War Policy, Public Support, and the Media

[bulldogg]

http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume3/august_2005/7_05_3.html

Perhaps no element of the current conflict in Iraq engenders more emotion and acrimony within the military than debate concerning the role and influence of the news media on public opinion and national policy. Debates regarding this subject are nothing new. Since at least the Civil War, anecdotal assertions associated with media influence on American wars have caused controversy among government officials, members of the military, scholars, pundits, and members of the press as they continue to argue the media's effects. Historically, contention over the issue of media influence has become particularly acute when the policies of the administration executing the conflict are perceived as being either too slow, or failing, to achieve their political objectives at the cost of mounting casualties.

Its a long read and brings up some very serious thoughts to consider. Throughout history the media since its inception has been used to mould public opinion either for or against public policies such as war among others. Though I think the public debate over this influence has reached a fever pitch during the current state of world affairs. It was a dull roar in 1991 but is at a full on raucous screaming rage-a-thon now.