UPDATED - ColdType

or downloading video games that are set in Iraq.
In ‘Conflict: Desert Storm,’ by Gotham Games,
the gamer’s mission is to find and capture (or
kill) Saddam Hussein. In ‘Gulf War: Operation
Desert Hammer,’ by 3DO, players head a technologically
sophisticated tank, and seek out the
‘Desert Beast,’ a dictator that can easily be
inferred as Saddam Hussein.”
Although these games were developed before
the U.S. bombing campaign began, their timely
releases certainly seem opportunistic. “Conflict:
Desert Storm” has sold out at video game stores,
and “Gulf War: Operation Desert Hammer” has
significantly surpassed its previous sales estimates.
How long can you watch?
IN this country, the cable news nets have driven
the coverage. Tim Goodman in the San Francisco
Chronicle (the newspaper that just fired a
reporter who took a day off to protest) had some
provocative things to say. Mark Gould of New
College sent it along.
“CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC have gorged on
Iraq and come up for air bloated, slow and confused.
Anyone watching these broadcasts sees
the same explosions repeated endlessly. Stories
that could be told in 30 seconds or a minute suddenly
drag on for five minutes, with long pauses
between anchors and field reporters. Not much
is either explained or answered in these live
interviews, and yet the same verbal dance takes
place again 15 minutes later. This cycle has diminished
the ability to watch cable news.
“Where the first week – even 10 days if you
wanted to be overly indulgent – offered the hardcore
news junkie ample time to marvel at the
SO, THIS IS VICTORY
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wonders of the modern, live war played endlessly
on cable television, that fascination has
now faded. It has also rubbed off the patina of
competent journalism. What emerges now, for
those still putting in the hours, is the inevitable
impression that without editors, without reflection
or even a modicum of critical doubt, is coverage
more seemingly defined by the military.
“With no one stopping for a breath, anchors
repeat essentially what’s told to them by the government,
with phrases and lingo largely intact.
Coalition forces are “pounding” or “hammering”
the opposition, viewers hear, and while this is
true in the bigger context, it ceases to be relevant
when it’s repeated ceaselessly.” ●
APRIL 28: TRUTH CRUSHED
TO EARTH WILL RISE AGAIN
I AM sure someone among the perception managers
in the information operations division of
the ministry of “newsspeak” considered adding
an extra 6. Saddam Hussein (spelled interestingly
Saddam Husayn Al-Tikriuti on the ace of
spades playing card) is 66 today. 666 would have
been perfect don’tcha think? He is also very
much alive according to Tariq Aziz, not always
known as a truth teller, having reportedly survived
two decapitation strikes.
Carol Morello of the Washington Post was on
MSNBC today talking about the disappointment
many Iraqis expressed to her about not being
able to celebrate the big B-Day as they have in
years past. (Notice how many newspaper
reporters are now being milked for stories by the
cost-cutting cable nets. Are they getting paid?)