Lynn C. Woolsey: “the Bush administration has openly demonstrated its dissatisfaction with the stories that the major media has chosen to…”

“the Bush administration has openly demonstrated its dissatisfaction with the stories that the major media has chosen to broadcast about Iraq, saying that the news media too often covers the negative events that occur in Iraq but rarely reports the positive happenings there. In fact, in their peak in order to achieve its desired results, the administration has regularly pressured reporters to find the so-called good news in Iraq or lose access. Perhaps the reason reporters have been focusing on the so-called negative stories about Iraq has something to do with the fact that since the start of the war in March, over 412 soldiers have been killed in action, in fact, two more today. Over 2,000 have been wounded and at least 7,000 have been evacuated to hospitals for noncombat medical conditions, not to mention that approximately 4,000 unarmed Iraqis have perished since the war began. You have to agree, it is a bit easier to understand the media's decision about which stories to report when those tragic numbers are considered. Still, the White House wants reporters to focus on the supposedly good news, but intimidating reporters into writing stories that make President Bush look good is not enough for the White House. Instead of just spinning the news, Bush's people want nothing short of controlling the information that comes back to the United States from Iraq.”