Do you remember what you were doing when the attacks on Iraq began in 2003? I remember that I was at my friend’s house with my eyes glued to the TV monitor. If there is one way to get people to start watching the news, it is a war. Farmville, quirky youtube videos, or that latest novel seem pretty irrelevant when a new war is beginning.
Drumming up war is great business for media outlets. Even if a war doesn’t take place, they will drive people to watch their stations anyways in the anticipation that there could be a war. If people are glued to the news stations it means more money from advertisers. From the media perspective it is a win-win situation; however, for the country and the world for that matter, it is a pretty deadly game to be playing. They already helped solidify people against the war in Iraq, and they have come close to doing the same against Iran. I was actually watching a little CNN the other day, and it said that in some polls almost 60% of the public favor military action against Iran if they are developing nuclear weapons. I was enraged by this type of statistic; has the media really been that thorough in brainwashing the American public?
The media has been positive of getting us out of some conflicts once the excitement from the war dies down. They were instrumental in turning the American public against the Vietnam War. However, while they might not favor staying in a country for long (because no one really is watching the news after 10 years of occupation), they are more than willing to start another conflict. The news media loves new wars because it creates news, which in turn drives up their popularity and cash flow. It is great deal for them, but not so much for the hundreds of thousands that will die and the nations that will be left in ruin.
Essence Restored 