Jon Stewart LAYS INTO Judith Miller: You PUSHED US Into ‘Devastating’ Iraq Mistake

[RobinA]

121. I Believe

that the press reaction to the buildup to the war and the buildup to the war are related but separate issues. The press behaved abominably and dishonestly. However, ultimately the responsiblity rested with the administration and Congress. The press and the voter (brainwashed by the press) could all have been clamoring for war but we could have not gone to war. The administration is not, and should not be, be a puppet of the press, and we sure has shoot know they aren't a puppet of the electorate.

I have no doubt that the administration tried to influence public opinion, that they were successful, and that some menbers of the press were complicit. Still not the same as the press getting us into the war. The decisionmakers are the ones tasked with making intellegent decisions that are in the best interests of the country given the available evidence.

And...all that said, Judith Miller et al. notwithstanding, there was enough press out there at the time telling a more accurate story that anybody reading the New York Times would have been aware that there was more than one opinion. Hell, I read an article in Time Magazine discussing the "real" findings of the weapons inspectors, and they were in no way supportive of war.

I have no problem dinging Miller and Friends of what they are actually guilty of, but to me, accusing them of getting us into the war allows the real journalistic issues to remain unexamaned. As well and the fubar policy decisions.