I appreciate your viewpoint and think it's important to pass along so that people learn as much about the reality of the daily conditions in Iraq and not just the "newsworthy" items that are reported. I can't even imagine the stress endured by the average citizen in Iraq these days, no one can unless they've been through it themselves and that's what you are bringing to our attention. Thanks,

This is not an attack. It is a request. I, along with many other people, would like to see a story about the "Good" our Armed Forces are doing in Iraq.

The painting of a school, opening of a hospital, or other "good news" is just as "inherently newsworthy" as the kidnappings, killings and other "bad news" that takes place every week. We have a need (and a right I believe) to hear that news from you as much as the other. It serves the same (but opposite) secondary purpose for us, namely to help us decide whether to be supportive of what we are doing or critical. Unless you give us both sides we cannot make a reasoned judgement. I can't remember the last time I heard anything "good" from a private media outlet. You can't just print stories to make headlines, garner ratings, or simply pursue a gotcha agenda. You guys have a broader responsibility, and so far, haven't lived up to the challenge.

YOur comment about "newsworthy" caught my attention. You say 21 students being shot is more newsworthy, to someone like me, who is aware there is a war going on. I have a son-in-law over there and he and many other memebers of our Armed Forces would like to see the "Good" more often than the killings. Killings are an everyday event in Iraq. It is well know that in a country where Muslim is the faith, the insurgents believe on thing. "If you are not Muslim, you are an insurgent and you must die." I would rather see the stories about the (roads, bridges, schools, telephone lines etc) that our troops have have completed) I am not asking for everyday coverage, like the deaths in Iraq. Just 1 story on a national news station to let America see what our men and woment are doing over there.

This was a good, interesting story. Not many facts, but a good presentation of attitudes. Incidentally, I served in Vietnam in the infantry, and we did many, many good things for the people of South Vietnam that were never reported in the press. But the truth is that all the "good things" we did were not really important at all, not when compared to the war as a whole. Just as in Iraq today.

I would like to see what is happening to our Americans children who have lost their fathers and mother due to the war in Iraq. PLEASE SHOW OUR SUFFERING CHILDREN DUE TO THE WAR IN IRAQ. Tell about the women who have lost their homes and have barely enough to eat and still living with relatives.

If I knew the name and address I would submit it to you. Every Country who is fighting with us have suffered great loss. The people in Iraq suffered before the war. THE UNTOLD STORY IS THE SUFFERING OF AMERICANS CHILDREN DUE TO THE WAR. SUCH AS HAVING HOUSING, FOOD, MEDICAL & PHYSICOLOGICAL CARE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF A PARENT.

Please research this matter and air it. We as american want to know.

I still do not see why America is there in Iraq at all. Clean up your own back yard before you try to clean others.

just have to say that my son is over there. maybe in the same zone, alot more comfort then some others..but still taking incoming even when i talk to him by phone, i hear it. the troops are doing good for the peoples there. we send my son things for the roos and people/kid's there who have next to nothing. my son had a heavy heart when they killed an iraqi because he had a job with the americans... he said he was a good one too..they all try hard. building things, and giving. they built a school, but it was blown up. because it was built by americans.. they just keep trying...

I believe in what you do in Iraq and also respect the fact of truth to what actually happens in that country and around the world. Many people that live in a closed society of their own country and have never felt the discomfort of poverty and war have no right to speak. What you bring to reality is the truth on what uneducated savage people like these insurgents are doing to their own people and those working hard to make Iraq a safer place. I want to know what the world is doing to help our armed forces and the people of Iraq. A war is never good news and people that think painting buses and growing corn at a time like this in Iraq need to wake up. The news you bring to the world is a clear picture for those to help and realize what is going on instead of being a critic. These are the type of people that have never been away from their perfect picture life and seen the real world we live in. America is a beautiful place, but with out peace in the world America will always be at risk. People need to see the reality of the sad that is happening in this world in order to correct it and one day be able to talk about those painted buses. I always say tell it how it is. One day the world will be an open passage for all to experience the history of their ancestors, because of people like you. Be safe and thank you for the risk you put yourself through to bring truth to the world.

