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This week marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, but you wouldn't know it from what you see on TV.

With all the scandal-mongering coverage of the Democratic primary, the media's been too busy to spend much time talking about the two wars we're still fighting. In fact, just 3% of the news in February was dedicated to the war. That's down from 15% of news coverage last July. For the men and women risking their lives overseas, that's a slap in the face.

And it's skewing Americans' perceptions of the war. Over 80% of Americans are aware that Oprah Winfrey endorsed Senator Obama, yet only 28% know how many American troops have died in Iraq. That's less than one in three Americans. For any readers who aren't sure, the casualty number is about to hit 4,000. You can see the names and faces of these brave men and women here.

Most Americans will say that it's the very least we can do is take the time to honor their sacrifice. But how can we, as Americans, claim to be honoring their sacrifice if the average American can't even measure it?

We can do better.

I know it's an election year, and that the economy is in trouble. I know that it's easier to endlessly replay the latest gaffe from a candidate than to take your camera outside the Green Zone. But news of the ongoing wars shouldn't fall by the wayside.

You can help remind them. Please take a minute now to sign an open letter and demand the major networks increase their coverage of the Iraq war.

The media must demonstrate that they can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Read more HuffPost coverage and reaction to the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq



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collapse janeb See Profile I'm a Fan of janeb

I'll tell you where the media coverage is. It is on Jeremiah Wright. You know, something important! Who cares about soldiers dying, or trillions of dollars being wasted for no reason?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:24 PM on 03/20/2008
collapse wolf58 See Profile I'm a Fan of wolf58

Sorry Paul the media don't care about the war or the troops. Today MSNBC decided that Clinton Affair is once again news worthy, or flood in the mid west, whores, local murder, and the rest of the tabold crap that for the most part should be in a supermarket rag. CNN isn't much better and FOX, well fuck fox someone from EOD should deal with them. Even here on Huffpo not much coverage. Bush lied his ass off yesterday and yet no one calls him on it. 3992 have died in Iraq and who feels for them and their families? Not Bush/Cheney and of course not the media, not enough sex, scandal, for them. Just us and our friends.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:15 PM on 03/20/2008
collapse lainey See Profile I'm a Fan of lainey

Thank you for reminding our media and our citizens that there are two wars going on; it is sad to note that our President barely acknowledged the war in Afghanistan yesterday, (most likely because his original intent was to get to Iraq). The soldiers and Marines, both young and old, should be honored each day in not only our papers and networks, but also in our homes, our schools, our places of worship-everywhere. If we did so, we might find the realities too great to ignore...the US entered Iraq under false pretenses, our elected officials so easily gave the President the green light to do so, one candidate running as a Democrat failed to read the NIE, (yet says she has better foreign policy credentials than the other), the Republican candidate promises "50 more years", and one strong Democrat eloquently detailed that an invasion of Iraq would strike a fatal blow to lives, treasure and reputation. If we took the time to see the names and the faces as Jim Lehrer shows us each night, we might come to realize that it could one day be OUR brother, sister, friend, husband, uncle, aunt, mother or father; for these wars could be endless. That is, if we let it. The story of today and everyday IS the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring them home safely...

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:55 AM on 03/20/2008
collapse provoice See Profile I'm a Fan of provoice

Few things have amazed me more than seeing the poll figures that indicated that Americans are more concerned about the state of the economy than they are the war in Iraq.

Of course Bush and his Propaganda Pals in the corporate-controlled media have very carefully limited what can be shown on TV news or the front pages of our newspapers. No flag-draped coffins coming home.. minimum coverage of the soldiers coming home missing limbs or mentally damaged by their experiences... military officers forbidden from discussing rapid deployment of specially-built bomb-resistant vehicles... and bald-faced lies about how many people who were tortured and by whom...

Meanwhile, our economy is crumbling from the wasteful spending in Iraq that has continued unabated for over five years... ridiculous trade policies... and the precipitous drop in the value of the American dollar on the world market.

Bush and Company have pushed America to the brink of disaster and we are just holding on to the ledge with the very tips of our fingers... and Bush's Propaganda Pals want us to let McCain continue Bush's policies???

