DEMAND DEBATES BE SHOWN

NEW POLL: CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

“LATHER OVER RATHER”

Day after day, in this blog and so many others, media malfeasance is exposed and critiqued. It usually happens after the fact. But now we have a chance to try to impact on the next media scandal before it happens. I am referring to the Presidential campaign debates which are likely to be shortchanged in terms of coverage and serious commentary. That’s why Media For Democracy has launched a call for action on the issue. When I left the office last night, ten thousand members had already answered the call to flood media outlets with demands for serious coverage in a campaign that has already been trivialized beyond belief.

Here’s the appeal: “With less than 50 days before the November 2 elections the major networks are still treating the American public to a steady diet of horse race, campaign mudslinging and character assassination, leaving very little airtime for substantive coverage of the issues Americans say they care about most: the economy, education, healthcare and national security/the war against terror.

“But there is still time to bring the issues before the camera.” Check out the petition:

www.mediafordemocracy.us/campaign/debate

THE LATEST

The new Harris poll says the US presidential race is closer than you think. ” Sen. John Kerry and President Bush are now enjoying almost equal levels of support . . .

“Immediately after the Republican convention in New York, several polls showed Mr. Bush jumping ahead of Mr. Kerry with a clear lead of between six and 11 percentage points. There’s no such “convention bounce” for the president in the latest poll by Harris.

From Wall Street Journal Online

DEMOCRACY AT RISK

Democracy is at risk argues James S Henry, author, economist and analyst of global trends. If you don’t know his work, check it out.

www.submergingmarkets.com

Intellectuals worldwide are sending an open letter to both US Presidential candidates. It is being published today in the United States in The Nation, together with an editorial by magazine’s Editor-in-chief, Katrina vanden Heuvel. During the next few days, the letter will also be published in Liberation (France), La Repubblica (Italy), as well as in Central and East European papers.

See: www.thenation.com/edcut

WAR IS ILLEGAL, UN CHIEF NOW SAYS

In the news, what’s old is new. And still being debated by none other than the UN’s Kofi Anan who put cautious diplomacy on ice at last, and says, yes, the war in Iraq is illegal. The Guardian had the story:

“The United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, declared explicitly for the first time last night that the US-led war on Iraq was illegal.

Mr Annan said that the invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN’s founding charter. In an interview with the BBC World Service broadcast last night, he was asked outright if the war was illegal. He replied: “Yes, if you wish.”

“He then added unequivocally: “I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter. From our point of view and from the charter point of view it was illegal.”

See letters below.

SOLDIERS PRESSURED; RE-ENLIST OR GO TO IRAQ

Practices of questionable legality are being used to bully soldiers in the US military. The Rocky Mountain News revealed:

“Soldiers from a Fort Carson combat unit say they have been issued an ultimatum - re-enlist for three more years or be transferred to other units expected to deploy to Iraq.

“Hundreds of soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team were presented with that message and a re-enlistment form in a series of assemblies last Thursday, said two soldiers who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The effort is part of a restructuring of the Army into smaller, more flexible forces that can deploy rapidly around the world . . .

“They said if you refuse to re-enlist with the 3rd Brigade, we’ll send you down to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is going to Iraq for a year, and you can stay with them, or we’ll send you to Korea, or to Fort Riley (in Kansas) where they’re going to Iraq,” said one of the soldiers, a sergeant.”

Lou Dobbs of CNN picked up on the story interviewing retired general BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, U.S. ARMY (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST. They got into an exchange about how the U.S. military is being held hostage; to re-enlist or else!

www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0409/16/ldt.00.html

For a regular wrap up of important stories like this, see the newly redesigned Geeze.us site.

OOPS

Speaking of soldiers, 17,000 casualties were not counted:

17,000 GIs Not Listed as Casualties

Meanwhile in Iraq, Patrick Cockburn reports: “The US military’s accounts of incidents in which it claims to have targeted insurgents but only civilians have died are frequently discredited by Arab television pictures of the incident which US officers apparently do not watch before issuing statements.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=562235

And, as for the war’s stated rationale, oh yes, noted without comment from AP wire: “Drafts of a report from the top U.S. inspector in Iraq conclude that there were no weapons stockpiles but say there are signs that the fallen Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, had dormant programs he hoped to revive later, according to people familiar with the findings . . . ”

ARE TERRORISTS UNITING AGAINST US?