Steven Richards

I'm wondering what this "good new" some of the above responders are refering to is. A little surfing and reading of the numerous blogs from Iraq will show them the many roads that are bombed out, the many, many streets that look like nothing other than war zones filled with rubble. They will be able to learn about the many schools that have raw sewage running in the playgrounds. And, they will find that most in Bhagdad are lucky if they have a few hours of electricity on any given day. If they are lucky they might find some of that "good news", like the Iraqi boy who is given a soccer ball---after his family is killed. Get real!

Oh, wait here is some of that "good news" the head-in-the-sand optimists must be talking about. The joyous sound of Iraqi children.
From Riverbend's "Bahgdad Burning" blog.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Bad Day...
It’s been a horrible day. We woke up to unbearable heat. Our area averages about 4 hours electricity daily and the rest is generator electricity, which means we can use our ceiling fans, but there’s no way we can use air conditioners.

We woke up to an ominous silence- an indicator that the generator isn’t working. E. went next door to check and got a confirmation. It might not work all day. The neighbor responsible for it was going to bring by the ‘generator doctor’ as soon as he was free.

The electricity came at 6 pm for only twenty minutes- as if to taunt us. The moment the lights flickered on, we were gathered in the kitchen and we could hear the neighborhood children began to hoot and holler with joy.

Thanks for your blog message. As a student in the Masters Mental Health Counseling program we are aware of the courage and stress those serving our country encounter on a daily basis. Thank you for participating in bringing us a piece of the reality of what is going on and we stand behind you and the others who courageously bring us the "real news" of what is going on inside the small towns.

Thank you to all of our armed forces for protecting America.

The American journalists in Iraq are doing a great job; most of you guys are independent of any media cover up from all sides. I believe that the reality of war has overwhelmed the good news the military are trying to pass out. It's very difficult for all sides; it's the truth that the consequences of war have surpassed the good news that might come from Iraq.

Citations and stories of Sunni's and Shiites cooperating would also be welcomed and considered, in my opinion, another category of "good news."

We did our job so get the hell out and let the ungrateful iraqi people do as they please, and yes I think our Journalists have done a great job , but I think it's time they run there own country and we get back to running ours!

It is time to shelve the feel good tactics we are using and get busy WINNING the WAR. Major Combat is not over...yet.

Imagine if on the front page of the NYTimes they had articles such as school painted in Queens, pothole filled in Brooklyn. No one would buy the paper because that is not news, it is life. Imagine also that 1000 people died in the tri-state area of NY, Pa. and NJ. from car bombings, kidnappings, etc. Should the NYTimes still write about the potholes? If there were no news from Iraq we would not need "Good news." How often do we read about news from Bosnia, where American soldiers are also stationed? Are people clamoring for Americans to leave? I support our being there but I also support the truth.

Wow, do you ever actually leave the hotel? Have you been anywhere else besides Baghdad?

I lost count of the number of Iraqis that thanked me for allowing them to vote. After a while I gave up trying to explain I was only running fuel convoys and didn't help with the voting. Most Iraqis simply wish to continue on thier lives and they are thankful we are there. Our press does not get outside of Baghdad very much. So the stories ARE SLANTED by what they see and Americans at home don't get to see the hundereds of missions that happen every day that don;t make the news.

We are bombarded by the good news in Iraq as presented by the white house unfortunately it is no more accurate than the stories of WMD and Iraqs complicity in the 911 attacks. We really should be fighting in Saudia Arabia but the risk to the oil supply is to great

Very nice

I salute our American troops and all international troops who are helping in this time of NEED! And I salute those who bring the good news regardless of how others perceive it. We must not forget our country's history. Wars were fought and some brothers were killed by their own brothers in order to make this a peacefull and free country to leave in. We did not have the media means we have today. Even though I did not see it on TV, I read books. We as Americans are enjoying the after effects of those events. Just like Americans have the right to the persuit of happiness, so do they. We all have something in common: We are all human!

Thank you G. "Good News" or "Bad News" Thank you for at least being emotionally available to search your morals for a compass and attempt to have a bearing. I cannot imagine what the daily grind can be like. Stay steady on a course of honesty and inegrity, being faithful to those things that you keep before you.

It"s nice to hear a brief description of life in the red zone. I am security contractor/medic who has lived in the red zone for over a year now and it is light years different than the IZ and by extension a quantum leap from reality back home.......George, stop by for lunch some time we taught the cook at our Hotel to cook Lasagna...kind of anyway