Journalists didn't bother vetting Iraq war rationale

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3328685

<snip>The New York Times quoted an exiled Iraqi engineer who said Saddam Hussein had hidden throughout Iraq hundreds of bunkers for unconventional weapons research, a charge that was untrue.

Newsday published a story based on interviews with a former Iraqi air force officer and a businessman from Yugoslavia. They allegedly had "first-hand knowledge" of a chemical and biological weapons program that did not exist.

The Bush administration declared frequently that Saddam had tried to purchase from Niger yellowcake plutonium to make nuclear weapons. The documents on which that charge was based were clearly forged and contained internal inconsistencies journalists should have uncovered.

The U.S. intelligence community said the charge was groundless, but the administration used it anyway in its march to war.

Bill O'Reilly on The O'Reilly Factor asserted as early as Sept. 13. 2001, that Saddam Hussein was involved in the 9/11 attacks and needed to be removed.

A Washington Post story did everything but declare Saddam Hussein was tied to al-Qaida. To this day, no link has been documented.

[leftchick]

1. This is a scathing article. 'bush propaganda machine'

<snip>

Coverage of the administration's high-profile pitches to promote war was so blatantly unbalanced, the media sometimes looked like an arm of the Bush propaganda machine.

... Because it IS!!!!

[DELUSIONAL]

2. None of this is a surprise to DU readers/regulars/critical thinkers

[KG]

3. the MSM are always cheerleaders for war.

nobody should really be surprised they happily went along with the lies.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

4. Report as you are told or...

Sit in the back with Helen Thomas.