July 02, 2004

Iraq Coverage

Eric Johnson, a Marine who served in Iraq, has an interesting piece on the press coverage of the Iraq war entitled The Untouchable Chief of Baghdad:

Iraq veterans often say they are confused by American news coverage, because their experience differs so greatly from what journalists report. Soldiers and Marines point to the slow, steady progress in almost all areas of Iraqi life and wonder why they don’t get much notice – or in many cases, any notice at all.

Worth a read. And before the mouths begin to froth – yes, I understand that this is anecdotal and does not mean that the media (as a whole) is biased in all things and that everything is hunky-dory in Iraq. But it is an example from someone whose been there and seen it.

Posted by richard at July 2, 2004 01:03 PM
Comments

Has the media covered the bodies coming back from Iraq? Has the media covered the thousands maimed and injured but not counted in the death toll? Did the media show Iraqi children in the aftermath of bombings? Has the media been interviewing the parents of dead soldiers? Has the media highlighted the relationships between the Bushes and the Saudis and Bin Ladens? Did the media show the footage of Bush as a complete deer in headlights on 9/11 or did it just recount stories of his leadership? Does the media cover the targeting of poor, minority communities by army recruiters? Did the "embedded" media provide objective coverqage of the war?

Sorry, fresh off a Farenheit 9/11 viewing . . .

Posted by: Mike F. at July 2, 2004 03:51 PM

Ah, frothy goodness. Just as I expected.

And somehow, I think you and Brad actually believe that these fresh-from-the-Moore-altar posts call into question my "privileged position" as the "last bastion of rationality."

Whatever.

Posted by: richard at July 2, 2004 04:09 PM

No — that position was always in question. We're just playing into our assigned roles.

Posted by: Brad A. at July 2, 2004 04:32 PM

Cool! You mean I can assign you roles, and you have to play them? I had no idea that was how this blogging thing worked.

Let's try new ones. Brad, you play an OxyContin-juiced bigot who thinks jail is great for black people and marriage is too sacred for gays. Mike F., you're skinnier, so you play a blonde bimbo who questions everyone's patriotism while showing a little leg.

I, of course, will retain my mantle of rationality (wasn't that an Item in D&D?).

This will be fun, and we'll get to stay at the same level of discourse....

Posted by: richard at July 2, 2004 05:07 PM

You're the Dungeon Master. I love what you've done with the place, by the way.

The release date for Harry Potter & the Mantle of Rationality is Jan. 2005. Be sure to get through the other books first.

Posted by: Brad A. at July 2, 2004 06:04 PM