Now this is going too far.

[M_Six]

This CNN article is pointless and borders on yellow journalism. We're all aware of that fact that innocent people suffer in a war. But I'm sure CNN could go out and find some kid whose family was gassed by Saddam and get a similar story. I believe CNN is publishing this in direct response to the Bush administration's campaign to paint a brighter picture on the reconstruction effort. Dirty pool by both sides, IMO. But I can at least understand Bush's motivation. CNN should not be at all motivated to counter Bush's campaign. That is not their place.

[shahani]

Bush's motivation is purely selfish and financial. He wants to get reelected, make more money for his associates.

CNN's motives are simply to get more viewership and make more money.

The boy's motives and prayers for revenge/vindication are perhaps the only sincere wishes in this terrible war and attendant civilian casualties.

[ben-the-slacker]

Hey I remember seeing a pic of that kid in a hospital somewhere. It's pretty gruesome what happened to him.

I don't think anyone on this board would wanna see the pic, so I'm not gonna link it.

This is where the media needs censorship. Crap, I say, crap.

[sao95]

I THINK IT'S GREAT, REMINDS EVERYONE THAT THERE ARE INNOCENT VICTIMS, THAT SMART BOMBS DON'T JUST KILL AND INJURE THE BAD GUYS.... TWO THUMBS UP TO CNN...

[shahani]

Well, if you censor the media, such tragedies will never be known. The horrors of war will never be known.

Don't you remember seeing Nazi atrocities during the Second World war? There are films showing the gassing of innocent people.

Would you rather have censored the media 60 years ago and not known about the Holocaust?

Should we not know what is going on in Iraq?

Should we totally rely on the Pentagon for information?

Yup.

[shahani]

Yes, two thumbs up to CNN.

Some right-wing media including FOX are reluctant to show anything that reflects poorly on the administration.

People have a right to know what is happening in Iraq from independent sources and not from the US Military.

You can't just talk about Freedom (of speech) when its convenient. Bush speaks constantly of Freedom for Iraq but only when it suits him.

Freedom of speech means, indeed pre-supposes, everyones right to know.

[Theophylact]

There's an awful lot of pointless stuff in the press, whether on TV, on the Web, or in print, and it isn't all political.

This week, the Washington Post finished a five-part series on the DC Sniper case, basically flacking for a book by two of its reporters. I don't care how good the book is; it's not news.

And today, they had a front-page story entitled "Sniper Victim's Laugh, Love Resonate Still" about how the family of one of the victims still misses him. I'm sure he was a sweet guy, and he didn't deserve this, but front page? A year later? There are a thousand real news stories out there that they're not covering, and they have room for this?

[M_Six]

Ok, the hypocrisy here is getting knee deep. Where are my waders?

If this was Bush's folks pushing to publish stories of Saddam's atrocities, there would be a cry from the left about pro-war propaganda and "we know all about that, there's no need to remind us" and yada, yada, yada. It's the blatant hypocrisy on both sides that I can't stand anymore. Both sides act like they have all the answers and have never done anything wrong and it's all the other side's fault. I'm sick of it. This piece is pure propaganda to further a political end. It disgusts me when a major news outlet prints this crap. I wasn't for the war to begin with and I still think it was a mistake. That aside, I believe we now have a major responsibility to make things right in Iraq. Conversely, I believe that will be impossible. Quite the mess. But there's no way in hell we'll find an answer if both sides keep playing the propaganda war instead of getting together and figuring out the "right thing to do". We can't go back, and for the sake of our country and the world, I hope we find the right path forward.