How the AP twisted an article on the Korean War

The Associated Press recently published an 1800 word article alleging that United States bombing raids killed Korean civilians 58 years ago. In contrast, an article today concerning the threat of a North Korean nuclear program deserved a thousand fewer words, topping out at 780.

Apparently a story with an anti-American bias is worth more column inches than the 'mere' threat of nuclear war.

I don't use the word 'bias' lightly. A factual story, delivered in context, has a right to be told whether or not it presents this country in a good light. The AP story fails to live up to that ideal.

In the article people were not 'killed' by the U.S. They were 'suffocated, burned and shot to death' in air raids. Despite contrary explanations in the very text, attacks were 'indiscriminate'. The South Korean government - not the North - is referred to as having been a 'right wing dictatorship'. Story after story of terror and pain are told to enforce the article's slant.

"Of course the U.S. government should pay compensation. It's the U.S. military's fault," said survivor Cho Kook-won, 78.

I am not indifferent to his suffering, or that of any family member who suffered a loss in the Korean Conflict. But in my opinion, instead of clamoring for cash Mr. Cho and his countrymen should instead be thanking the U.S. and U.N. servicemen who came to their aid.

Context: In  June of 1950 communist North Korea, backed by financing from the Soviets and with the eventual direct assistance of Chinese troops, crossed the border into South Korea and began a war that nearly erupted into WWIII.

Despite the recent victory in WWII the U.S. armed forces had been dramatically downsized. In the chaos of the war's opening weeks the North Korean forces ran roughshod over the peninsula, truly killing indiscriminately and nearing a total victory. U.S. forces were beaten back time and again, suffering great losses, including an American General taken as a prisoner of war.

By the war's end three years later more than 36,000 Americans were dead, with another 92,000 wounded and 8,000 MIA.

North Korea remains, by all accounts, a bleak nation controlled by a dictator that has established a cult of personality that borders on idolatry. Personal freedom is non-existent and the military is all powerful. Threats of war emanate constantly from the government.

Assuming they had survived the hands of the invading North Koreans, that was the future that awaited South Korea.

U.S. and U.N intervention prevented that from happening.

It's in the confusion and terror of the war's beginning, with the North Koreans advancing steadily and a wave of thousands of refugees fleeing before them (inadvertently blocking lines of retreat, supply, and reinforcement) where most of the A.P's. stories occur.

Without question civilian casualties took place, and at American hands. But this is no My Lai or even Dresden. Instead this is a tragic case of confusion, fear, and pure survival instinct.

To quote parts of the article seemingly ignored by the author as he crafted his conclusion:

* . . . a report by U.S. inspectors-general that [said] pilots couldn't distinguish their South Korean civilian allies from North Korean enemy soldiers.

*  "The declassified record shows the Americans' fear that enemy troops were disguising themselves as civilians led to indiscriminate attacks on "people in white," the color worn by most Koreans

* "Civilians in villages cannot normally be identified as either North Koreans, South Koreans, or guerrillas," wrote the inspectors-general, two colonels.

* the U.S. Army, fearing infiltrators, had adopted a policy of shooting South Korean refugees who approached its lines despite warnings [emphasis mine]

* "I'm very, very sorry about hitting civilians," said [a] retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, who flew with the 6147th Tactical Control Squadron.

It is certainly not a flattering portrait, but hardly that of an army killing for pleasure or hate. Most Nazi's, I'd imagine, did not feel remorse over accidentally killing a civilian.

And you'll forgive me if I discount the memory of an elderly man, only twelve at the time, who swears there were no North Koreans near his village. Or the woman who claims the killings were deliberate because pilots should have recognized their status by the presence of cows in their village.

Tragedies? Yes. Acts of calculated malice? No.

It does very little good to point fingers at a group who sacrificed much to defend your people.

If blame is to be laid anywhere, point it clearly at North Korea and its communist allies.

Tags: North Korea, AP, South Korea, Korean Conflict, Korean War, blogplugs