Writing on ZNET, Scott Burchill challenges the terrorists are uniting to get us threat:

“Politically motivated violence which accepts no limits or constraints and makes no distinction between combatants and civilians is indefensible, both morally and tactically. Public horror and outrage at recent events in the Caucasus and again in Indonesia last Thursday are therefore reassuring expressions of humanity, though as in the past they may temporarily mask the true nature of what we are witnessing.

“Terrorism is a method not a cause. Tempting as it might be to link Beslan, Jakarta, Iraq and New York City together as fronts in a ‘war against terror’, each one has a unique historical context which needs to be unpacked and examined.

“Regardless of how incoherent the objectives of the perpetrators may be — from forming a caliphate in Southeast Asia, ending the occupation of Iraq to Chechen separatism and the downfall of Saudi royal family — it is a mistake to conflate these attacks into a centralised and co-ordinated struggle between fundamentalist Islam and the West.”

FAIR PRESSES CBS, FOX “LATHERS” RATHER

FAIR is calling on CBS News to “conduct a review of the standards used in its September 9 reporting on Bush’s National Guard service– while continuing to pursue the important questions raised in that reporting about a possible cover-up of Bush’s record.” (See Fair.org)

Fox meanwhile sounds like a soapbox with constant one-sided blasts at Dan Rather who is their new enemy of the week. The faux news channel used an article from Murdoch’s New York Post as the source of its denunciation because of a clever headline: “LATHER OVER RATHER.” The Post prints it and then Fox uses it as the text for a sermon on the issue demanding an investigation etc. Forget self-reflection. Here you have the spout calling the kettle black or something like that. The substance of CBS’s report is ignored, of course.

BIG DIG LEAKS

When I was in Boston I was amazed to drive through the nation’s most expensive highway project: THE BIG DIG. It was Tip O’Neil’s present to his “people.” But little did I know:

www.boston.com/

POETRY IS PRESCIENT

When I was in Rome last weekend I met the Jerusalem- based Salman, Mashala, an Israeli citizen and Palestinian and a stunning poet. I asked him to share one of his poems with our readers and he kindly obliged:

ON ARTISTIC FREEDOM IN THE NATIONAL ERA

“Because I am not a state, I have no secure borders, or an army guarding its soldiers’ lives night and day. And there is no colored line drawn by a dusty general in the margins of his victory. As I am not a legislative council, a dubious parliament, wrongly called a house of representatives. As I am not a son of the chosen people, nor am I an Arab mukhtar. No one will falsely accuse me of being, supposedly, a fatherless anarchist who spits into the well around which the people feast on their holidays. Rejoicing at their patriarchs’ tombs. Because I am not a fatalist, or a member of an underground that builds churches, mosques and synagogues in the hearts of children. Who will no doubt die for the sake of the Holy Name in Heaven. Because I am no excavation contractor or earth merchant, not a sculptor of tombstones polishing memorials for the greater glory of the dead. Because I have no government, with or without a head, and there is no chairman sitting on my head. I can, under such extenuating circumstances, sometimes allow myself to be human, a bit free. “

© Translated by Vivian Eden

MEDIA NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER

News You won’t see elsewhere, from Australia’a Media Man:

“Media and entertainment entity, Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” has been verbally, and now publicly attacked by “Crocodile” Mick Pitman, and many other notables in the Australian crocodilian industry.

“The war of words, and legally inclined paperwork exchanges, has been on for a year now, but until this time, The Irwin’s have kept it relatively quite.

“Irwin’s production company, the so-called “The Best Picture Show” company (best PR spinners may be more appropriate), requested than Mick stop referring to himself as a “Crocodile Hunter”! Mick’s been a crocodile hunter for 26 years, and there are many more Australian crocodile hunters in Australia ready to bite back at Irwin. Perhaps a class action crock fest could be on the way, quicker than you can say Crikey!

A few nights ago Queensland Police raided the property of Crocodile Mick Pitman, after instructions from the Irwin’s.

“Furthermore, the allegation was made from Australia Zoo that Pitman was plotting to “blow up Australia Zoo out of the water”! (bad taste to suggest Pitman is a terrorist and such).”

YOUR LETTERS: ON KOFI ANAN

Shebar Winstone asks: “What the hell took him so long? And what does he intend to do about it? . . . Would such a silence have been described as “tactful” during the Nazi invasion of Europe & the Holocaust? Well, yeah, I suppose that was the kind of language that was used while people turned the other way . . . . BTW (if you’ve seen any coverage at all), have you noticed that this story is getting a lot more coverage in foreign than in domestic media? Once again, the American public will be the last to learn — if it ever does.”

