Does the media have to much influence on the war in Iraq and on terrorism?

Question

In world war 2, there were no cameras and even though we got away with a lot of thing that the media would call 'unethical' and wrong, we did it and finished the war. Are the cameras in Iraq influenceing the outcome? note: im not contdoning torture im just asking if the cameras are causing public opinoin to get into the way.

Answer 1

You better believe it does. you may think you are being manipulated by the TV but does anyone ever talk about anything good over there. there was a mayor who mailed a letter to the army and only one newspaper picked up on it. The letter said that he was so happy that we were there and things were so much better with us there and so on. The Liberals control the media and that is what we watch everyday. the music we listen to and our favorite shows all express things in them. It is really too bad when you can't get a country to support a cause of defeating evil.

Answer 2

I don't think the camera is the problem. I think political correctness is the problem. If your going to fight a war fight to win or stay home.

I don't think its about weather or not you condone torture. Your enemy has laid down the terms of war. Women and children are suitable shields and weapons and targets. When you get captured you don't get tortured, you get your head sawed off with a dull knife...Go look at the nick berg video again and you will get the idea.

After 9/11 we asked the question "why didn't we connect the dots"

Now that we are not allowed to listen in to their phone calls, and now that they have constitutional rights, I suspect that after the next attack we will ask the question why were there no dots to connect?

I think its odd that the media will not show a lot of footage of the towers coming down. Too graphic they say but its ok for us to hear all about anything we do that they don't like. Talk about bias.

No its not the camera its the unrational need to be politicaly correct.

When blood starts to flow in the american streets you may hear more people say that if twisting some terrorists eye out of its socket will get me the information I need to keep my children alive then hand me the cork screw and I'll do it my self.

you may see a lot of opinion change after a few thousand more kids die. But I predict it will take about at least 3 more major attacks before people get tired of political correctness and become interested in self preservation.

for now its all over seas so we can be all pompus windbags but when it comes home to your town, the old tried and true and well tested rules of war will prevail. You know the one I'm talking about? It starts like this: All's fair. I'm sure you remember the rest.

Your enemy knows that anything goes. The rest of the world will catch up after more blood gets spilled. Just wait. As soon as al Qaeda sets up camp in the kennedy compound I think you will see a turn of opinion. AS soon as Al Gore gets blown up in a highjacked plane. As soon as Harry Ried sees some of his family lose their heads on the internet, and the bodies hung from a bridge, then check back with me. I bet if that happens your question will be moot.

Answer 3

Yes. Some times you must teach the enemy a lesson. If your hands are tied because of public opinion and the spin that the reporter puts on the story, you will never win the war. I think that the government should give news reports about the war to the people every day (not the media).

Answer 4

Yes. the media has too much influence on the war... just as it did in Vietnam and caused the Americans to lose that war.. The media is LEFT WING and that is the problem..

Answer 5

No, the media is stuck mostly in the green zone. But the media has influenced you seeing how you call Iraq a war when it is a occupation not a war.

Answer 6

Actually, I would disagree with your assesment of the media in World War II. There were strong anti-war feelings in the US and our entry into the war was not a sure thing until Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

Some of the most famous controversies was with regard to images of American dead on a Pacific battlefield. Ultimately, FDR approved the printing of the images. He believed that Americans needed a frank understanding of the sacrifice being made to defeat German and Japanese fascism.

The media was perhaps friendlier to the government's position on the war, but given the nature of that war and its implications to the world it would have been difficult for the media and the government to be at cross purposes.

During the American Civil War, there were many in the Northern Press who did not support LIncoln's prosecution of the war.

Today, our media reflects the uncertainty that many of us feel with regards to our mission in Iraq.

My own opinion is that ultimately the media is a reflection of what we are thinking.

Answer 7

Yes!! I'll name just one reason why too. They're biased. They only show the side of the story they want you to see. They don't show any good that happens, only bad. Everything they do, increases their rating and therefore increases their profits. (Yes, these networks make money.) And if they don't like someone, watch out. It's amazing what they can present to make you look even worse. Doesn't matter who you are. Biased....period.

Answer 8

A picture is worth a thousand words and the interpretation is infinite. That is the way it is today. The only people who know the truth are the ones who are there. I think it is a very sad thing

Answer 9

1/2 of terrorism come with media help

Answer 10

Yes, the more the news show or tell the worst the world will react, especially the Islamic media.They show their side of the story.