The Spin Stops Here: Help Counter the Media Spin on the Iraq War in 3 Easy Steps

Just as mainstream media helped the Bush administration beat the war drums for the invasion and occupation of Iraq, media is now collaborating with the Pentagon to spin the Iraq War as a success while most of Iraq remains in shambles.

I personally believe that going along with the media and Pentagon spin will do more to get our troops home faster than saying the Iraq War has been a shame.

However, 50,000 U.S. troops will remain in Iraq along with 75,000 military contractors (most of them mercenaries).

Robert L. Hanafin, Editorial Board Member, VT News Network

Days of Dissent, this Aug 23 – 31.

Readers are invited to join a coalition of anti-war groups and peace activists for an online week of action, Days of Dissent, this Aug 23 – 31.

Your help is needed to counter the media and Pentagon spin and tell the truth about the Iraq War.

This week, US combat troops exit Iraq leaving behind over 50,000 soldiers and 75,000 military contractors.

From the Obama White House to CNN, officials and pundits are spinning the Iraq War as a “success” when much of the country is in shambles.

Demand a real end to the war — a full withdrawal of all troops and military contractors, full support for returning troops, and a redirection of war funds to rebuild our country.

You can start by changing your profile picture on Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social network you belong – to the image made for the event to help spread the word and counter the Victory spin. See the attached link for the event.

RSVP to the Days of Dissent event on Facebook and invite your friends. On the Days of Dissent event page, you’ll find a link to a petition and more ways to help counter the spin. Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/counterspin

If you don’t have much time, but still want to help counter the spin, you can still help. We’re collecting funds to run a full-page newspaper ad showing the peace movement’s response to the media spin on the ongoing Iraq debacle.

Here are some quick links and simple steps to get you started. Read & sign our petition here: http://bitly.com/isign

How you can participate in Days of Dissent: [the three easy steps]
1. Sign & share the Days of Dissent petition calling for a real end to the Iraq War: http://bitly.com/isign

2. Change your Facebook profile picture to match the picture used for this event page. (Save the image to your computer, then upload it to your profile.) Keep your pic changed for the whole week and you’ll help counter the “war is over” spin around Iraq.

3. Post about the petition to your Facebook status and/or tweet it on Twitter.

Robert L. Hanafin

Readers are more than welcome to use the articles I’ve posted on Veterans Today, I’ve had to take a break from VT as Veterans Issues and Peace Activism Editor and staff writer due to personal medical reasons in our military family that take away too much time needed to properly express future stories or respond to readers in a timely manner.

My association with VT since its founding in 2004 has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Retired from both the Air Force and Civil Service. Went in the regular Army at 17 during Vietnam (1968), stayed in the Army Reserve to complete my eight year commitment in 1976. Served in Air Defense Artillery, and a Mechanized Infantry Division (4MID) at Fort Carson, Co. Used the GI Bill to go to college, worked full time at the VA, and non-scholarship Air Force 2-Year ROTC program for prior service military. Commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. Served as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1977 to 1994. Upon retirement I entered retail drugstore management training with Safeway Drugs Stores in California. Retail Sales Management was not my cup of tea, so I applied my former U.S. Civil Service status with the VA to get my foot in the door at the Justice Department, and later Department of the Navy retiring with disability from the Civil Service in 2000.

I’ve been with Veterans Today since the site originated. I’m now on the Editorial Board. I was also on the Editorial Board of Our Troops News Ladder another progressive leaning Veterans and Military Family news clearing house.

I remain married for over 45 years. I am both a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Veteran. I served on Okinawa and Fort Carson, Colorado during Vietnam and in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, CA during Desert Storm. I retired from the Air Force in 1994 having worked on the Air Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.