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News
Coverage In Iraq
Editorial
by: Joe Doggs
We just observed
Memorial Day and the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of
Europe. Hidden Lake, like virtually all American cities, has family
and friends serving in Iraq. The Hidden Lake Dispatch stands in
support of our men and women of the Armed Services in this difficult
task.
Lately it
has become popular in the mainstream press to continually focus
on the negative incidents that have occurred during these operations;
giving extensive coverage to protests at home and incidents of
injustice in Iraq. While the Hidden Lake Dispatch agrees that
these incidents are news worthy and should be reported, we do
not agree that we should dwell on them to the exclusion of all
the positive news that results from these operations. Such
coverage is unbalanced, counterproductive and harms the moral
of our men and women who serve so gallantly in the face of continual
danger.
If we were
to base our views of the current situation on what is presented
in the mainstream press, as our detractors have, we would believe
that all Americans are against the war, and all American service
personnel are barbarous killers and torturers of innocent men,
women and children. We find such coverage irresponsible and a
violation of the public trust. Additionally, it only serves to
give aid and comfort to our enemies.
There are
news agencies that are maintaining the public trust. Fox News,
the leader in this field, has provided (to use their own words)
fair and balanced reporting on the events. The Hidden Lake Dispatch
supports such journalistic integrity.
News reporting
entities have a public mandate and responsibility to report facts
and objective evidence, not to manipulate the coverage to further
political views and agendas. Analysis and second-guessing of the
events, and personal opinions are the venue of the editorial page,
and should stay there.
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