Morbid Networks Tout Iraq Wars Milestone

Morbid Networks Tout Iraq
Wars Milestone

Aligning themselves with Cindy Sheehan, network news shows touted the 2,000th death of an American serviceman in Iraq on Tuesday. Anticipating what anchor Aaron Brown termed another milestone on Mondays NewsNight, CNNs Tom Foreman suggested left-wing activists were not trying to be exploitative: War protesters are carefully saying the 2,000 dead should not be played for political advantage. The next day, CNNs cameras were among those broadcasting Sheehans rainy photo-op on the sidewalk in front of the White House.

Tuesdays evening broadcasts deemed the death count far more significant than the adoption of Iraqs first democratic constitution. Officials yesterday announced that an overwhelming 79 percent of Iraqis voted in favor of the new constitution back on October 15, but if you had sneezed, you'd have missed hearing about it on either the CBS Evening News or ABC's World News Tonight.

CBS anchor Bob Schieffer delivered only this single sentence Iraq's government announced today that voters did approve the country's new constitution in this month's referendum before moving on to a full story about the 2,000th death. Schieffer saved time for this snide aside: More than 90 percent of the 2,000 who died in the war have died since the President declared major combat was at an end in May 2003.

On ABC, anchor Elizabeth Vargas only briefly noted how in Iraq today, there was a milestone on the road to democracy: The official results show that a new constitution was ratified by an overwhelming margin. That was it for Iraqi democracy. ABC chose as its lead story what Vargas called the terrible milestone of 2,000 killed in Iraq. Viewers saw two stories: Martha Raddatz on the anguish of Army medical personnel and Barbara Pinto on parents in an Ohio town who have lost sons in Iraq.

The NBC Nightly News devoted a full story to the 2,000 milestone followed by a piece from Iraq which began with the overwhelming approval of the constitution by 79 percent, what reporter Richard Engel at least called a historic milestone before he provided a general status report on the war, stressing both the ongoing violence and how there are some bright spots, such as more jobs.

This morning, all three broadcast shows led with the death count. CBSs Hannah Storm announced: We're marking a grim milestone this morning, as 2,000 American soldiers and Marines now have died in the war in Iraq. ABCs Jake Tapper at least pointed out the war in Iraq can be viewed through any number of positive milestones: the capture of Saddam Hussein, the first election, or the ratification of the constitution, before launching into his report on 2,000th death. On NBCs Today, Richard Engel limited his coverage on Wednesday to the 2,000th death, although he acknowledged that U.S. troops here in Iraq are not holding any special events. Indeed, the military does not deem it a milestone in Iraq. (See box.)

A recent MRC study of this years Iraq war news found the networks had already produced 400 evening news stories noting Americas war casualties, far more than those discussing episodes of heroism on the part of those same troops. Indeed, on Tuesday morning only FNCs Fox & Friends and CNNs American Morning showcased Army Specialist Darrell Green, who thwarted the suicide bomber who tried to destroy Baghdads Palestine Hotel on Monday, saving many lives. Greens captain told CNN that while this was definitely a large explosion...this was a success story thanks to soldiers like Specialist Green.

ABC, CBS and NBC didnt interview Specialist Green or mention his heroics. Evidently, they dont consider him to be as newsworthy as the 2,000 victims of Bushs war. - Brent Baker and Rich Noyes