The Watchdog Press That Became the Bush Government’s Lapdog

[Stingo]

Americans have every reason to complain about the Bush–Cheney Administration. But, the nation’s news media, by abandoning their journalistic credibility and principles, had willingly become an extension of the propaganda machine that Tom Curley complained about.

http://allspinzone.com/wp/2009/02/12/toothless-the-watchdog-press-that-became-the-governments-lapdog/

[FormerDittoHead]

1. Great article, even at this, it pulls the punches.

For example, "When the Bush–Cheney Administration laid out lies that Saddam Hussein was tied into 9/11, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and then launched an invasion of a sovereign nation, the media saluted and reported what they were told."

This is true, however, it can be equally said that not only did they report what they were told, but the press failed to check out these things and failed to report on their inaccuracies.

Indeed, I personally believed Iraq had WMD's. In the media, I saw nothing to suggest that the story after story that we were hearing to the positive were ALL lies. In the media, MAYBE there was one or two things which were questionable, but now given the luxury of hindsight, as we now know there were no WMD's, we know that there was no ACTUAL EVIDENCE of WMDs.

And not only did the press let us down (the press which we PAY to inform us) but ALSO those brave soldiers :sarcasm: who work in all the branches of military and government intelligence.

NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THESE PATRIOTS STEPPED UP TO TELL US THE TRUTH. While Colin Powell was addressing the UN and the chief executives were telling us in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that Iraq had WMDs, HUNDREDS in the intelligence divisions of the military, not to mention the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. sat by and let this LIE be repeated over and over again WHEN *NONE* OF THEM HAD SEEN ANY SUCH EVIDIENCE.

Talk Radio hosts constantly repeated that the "smoking gun" of WMDs could NOT be produced because it would compromise the intelligence processes which we had combing Baghdad well enough to read the headlines on a newspaper, and the spies we had planted inside the Republican Guard.

IT WAS ALL BULLSHIT, AND OUR ENTIRE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY DID NOTHING TO LET US KNOW THE *TRUTH*.

And now, thanks to this article, the truth starts to come out - not only did the Pentagon engage in a coordinated campaign to lie us into a war, but they used their influence to force the press into perpetuating that lie.

Personally, I find this issue to be the most historically egregious act this county has done in decades. IMO, the members of the Bush administration should be prosecuted for treason. I'm quite serious when I say I think that if lying us into a war wasn't a capital crime, such a law should be passed.

[ellenfl]

2. k&r eom

[FiveGoodMen]

3. The 'watchdog' press attacked Clinton (D), lied for Bush (R) and are attacking Obama (D)

They don't start and stop their watchdog activities.

They just help the pukes no matter who's in office.