Why is the terror incident in Russia getting so much more attention

[Bombtrack]

than probably all of the other foreign attacks we've had since 9-11 other than maybe the Madrid train bombings? Particularly when there are so many other major things to cover. Don't get me wrong. This is an important story and should be covered, just as most of the crap like Scott Peterson and Kobe should be ignored, but why does the media chose this terror incident? Is it because it involves children so directly?

[2Design]

1. I was going to say because there isn't any news here except bush

lying and Kerry telling the truth and a hurricane.....

so reporting terriorist actions helps support the RNC view that we need to be safer and that bush will be the man to do....and since all the stations are own by Cheap labor Conservatives....this is what they want to show

[dumpster_baby]

2. the children were apparently naked when they came out

Something about it being hot in there, so they had to take off their clothes, apparently. Or at least that is what I heard on the radio while in the car.

I guess the media figures that combination (nudity + children) just had to grab viewers. I might be wrong--I don't really follow most mainstream news that closely....

[Shoeempress]

3. if it bleeds it leads.

[elehhhhna]

4. Because somebody (besides us) blew up some children.

Makes us feel morally superior to them. Not sure why.

[rfkrocks]

5. It is the children

The children were the direct and intentional target of the violence and while many horrible and evil things happen to children everyday-this was on TV and the evil of the act there for you to look at-I admit I am shaken, and am so very sad for the parents of the lost-This was a slaughter of the innocents and the tales of the laughter of the murderers while children passed out in front of them literally makes me sick-I will look for positive ways to support the families-red cross? and keep the children in my prayers and work for a day where no child, no person suffers from violence-thats the RFK way

[bread_and_roses]

6. And I noticed

that there were photos of the dead children linked from Yahoo...while I have not seen any photos of the dead Iraqi children we've killed linked from major stories at Yahoo.

The above is not in any way to minimize the appalling monstrousness of this particular incident. It is a comment on reporting. I have believed from the start that if the public were SEEING what we are doing in Iraq (as we did See to a much greater extent in the Vietnam war) ordinary Americans would be outraged.

[kath]

22. I am also outraged that pictures of dead Iraqi children have never been

shown by the U.S. media. And there were lots, and lots of dead Iraqui children, dammit. Waaaaayyyyyy more than one or two hundred.

[bread_and_roses]

7. Deleted Dupe

[Leilani]

8. I guess I m not as cynical as some.

This comes on the heels of the 2 airliners that went down in Russia, which have proven to be terrorism. Then this incident, involving so many people, the majority of them children, is just horrifying.

And I do not agree that it got more coverage than Madrid. Hostage situations drag on, so they are covered by more news cycles. I believe this went on for several days, so it was covered over a more EXTENDED time, but not emphasized more.

[gbwarming]

11. My kids went back to school this week.

I think this story taps a common fear - What if something happens to my children if I let them go?

[Leilani]

15. Exactly!

Every parent s worst nightmare.

Plus, innocent children should not have to pay this price because of sicko, whacko adults.

Ever notice, when children die in Israeli/Palestinian conflict, it gets more attention than adults?

[Yupster]

28. Agree

this is a story every parent can relate to. Our elementary schools and our kids are completely defenseless.

Can you imagine keeping five year olds sitting in one spot for three days and not giving them a drink of water?

How could you ever make them understand that? and how will they ever forget it?

Each of these kids will be scarred for life for sure.

I think it will get plenty of publicity because every parent knows it can happen just as easily here to their own kid.

[slojim240]

9. Because we don't want to talk about Iraq and it's another chance to

strike the fear of Arabs in your minds.

[YoQuieroLiberty]

10. The subtext.

It's particularly craven for a group of people to purposely storm a school and directly threaten children. I'm surprised it wasn't covered MORE, to tell you the truth. If you're the type of person that sees an equivalence to our bombing of Afghanistan and Iraq, I don't blame you, but specifically targeting those who are most innocent is compelling, to say the very least.

Al Qaeda, which I believe exists, could do something entirely similar here, perhaps in several places simultaneously. I think that was part of the subtext - that it could happen here.

But even if all they had to cover was a bake sale, I would still support a ban of coverage on the Kobe and the Peterson trials.

[annabanana]

12. If it bleeds, it leads........

Lots of hot video, plus It's "people who look just like us" being attacked by Muslim, seperatist, terrorists.

[Caution]

13. This incident deserves the attention

the better question is why is the other stuff ignored not why this gets attention.

[Bombtrack]

23. Actually I'm basically asking the same thing

I stated this is the kind of story that warrents coverage. I'm just comparing it to the greater media coverage of related events

[Junkdrawer]

14. What happen in Russia is a big story...

But the question is: What happened in Russia?

Chechen separatist spokesman Akhmed Zakayev said the militants were not Chechens. “The hostage takers were Ingush, Ossetians, Russians, but not Chechens,” said Zakayev, once a spokesman for Chechnya’s separatist president Aslan Maskhadov.
“But of course, their demands have all to do with Chechnya, so whatever has happened, the Chechens will be held responsible. That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said on Britain’s Channel 4 television. agencies.


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?page=story_4-9-2004_pg1_1&ndate=09/04/2004%205:54:34%20AM

[Nevernose]

24. Are you suggesting it was Russian agents-provocateur?

Who murdered 200+ of their own country's children in a school, in order to blame things on the Chechens?