If McCain is elected, I wouldn't be surprised to see some patriot burn Fox News to the ground.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:38 AM on 03/20/2008
collapse afrozashrafi See Profile I'm a Fan of afrozashrafi

I dont understand how there will be a possibility of adequate media attention given to the cries of death whether it is iraqi or American . The day the war was imposed on a country governed by the idiosyncracies of its own dictators was more than clear that there would be bloodbath and intimidating destructions . Those killed during the war went unsung and unlamented on both sides and those responsible for the deaths and destructions were busy celebrating the so called fall of the dictatorial regime under a mistaken notion that Iraq has been freed from the trauma of oppression , but what the perpetrators of war did not realise was , the post war situation will be more difficult to manage and it would be infested with the remains of a tormented conscience and will have nothing to lose save strife , civil war and the suicide bombing so typical of the iraqi modus operandi to keep the imported army on a tight leash .
The problem with the nation having launched the illegitimate tirade is that they cant even make the death toll public being wary of the reactions backhome . If America is involved in the so called restoration of democracy in Iraq , it has to pay a price and the conspiratorial adventurism demands its own pound of flesh . The rulers are not sensitive to the sufferings of those sent to toil it out and bear the brunt of daily violence . The news reads every day , twenty killed in a blast near Bhagdad , fifty died in Basra in a suicide attack and so on and so forth . Who knows the identity of those killed and who is interested in calculating the losses incurred by both the countries . No body would have imagined that that the ghost of Saddam would keep the American forces at bay . The violence is on the rise , the kurdish has its own share of grudges and the Saddam loyalists are there in bits and pieces to keep the flame of protest burning . In the face of all these it is really difficult to keep count of the casaulties on both sides . Iraq will not rest untill the land is restored to the people it belongs . If you play a foul game then better be prepared to face the music.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:24 AM on 03/20/2008
collapse jbd See Profile I'm a Fan of jbd

There has been no mention of the 'Winter Soldier' event that went on this weekend. Go to Democracynow.org and check out today's soldier testimonies. One of the most arrogant American attitudes of this war has been the failure to recognize the suffering of the Iraqi people that we have caused. Everything is always about the impact on our soldiers. These people did not ask for this. Any American would have resisted an occupying army of our country and the Iraqi's are always portrayed as the 'bad guys'. Once Bush/Cheney unleashed the Dogs of War, every person that died from that point on, on both sides is their responsibility. The ones blown to pieces by cruise missles trying to get Saddam, shot in their houses and yards, shot in their cars, blown up at the market, shot in firefights, killed by smart bombs, blow up by IED's, killed in copter crashes, accidents, sniper attacks, reprisal killings, suicides,and by torture on both sides. I'm not a my country right or wrong type of guy. This really is a horrible foriegn policy blunder, that is a stain on our country. There was never a doubt that Saddam's military would have to fold or be annihilated where they stood. To think that there was no plan for what happened next is mind boggleing. How could they have allowed Bremmer to disband the Iraqi Army, which seems to be a decsion made on a whim? How could we have let these fools run this country for 8 years? I hope all our soldiers can find the mental strength to get through the hard times, and find a life that is rewarding when they get out or this war finally ends. Maybe this group of Veterans could get politically active so that this doesn't happen again.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:32 AM on 03/20/2008
collapse cct1984 See Profile I'm a Fan of cct1984

Oh come on Paul!! Stop being so naïve, you know as well as I do that the reason the media is ignoring the war is because things have improved--not enough blood and guts in the streets to make it worth their while to report. Dead Americans is news, progress is not--that"s the way of things.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:37 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse fortuna See Profile I'm a Fan of fortuna

We don't have journalism anymore (with the rare exception of a Keith Olbermann). It's all infotainment now, dumbed down to the lowest common denominator with pretty people reading from teleprompters. Until that changes, the coverage won't change. You could lose a battalion in Iraq in one day, but if another Anna Nicole Smith-type died, you would be hard pressed to find coverage of the story in Iraq.

With that said, I thank you for your service and it will be an honor to sign your open letter.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:21 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse fortuna See Profile I'm a Fan of fortuna

I signed the letter and sent the link to a good friend of mine who is a Vietnam vet. I hope we can make a difference.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:26 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse deminmo See Profile I'm a Fan of deminmo

The reaction to 9/11 peaked about a year after the
event. The 5th year anniversary of the occupation of
Iraq really isn't on the minds of most people. In fact
I doubt most people could have given the year it started
if asked.
Only if something really big happens, will it come
back as a news story. Scary, huh?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:19 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse Jame01958 See Profile I'm a Fan of Jame01958

This war would still be on everybody's mind if the
draft and the draft lottery had been instituted from the beginning. And yet maybe not even authorized because of the draft and public pressure against the draft.
Instead, too many people take on the attitude, oh, well they enlisted on their own right?
They're ROTC, right? Oh, their doing their patriotic duty right?
If the public knew from the beginning that we had been lied too, and could see the body bags, coffins and direct news coverage, NOT filtered news.If the public could see the millions of Iraqi's that are now refuggees, then maybe the public would be more tuned in. It's just somebody elses kid, wife, husband, friend, right?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:56 AM on 03/20/2008
collapse LastDaysCafe See Profile I'm a Fan of LastDaysCafe

Wheres the media??? Hey the American Media is busy fullfilling its committment to Bush's take over of Iraq's Oil Wealth! Basically it was a partnership between pals - the American Media promised not to investigate or expose Bush's real,ulterior motives in Iraq and in return the American Media Conglomerates got some pay off "promises" and tax breaks plus a real nice pat on their heads from Bush & Cheney!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:24 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse fletch1031 See Profile I'm a Fan of fletch1031

Mr. Rieckhoff, the mainstream media holds its audience in contempt. Can't sell cars and dish soap during war coverage.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:36 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse CountryOver See Profile I'm a Fan of CountryOver

America's REAL/true "you can't handle the truth!" monologue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np6_b-72H3E

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:33 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse hoodrat See Profile I'm a Fan of hoodrat

You keep spittin' truth bro. I'm half Black and could give three shits about who's bumpin' who. Or what a Pastor said in a snappin' moment, or even how it effects White mens psyche. My other half is Hawaiian - but my blood runs green, as did my father and uncles, and their father. Our kids keep redeploying, fightin' not only the war, but the "Russian Roulette" game of how many ruck ups before I get wetted, fighting a war not meant to be won, but used for what war has almost always been fought for - plunder and land(or what's underneath). The post from Baretta is slightly wrong - 'cause you honor the living, by celebrating the sacrifice of those fallen. But it's more important to the vapid, to worry about McCartney and his ex., who got bumped by American Idol, whose feet tapped who who's. If they had a REAL reality show, like four hours of primetime TV, on all the "exciting" parts,(misunderstanding the fact that it's the "downtime", when you can think, is the real ordeal), of our war - they would've been home. Semper Fi

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:29 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse Berettasskeeter See Profile I'm a Fan of Berettasskeeter

I was slightly off in my wording. We should honor the dead. One of the ways we do this is by celebrating the living. Thanks for pointing out my deficiency. Typing too fast for my thoughts!
Semper fi

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:28 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse hoodrat See Profile I'm a Fan of hoodrat

Bro., I knew what you were sayin', just like I know who's "rucked up" by their posts. No worries bro. : )

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:48 PM on 03/22/2008
collapse KQuark See Profile I'm a Fan of KQuark

Mr. Rieckhoff I have always valued the opinions of those who served on the ground in Iraq much more then our political leaders who have not sacrificed for our country. The lack of media coverage on the Iraq war is just as scandalous as the lack of opposition war coverage before going into the war. This media failing is giving the candidates who gave us this failed policy much more foreign policy credibility than they deserve. We should be talking about the reasons why John McCain is the only candidate left that is not committed to the new GI Bill instead of watching him play soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:14 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse paulrieckhoff See Profile I'm a Fan of paulrieckhoff

I hear you. Great point about the GIB, KQuark. Call his office and ask why he is not yet on board. Thanks for the support.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:25 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse Berettasskeeter See Profile I'm a Fan of Berettasskeeter

I disagree with your premise that we need to celebrate the dead. Leave them to their loved ones. Lets celebrate those who are still in the fight. Start demanding to hear the stories of bravery and heroism. Lets have parades to celebrate our heroes, and show the nation that our heroes are not the Loony Left, but the young men and women who put their lives on the line for their country.
Semper fi

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:45 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse RealistDem See Profile I'm a Fan of RealistDem

Its clear from the media the real issues are Rev Wright, Geraldine Ferraro and the word monster. CNN actually had the word monstergate on the crawl a few weeks back.

Im watching the HBO series John Adams and thanking god the talking heads and pundits werent back then, we would never of had a country.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:26 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse slavsrule See Profile I'm a Fan of slavsrule

Good work. This is a step in the right direction, but I would add two words: AFGHANISTAN and DARFUR. Both these issues have received far less coverage than they deserve. Have the American people become so myopic that we cannot focus on several large issues at the same time? Apparently so, and media coverage reflects that. Unfortunately, even with the broadening availability of news outlets through the internet, the major networks are more interested in competing against one another for "the story of the day" than keeping Americans informed on a broad range of issues. They have self-censored themselves for economic reasons and ego. We should be outraged and bombard them with protests and petitions every chance we get.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:36 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse marinemomof3 See Profile I'm a Fan of marinemomof3

I just got an email joke from my ex boss about the taliban in iraq......

It is very sad for me. I feel like most Americans have STOCKHOLM syndrome....

or they just do not care......

I wish my son and son in law was stateside....what are they there for again??

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:18 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse SubparDude See Profile I'm a Fan of SubparDude

:

What Wars??

I just seen The President on the T&V and We Already Won.

