There’s something truly remarkable about the press coverage of the lead-up to the inevitable strike against Syria and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The Obama administration has launched what it describes as a “flood the zone” campaign to persuade Congress to authorize military action against Syria. It is also trying to sway public opinion – currently evenly split – into its camp.
It is reminiscent of “selling the war” campaign in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, which culminated with Colin Powell’s appallingly flawed presentation to the U.N in February that year.
What’s truly different this time is that media reports are fully sourced. Leaks from anonymous sources have almost vanished from the news.
We analyzed this in great detail at In the (K)now blog today in Difference Between Reporting in Lead-up to Iraq and today is Astonishing
The lead story in the national edition of The New York Times, titled President Gains McCain’s Backing on Syria Attack and co-authored by Michael Gordon, is noticeably different from one that he co-authored with Judith Miller that was published on the top of Page One on Sept. 8, 2002.
Today’s story has not a single anonymous source.
The one in 2002 Threats and responses: The Iraqis; U.S. says Hussein intensifies quest for a-bomb parts was riddled with them.
And it was all wrong!
Then, it was anonymous sources inside the White House (we know with hindsight) and a bunch of Iraqi defectors with an agenda who misled The New York Times (and almost everyone else) with grossly exaggerated “assertions” that were never challenged by a complacent press.
Today, the information coming to the public is thoroughly sourced.
There seems to be no need for secrecy this time because the truth is on the side of those beating the drums the loudest.
The Obama administration has suffered withering criticism this summer for its persecution of whistleblowers and the journalists who publish their stories.
The wind has shifted. Now the president and his men need the media to marshal public support for their strike on Syria.