The News From Iraq, Understanding Less

(12/28/2007)    This week marks an unusual moment in the history of this newspaper. It is the first time we can think of when it has presented direct reporting of any kind from a war zone. In fairness, the initiative came from Ralph Dayton, the freelance photographer who had the idea in the first place, and the United States military’s program of embedding journalists with the troops. In some ways, The Star is just along for the ride. However, for some of us involved in the project of poring over Mr. Dayton’s photographs and reading and talking to him about what he saw, the experience has left us less certain about the occupation of Iraq.

    Like the witnesses in Akira Kurosawa’s celebrated film “Rashomon,” who each tell the story of a murder with significant differences and present conflicting versions of what he or she believes is the truth, Mr. Dayton’s project has forced us to question our own assumptions. The Marine unit he stayed with for about three weeks in Anbar province was preparing to hand over military authority in the city of Hit to the Iraqi Army. The Marines and Mr. Dayton came away convinced that at least in this once-violent city, the process was working.

    You cannot conclude from what Mr. Dayton documented alone that the United States is on a path to success in Iraq as a whole. But it is equally difficult to conclude that it is not succeeding if your only source is the news reports coming from journalists based in Baghdad. The Marines’ success in Anbar is as significant as the continued bombings elsewhere in the country, which can lead us to conclude that the reality in Iraq, as with so much else in the world, is far more nuanced than anyone would like to admit. Yes, we would like to see the troops come home. But we also acknowledge the sentiments of those in the military who want to finish the mission they have been sent on.