Army Chaired Journalists

Since we have been at war, an entire army of American journalists have
been almost delighted, it seems, to bring us only the worse news from
Iraq. As a Vietnam veteran I am seeing a replay of  the discouragement
promoted  by the press from over thirty years ago.
 
If the militant Muslims ever needed allies , they can certainly look
no further than the New York Times, the Associated Press and. of
course, CNN. Maybe, that is why the militants are focusing in on the
many journalists inhabiting Baghdad hotels. The average journalist
buckles easily in the face of combat and may criticize George Bush all
the more because of  personal peril, and for not having an
"established plan."
 
Most of today's journalists are not veterans and they have not
experienced the rigors of war or the unpredictability of war.
I wonder how many wars in history were planned out to a "T"  without
the unexpected eventualities that are experienced when an
unpredictable enemy is firing rockets at you on a daily basis.
 
Today's journalist has a routine, formatted schedule that varies
little, day to day. A media person normally has the day planned out
completely from Nine until  Five. It may go something like this: The
journalist arrives at work. He or she says a prayer to Hilary Clinton,
begging her to run, while burning incense.The journalist then has
coffee break at Ten in a room where one may find a large picture of
President Bush on a dartboard. Next on the schedule, the writer has a
confab with fellow journalists whose days are also tidily regulated
from beginning to end. They discuss how they can improve the world
through their editorials and news stories, e.g., how they can more
socialize the United States by endorsing anyone with a "D" beside
their name, or anyone who sees the need for  a ninety per cent rate of
taxation (combined Federal, State, and Local). The afternoon is spent
scanning CNN - The Clinton News Network - while they again offer
prayer and incense to another  one of their favorites, General Wesley
Waco  Clark. In the late afternoon, journalists lounge in a cushy
chair in the Think Tank Room where they may meditate on what sort of 
lie will get them the Pulitzer, or reminisce from history how gallant
Vladimir Lenin was with the Bolsheviks.
 
After the end of each hectic day's work, the modern journalist will
retire at home where he or she can continue scanning CNN and relax in
their rec rooms - complete with the George Bush dart board.
 
I only wish that war could be as predictable.