Media Matters has done a study on the invasion of military experts on the nation’s airwaves and cablewaves.  Don’t assume you’re getting unbiased analysis.  There is apparently an agenda—a pro-Pentagon/Bush Administration agenda at work with many of the retired military brass and others who comment on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and other conflicts. 

Item Summary:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200805130001

Military analysts named in Times exposé appeared or were quoted more than 4,500 times on broadcast nets, cables, NPR

A New York Times article detailed the connection between numerous media military analysts and the Pentagon and defense industries, reporting that “the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform” media military analysts “into a kind of media Trojan horse — an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks.” A Media Matters review found that since January 1, 2002, the analysts named in the Times article — many identified as having ties to the defense industry — collectively appeared or were quoted as experts more than 4,500 times on ABC, ABC News Now, CBS, CBS Radio Network, NBC, CNN, CNN Headline News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR. (Read more…)

Full Item Below:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200805130001

Military analysts named in Times exposé appeared or were quoted more than 4,500 times on broadcast nets, cables, NPR

On April 20, The New York Times published an article by investigative reporter David Barstow that detailed the connection between numerous media military analysts and the Pentagon and defense industries. Barstow reported that “the Bush administration has used its control over access and information in an effort to transform” media military analysts, many of whom have clients or work for companies with an interest in obtaining Pentagon contracts, “into a kind of media Trojan horse — an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks.” A Media Matters review found that since January 1, 2002, the analysts named in Barstow’s article — many identified as having ties to the defense industry — collectively appeared or were quoted as experts more than 4,500 times on ABC, ABC News Now, CBS, CBS Radio Network, NBC, CNN, CNN Headline News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR in segments covering the Iraq war both before and after the invasion, as well as numerous other national security or government policy issues.

A spreadsheet listing each of the analysts’ appearances documented by Media Matters is available here.

The following chart lists 20 analysts included in Barstow’s article, the network or networks on which each analyst appeared, and the number of appearances made by each analyst since January 1, 2002, as tabulated by Media Matters:

Military analyst	Networks	Number of appearances identified by Media Matters
David L. Grange	CNN, CNN Headline News	921
Donald W. Shepperd	CNN	713
Barry R. McCaffrey	NBC, MSNBC, CNBC	642
James Marks	CNN	299
Rick Francona	NBC, MSNBC, CNBC	296
Wayne A. Downing	NBC, MSNBC, CNBC	270
Robert H. Scales Jr.	Fox News, National Public Radio	176 (Fox News) 73 (NPR)*
William V. Cowan	Fox News	189
Kenneth Allard	NBC, MSNBC, CNBC	180
Thomas G. McInerney	Fox News	144
Montgomery Meigs	NBC, MSNBC, CNBC	125
Robert L. Maginnis	Fox News	113
William L. Nash	ABC, ABC News Now	96
Paul E. Vallely	Fox News	81
Charles T. Nash	Fox News	54
Robert S. Bevelacqua	Fox News	48
Jeffrey D. McCausland	CBS, CBS Radio Network	43
Timur J. Eads	Fox News	28
Joseph W. Ralston	CBS, CBS Radio Network	19
John C. Garrett	Fox News	8

NOTE: Transcripts for all programs on CNN are available in the Nexis database, but for the other cable news networks transcripts are available for only some shows.

*This figure includes 31 appearances from 2005 and later, when — according to NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik — Scales was no longer serving as an official NPR consultant but rather was an unpaid guest.

Methodology

Media Matters used the Nexis database to tabulate appearances by analysts on networks with which they were affiliated that included discussions of issues related to national security or U.S. government policy. Instances in which analysts appeared on networks other than those with which they were affiliated were not counted. Media Matters counted as appearances both instances in which an analyst appeared as a guest on a show — either live during the show, or in a pre-taped interview aired during the show — either live during the show, or in a pre-taped interview aired during the show — and instances in which a report included a clip of an analyst’s commentary. The study was limited to appearances made after January 1, 2002.

