Blaming the Press in Iraq

MikeLastort2 · Jun 24, 2004

Blaming the Press in Iraq
[size=-1]Thursday, Jun 24, 2004; 8:35 AM[/size]

Paul Wolfowitz is basically accusing journalists of cowardice.

In case you missed it, here's what the deputy secretary of defense had to say this week on Capitol Hill:

"Frankly, part of our problem is a lot of the press are afraid to travel very much, so they sit in Baghdad and they publish rumors."

Before I tell you what I think, let me share some comments from an e-mail I received from former Pentagon spokesman Charles Krohn, a retired Army colonel:

"It's bad enough that Wolfowitz makes such a statement. What's worse is the motive of the person who put the bug in his ear. Having spent three months in the presidential palace in Iraq supporting the infrastructure reconstruction program, I worked closely with the media who worked closely with me. . . .

"But when the insurgency started pushing news south, some of the same voices complained about the media's falling down on the job. This is worse than hypocrisy; it's scandalous. When senior officials express disappointment that schemes to manipulate the media aren't working well, one might say it's a triumph of principle over power. A truly professional public affairs staff could have worked out compromises. Unfortunately, the political dilettantes running the show were unable to rise to this level."

Wolfowitz is right on one point: Western journalists in Iraq have sharply curtailed their travel, and to their great frustration, we are getting a narrower view of Iraq as a result. But the suggestion that they are too cowed to leave Baghdad ignores the great courage that many of these journalists have shown.
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Rest of article here.

MiamiAce · Jun 24, 2004

Yes, observing the small points of the press are just a waste of everyone's time.

MikeLastort2 · Jun 24, 2004

MiamiAce said:

Yes, observing the small points of the press are just a waste of everyone's time.
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Amazing that when Japan attacked the US on December 7th, 1941, the US went after Japan and its allies. When Al Qaeda attacked the US on September 11th, 2001, the US went after Iraq. Only stupid people think that Iraq was in any way connected to Al Qaeda.

purojogo · Jun 24, 2004

Not entirely related..but there is anything the press can be accused of, is of being too lenient towards the govt. in matters of great national importance, as opposed to a bj.....In such a case, all the anger from media types does come out

Media have ignored president's lies, dishonor in the White House
Molly Ivins
FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Jun/06242004/commenta/commenta.asp

....
"All in all, I'd say these folks have their act down now. Dick Cheney gets bonus points for Best Lying With a Straight Face.
On June 8, John Ashcroft was driven to the old Nixon defense -- stonewalling. He not only refused to provide the Senate Judiciary Committee with Justice Department memos justifying torture, he refused to explain why he refused. The Washington Post then helpfully posted the memo on its Web site so we could all enjoy reading how our "Justice Department" explains why the president is above the law and above the Constitution, and does not need to observe any treaties. "
....

DJPoopypants · Jun 24, 2004

Wolfie's claims are absurd.

Anyone who knows anything about journalism knows that the "war-correspondents" on the ground are adrenaline junkies who get high on going to dangerous spots to get the news. I'm not talking about the people you see on tv, I'm talking about the faceless photogs who chase violence around the world.

One can make the point that these guys are skewed towards stories of violence (the risks involved give them their adrenaline highs). So yes, there may be great human interest stories of nice things happening in Iraq, but that's not where the people with the cojones to be there will ever go.

To claim they're too scared to go out and report? Bullcrap

superdave · Jun 24, 2004

I think it's a very smart strategy for the Bushies to challenge the toughness of the media, every chance they get.

bigredfutbol · Jun 24, 2004

MiamiAce said:

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I've seen better art in a head shop.