Tonight, my husband and I turned on ABC's World News expecting the same feel-good coverage (America: Red and Blue bullshit). Surprisingly, the first story off the teleprompter was about the soldiers questioning Rumsfeld, coupled with highly disturbing images of "shopped-up tanks" and the depressing interviews of soldiers bewildered by our government's apparent lack of concern for their safety. While the content was not news to my husband and I because of this site, the astonishing fact was that a national media corporation was broadcasting unbiased coverage of the war for the first time! It left us both breathless. While we can still say a "hurrah" for the long-overdue return (at least for 10 minutes) of 1st amendment rights, the question remains; WHY didn't we have this before the election? Why is it only appearing now? I feel like they're throwing us a bone, and it makes me all the angrier.
We were amazed to see the confrontation between Rumsfeld and the resolute soldier who asked about body armor. Rummy tried to brush him off and made him repeat the question as if hoping the soldier would modify it the second time around. The pictures of trucks covered in makeshift "hillbilly steel" were poignant next to Rumsfeld's condescending and unapologetic behavior. We are critics of the corporate media but were very satisfied with tonight's accurate and unbiased story. If stories like this had come out in October we'd be preparing for Kerry's inauguration instead of staring down the barrel of four more years with Dubya. The bleak footage made us wonder if the media is going to start being tougher; by telling the truth.
One question we had after the news tonight remains unanswered: Why did they let Rumsfeld go over there anyway? It seemed like a no-win situation and simply demonstrates the arrogance of the administration. Rumsfeld really seemed to think he would be greeted with "flowers and open arms." Our government's expectation that there would only be "good news" to be found in Iraq is something akin to a suicide note written on a greeting card.