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Commentary by TrueDialog.org's Founder, Carl Lindemann September 14 - Some Gave All, Others Gave Briefings The President's address was the climax of a six-week media blitz trying to dampen increasing public discontent over the occupation of Iraq. The speech followed on the heels of what was promoted as an independent, objective military and political assessment of the situation on the ground. What we're supposedly experiencing is accountable, democratic government. We have an open, honest "reality check" of the facts in an increasingly controversial policy. As a nation, we have an opportunity to rethink the situation and change course if that seems appropriate. Is that what we've witnessed? One of the ways we are supposedly assured that we are receiving an objective perspective is through the "watchdog" of independent news. After facing questioning by Congress, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker each gave an "exclusive" to Fox News to provide this independent check. Fox's Britt Hume did not interview them, however. They were given an hour-long infomercial for the policy they support labeled as a "Briefing for America". With this, other news organizations were denied access. There was no interview opportunity by a free and independent media. As bad as this is, it is not the worst instance of the media's failure to do its job here. The blitz began with the sales pitch delivered by supposed "skeptics" of the war (see July 31 entry below), Michael E O'Hanlon and Kenneth M. Pollack,. These "think tank" generals claimed to have become converts to the president's policy. This was delivered as an opinion piece written by in the New York Times and then was widely disseminated. In stark contrast is the minimal play given to the counter view published soon after in the same newspaper. "The War as We Saw It," is written by Army Specialist Buddhika Jayamaha, Sergeants Wesley D. Smith, Jeremy Roebuck, Omar Mora and Edward Sandmeier, and Staff Sergeants Yance T. Gray and Jeremy A. Murphy. These seven active duty soldiers painted a far different picture than the "think tank" generals as well as the assessment provided by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. What is remarkable is how very little attention was paid in the media to this thoughtful, eloquent perspective from our soldiers serving in the field. For them to speak out as they did is no small risk. Unlike the wealth of opportunities that now await the armchair generals at the "think tank," their courageous act offers no chance for career advancement. It was an act of self-sacrifice. Sadly, these soldier's stories show there is far more at stake than personal advancement or financial opportunity. At publication of the piece in August, Staff Sgt. Murphy had been gravely wounded in service to his country. He is expected to survive the gunshot wound to his head. Now, Staff Sgt. Gray and Sgt. Mora have been killed while serving in Iraq. This underscores the difference between those writing from well behind the lines and those with first-hand experience. Maybe an important way we might "support our troops" is by taking them seriously when they stick their necks out to offer their views. Instead, the media turned a blind eye to them. As electronic media pioneer Reuven Frank observed, ""News is what someone wants to suppress. Everything else is advertising". *** The Wages of Spin Project Spin Shop Ideas & Essays Spin Shops, State by State
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