We're on day two or three of this story now. The new ABC World News Tonight co-anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman Doug Vogt were in Iraq covering the war when their convoy encountered a roadside bomb. The two newsmen suffered serious injuries and, following surgery to remove shrapnel and get them stabilized, were flown to a military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, for further treatment.
I'm truly sorry they were injured. I'm glad they didn't die. But this news coverage is insane. Perhaps more accurate would be that the quality of other war coverage should cause concern.
Woodruff and Vogt fell victim to an attack by Iraqi insurgents. Just like Iraqi and U.S. soldiers have been doing for months. Do you know how many soldiers have died since this war began? One report I just read said that the number of U.S. soldiers lost in this war is quickly approaching 3,000 — more people than were lost in the World Trade Center attacks of 2001. I've heard sketchy estimates of Iraqi military fatalities in the tens of thousands. The two newsmen didn't die, yet their tragic tale is plastered all over the place. At last count, according to Google News, there were 1,812 stories online related to this incident.
Sure. The newspapers, Web sites and TV networks often dutifully report "another roadside bomb kills." But who are these dead soldiers? Their names are often buried several graphs down in the stories. Almost as an oh-by-the-way.
Take a look at the Department of Defense stats on injuries: it's even more frightening. More than 16,500 Americans have been wounded in Iraq. I'm guessing these men and women who've lost a limb or use of their legs or eyesight or mind haven't had their names mentioned in many headlines.
This is all compared to another stat I read, in an ABCnews.com story, that dozens of journalists have been injured, killed or kidnapped in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Count 'em. Dozens.
Kudos to CNN, though, for creating a list of U.S. and Coalition casualties, with photos (when available) and a brief description of circumstances surrounding their deaths.
AntiWar.com keeps its own list of casualties.
For a sickening reality check, see this animated map pinpointing the casualties.
War on Terror? How about War OF Terror.
I'm truly sorry they were injured. I'm glad they didn't die. But this news coverage is insane. Perhaps more accurate would be that the quality of other war coverage should cause concern.
Woodruff and Vogt fell victim to an attack by Iraqi insurgents. Just like Iraqi and U.S. soldiers have been doing for months. Do you know how many soldiers have died since this war began? One report I just read said that the number of U.S. soldiers lost in this war is quickly approaching 3,000 — more people than were lost in the World Trade Center attacks of 2001. I've heard sketchy estimates of Iraqi military fatalities in the tens of thousands. The two newsmen didn't die, yet their tragic tale is plastered all over the place. At last count, according to Google News, there were 1,812 stories online related to this incident.
Sure. The newspapers, Web sites and TV networks often dutifully report "another roadside bomb kills
Take a look at the Department of Defense stats on injuries: it's even more frightening. More than 16,500 Americans have been wounded in Iraq. I'm guessing these men and women who've lost a limb or use of their legs or eyesight or mind haven't had their names mentioned in many headlines.
This is all compared to another stat I read, in an ABCnews.com story, that dozens of journalists have been injured, killed or kidnapped in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Count 'em. Dozens.
Kudos to CNN, though, for creating a list of U.S. and Coalition casualties, with photos (when available) and a brief description of circumstances surrounding their deaths.
AntiWar.com keeps its own list of casualties.
For a sickening reality check, see this animated map pinpointing the casualties.
War on Terror? How about War OF Terror.
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