Saturday, March 04, 2006
A Challenge to the Media
201k is cursed with a good memory. We clearly recall numerous experts on the Middle East warning that the invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein would precipitate unprecedented violence and possibly even civil war. We also remember the mainstream media's giving that view rather short shrift.
Now, in the face of a nearly collapsed society and increasing violence--no small feat in Iraq--the U.S. is toying ever more seriously with "standing down" whether or not the Iraqis "stand up". So the time seems right to ask an obvious question:
Did the Bush administration ignore those who predicted the current situation, or was their goal all along the destabilization of Iraq?
It has to be one or the other; there aren't any other possibilities. Either they chose to ignore the advice or they were always up to something quite different than they've claimed.
Which is it?
We challenge members of the media to address this question. It will necessarily mean researching a) pre-war print media and television and radio news transcripts for the commentary of experts who issued the warnings, and b) administration and media reactions to those warnings.
Now, in the face of a nearly collapsed society and increasing violence--no small feat in Iraq--the U.S. is toying ever more seriously with "standing down" whether or not the Iraqis "stand up". So the time seems right to ask an obvious question:
Did the Bush administration ignore those who predicted the current situation, or was their goal all along the destabilization of Iraq?
It has to be one or the other; there aren't any other possibilities. Either they chose to ignore the advice or they were always up to something quite different than they've claimed.
Which is it?
We challenge members of the media to address this question. It will necessarily mean researching a) pre-war print media and television and radio news transcripts for the commentary of experts who issued the warnings, and b) administration and media reactions to those warnings.
