We often criticize the MSM for their overly negative, unbalanced coverage of the war in Iraq. Well, today we come to praise USA Today for their excellent profile of the doctors and nurses in Iraq who work in tremendously tense, gruelling conditions to save our brave soldiers when they are injured.
Lifesaving knowledge, innovation emerge in war clinic
By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
As patients arrive, doctors and nurses poke, prod and inspect; they cut away clothing, shout out blood pressure readings, insert oxygen tubes and wheel up portable X-ray machines. Helicopter medics, helmets under their arms, squeeze into the scrum to recite how each soldier fell on the battlefield.
Bloody linens and body fluids collect on the floor. The clatter of arriving or departing helicopters, beating against the hospital tents, muffles conversation.
Please read the whole article.(HT: MKH at Hugh Hewitt)
This is a tremendous story, and it proves that there is more to Iraq than car bombs and killings. The MSM is quick to note that getting at the good news in Iraq is difficult. Iraq is a dangerous place. True. But the MSM can write story after story about the outstanding conduct and bravery of our troops, if they wanted to. This is something they do far too infrequently.
As the Media Research Center found in a recent audit of Iraq War coverege,
Few stories focused on the heroism or generous actions of American soldiers. Just eight stories were devoted to recounting episodes of heroism or valor by U.S. troops, and another nine stories featured instances when soldiers reached out to help the Iraqi people. In contrast, 79 stories focused on allegations of combat mistakes or outright misconduct on the part of U.S. military personnel.
For regular profiles of the outstanding conduct and bravery of our troops, turn to the new media, to the outstanding milblog Blackfive in particular, and read his series, Someone You Should Know.
This article in USA Today stands out because it is so unique. I hope to see more of this type of coverage going forward. We are quick to criticize the MSM so we should also be quick with praise on those rare occassions when they deliver a breath of fresh air.