Outrageous Journalism!

    The headline in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune’s PERSPECTIVE section screams out, “U.S troops have been accused of committing atrocities in Iraq. America should care. WHERE’S THE OUTRAGE?” Well I could not agree more, I am completely and totally outraged, but not at our troops, at such an egregious disregard for fairness, due process and (the new oxymoron) -- responsible journalism. The hatchet job, accompanied with a body bag photo of dead Iraqi civilians supposedly murdered by U.S. Marines, goes on to cite all t he liberal buzz words spewed by the far left: Abu Ghraib atrocities, My Lai Mass acre comparisons, John Murtha says “innocent civilians killed in cold blood” and any other unproven and false accusation that can be splattered upon the tremendous heroes of our military who are fighting for our survival against evil head-chopping Islamo-fascist murders who want us all destroyed.

    The deepest cut against our all voluntary military comes when the author, William Neikirk, quotes Boston psychiatrist Jonathon Shay, “If the mainstream of our society refuses to serve, it shouldn’t be surprising that you get soldiers that are not qualified to serve.” Not qualified to serve….. My God, what 60’s rock did they drag this draft dodging expert from to make such a false and unsubstantiated claim? I served twenty years in the military with these people and they are simply stated, the finest men and women to ever serve our country; they are not the convicted baby-killers, torturers and murderers the media wants us to believe. Our all-volunteer military come in all sizes, segments and social classes of our society and they are fighting to keep us safe, protect our freedoms and to defend our wonderful country aga inst all enemies, foreign and domestic! Unlike the media, the American military will police its own; the few bad apples will be prosecuted and justice will prevail. What a shame the same can’t be said for our American media.

    It takes a very blunt instrument and an extremely dim bulb to condemn so many without evidence, without trial and without all the facts. Such stupidity should not be held against everyone in the media, just as possible criminal behavior by a few soldiers should not blemish the majority of heroes courageously serving our country. But if Mr. Niekirka and the Chicago Tribune want outrage, then you better believe that America should be outraged by such horrific and irresponsible journalism!

Michael Tetrick

Lt Col. USAF, Retired

Chicago, IL. 60657