Our men in Iraq …
Uncategorized - - Posted on September, 2 at 1:22 pm by Ken L
I’ve written about this kind of ‘reporting’ before, but it’s worth reminding ourselves at regular intervals just how ephemeral and subject to manipulation our daily ‘news’ is.
The various sources mentioned in the story include:
A ‘top U.S. military official in Iraq’ who ‘wouldn’t be quoted by name because of the sensitivity of the subject.’
‘American officials’ and ‘U.S. officials’ who ‘refused to be quoted by name because their assessments are less optimistic than the Bush administration’s public ones are’.
‘An Iraqi official close to Maliki’ who ‘refused to be named because he wasn’t authorized to speak to reporters about the issue.’
Unnamed U.S officials who ‘grumble privately’ and Iraqi officials who ‘worry’.
This kind of thing is so commonplace now that hardly anyone bothers to comment on it but it reminds us how much we have come to depend on journalistic intelligence and integrity in filtering MSM news. Maybe it was always thus, but it would be nice to see some more determined efforts to break through this routine lazy reliance on sources who refuse to be identified.
Posted in Uncategorized |
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I can fully understand the reluctance to give thier names. It a sad slant on truth,when the officials on the ground disagree with the dickhead duo (Bush and Cheyney), and given that they are dangerous legal bullies with the power of the Oval Office behind them, it would sure make for uncomfortable times if one was found disagreeing with thier position. The so called top US Military official would probably be given a dishonourable discharge or worse slammed in Gtmo as a terroeist supporter. The underlying facts are that they disagree with the position in Iraq, they are scared of the ramifications of stating a different position, and that the Dickhead Duo have learnt nothing from their 8 years of bludering.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Another example of media manipulation is the Georgia/Odessia/Russian conflict.
Who would have thought from the news pieces that Georgia was the the initial aggressor rather than old evil Russia?
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Iran!!!!
Would anyone be surprised to see a MSM fear-mongering “spike” leading up to the US elections?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Perhaps we should offer the unnamed sources,various characters that have been seen on and in cartoons and kids entertainment.Like Touche’ Turtle’s mate,whom slips the tongue at this time.So if you are standing up straight type of unnamed resource and you are talking about Touche’ like behaviour then…..! Or even Gomer Pyle!? Perhaps only Cheney would remember them! Since,you know..the pretzel incident!?
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
A report on PM ABC Radio tonight about Afghani fighting came without unnamed sources ,including a statement of the type that meant success in Iraq.And yesterday I heard the Defense Minister refer to our Afghani placed soldiers,as boys!? Made me wonder why anyone would object to real boys as enemies if,grown men and women,get the our boys tag.And the military person,tonight,well meaning I am sure,seemed to think you can have successes in a war zone.Well you can boost morale by that language,but there is a history to Iraq of American variety that once assessed and digested thoroughly makes a honest attempt at raising morale,a sickening conclusion,indeed!I could of not written this ,because,in my mind I have the words well and truly felt,”What would you want me to say!”