Jack Schultz also comments from Canada:

“I noticed that the question for the viewers (on CNN) tonight was the following; “Were Koffi Annan’s comments today politically motivated?”. For those of your readers who missed it, Koffi Annan had surmised that the American invasion of Iraq was illegal.

I sent an email to the program to advise them that I thought this to be a pernicious question. The question might as well have been “Do you believe that Koffi Annan is still beating his wife?”. If such a question is asked in a court of law, the opposing attorney would immediately object, and any honourable judge would uphold the objection. The question should have focused on whether or not Koffi Annan is correct. It is time for Americans to ask themselves if America is committing war crimes.”

ON THE STORMS

Judy Bourne writes the Caribbean:

“I’m sitting in St. Thomas relieved to wait out the rain and some flooding instead of hurricane winds. Jeanne is now a hurricane and over Hispaniola. CNN shows it periodically and their commentary speaks about how it is not likely to hit Florida, while completely ignoring that it is likely to plow through the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

“Yes, 90% of the buildings on Grenada were damaged and 2/3 of the people are essentially homeless.. The countries and people of the Caribbean are pitching in to help, utilizing such organizations as the CDERA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency). They need serious help.” To help the folks in Grenada, consider donating to Grenada Disaster Relief Fund, 65 Pine Ave. Box 322 Long Beach Ca. 90802.

Nikki Oldaker writes: “Last night I got very upset and sent an e-mail to Hurricane@CNN after watching Cooper getting blown around on the 4th story of the building . . . I told them to put a rope around his waist in case his skinny self got blown off the building . . . I watched the video of him this morning – and was glad they took my advice (I’m sure other safety minded people e-mailed as well) and finally rope him”

ON IRAQ

Jim Tuckernuck writes:

“I’ve been a following your blog since you were here on Nantucket for the film festival. Love the website, too.

Saw this one the onegoodmove.org website; the emphasis there regarding the cited article was on the newly insecure Green Zone. What caught my eye was this bit of military doublespeak:
‘The helicopters saw tracer bullets coming at them from the ground and fired rockets in response, officers of the First Cavalry division in Baghdad said. The pilots “did not see a large crowd of innocent civilians around the [vehicle]”, said Colonel Jim McConville, commander of the unit’s helicopter forces. The helicopters were called in to prevent insurgents from stealing radios, weapons, and other sensitive equipment from the Bradley, which had been knocked out by a car bomb. The helicopters could have fired rockets from a distance, the officers said, which would have been safer for the crews but more dangerous for civilians.

“If we were not concerned about collateral damage we would have used [this] engagement technique,” Major General Peter Chiarelli, the unit’s commanding officer, said.’

http://tinyurl.com/3pczq

So if I understand correctly:

* The helicopters fired only when fired upon.
* The helicopter pilots did not see a large group of ‘innocent civilians’.
* The helicopter pilots DID see a group of ‘insurgents’.
* The helicopters fired because they had been sent to prevent the Bradley from falling into the hands of insurgents (so apparently they were going to fire whether fired upon or not).
* There was collateral damage (given).
* The helicopters could have fired from a safer distance, which would have been safer for the crews but more dangerous for civilians.
* The military is concerned about collateral damage, which is why they fired rockets into a crowd of people at close range, causing collateral damage, rather than firing rockets into a crowd of people at long range, which might have resulted in . . . collateral damage.

Got that, Iraqis? It’s only because we care.”

BUSHWACKED

Jon Seward asks:

“What gives? This forgery question is focused on the actions of a dead guy who is not running for any high office. Whether it’s Bush campaign dirty tricks or the very misguided act of a Kerry supporter misses the larger point:

“Did George W. Bush discharge his National Guard duties fully?

“He was apparently MIA in Alabama. He was also, allegedly, obligated to attach to a National Guard unit in Boston when he attended the B School. No evidence or testimony that he did has been brought forward. You’d think someone would be following this up or come forward on these issues.

“Related to this would be questions of his performance in the Reserves. I’m no expert on the military, but my understanding is that following active service a person is mandated to be in the reserves and perform 2 weeks of service a year for several years, followed by inactive status liable to callup in emergency conditions, and that a person can extend their reserve status in exchange for further payments. That’s what my ex-Green Beret Boy Scout leader had to do during ‘Nam. I’ve never heard a thing about Bush’s Reserve service.

