The War
posted in General |THE WAR
Since I am temporarily incapacitated, I have had plenty of time to watch the Iraqi war on TV and also read about it in the newspapers and periodicals. Trouble is that I get the idea that I am watching one war and reading about another
A study (un-refuted, by the way) awhile back showed that 85 % of US journalists and media people are either registered Democrats or describe temselves as liberals. However, they stoutly insist that they are “professionals” and that their political inclinations have no effect on their objectivity in reporting. Everybody got that? Sure! But back to the war.
TV clearly shows the tremendous successes of the US military on the ground and in the air as it smashes the defenses of the Iraqis. In less than 2 weeks they are in Baghdad and the highly touted Rebublican Guard of the Iraqis is in tatters. But while the highly effective, hi-tech bombardment continues and the army advances 15-20 miles a day, the left leaning press such as the NY Times, LA Times, and Washington Post carry articles saying “Pentagon Plan flawed”, “War Plan fails, “Iraqi resistance greater than expected”, “Suppy lines over extended”, “More casualties reported”, “Not enough ground troops” etc., etc., etc. They seem to be saying that if we can't report something BAD we won't report anything. It is almost as if they WANT to find something where they can find fault and point a finger of blame or ineptness at the Pentagon and the White House.(wonder if they ever think about Saddam and the UN).
Anyone with a political IQ over 20 knows that most of the press is not supportive of George Bush, his top staff and Administration, the Military establishment, the Republicans, and the decision to go to war to eliminate Mr. Hussein. It must truly gall them to see the war effort going well. And they must be infuriated to see that 70-75% of Americans support the Prez and the war effort. No doubt we will be treated to vast coverage of protests in Indonesia, Japan, Mecca, LA, San Francisco and other left leaning bastions around the world. Maybe even some re-runs of old Martin Sheen movies.
There are almost 220,000 Americans risking their lives in Iraqi – we can see that on TV. But the editorial radar of many of our journalists is pointing somewhere else. In bygone years they may have been able to get away with their slanted reporting. Two things have changed that – the on site TV coverage of the war via “embedded” journalists, and Cable News outlets.
The bias has been there. It's just a bit easier to see now. It is certainly a perverse way to exercise the 1st Amendment.