Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Intelligent MSM Reporting. Oxymoron?
This intelligence and understanding of America and its history is a piece of what's missing in today's press. The only history the MSM seems to have gotten (and none too well) is from Vietnam in the Nixon years and forward. They don't like war. No kidding. But, really, who does? The Marine who's really fighting it? Broad press dislike for war is like my child's dislike for anything unknown to him - it reflects ignorance, fear of the unknown and uncertainty, but not experience, not wisdom. Nobody dislikes war more than those fighting it, but they do it for a reason. And when war comes to you, as it did to us, you need to respond as we have. Wise heads can disagree, but ultimately must achieve consensus to wage a war.
The MSM are just so profoundly unserious about the waging of it, it's difficulties, and the fundamental challenges, mistakes and learning and adaptation that come from it. It's difficult. But there's no turning away from it. The other guy is out to get you. He can't be negotiated with. You must unconditionally defeat him. The MSM doesn't care. It will sacrifice American military lives for the story - or so says Mike Wallace, a dean of American investigative journalism (from Glenn Reynolds).
In light of these events, people may be forgiven for doubting the patriotism of many folks in Big Media. And there's evidence that they should. In his book Breaking the News: How the Media Undermine American Democracy, James Fallows describes an episode of PBS's program, "Ethics in America," in which host Charles Ogletree asked leading journalists if they would allow American troops to be killed in order to get a story. CBS correspondent Mike Wallace said yes, he'd go for the story, and denied any ethical conflict: "You don't have a higher duty. No. No. You're a reporter!" After some hemming and hawing, Peter Jennings agreed. Should American reporters worry about the death of American troops? No -- their only loyalty is to the story.
The story missed, in all this, is the historical brilliance with which the War in Iraq is actually being waged despite its difficulty. From the defeat of Saddam's regime, to the defeat of al qaeda and baathist holdouts in Iraq, the creation of a new popularly elected government, the restoration of Iraqi economy and infrastructure, and on and on. The MSM is caught up in a perpetual desire to create a Watergate and be the next Woodward and Bernstein, while the Middle East goes through a democratic revolution the US started and the UN collapses under what may ultimately be the largest global financial fraud ever -- and they miss it completely. Compare that to the Carter Administration Era's failed effort to conduct a hostage rescue in Tehran that killed our serviceman and literally never got off the ground. American capabilities, in a difficult and complex environment, have never been greater. War is hard, but it seems intelligent mainstream reporting is impossible.
3 Comments:
By 
, at
Wed May 18, 05:56:00 PM:
The story missed, in all this, is the historical brilliance with which the War in Iraq is actually being waged despite its difficulty.
What fucking planet are you living on?
Jesus, wotta maroon...
By 
Cardinalpark, at
Thu May 19, 02:55:00 PM:
Dave:
What an engrossing comment and response to my post. Such articulation and brilliance. You should apply for a job in the MSM.
Here's the planet Dave:
On 9/11, 2001, we lost nearly 3,000 innocent people in attacks on continental US. Those attacks eminated from the south of Arabia and were launched by fanatical, theocratic fascists.
In the war against Iraq (in the heart of Arabia) -- in which we captured the tyrannical, fascistic, murderous leader of the country and killed his heirs -- we overturned the fascist regime, occupied the country, and turned it back to its own people -- while tragically losing 1600 of our most devoted citizens. We freed 22mm Iraqis. 9mm went to vote for their new leaders. Show me another war where so much has been accomplished at such a cost. Show me another conqueror who planted democracy and handed the country back for an election in MONTHS. We have done this in 2 years. It has never been accomplished in history. Ever.
The American civilian and military leadership, and most critically those in the field, who have achieved this extraordinary feat deserve nothing but our admiration. 50 years from now, this battle in the overall War on Terror will be recognized in the same way Midway was in the War in the Pacific (that's WWII Dave), or Trenton in our own Revolutionary War. So hold your exemplary thoughts Dave.
By Chap, at
Thu May 26, 12:34:00 AM:
Thanks much for the link! It's a great speech, and for some reason I was the only guy that had a copy...