Occam's Razor. Chechen terrorists, or an elaborate ruse?

[Junkdrawer]

30. I don't know what happened, but there seems to be a new group...

"aiding" the Chechens. And with help like that, who needs enemies?

[DURules7]

16. Because

Terrorism is real. It needs to be seen. Sometimes we forget.

[gatorboy]

17. I don't see how this story helps Bush

After all, he's been saying for a year now that the "world is safer" now thanks to his efforts:

Bush: World becoming safer
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0%2C%2C2-10-1462_1548044%2C00.html

Bush says world safer thanks to U.S. efforts
http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/USATODAY/2004/07/13/505440?extID=10032&oliID=213

Bush: World is changing for the better
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/20/sotu.international/

[TexasSissy]

18. Because it's an attempted mass killing of children. Get it?

I think it SHOULD be at the top of the news. It's an event unlike any other in recent history, even the Oklahoma bombing that killed many children.

I also think the Scott Peterson and the Hacking murders are worthy of top news coverage. Murder is important, esp. this kind of despicable murder of pregnant women most probably by their husbands. Did you know that the # 1 cause of death of pregnant women in America is.....murder? It's worthy of news coverage.

I can do w/o the Kobe Bryant mess, but it's newsworthy, also, I supposed. A lesson in what to do and not do after you're raped...and things you should not do if you're a famous sports star.

[SayitAintSo]

19. Because Russia is going to respond ... think about it...

2 downed planes due to terrorist actions, Now this horrible school tragedy. Putin will respond. He has to. Also, it brings the focus back to Al Quaida and how we have dropped the ball ( Did you even HEAR OBL mentioned at the RNC ?)

This is big.

[Swede]

20. HUNDREDS of children are murdered.

Purposely targeted a school. What a moronic question.

[PA Democrat]

21. Yes, I think it's because children were involved and it happened at a

school. Every parent can close their eyes and imagine the absolute horror of having that happen to their child.

[Corgigal]

25. It's the least we can do

If we hang our head down in shame because mankind again blew it then we have taken another giant step towards one being civil to each other. Those children/teachers/parents deserve to be mourned by everyone everywhere.

[seemslikeadream]

26. It's being said they were Arab mercenaries financed by al-Qaeda

10 Arabs among 20 militants killed

Agencies
Posted online: Friday, September 03, 2004 at 2311 hours IST

Moscow, September 3: Ten Arabs were among the 20 militants killed in encounter with the Russian federal security forces, Russian President's aide Aslam Aslakhnov said on Friday.



The toll in the encounter could cross over 150, NTV quoted him saying.

According to regional chief of North Ossetia Valery Andreyev the fighting was still going on with the holed up militants who are holding a number of hostages.
more
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=35783


Al-Qaeda may have financed Russia school raid
Reuters
Posted online: Friday, September 03, 2004 at 2031 hours IST

Moscow, September 3: The mass hostage-taking at a Russian school was led by a senior Chechen rebel commander and possibly financed by al-Qaeda, Itar-Tass news agency quoted sources in the regional security service as saying.

The sources said that according to early information, Chechen commander Magomet Yevloyev led the seizure of hundreds of children and adults in the school in the province of North Ossetia which ended in bloodshed on Friday.

They said the operation had been planned by Shamil Basayev, Russia's most wanted Chechen rebel, who has been behind several major attacks outside Chechnya.

Russian officials say rebels fighting for the region's independence from Moscow are under strong influence from Wahhabism, a strict form of Sunni Islam.
more
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=35781

We stand by Russia: US
Reuters
Posted online: Friday, September 03, 2004 at 2004 hours IST

Washington, September 3: The White House on Friday condemned the "barbaric" taking of hostages at a school in Russia and blamed "the terrorists" for the loss of life after Russian troops stormed the compound to free the parents, teachers and children.

"There is no justification for the taking of innocent life, and the barbaric nature of this terrorist act is despicable," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

"The responsibility for the tragic loss of life rests with the terrorists," McClellan said, adding: "The United States stands side by side with Russia in our global fight against terrorism."
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=35780

Scotty uses the word terrorist 4 times in three paragraphs

[qwertyMike]

27. CHILDREN!!!!! n/t

Stoopid question

[Nordic]

29. But the US is killing children every day, just as violently

and it gets no press whatsofuckingever in the Western "media"

[prodigal_green]

31. Because it was an amazingly craven and cruel act of terrorism

That doesn't diminish the horror we are perpetrating every day in Central Asia and the Middle East, but this was truly sick and fucked up.

Bush is such an amazing idiot. If al Qaeda was involved (and yes, I believe they were), it just proves how badly we fucked up Afghanistan and the hunt of Qaeda operatives by invading Iraq.

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that they'll pull something like that here too. I just hope the public "gets it" that the chimp's policies make it more likely, not less.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

32. Ahhh, but he PROMISED in his acceptance speech...

It will NOT happen again. I hope that speech snippet is archived for future reference...GWB is the man who made Al Quieda what it is today. A multinational organization, with volunteers all over the world. Spain, Russia and Australia are paying for the expansion of the terrorists' reach, and we most likely will, too. Our only hope is an administration that speaks to the root causes of these groups and eradicates them at that level, instead of perpetuating more mass violence. MKJ