Media Watch
Washington Week in Review for
February 7, 2003: Sins of Omission
All day I've been tracking the story of the sham Iraq dossier
used by
Colin Powell as evidence in his UN presentation. ABC, a brief
mention;
MSNBC; UPI; AP; Reuters picked it up to varying degrees.
So for sure I thought I'd hear some in-depth analysis of this
incredible
story on the venerable PBS program Washington Week in Review.
But I heard nothing.
By 7:10 I had heard ABC reporter Martha Raddatz call Powell's
speech
"powerful." I waited for her to launch into a report on
how his
credibility would be damaged by the dossier. But I heard nothing.
Instead I heard Raddatz declare her admiration for Powell's
"precise"
language regarding an Iraq/Al-Qaeda link. Doyle McManus of the
L.A.
Times chimed in by saying that "it's the link to terrorists
that means
you can't wait on Saddam, " completely ignoring the fact
that the BBC
has just debunked this supposed link. I also heard Jeff Birnbaum,
who
slums at FOX News, bringing up the extension of the Patriot Act
leaked
today by the Justice Department. Brought up and quickly glossed
over,
literally in a couple of sentences.
Then it was back to Powell and how Europe used to think he was
their
friend. Raddatz opined that Powell is "Mr. Popularity"
here in the US,
with higher approval ratings than anyone, and that he is the
perfect
messenger. Another perfect time to discuss the dossier! But
nothing.
Forget the February 14 UN report. Look for an ultimatum before
then,
said Mr. McManus. I concluded that it's obvious that Mr. Blix
won't be
allowed to report anything positive.
7:15. Birnbaum is asking if Saddam is watching TV. Still no
mention of
the dossier.
The discussion moves on to the budget. I go to the PBS website
and
write an email to Washington Week in Review. I ask, "Since
your budget
has already been cut by the Bush administration, why not stop
covering
for it and actually work for the American people?"
I'm sure I'll receive a "form email response" which
will tell
me.....nothing.