the first major story that had milblogs, political blogs and personal blogs binding together to refute a terrible story? When did the US government actually start thinking about information warfare?

I can still remember the really horrendous Centcom website that was worse than a basic Blogger package and had all the user friendliness and packaging of an early 1994 geocities web page. It was rarely updated regularly and the videos were less than "B roll".

Rumsfield was still talking about dead enders as violence escalated. Zawahiri's letter had not yet been released (the one that talked about "half the battle field is in the media").

For others, Abu Graihb might have woke them up to the idea that the way they were fighting the war was counter-productive. Even if it took them a year or so more after the event to grasp the idea fully, it did begin a conversation, however one would wish it not to start that way. Maybe it was the only way it COULD start.

Somewhere in that calculation, it could be said that, in the long run, it may have saved American soldiers' lives by moving our discussion in the right direction and helping to change strategies and tactics.

Of course, I'm not proposing any medals for the perpetrators. A good cigar and a last meal would be more than they deserved for their part.

Discuss

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Kat | Permalink | Comments (8) | GWOT Whatever it is...
Comments on Strange Dichotomy: Abu Graihb Was Good for US
BillT briefed on March 22, 2008 7:02 AM

Why waste a good cigar?

Fishmugger briefed on March 22, 2008 7:14 AM

We have all participated in some recreational stupidity. It is my intention to continue such events in a quest of stalking the wiley bonefish down in the Bahamas next weekend. I don't think I'll be posting pictures of any missteps into the lagoon. (A case of being over served at the marina Tiki Bar last trip) But to try to find a small positive out of the massive injury perpetrated by those jerks is a little much.

Nobody got hurt here. No one was thrown out of helos, no one had limbs broken or any of the other events described by Ol' John Kerry in his infamous speech. They just gave the Media the biggest chance to smear the uniform once again. All the imbeds with all those hours of informing the American public what was really going on went down the tubes. And for what...a better set of Milblogs?

That was starting to happen anyway; if someone cared to find them. Family and friends of people in country were finding ways to inform each other of events and to coordinate support. My club and I discovered where our support needed to be applied...Phone cards, tickets home for Christmas for those from our state getting trained up for deployment, Building Homes for Heroes. We just didn't send candy bars and baby wipes.

But those dummys posted their deeds for the world to misread, misrepresent and use in ways that caused all kinds of aid and comfort. The military will be paying for that dumb move forever. They gave our enemies all the ammunition needed to unleash the New York Times and their ilk.

No...the little good has not in any way counter balanced what was caused.

Sorry for the rant...I need that rum drink now.

kat-missouri briefed on March 22, 2008 10:19 AM

Well, honestly, I wasn't "trying" to find the thought. It just popped in my head the other night and I meant to write it down to see if anyone had any thoughts on their own.

Fishmugger briefed on March 22, 2008 10:34 AM

I understand the logic. It took much time to find the right blogs to dirrect support. As you can see I'm addicted but it's important to have good info so when discussions arise. A friend passed the hat at an up scale local bar we frequent just after passing around a note from a Captain of Special Forces. We collected $200 and a few interesting kisses from the ladies.

We bought provisions for the Captains troops. We kept the kisses however. Patriotism just goes so far.

kat-missouri briefed on March 22, 2008 10:40 AM

I don't know, but just for a minute, seeing the words "cigar" and "bill" in the same place gave me the willies. LOL

Ledger briefed on March 23, 2008 5:36 AM

That is very thought provoking and interesting.

BillT briefed on March 23, 2008 8:41 AM

...seeing the words "cigar" and "bill" in the same place gave me the willies.

And I used to fly slicks.

How'd *that* grab ya?

Justthisguy briefed on March 24, 2008 1:07 AM

Glad to see that you are still a dangerous smartass, Chief!
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