The following is an excerpt from a report after Katie Couric's visit here recently. I like the "frustrated" but "can't leave our friends" part. That is how it is here. Compared to the viewpoint of the 'Arm-chair Generals' back home in their comfy lounge chairs and martinis...what say you?
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Washington Post
September 4, 2007
Pg. C1

Iraq Tour Of Duty Holds Surprises, 'No Heroics' For CBS's Katie Couric

By Howard Kurtz, Washington Post Staff Writer

"Soldiers are loyal and don't want to make waves," she said. "They're frustrated with the Iraqi government, which they think hasn't necessarily held up their end of the bargain. One soldier said, 'I'm just not sure this country is capable of democracy.'

"The soldiers have their doubts, but I also think they're very committed. One of them said: 'We can't leave our Iraqi friends high and dry. It would be disastrous.' "

Reflecting on the soldiers carrying their gear in the brutal summer heat, Couric observed: "I have to say -- not to sound too corny -- the soldiers are so impressive. They're such high-quality people. I'm glad I'm being reminded of their sacrifice. I feel like every American should spend a day in Iraq with these soldiers."

Back home, she said, Iraq is viewed as "a war that people are wondering why we got into in the first place. Almost everyone agrees there were huge mistakes" in the administration's planning and execution of the conflict.

Many Americans look at Iraq, Couric said, and "can't quite figure out why the founding fathers aren't sitting around a table signing the Declaration of Independence. I understand why people are frustrated. There are a lot of sacrifices being made here and the government does need to pony up. People want results and it's a long, painful, arduous process."
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I say that the 'Arm-chair Generals' should just keep their opinions to themselves and let the 'On-the-job Generals' give theirs. Also, the media should stop reporting what they would like to see happening and instead report on what actually is happening. It is sad to see that our media is so twisted and out of control.

By the way - Visceral - thank you for your service. Please keep us posted on what you see and hear out there. Its people like you that give us back home the HONEST report on this war.

Hey Visceral,

I have to echo "just me". I truly appreciate your service.

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of Couric. I'm glad she finally made it out there so she can see things first hand, but the article that you quoted has no substance.

From the sound of it, she may have wasted her time. I learned nothing from her trip out ther.

That's the problem with most journalists...they either have their mind made up before their trip out here, or they are so far away from where the real work is taking place that they can't substantiate what is actually going on. Which is why the best source for info is either a non-biased Iraqi national, or a non-biased member of the DoD (military or civilian).

Even being in Iraq, I still only have a small perspective on the day-to-day, but that small perspective is leaps and bounds ahead of what 99% of journalists 'see' and 'experience' when they're here.