SacBee: Anti-War Bias Hidden in Tale of Iraqi Girl Getting New Legs from US Army

Posted on May 15, 2008

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is a sad example of the subtle anti-war bias that the MSM constantly hides in stories even when they are heartwarming tales of the great things our soldiers do for the people of Iraq. In this case, it is the Sacramento Bee putting in some almost subliminal anti-war sentiments in the mouth of Staff Sgt. Luis Falcon who worked his heart out to get some prosthetic legs for an 11-year-old Iraqi girl who lost her legs to a road side bomb. This is a wonderful story that is marred by the SacBee’s attempt to interject into the story doubt about the war effort in Iraq.

As it happened, Staff Sgt. Falcon made friends with little Shahad Abbas who had been the victim of a road side bomb that was detonated as she was walking to school. Her little brother was killed in the blast. Falcon had been visiting the girl and was bringing her gifts of toys and medical supplies when at last she asked him for new legs so that she might again walk to school.

To his credit, Sgt. Falcon worked his heart out to get the poor girl those prosthetic legs and he succeeded in his goals. It is a heartwarming tale and highlights just one of the thousands and thousands of similar stories being lived out by our soldiers on a daily basis throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.

But, even with all this tear provoking details, the SacBee couldn’t resist some subtle jabs at the war by characterizing Sgt. Falcon as being confused about the war and seeming to doubt why we are there. In two short declarations the Bee made of Sgt. Falcon a doubter.

In a war that Falcon no longer really understood, Shahad became his mission. So when she asked for legs, that became his mission, too.

… and…

So Falcon, who admits he wasn’t sure about the Iraq war, wasn’t sure he was making a difference, decided he’d get Shahad her legs.

And where did they get this interpretation that Falcon might have been thinking the Iraq war was somehow to be doubted? From one line they quote the Sgt. as having said to reporters.

“Sometimes I couldn’t figure out what made sense about being here. … Are we making a difference or are we not?” he said. “But I looked at her, right there, and it all made sense.”

That does not sound like a soldier wracked with doubt to me, how about you?

Yet, the SacBee went out of their way to twice say he was filled with doubt. When it is not just stated openly and boldly, that is the kind of subtle anti-war bias that infuses the entire MSM. And for them to have used this story to further their agenda… well, it is just beyond the pale.

(Photo Credit: www.army.mil)

» Filed Under Liberal Media/Bias, News, War On Terror


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Comments

5 Responses to “SacBee: Anti-War Bias Hidden in Tale of Iraqi Girl Getting New Legs from US Army”

  1. Del Wasso on May 16th, 2008 1:22 pm

    The mission is not “accomplished,” fellas…

    Why are you sitting here, Todd, criticizing those who want to bring Bush’s fiasco to a close, instead of standing up for your convictions, in Baghdad?

    Too old, or out of shape for the military?

    I hear KBR is always hiring.

    PEACE.

  2. Warner Todd Huston on May 16th, 2008 1:58 pm

    Well, old fella, if you are so against the war why aren’t you protesting in Washington with the social misfits and degenerates in code pink and the like instead of sitting comfortably at home on your computer? Huh, big guy? My service and the service of my family is none of you business, but I just can’t help wonder why are you such a hypocrite?

  3. Del Wasso on May 16th, 2008 4:56 pm

    There’s no hypocrisy, Todd.

    I have protested in Washington: 3x so far.

    And at some expense, I might add, considering I live 1,200 miles away from the Capitol.

    And once in New York (the ‘04 GOP Convention).

    But I didn’t march alongside the very entertaining gals from Code Pink…

    I marched alongside my fellow veterans from America’s recent wars, including a fine old gentleman who was there, storming the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima.

    Perhaps you think he should be denigrated as a social misfit, and his military service sholud be ignored, but I don’t.

    The man is a hero.

    And he, like myself, opposed the War in Iraq.

    Until the water carriers for the failed policies of the Bush administration are willing to stand up and say, “Hey, we screwed up,” the Republican party is going to continue to be marginalized as a political force in this country.

    Is THAT what you want, Todd?

    Is your desire to be “right” so overwhelming that you’d see the GOP become a footnote in American politics?

    Politics used to be defined as the fine art of debating opposing positions, and then MEETING SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.

    But there seems to be less and less middle, nowadays.

    Those who refuse to give quarter, deserve none, and November is looking a lot closer than a lot of folks would wish it to be.

    Del Wasso,

    Joliet Marines,
    Btry E,2dBn,
    14thMar,4thMarDiv,
    Called up for Active Duty
    service in 1990-1991

    PEACE.

  4. Warner Todd Huston on May 18th, 2008 9:22 pm

    You have a lot of nerve… but then again hypocrites like you usually do.

    IF you really served, I say thank you for your service.

    But HERE is your outrageous hypocrisy: You come on here, demean my integrity act as if I’ve done nothing for this country, and then YOU act as if YOU are the one pining for “meeting in the middle”?

    Is your desire to name call, demean people, and act like you are better than everyone around you so important that civility is out of the question?

    Apparently it is.

  5. Del Wasso on May 19th, 2008 7:15 am

    LOL!!

    Todd! I didn’t call anyone any names.

    Nor did I come on here to demean your integrity because you haven’t done anything for your country!

    I came on here to demean your integrity for blindly lashing out at anyone who doesn’t hold your radical political views, and, more specifically, your views on the war in Iraq.

    If I was harsh in my rhetoric, it is precisely because harshness is now the only tool left in political discourse, courtesy of the radical right’s war against their fellow Americans.

    Look at your website, Todd!!!

    Do you honestly think that you’re “civil” in your own critiques of the so-called, “left”?

    Ahh… the arrogance of the radical right.

    And to think - you called me a hypocrite!!!

    Be a man, and stand up for your convictions, Tddd - KBR is waiting for your call.