The $1 trillion cost estimate is wrong. It is based upon a completely inaccurate reading of historical data and deeply flawed mathematics. But the problems are worse than this. Not only was an inaccurate number repeated endlessly by the media without confirmation, but the flawed calculations were repeated again and again by various people with their own agendas. Reporters also appear to have ignored or evaded obvious weaknesses with the original source of the information, preferring to repeat an inaccurate number that they saw repeated endlessly rather than seek out better information. The story of the $1 trillion cost estimate raises some troubling questions about how modern journalism is conducted.
But wait -- how can this happen in a free country? As JDG wrote in the message that appeared in my mailbox just before this one...
It seems clear to me that truly *winning* the war on terrorism is going to
require eliminating the environments of oppression and ignorance that have
bred the lies, which fuels the desperation that underlies the decision to
turn to terrorism. This will require bridging the "freedom defecit" in
the Arab world, and bringing the Arab people into the world of the free
flow of information and participation in governance.
Seems to me that perhaps freedom as we know it in the United States today doesn't offer any assurance that the press will report reality. Less and less all the time, in my opinion, due to the consolidation of media power and the accompanying focus on revenue.
I suspect that Iraqi publishers are just as eager to make a buck, so their headlines reflect what sells, too, not what really matters.
I grow increasingly convinced that freedom in a capitalist democracy is relatively easily abused by doing just one thing well -- becoming big.
Nick
-- Nick Arnett Director, Business Intelligence Services LiveWorld Inc. Phone/fax: (408) 551-0427 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