“Given the unparalleled reliance of the Iraq war on calling up the Guard and Reserves for extraordinarily long tours, you’d think that Bush’s performance would be of some interest and importance. It is clear that he is demanding of others what he was unwilling to do himself. This can only be called hypocrisy, and the fact that it is consuming lives and tearing families apart has turned a character failing into tragedy. The stature of our nation is being harmed by these acts.

“The servicemen ordered into combat and their families are being treated shabbily — as abundant and disposable resources. Soldiers are not ciphers, but actual people, and the country has invested heavily in their training and purpose, for the protection of the country. To wager their lives on this ‘adventure’ (and that’s all that it is) while simultaneously reducing veterans benefits is one of the most callous and destructive acts I have ever seen. Where will the road forward lead to now, but to ruin?”

Wendi Meremark:

“The way I saw it, the Bush powerlust was at work rigging the 2000 election months and months ahead of time.

“First they decided Gore was going to run on a Peace and Prosperity slogan. So they cut those out from under him, and our country.

“Killing ‘prosperity’ was not too complicated; really it could be confined to California, the motherlode of electoral votes. Three natural gas pipelines ruptured and flamed out of commission between Jan. and July, 2000 — one of them in Arizona on the Texas-to-California mainline. Presto, natural gas prices went from $50 up over $500 — an Enron ‘position’. It mattered to Cali because there they burn gas to make electricity, and electricity prices quadruple, another Enron ‘position.’ Presto, October — surprise! — was the end of prosperity in California, source of all things dot com.

“Killing ‘peace’ was a different kettle of fish. But the Old Hand on the worldscape only needed one call. Sept. 17 marks the fourth anniversary of Ariel Sharon walking belligerently up the Temple Mount to pray — after announcing it two days ahead of time and against every world plea not to, because it would reignite the violence Clinton had kept put out for two years. Presto, end of middle east peace, Sept. 17, 2000. It’s kind of hard to remember all the good Clinton had going.

But what really frosts my media mocking — BOYCOTT CABLE TV. Cancel. Your. Subscription. — is that it has never never never been said, and it’s pretty obvious to see, if Gore had won nine-eleven never would’ve happened.”

IRAN WAR IN THE MAKING???

Steve Withers from Foxton, New Zealand –sorry for getting that wrong in the past: ” Are you noting the escalating rhetoric about Iran and nukes?

“The US is trying to set a deadline at the UN of October 31st for some sort of face-off with Iran . . . ..

“Nice timing eh?

Kerry will be lucky to get a 5 second sound-bite if the corporate media have a chance to make Bush look strong 3 days before the election.

www.newsday.com

FOOD AND MUSIC FOR THOUGHT

Michael Wadleigh writes from the coast of Maine:

“As you know I’m a long time fan of your endeavors, and as I’m know you remember I’ve won a couple Oscars and Emmys, including Woodstock and other music films.

In the election before us, while most politicians and journalists are focused on the 4 year quick-fix-art-of-the-possible (not you of course), a 3 min shockwave movie we just did — “Road To Hell” with Chris Rhea’s rock song — looks at 30 years, Vietnam to Iraq, the score of major domestic and foreign issues which should be the focus of this election — but of course they are not.

road2hell would seem to be right up your alley, and we’d be happy to make it available free of charge, for streaming, download and all round (depressing) entertainment.

www.gritty.org/road2hell/index.html

Another resource worth checking: THE FREEWAY BLOGGER

www.freewayblogger.com/index.htm

BANE SHMANE

Susan Taft writes:

“Don’t listen to them. I knew and they knew you didn’t mean “Bane”. Why just last Sunday while at pancakes my distinguished mother-in-law said, talking about her former house, said “Shittyview Drive”, and we all knew what she meant. She gave us an explosive group belly laugh. You made me laugh, too, when I read you glowering praise of our function avec le dissector. I knew you meant something like “boon” or “balloon” but you guys have to work fast. I like your style! So there, crybabies.”

Anna Taylor writes: “”bane of the blog”?! (I missed this somehow.) Is that like Belly of the Beast?

I am off to a media reform strategy conference off the coast of Georgia this weekend. I hope its dry . . . . Meanwhile my film WMD plays at the New Haven Ct. Film Fest on Saturday. Eileen and Chuck O’Brien will be representing us there and picking up a documentary award. See www.wmdthefilm.com for the latest . . . Congrats to South African producer Anant Singh (and one of our Executive Producers) for the great response his movies, especially RED DUST, received at the Toronto Film Festival.

You know where to reach me: dissector@mediachannel.org