In Reply to: Oh Really? posted by Jim Thorpe on Saturday, 3. September 2005 at 01:48 Bali Time:
It's good of you to do that. I've always admired Americans for the way they are quick to volunteer for just about anything when the crap hits the fan.
I didn't realise you were quoting someone in your assessment of the WP. I was just going by what you stated.
Most of the press in the USA is often portrayed as the "liberal media", despite the fact that more and more media are being owned by fewer and fewer corporations, and most of them had "embedded" journalists during the war on Iraq and basically operated as the government's PR agents. They never seem to ask the really tough questions when they interview anyone near the top.
In this latest fiasco, they are all pulling together to report on all the violence in New Orleans, despite virtually none being captured on film. (Odd how camera crews can go where the national guard fear to tread.) This has become the big issue, shifting focus away from how the tragedy could have been less severe with more planning and funding. Not just for the levee... there's no excuse for leaving behind 1/4 to 1/3 of the population with so many days of warning to get them out, and to prepare the emergency services for a swift response (which has not been so swift).
Anyway, I hope you report back to us about what you see for yourself. It'd be good to have a fresh perspective.