Now They Tell Us
The American Press and Iraq
By Michael Massing
Preface by Orville Schell
In this influential series of articles, Michael Massing argues that a combination of self-censorship, lack of real information given by the military at briefings, boosterism, and a small number of reporters familiar with Iraq and fluent in Arabic deprived the American public of reliable information while the war was going on
Further reading:
Transcript of Michael Massing and Len Downie, executive editor of the Washington Post, on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (August 18, 2004)
Thomas Powers, The Vanishing Case for War (December 4, 2003)
Glory and Terror
The Growing Nuclear Danger
By Steven Weinberg
Preface by Anthony Lewis
Steven Weinberg, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, writes that America today "has an unprecedented opportunity to begin to escape from the risk of nuclear annihilation." But, he warns, President Bush is not only letting this opportunity slip away, he is, in some respects, moving in the wrong direction.
Further reading:
From The Connection on WBUR, Nuclear Weapons and Concerned Scientists (March 12, 2003)
Fear and Loathing
in George W. Bush's Washington
By Elizabeth Drew
Preface by Russell Baker
Elizabeth Drew's reporting exposes the cynicism of the Bush presidential campaign and reveals the deep division between the neocons in the Defense Department and the realists in the State Department. The controversy between the two camps, she finds, has "brought out bitterness and knife-wielding of a sort that Washington has seldom seen." The result, she concludes, is that "the increasing unwillingness to compromise is not only blocking legislation but, it is not overdramatic to say, is subverting fundamental concepts of democracy."
Further reading:
Paul Krugman, Strictly Business (November 20, 2003)
Fixed Ideas
America Since 9.11
By Joan Didion
Preface by Frank Rich
Joan Didion describes how, since September 11, 2001, there has been a determined effort by the administration to promote an imperial America—a "New Unilateralism"—and how, in many parts of America, there is now a "disconnect" between the government and citizens.
Further reading:
Anthony Lewis, Bush and the Lesser Evil (May 27, 2004)
Ronald Dworkin, Terror & the Attack on Civil Liberties (November 6, 2003)
