TV news too willing to peddle the official line
What we often get is not news and analysis, but just the official line.
Take the US administration’s claim that they will hand over power (sometimes they say ‘control,’) to an Iraqi authority in June. This is untrue because all that the US intends to hand over is civil authority.
The US will keep control of the economy and will maintain a massive military base in the country. This means they have military control of Iraq as well as being able to dominate the whole region militarily.
Yet no news broadcast questions the US administration’s claim. The news just reports what the administration says, and then asks whether it will be possible to hand over power in June because of the situation in the country. That’s all.
No news broadcast I have heard has queried the identity or legitimacy of the civilian authority to whom the US intends to hand over.
It’s a similar situation with Ariel Sharon’s claimed intention to effect a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. TV news on various channels I have seen reports this claim without question. No news broadcast asked whether this is a unilateral withdrawal or the annexation of land in the West Bank?
Thankfully we still have some newspapers willing to do more than repeat official handouts. But sometimes it appears even they are becoming more muted. I hope I am mistaken. If I’m not, ‘1984’ may be nearer than I thought.
Brian Abbott,
Glencairn,
Bishopstown Road,
Cork.
