Ignore the hostile media - by Hal Lindsey www.hallindseyoracle.com

The United States must not fall into the trap of trying to run a war that pleases a hostile world media. It is becoming increasingly obvious that no matter what we do right, the media will focus on the few accidents that always happen in a war.

The Muslim nations have become experts at using the media to reduce Western forces' ineffectiveness. They play upon the well-known conscience of the West concerning causing harm to civilians.

The Muslim media, led by Al-Jazeera, have totally distorted the events of the war. They have blatantly twisted facts into propaganda aimed at inflaming the Arab masses of the Middle East. So has the media of China, Europe and other nations who are opposed to the war.

But what Kofi Annan did this Wednesday is even more outrageous. Staring at the camera with his most somber expression, he warned the United States that he was gravely concerned about the 15 Iraqi civilian casualties in Baghdad reported by Al-Jazeera.

Now here is a man that is supposed to represent impartially the just concerns of all nations. Yet all he focuses on is one accidental incident out of thousands of successful ones that carefully avoided civilians. To the point of endangering of our own troops, no other nation has tried so hard to avoid causing civilian casualties.

Where were Annan's and the world media's concern about Saddam Hussein's war crimes?



Iraqis dressing as civilians and pretending to surrender only to open fire on unsuspecting U.S. troops.

Firing mortars into civilians trying to surrender to Allied troops in Basra.

Iraqi soldiers dressed as Allied troops accepting the surrender of other Iraqi soldiers and then brutally executing them on the spot.

Using hospitals as military fortresses and staging areas.

Using Red Crescent ambulances to carry orders and ammunition to Iraqi military.

Iraqi soldiers marching women and children in front of them while attacking U.S. 3rd Army in the An Najaf area.

Surface-to-surface missiles placed in the middle of homes in Baghdad.

As far as the Muslim media is concerned, the issue is not about Muslims killing Muslims. It is about Western infidels coming into "Muslim territory" and removing a Muslim tyrant from power. Never mind his horrible atrocities. He is a Muslim. Forget about the good intentions of setting them free and setting up a democracy. Islam is threatened by democracy. It is not part of the Muslim religion.

And as for Kofi Annan and his anti-American crowd, nothing the Allies do will be approved. So let's stop imperiling American troops by trying to please the anti-American world media. Who cares? They will never approve of the United States and its allies.

So let's not imperil our valiant soldiers by holding our military back from tactical decisions that must be taken in the light of the enemy's utter disregard for any international rules of war and morality. If Iraqi soldiers use human shields, we have to return fire. If they shoot from hospitals and use ambulances as couriers for orders and ammunition, shoot them and let Allah sort them out.

In the final analysis, the Muslim world understands one thing – power and the will to use it. They may not love us, but they will respect us. And in this present dangerous world brought about by the Muslim terrorists, that is what counts.