Thanks for publishing LTC Tim Ryan's explicit account of the inaccurate and slanted reporting coming out of the US and international press in Iraq. As a former journalist, I know better than most that "if it bleeds, it leads." The same could be said of watching most U.S. TV news programs – focus on the sensational. And in the end, it gives us a distorted view of the world we live in. As for Iraq, billions of dollars have been spent to re-build power plants, schools, hospitals, provide food and shelter, restore the economy, and best of all, provide a democratic government where the people have a say in how they live their lives. Yet as LTC Ryan so eloquently stated, the media turns its head the other way. It's time for the media to take a real look at what is really happening. Thanks World Tribune for at least giving one hard working soldier the opportunity to tell it like it is.

David R. Gilbert
Deerfield, IL 60015

Thanks for publishing LTC Tim Ryan's explicit account of the inaccurate and slanted reporting coming out of the US and international press in Iraq. As a former journalist, I know better than most that "if it bleeds, it leads." The same could be said of watching most U.S. TV news programs – focus on the sensational. And in the end, it gives us a distorted view of the world we live in. As for Iraq, billions of dollars have been spent to re-build power plants, schools, hospitals, provide food and shelter, restore the economy, and best of all, provide a democratic government where the people have a say in how they live their lives. Yet as LTC Ryan so eloquently stated, the media turns its head the other way. It's time for the media to take a real look at what is really happening. Thanks World Tribune for at least giving one hard working soldier the opportunity to tell it like it is.

David R. Gilbert
Deerfield, IL 60015

Thank you for LTC Tim Ryan's article. As a boy growing up in WWII, we heard of losses, but mostly the news focused on the wins, progress toward victory and the strategy. The media did not dwell on losses and did not fault the US or its military for mishaps or errors. The media was not anti-US, it believed in the justness of our effort. Then, the media did not pretend to be "foreign policy experts", nor did they pretend to be "moral advisors to the nation", nor did they pretend to be "military strategy experts". Quite a contrast to today's "journalism".

J.T. Scheick

I want to commend you for publishing Tim Ryan's article. It helped me to keep my faith in my country. Having lived outside the U.S. for the last 12 years I hear a lot of bad things about the U.S. I think we all need to open our minds and see the whole picture. The U.S. is not all good but it certainly isn't all bad either. Thanks for giving the whole picture.

Marilyn Angelucci
New Delhi, India

I just returned in early November from Fallujah after serving there with 1st Medical Battalion in support of 1st Marine Division for 6 months. I wholeheartedly support what LTC Ryan says in his article. In fact, I have been spreading the same message ever since I returned. There is no organized "Insurgency" in Iraq. There's a bunch of thugs and punks trying to hold onto power by murdering and maiming and terrorizing the people. There are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of Iraq, in spite of our liberal news media portrayal of the situation as doom and gloom. Here's just one: under Saddam 1 of every 6 Iraqis fled the country ... since March 2003, more than 1 million of them have returned home to Iraq. Obviously they know something CNN, CBS, et al are unaware of! HOOAH LTC Ryan!

James R. Uhl
COL, MC, US ARMY

According to Lieutenant Colonel Tim Ryan the war in Iraq is going well. Good. The rest of the world is wrong, most Americans are wrong, and the world press is wrong. This veteran is relieved to know that everything is okay after all. Guess we were all getting a little anxious there. In reality our guys really are killing a lot more of them than they are of us, and it really doesn't matter how long we will be sending our boys and girls over there. God bless you, Colonel Ryan. We sleep well tonight.

Jack Beamish
Tallahassee, Florida

Thank you for printing LTC Tim Ryan's article! We are grateful for his keeping us Americans informed! Please tell him that we pray daily for the troops!

Lori
Kokomo, IN

Thank you so much for the piece by LTC Ryan. Your efforts and those of LTC Ryan will go a long way towards crediting and sustaining a fully just cause. How tragic that we have allowed our great country to be dragged through the mud by the self-elected media elites who apparently don't care how they make a living. The greedy actions of our media stars belong in the ranks of common despots who would steal anything and everything from the cultures they were born into for their own self-aggrandizement.

Ms. Margaret Doocey
New York

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ryan's essay on the media coverage of Iraq and concur with his point that the news outlets are doing a great disservice to those serving over there not to mention the general public here in the US by not reporting the news in context. That's why many including myself have turn off the major news outlets in favor of the Internet, FOX cable, and talk radio. I hope you continue to highlight more journalism from this perspective. Thank you

Stephen Boyer
East-West Center
Honolulu, HI 96848-1711

I would like to thank Colonel Ryan personally for telling it like it is. Of course his comments will not make it into the "mainstream media". Like he says, the good news is not being reported! Only the bad. I play the guitar too. But it wont get me elected. I have e-mailed this op-ed to my friends, so it should get out there. I thank Matt Drudge for linking me to your website. Peace out.

Gary Keys
Kannapolis NC

Multiple thanks for printing on Jan. 18, LTC Tim Ryan's article, "Media's coverage has distorted world's view of Iraq's reality." A few Americans hear the good news from loved ones in Iraq, but the majority of Americans only hear the distorted news of Iraq. Your publication of LTC Tim Ryan's effort to offer a needed balanced view is deeply appreciated

Carolyn Burford
Mississippi

It is so very refreshing to get the truth for a change. It is just a pity that it had to come from one of our fighting men. I salute you and them for your efforts. I do feel bad that it is in vain though, since the news media is more interested in putting forth a production instead of spreading the news. I don't watch TV news anymore or get the newspaper. I get my truth from sources such as yourself and some very true outspoken gentlemen on the radio. The article was brought to my attention through a radio show (here in New Orleans) called the David Tyree Show. I have forwarded [it] to all of my friends.

Janet W. Bouby
New Orleans, Louisiana

Thanks for giving space to that exceptional article by LTC Ryan. You do the world a great service – as, of course, does he.

John Imler
South Bend, IN

This is a super article and I pray many will have the opportunity to read it as I will e-mail to all my friends. What I would like to know is how do I and others put pressure on the news media to tell the real (balanced) story about Iraq? There needs to be a ground swell against this type reporting as LTC Tim Ryan says it best "many members of the media covering the war in Iraq are aiding and abetting the enemy." This is criminal as I see it !! Thanks for your coverage of this story.

Richard S. Johns

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