Any lingering notions that we have an independent and free media system must surely be evaporating under the vast weight of evidence emerging as the U.S. and Britain manipulate and deceive their way to a war for control of Iraq's oil. Consider tonight's breathtaking report on ITN's Evening News at 6:30.
Newsreader Katie Derham began the report on Iraq, declaring:
"Saddam Hussein has lied to the United Nations and the world is one step closer to a war with Iraq. That's the message from America tonight, as the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector admitted there's nothing new in Saddam's weapons dossier. The White House confirmed a short while ago that President Bush is now ramping up towards an attack." (December 19, 2002)
Once again, the role of the media is merely to report the view of power. Given that this is the case, power is free to do exactly as it pleases - the public will be told what power believes is right, wrong, good and bad. With no rational challenge, with all other views ignored as irrelevant, the public will be in no position to contradict the "message from America".
Newsreader Katie Derham began the report on Iraq, declaring:
"Saddam Hussein has lied to the United Nations and the world is one step closer to a war with Iraq. That's the message from America tonight, as the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector admitted there's nothing new in Saddam's weapons dossier. The White House confirmed a short while ago that President Bush is now ramping up towards an attack." (December 19, 2002)
Once again, the role of the media is merely to report the view of power. Given that this is the case, power is free to do exactly as it pleases - the public will be told what power believes is right, wrong, good and bad. With no rational challenge, with all other views ignored as irrelevant, the public will be in no position to contradict the "message from America".