KELOLAND News: Five Years of Warmongering
Because I’ve been so busy, I wasn’t able to get to this issue until now.
And with 4,000 American war dead now in the Iraq War, there’s even more impetus.
Thursday was the fifth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq. We have been in Iraq longer than American involvement in World War II. And that was a war we won against two well-armed enemies flung across the globe.
Since before the invasion in 2003, KELOLAND News has been beating the drums of war. In the early days, it was obviously a great ratings ploy. Most Americans—including our news media—had been duped by the lies of the Bush Administration. There were weapons of mass destruction we were told. And KELOLAND News unquestioningly repeated every lie, thinking that is what we South Dakotans wanted to hear.
They were and have been cheerleaders for the war. Every deployment, every welcome home gets covered.
But war protests? People who oppose the war? It is like we don’t exist, regardless of what the polling now shows about the ill-fated war and its lack of support.
So on the fifth anniversary of America’ ill-conceived war, does the mighty KELOLAND talk to critics of the war? Do they look at the terrible sacrifice South Dakota has paid in blood for this war?
No.
We get another cheerleading piece right from the talking points of the Bush Administration.
Read: Five Years In Iraq
An excerpt:
The war in Iraq has killed nearly 4,000 U.S. troops and cost about $500billion. But those who wear the uniform, still see the good in what America is doing there.What about those of us who have to pay the bill for this misadventure? What about those of us who oppose this folly? what about those of us who think we were lied to to get us into this war? What about those of us who think the loss of limb and life of our fellow South Dakotans has been all for naught?
KELOLAND’s pandering to the now minority view that this war is a good idea isn’t just bad journalism. It is jingoism at its worst.
For an example of a balanced view on the issue, one only need to look 60 miles to south.
Read: Five Years Later, War’s Merits Still Are Debated By Americans
Except:
Dr. William Anderson, an assistant professor of political science at the University of South Dakota and the director of the institution’s Government Research Bureau, said a series of revelations since the beginning of the Iraq war have led many people to have second thoughts about the effort.The Press and Dakotan assumes its readers can make distinctions between opposing the war and supporting the troops. KELOLAND, apparently thinks its 1970s and Americans are spitting on returning troops. Even those of us who oppose the war understand our troops are brave and being asked to do something difficult.
The servicemen and women I talk to who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan—even those who still support the war—understand that Americans and South Dakotans who oppose the war still support them. Too bad KELOLAND can’t also make that distinction.
Photo: EXTRACTION — U.S. Army soldiers run toward a UH-60Black Hawk helicopter after completing an aerial traffic control point mission near Tal Afar, Iraq, June 5, 2006. The soldiers are from the172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the Black Hawk aircrew is from the 207th Aviation, Alaska National Guard. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey.
Iraq WarAfghanistanKELOLANDSouth Dakotanews media
Todd Epp
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Reader Comments (3)
Just a point of clarification for all of you that still think Bush is a stupid idiot, but somehow was able to dupe the majority of the country into going to war. His predecessor also believed that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction as did Hillary and most of the members of Congress. Why? Very poor intelligence. Should there have been a more diligent look at the intelligence? Yes. Should some of the smaller people in the intelligence community have been listened to more over the years? Yes. Did the Bush Administration make bad decisions? Absolutely!
But for a nation that complains that this administration is devisive and we want more unity, going around calling one person a liar when there is no proof of lies and there is a whole system that failed just doesn't solve the problem.
Um, Chicagoan... I think you missed the point. I happen to agree that the media, especially local TV media (i.e. the media that most locals actually identify with), has downplayed, disregarded or vilified the opposition.
"Since before the invasion in 2003, KELOLAND News has been beating the drums of war. In the early days, it was obviously a great ratings ploy. Most Americans—including our news media—had been duped by the lies of the Bush Administration. There were weapons of mass destruction we were told. And KELOLAND News unquestioningly repeated every lie, thinking that is what we South Dakotans wanted to hear"
Opinion framed as fact..........
When a national guard unit is deployed, it effects thousands of troops, family co-workers and friends. When 12 "war critics" want to protest at the VA Hospital it is not news on a slow day.
You could not convert your Church to your "fasting" ways so you quit the Church.
You going to quit blogging at KELO, or goad them in to removing you? Grow up.
Todd, why the all or nothing attitude? I bet you settle way more cases than you take to trial, but that might be because of your use of flawed logic.