Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Softechie who wrote (12400)	1/31/2003 1:56:53 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 89467

Editor & Publisher Online Survey: Editorials Still Against War Bush, Blix Don't Change Newspapers' Positions By Ari Berman JANUARY 31, 2003 NEW YORK -- Since Hans Blix appeared before the United Nations Monday and President Bush delivered his State of the Union address a day later -- both offering fodder for the pro-war side -- few newspapers have changed their editorial stances. The majority of leading papers remain skeptical of an early strike and advocate multilateral cooperation and war as a last resort. A much smaller number still argue that Saddam Hussein must go now -- before he attacks or hands his weapons off to terrorist factions. This new E&P survey follows a similar effort conducted by the magazine one week ago that has been covered by USA Today and others. (National Public Radio interviewed E&P Editor Greg Mitchell on this topic for Friday's "Morning Edition.") While a number of editorials praised President Bush's speech for outlining concrete evidence against Hussein, the majority of the nation's top 50 newspapers (by circulation) still criticize the administration for failing to answer urgent questions such as "Why Iraq and not North Korea?" and "Why now?" The updated survey found that 45 of the country's top 50 daily papers published editorials responding to Blix's report and Bush's speech. The fiercely pro-war camp remained small, with only five clear members and few surprises, as it includes The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, Chicago Sun-Times, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, and The Dallas Morning News. Eleven additional papers formed what might be called a cautious pro-war camp that supports President Bush's desire to disarm Hussein unilaterally and forcefully, but with a number of caveats, such as the need for more evidence released to the public and a clear exit strategy. Prominent espousers include the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Oregonian of Portland, Chicago Tribune, Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, The Denver Post, and The Kansas City Star. The conservative Boston Herald hedged, saying, "This war cannot begin unless and until the American people believe it is a just war." Bush helped to make that case this week, it said, but still needs to present more evidence. The remaining 29 papers continue to voice skepticism over Bush's war plans, believing he has not provided adequate evidence to justify a full-scale invasion to meet an "imminent threat," as several papers put it. Few papers dramatically changed their views post-Blix/Bush. But Melville, N.Y.-based Newsday, a paper that previously maintained somewhat hawkish views, now assails inadequate disclosures of U.S. information. "The question is still: Why does the war have to be fought now? Why can't Hussein be disarmed through inspectors? Why can't he be deterred as other evil actors have been in the past?" Newsday wrote in a Wednesday editorial. The Detroit Free Press, exemplifying the doubters, wrote Thursday: "Congress, the world, and the American people want to know that war is not only inevitable, but justified." The Philadelphia Inquirer declared, "Mr. Bush appears ready to make the nation pay just about any price" for victory, "the federal deficit and domestic needs notwithstanding." The Sun of Baltimore and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, representing two rough-and-tumble industrial cities of mainstream America, staked out views resembling the passionate calls of the antiwar movement. "Perseverance suggests at the same time patience, fortitude, craftiness, clear-headedness," the Sun proclaimed Wednesday. "Right now, American policy on Iraq exhibits none of those." "[President Bush] is likely to take the country to war -- in spite of what the United Nations or our allies or a significant number of Americans believe to be wise," a Post-Gazette editorial warned Thursday. The surprisingly dove-ish Orange County (Calif.) Register said that Bush "did not convince us that Iraq poses [an] immediate threat" and bluntly announced that its editorial page would continue to oppose a U.S. attack "together or alone, until the Bush administration provides more compelling evidence." Source: Editor & Publisher Online -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ari Berman (aberman@editorandpublisher.com) is a reporter for E&P. mediainfo.com