War of words

The war in Iraq has already seen several surprising decisions made by the Bush administration. In my view, the most surprising and indeed the most successful was the decision to embed so many journalists. Every major news network has journalists embedded with several divisions, reporting via videophone around the clock.

This is more than just good television. This war, as much as anything else, is a war of information and credibility. The strongest component of Saddam's army is his propaganda. The major failing of the US bombing campaign to this point has been its inability to take out Saddam's TV station.

No one knows to what lengths Saddam is willing to go to defame the United States. He has reportedly purchased hundreds of US army uniform replicas, with the possible intention of dressing his own soldiers in the uniforms and filming them slaughtering Iraqi women and children. The only way Saddam can win this war is to turn international and American opinion against President Bush and the war effort. In a firefight, he's lost.

Honesty is the best policy to fight these tactics. Full disclosure will give the greatest chance of exposing Saddam's lies and showing the world what the American military is really doing. Embedded journalists have been given a huge amount of freedom. Short of giving the exact coordinates of their units, they can say whatever they want. As the American public and indeed the whole world watch this war live, they can discount rumors and hearsay because so much of the action has been actually documented on TV.

Besides disclosing more information, embedding reporters guarantees that the most widely watched news sources will give an American point of view. Watchers will sympathize more with the American army because they know its cast of characters first hand. Not only sympathize, but admire. With increased courage come more stories of bravery and courage, and the difficulties encountered as troops run into sandstorms, or have to continue with only one ration of food per day. News networks even interview American and British troops as fighting is going on, with shots heard in the background. CNN especially has tried to "personalize" the soldiers, interviewing their families on air as they show pictures of their sons in Iraq.

It's almost like the unfolding dramas of the other huge television event of March, the NCAA tournament. Viewers identify with players more once they learn their stories and hear them talk. The same is true of US soldiers.

It's worth contemplating, however, why people are so riveted to coverage of the war effort. Watching grainy video feeds of miles and miles of sand has become fascinating. Of course, many audience members are concerned with the wellbeing of the troops and interested as citizens in the progress of the war. But another piece of the interest is contained in something CNN anchor Aaron Boone said in one of the first nights of coverage as the 7th Cavalry rumbled across the Iraqi desert. He said, "What you are watching is absolutely live. We can in no way guarantee that something absolutely horrible will not occur here on live television."

And that may not be a good thing. But it can't be denied that some people are watching CNN so that they can see that unexpected horrible something. Or so that they can see American bombs light up Baghdad. In this sense, the television coverage of the war has acquired not only journalistic value, but actual entertainment value. The administration may have even encouraged this somewhat by advertising the "shock and awe" campaign.

This is not only unfortunate, but very dangerous. We cannot become a nation of preadolescent boys watching ants fry under a magnifying glass. This is a serious business. Everyone should understand that military might should be displayed only under the gravest of circumstances, and never for the sake of a good show.

Nevertheless, embedded journalists still have their toughest work ahead of them. The real controversies have not started yet. We will need honest reporters with access to reliable information to tell us what happens as the war turns to Baghdad.

Not only that. As the humanitarian efforts start in southern Iraq, we need reporters to show the world and the rest of Iraq pictures of American and British soldiers giving out food and medical supplies to counteract the pictures of American and British bombs blowing up buildings in Iraq. And if there are Iraqis being mistreated by Americans, let that be shown as well, to put pressure on the administration to do better.

America has already made mistakes in this war, and it will make more. Bombs go astray, a civilian is mistaken for a combatant, humanitarian aid falls into the wrong hands. These mistakes are unavoidable. But by embedding journalists and allowing extensive coverage, the US can show that while mistakes are made, its intentions are honest.