Day three of US media coverage of Hussein’s capture: no let-up in the hyst

Day three of US media coverage of Hussein’s capture: no let-up in the hysteria
By David Walsh
17 December 2003

The hysteria of the American media’s coverage of the capture of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and its aftermath shows no signs of letting up. On the contrary, having failed so far to contaminate the public at large with its own bloodlust, the media has lost all sense of restraint, not to mention decency.

Talk of “killing” and “torture” and “death” fills the airwaves and newspaper columns. An epidemic of homicidal rage seems to have overtaken the entire media. No one, it seems is immune. Even the ever so proper Diane Rehm of National Public Radio, who is often heard discoursing on such topics as the proper way to cultivate roses in New England, devoted her Tuesday morning show to an examination of the best way to dispose of Hussein. Among her guests was Henry Kissinger, who, perhaps because of his own checkered past, seemed less enthusiastic about the death penalty for the Iraqi leader than Ms. Rehm.

<snip>

The American media coverage of the Hussein arrest, so heavy-handed, so “over the top,” contains a pathological element. It becomes more unrestrained in proportion to the lack of response, except in the most depraved and disoriented quarters. Whatever political and even moral confusion may and certainly does exist in America, it is clear that the capture of Saddam Hussein did not send some electrical charge surging through the population.

<snip>

The sheer weight of the media barrage indicates an element of resistance. The voices become shriller and shriller as they fail to find the desired audience reaction. The propaganda campaign has failed to break down resentment and suspicion in the US. Popular skepticism is proving “a tough nut to crack.”

........................

http://wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/day3-d17.shtml

the real cause of 9/11 (Osama, of course) and deal with him. I also think that the American people are getting pretty fed up with Iraqi.

and this kind of behavior is precisely what led me to stop all together. They can wrap the presentation up in all kinds of slick production and american flags, but the fact that they are whoring for the Bushies is all too clear.

As a former journalist, this truly breaks my heart to see the 'news' media behaving this way. It seems all news is now Tabloid Journalism here in the US. People who consider themselves serious journalists should be ashamed of themselves.

oh, and welcome to DU... :hi: