As likely Republican candidates for president continue to struggle with the legacy of the Iraq War, and specifically with the question of whether they would have authorized a similar invasion if they had been president at the time, it’s important to remember the media’s role in the foreign policy failure. At a time of heightened patriotic fervor, the national press played a crucial role in helping to sell President George W. Bush’s war to the public in 2003. There were some key, praiseworthy exceptions, but in general the Beltway press failed badly during the run-up to the war. It’s a fact that shouldn’t be forgotten as politicians today grapple with the past.
Source: salon.com