What's Arrowhead Ripper?

Unless you count the negative reports about the number of US casualties resulting from operation “Arrowhead Ripper”, currently underway in Iraq, the Main Stream Media (MSM) has not expended much effort reporting the current Iraq War operations. By placing the emphasis of their stories where they do, the MSM is again showing their negative bias toward the Iraq War. For example, according to one of Investor Business Daily’s (IBD) editorials titled Al-Qaida’s End? here is how actions by our Military are being reported.

Meanwhile, NPR radio this week highlighted U.S. soldiers’ deaths during the assaults, with nary a mention of the bigger context for the soldiers’ sacrifices. The Associated Press’ dispatches focused on U.S. casualties: “U.S. military says 15 American troops killed in last 48 hours.” CNN ran with: “12 U.S. troops killed in Iraq in 48 hours.” The New York Times headline read: “14 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq in 2 Days.”

The correct focus of this story should be as IBD’s headline - the possibility of al Qaida’s End. The surprising quote in the article is from Reuters.

…only Reuters seemed to get what was going on. Its headline said: ‘U.S. troops set trap for militants near Baghdad.’

The MSN continues to downplay anything good from Iraq, especially where Military Operations are concerned. The operation involves a major US lead attack on al Qaida in Diyala province. We face heavy action and can expect larger causalities in this operation. The good news is that already many al Qaida have been neutralized.

The fight will go on for up to two months, military officials say. It involves 10,000 troops, with “a full complement of attack helicopters, close-air support, Strykers and Bradley fighting vehicles.”

This is fight to capture or kill al Qaida fighters and so far it’s working. If you really want to know how it’s going, read Michael Yon’s reports on-line. Michael is an embed with units involved in the operation and former military and gives a fair account with pictures of what he sees. He has at times been critical of US and Iraq Military actions. Another former military embed currently in Iraq is Bill Roggio. Both Michael and Bill are excellent for first person quality information.

Unless you get your news from something other than the MSM, you probably have not heard about operation Arrowhead Ripper. But you can be sure that you will if something goes badly. Is it any wonder that the MSM is loosing audience?