Since it is Memorial Day, I feel like continuing along on the theme of my earlier ranting about the lamestream media’s coverage of the US military and the war on terror.
I was going to drop the issue until I saw how the spin and headlines developed on this LA Times story about a military truck accident involving several civilian vehicles:
Riots Erupt After U.S. Vehicles Flee Accident Scene
By Wesal Zaman and Paul Watson7:37 PM PDT, May 29, 2006
KABUL, Afghanistan -- In the Afghan capital's worst unrest since the fall of the Taliban five years ago, Afghan mobs fought running battles Monday with troops and police trying to quell riots sparked when U.S. military vehicles fled the scene of a fatal accident after hitting civilians.
At least eight people were killed, and more than 100 injured, most in the rioting that followed an early morning traffic accident involving a convoy of U.S. military vehicles, Afghan officials said.
Rioters attacked the offices of the United Nations and foreign aid agencies, looting computers, books, desks and even shoes. They also set fire to numerous police check posts across Kabul, and as the mobs continued to run amok in mid-afternoon, a pall of smoke hung over some districts of the capital.
Protesters shouted "Death to America!" and in a local epithet, "Death to Dog Washers!" They also condemned President Hamid Karzai and the former Afghan king, Mohammad Zaher Shah.
Ahhhh, the good old LA Times…I almost love to hate and ridicule them as much as I do the NY Times. In fact, the LA Times could basically change their name to NY Times
Of course if you read the headline you are led to believe that the US Military is driving around Afghanistan indiscriminately running over civilians and their vehicles, then once they are through wrecking havoc they’re just driving off into the sunset.
Wroooonnnnnggg
I first noticed reporting of this incident this morning and even I, the eternal skeptic and media critic, was sort of surprised at the actual conflict in the details of the story versus the headlines the media
Here is a sample of the other headlines I found doing a Google search:
Anti-US Rioting Erupts in Kabul; At Least 14 Dead (NY Times)
US faces new challenge after riots in Kabul puncture illusion of ... (Guardian UK)
Afghans riot after US troops shoot at mob (Indian Express)
Afghans Riot After Deadly Crash by US Military Truck (NY Times)
Death crash sparks riots (Ireland Online)
US Forces Fire at Afghan Protestors (Islam Online)
And finally, the Chicago Tribune follows the rule that “if you can’t say anything nice, just don’t say much of anything at all.”
Here’s their version of the story:
US convoy rams traffic jam; 3 dead
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- A convoy of U.S. troops accidentally rammed into a rush-hour traffic jam in the Afghan capital on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding 16, police said.
A riot broke out after the incident, with protesters shouting "Down to America!" and throwing stones and burning cars.
A U.S. military spokeswoman confirmed U.S. troops were involved in the accident but gave no details.
I sort of like the Tribune’s reporting method—that being to wait until the ACTUAL FACTS are available rather than doing things like the LA Times did in closing their earlier referenced story:
Witnesses said U.S. troops and Afghan security forces fired on the crowd as protesters hurled rocks and shot guns. But it was not clear who fired the first rounds.
Don’t you just love CRAP like these template statements “it was not clear who fired the first rounds”?
I have to ask why the heck they choose to write the story in the first place?
Why impugn the HELL out of the integrity and motives of our military forces based on “appearances” and facts that are “unclear.”
Why not resist editorializing and spend your time ACTUALLY REPORTING THE NEWS?
Yeah, I thought so…
It’s really all about POLITICS, and has nothing to do with actual NEWS REPORTING.
Idiots...
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