The narrative of war
In the New York Observer, Iraq war correspondents lament the lack of a narrative for their coverage (http://www.observer.com/baghdad).
What bothers me about the mainstream media coverage of Iraq is not the lack of narrative in the war zone. It’s the lack of coverage of the war in Washington. For example, what is John McCain’s strategy?
This morning on the Today show, McCain put on his best dismissive smirk and praised the glorious progress we’re making. When Matt Lauer lobbed him a softball question about when troops can start coming home, McCain’s smirk got bigger and he said it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.
All that matters, he said, is that casualties remain low.
What sort of strategy is that? The war can go on forever, as long as casualties remain at a level he’s comfortable with.
Barack Obama’s strategy really isn’t much clearer, but no one presses either of them on this issue.
The narrative is there. The problem is the press, and the politicians, are afraid to tell it.