Re-airings of news programs in their entirety were excluded from the study. However, instances in which the same report, interview, or quote was aired on different shows or more than once during the course of the same program were counted as separate appearances in this study. If an analyst appeared several separate times during the same show, Media Matters counted each one as a distinct appearance.

Nexis includes transcripts for all news programs on CNN but for the other cable news networks transcripts are available for only some shows; appearances on programs whose transcripts do not appear in Nexis were not included in this study.

Finally, the Times article reported that some of the analysts “pointed out, accurately, that they did not always agree with the administration or each other” and that “[m]any analysts strongly denied that they had either been co-opted or had allowed outside business interests to affect their on-air comments, and some have used their platforms to criticize the conduct of the war.” In conducting this study, Media Matters did not assess whether individual instances of commentary — or the analysts themselves — were supportive of administration policy.

Technorati Tags: military, commentary, TV news, war covverage, Media Matters

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

 

The following is from the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center:

Calling Artists!!  Create for Peace and Justice!

        Witnessing Occupation: Reactions to the 5^th Anniversary of the War in Iraq

 Exhibit runs March 16 through April 6^th, 2008 at Black Sheep Coffee, Sioux Falls

    Applications are at Black Sheep Coffee

www.SDPJC.org

or email: peaceandjustice@svtv.com

         Application deadline: Saturday, March 1^st

         If your work is selected, delivery must be Sunday, March 16^th before 6 pm.

         Artist reception:  Friday, March 21, 8 pm

                     This exhibit is open to all artists across SD. Sorry, but only art that can be hung on a wall can be accepted.

                   There are no fees to be in this show.

               You may offer your work for sale if you wish.

              The South Dakota Peace and Justice Center reserves the right to select artwork, and our decision is final.

 
    Artist Responsibilities  

              Entrants are responsible for transportation of your work to Black Sheep Coffee.   

              Work MUST BE PICKED UP Sunday April 6^th before 12 pm.

              Artwork must be original in concept, composition, and execution.

           Artwork must not be copied in part or wholly from any published or copyrighted work.

      All art must be ready to hang—screw eyes and wire are preferred.
 

    Liability Since Black Sheep Coffee is a public venue and cannot be responsible for loss or     damage to artwork, however caused. The SD Peace and Justice Center, as sponsor, will also not be responsible for damage. Artists are responsible for insuring their own work.

 

Name _________________________  Phone________________Email _____________________

Dimensions of artwork: _________________ Media: _________________

Title: ________________________________ Return this form with a picture of your artwork. You can email a JPG file to peaceandjustice@svtv.com Fill out one form per work you want to enter.

Technorati Tags: Peace, War in Iraq, Black Sheep Coffee, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, South Dakota Peace and Justice Center

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The following quote comes from my friend Deb McIntyre, executive director of the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center.  Seems that ol’ Jimmy Madison knew we’d someday have a W in our midst.

“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes. And armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended. Its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war … and in the degeneracy of manners and morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

James Madison, April 20, 1795

Portrait: President James Madison.

Technorati Tags: James Madison, President James Madison, George W. Bush, Pres. George W. Bush, South Dakota Peace and Justice Center, SDPJC, Iraq War

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From the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center:

Can you outsource torture?? Watch this movie on December 2nd and find out——

Outlawed:

Extraordinary Rendition, Torture, and Disappearances in the War on Terror places the post-9/11 phenomenon of renditions and the “war on terror” in a human rights context and calls for action to end these human rights abuses. Also available will be Amnesty International materials so attendees can participate in the Global Write-a-thon against torture.

 

FREE to the public.

 

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 4 p.m.

 

www.sdpjc.com

 

Click on Go to the Hub. When there, enter “Outlawed” into “search terms.” www.sdpjc.organd by Amnesty International Members of Sioux Falls

Lt. Col Paula Johnson (USA ret.) is on a mission.

The former procurement and contracts officer at the Pentagon wants South Dakota’s Guardsmen and women and reservists to know that South Dakotans care about them this holiday season.

And that local Democrats care as well.

