War / Peace

A Tentative Thumbs-Up for Al Jazeera's English-Language Channel

by Diane Farsetta — December 6, 2006 - 11:12am

"If you briefly clicked by Al Jazeera International on television, you might mistake it for the BBC," the Project for Excellence in Journalism's Dante Chinni writes, citing AJI's "understated, clean graphics," "more-global view of the news," and its anchors' British accents. But AJI has "an Arab voice" and trumpets its "fearless journalism." "In a story the channel did about its own launch ... it happily pointed out that everyone criticizes Al Jazeera.

Main Source: 
The Christian Science Monitor, November 27, 2006

Murdoch Downplays Iraq Death Toll

by Bob Burton — November 7, 2006 - 5:17pm

Speaking to journalists at a conference in Tokyo, News Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rupert Murdoch, downplayed the death toll following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March 2003. "The death toll, certainly of Americans there, by the terms of any previous war are quite minute," he said. "I believe it was right to go in there.

Main Source: 
Times of India, November 6, 2006

Why There Won't Be More Information on Reconstruction Corruption

by Judith Siers-Poisson — November 6, 2006 - 6:39pm

It always pays to read the fine print. A clause buried in a military spending bill means that the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction will be closed in 2007. This office, originally part of the Coalition Provisional Authority before its dissolution, has since March 2004 referred 25 criminal cases to the U.S. Department of Justice, of which four have resulted in convictions.

Main Source: 
BBC News, November 3, 2006

Citizens Needed

by Conor Kenny — October 26, 2006 - 6:40pm
  • Topics: Iraq, U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government, War / Peace

    • We need some of the citizens out there who are reading Congresspedia everyday to help out with a new article we're putting together on the congressional votes related to the Iraq War.

    Embedded Only While In Bed with the U.S. Government

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — October 24, 2006 - 4:33pm

    Apparently the U.S. government is only in favor of embedded reporters when it serves its own purposes.

    Main Source: 
    San Jos̩ Mercury News, October 20, 2006

    Bush Signs Detainee Bill

    by Conor Kenny — October 18, 2006 - 7:35am
  • Topics: Terrorism, U.S. Congress, Democracy, Social Justice, U.S. Government, War / Peace

    • The much-debated Military Commissions Act of 2006 is now the law of the land.

    President Bush signed the bill yesterday which effectively strips detainees labeled as suspected terrorists by the president of rights traditionally guaranteed in American courts. Under the bill, suspects will have only a limited ability to view evidence used against them, and also be denied habeas corpus protection.

    U.S. Army: From 'One' To 'Strong'

    by Diane Farsetta — October 10, 2006 - 5:08pm

    "The Army spends more than $200 million annually on marketing -- the biggest ad contract in the federal government," notes Advertising Age. Ten months after winning the U.S. Army's main advertising contract, the McCann Worldgroup firm announced the theme of its first campaign: strength. "There's strong, and then there's Army strong," explained a video from the firm. "There is nothing on this green earth that is stronger than the U.S.

    Main Source: 
    Advertising Age, October 9, 2006

    Losing Afghanistan Twice Over

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — October 6, 2006 - 4:59pm

    Some readers of Newsweek read a cover story in the October 2, 2006 issue titled "Losing Afghanistan: The Rise of Jihadistan," but not readers in the United States.

    Main Source: 
    TruthOut.org, September 25, 2006

    Stymied by Their Own Spin

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — October 4, 2006 - 10:10am

    The Bush Administration has been a little too effective with its propaganda for their own purposes. After deciding that more than 120 detainees at the Guantánamo detention camp are eligible for transfer or release, it is proving difficult to identify countries willing to take them.

    Main Source: 
    NPR's Morning Edition, October 4, 2006
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