Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Paranoia about Iran's nuclear program


Try as I might, over the past week, I simply could not make myself feel frightened of Iran.

When the Obama Administration decided to turn the Pittsburgh G20 summit into a forum for stirring up fear of Iran's nuclear program, I tuned out. 

I wondered:  why are so many of the very same experts who were wrong about Iraq's WMD program given precious airtime to rant about Iran? As far as American journalists are concerned, I think simply reporting one government's claims -- without asking hard questions -- is not journalism.  It's "disseminating information on behalf of a government."  Was no American journalist  working today alive back in 2002-3?

At least two American observers seem to have good memories. They have had the audacity to question recent allegations concerning Iran:
  • Fmr. UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter Warns Against “Politically Motivated Hype” on Iran Nuke Program. (video)
  • Glenn Greenwald questions whether the allegations about the"illegality" of the Iranian program are true: Has the regime violated international law? (video)
Just because one government or another wants the public to get excited over this or that issue, must the news media follow along like a herd of sheep?  Can American reporters not question the statements which they are being fed? 

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