Like the former supply officer she is, the secretary of the county party is coordinating the local’s Dem’s “Any Soldier” project.

She talks with passion about how difficult it is to be so far away from friends and family—whether it is at a base across the country or in the mountains of Afghanistan.

She says service members sometimes feel forgotten.  Problems with mail service can compound the problem to far flung areas.

So, to make sure our troops have comfort items, books, magazine, and the little things that we take for granted, she is coordinating this effort.

As you are out shopping for Christmas the next few days, add the following to your list:

 

For Men:

Anti-bacterial wipes, baby wipes, hand/foot warmers, nail clippers, tweezers, foot powder, toothbrushes and tooth paste, deodorant, sunscreen with high SPF, first aid kits, medicated lip balm w/SPF 15, dental travel kits, dental floss, mouthwash, combs and brushes, shaving gel, razors, hand sanitizer, cotton swabs, tissues, toilet paper, liquid shower soap, hand and foot lotions.

For Women:

Same as above plus, Tampax/compact tampons, panty liners, shower to shower body powders, ponytail holders.

Foods (all prepackaged, no homemade, no glass, non-perishable):

Nutri-grain bars, fruit snacks, beef jerky, beef sticks, Marathon protein bars (Snickers), Chunk LIte Tuna Paks, One A Day Active Multi-vitamins, enhanced power packets, energy bars, coffe, teas, creamers, juice, microwave popcorn, cookies, chocolates, candy for Iraqi children, gum, herbal teas.

Clothing and other items:

Crayons, coloring books, pens, and toys to hand out to Iraqi children; AA and AAA batteries, flashlights, sunglasses, shower shoes, T-shirts (black or army tan M-XXL), black gloves, envelopes, writing paper, stamps, white or dark green socks, long sleev t-shirts (M-XXL, black, dark green, tan), eyeglass cleaning wipes for eyeglasses and goggles, twin bed sheets and pillow cases*, towels”, DVDs, music CDs, novels, international phone cards (ATT is best), board games, trivia games, magazines and puzzle book.

You can also donate a check for $8.95 made out to USPO to pay for postage on one box of goods that will be shipped overseas (cash also accepted).

You can also enclose a letter to the troops.  Please include your return address and email address so they can respond back to you.

Take your items to the South Dakota Democratic Headquarters at 309 W. 43d St.  (A block east of Minnesota just east a couple of buildings from the Subway.)  Please have them at SDDP HQ by 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 28th.  There will be a “Packing Party” to assemble the goods for mailing to our South Dakota troops starting at 1 p.m., Friday, November 30th at SDDP HQ.

The party is also in need of heavy duty quart-sized Ziplock bags to make individual “Care Packages” for the troops.

You don’t need to be a Democrat to contribute.  Anyone is welcome to contribute goods, money for postage, or their time to help Paula and fellow Democrats support our troops.

If you have questions, contact Paula at contact(at)minnehahadems(dot)org or minnehahadems(at)midconetwork(dot)com or 605.217.5405.

It’s nice to say you support the troops.  It’s even better to support them with your time and resources.

 

(Cross-posted to the Home Edition of SD Watch and SDW @ KELOLAND.com.  Please feel free to repost on your blog.)

Above: Lt. Col Paula Johnson (USA Ret.) at one of the tables of goods donated for South Dakota’s troops by the Minnehaha County Democratic Party.  US Postal mailers are at right that the goods will go into. 

Bottom:  Some of the goods local Democrats have gathered for our troops.  Help out our troops an donate some items by Wednesday.

 

*Check with Paula before purchasing so she can make sure they are sent to a base or semi-permanent facility.

Technorati Tags: anysoldier.com, Minnehaha County Democratic Party, Democrats, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, Guardsmen, reservists, holidays, support our troops, South Dakota Democratic Party

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The following headline from the New York Times is great:

• George W. Bush and Melville's Ahab: Discuss!

Meanwhile, only Blanchard, Schaff, and Newquist will find the rest of the article very interesting.


Technorati Tags: Herman Melville, George W. Bush, Moby Dick, Iraq War

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