:

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:15 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse Fig90007 See Profile I'm a Fan of Fig90007

People are tired of hearing about it, but that's because they're lazy. They just want to hear Slick Barry Obama tell us the troops are coming home. Slick's got a few other issues to clean up right now, though. Then he can get back to promises, promises, promises.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:04 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse rixhex56 See Profile I'm a Fan of rixhex56

Mr. Reickhoff,

Like the war protestors that were out being arrested, you must keep up the good fight you have been carrying on for so long now. Keeping the thoughts alive is imperative -- do not allow the media to simply ignore this issue and bury it along with their own complicitness in this crime.

I still remember the manner in which the MSM so gloriously covered the invasion. Then for months, they had "embedded" reported on all manner of war-related topics. Then gradually, as the war they helped promote turned into the current disaster, the media have recoiled like an embarrassed child caught in a lie. Not only are they covering for this administration, but they are covering thier own asses because to report on the terrible conditions in Iraq would be to admit the war crime in which they were so complicit.

Most are familiar with the addage that says evil triumphs when good men stand by and do nothing. Those who are speaking out are largely being slapped down, but it is good that they keep up the fight. I wonder what our national consensus on the Iraq war would be at this point if they had not. Keep up the good fight!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:55 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse NotMyPrez See Profile I'm a Fan of NotMyPrez

Now if Petreus was caught with an ex- "Girls GOne Wild" 4,300 dollar hooker, then CNN would be all over it ad FOX would be running the barely - airable photos.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:50 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse swift_goat_pet_for_truth See Profile I'm a Fan of swift_goat_pet_for_truth

Should the MSM cover dead soldiers or high priced prostitutes....

Hmmm...

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:38 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse veteran1964 See Profile I'm a Fan of veteran1964
Moderator's Pick

HuffPost's Pick

Paul, I am a veteran and I agree with you every time you speak. I have watched you on the news and read your posts and it's about time people listen to you. Somehow a reverand's rants have taken over the news and the bias of news is showing every day. From Fox to CNN and soon to MSNBC, it seems that all people are interested in talking about is SEX. There must be a mutual fetish going on between these newscasters. I just watched a CNN reporter in Iraq live today. She asked General Petreas (?) a few questions and one question stated......since Iran is supporting Al Quaida in Iraq, what is going on...or something to that effect. She stated the same as McCain yesterday. When are these newspeople going to get their facts straight? Are they being paid to keep their mouths shut about the war? Iraq is not better than it was since the first day. The only reason the government can state that progress is being made is because we have men and women with rifles and other killing machines patrolling the streets and the country. Take these wonderful people out and Iraq will fold. We have sunk billions of dollars into infrastructure....Where the heck is it? Where are all the revenues that we were supposed to get on the oil in the country.....Where is the financial backing that Bush talked about that Iraq's oil was supposed to provide? I don't see John McCain without an army around him walking the streets of Baghdad. It is sickening to see our troops being killed, wounded and sent home without help. Suicides are up every day and DUH does anyone know why? I do. It's called too much deployment in kill zones. That's damaging to our troops mental capabilities to adjust back to society. Divorces are abundant....Why? People cannot be separated from their families for years. Something has to happen.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to more of your appearances and keep telling the truth.

Thanks,

Jim McCoy
Franklin, N.C.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:33 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse paulrieckhoff See Profile I'm a Fan of paulrieckhoff

Thanks, Jim. I really appreciate your note--and your service. Please help us spread the word about our work. And keep up the fight!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:17 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse fairandjust See Profile I'm a Fan of fairandjust

Corporate owned media does not want to cover the senseless Iraq War anymore because more that 3/4 of the american public knows it was a mistake and is now against the war. I see a correlation with coverage decreasing as support for the war decreased.

But the public is not angry enough because while the wars are still in progress - the bush administration also made sure that americans have to worry about losing their job, their healthcare, and now losing their retirement accounts. And the corporate owned media offers lots of assistance in helping keep the american public distracted with lots of stupid stuff too.

I am very sad about this milestone as well as the soon to be totals of 4000 killed and over 40,000 injured americans. Keep up the good work that you are doing for those soldiers that we will never forget.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:00 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse cariintexas See Profile I'm a Fan of cariintexas

Great article Paul. Yes the media loves to say we love and support our troops,really? Why then does it only take a sex story to make them lose that loving feeling. I come from a military family of many generations. The only two siblings I had were both military, my husband a former U S Army captain so I know first hand of what it's like to be a spouse/dependant. I can only guess what it must be like to be in combat. NO we have not forgotten even if the media seems to have.
Thank You to each and every man and woman both present and past for your service to our great country. God bless you all

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:34 PM on 03/19/2008
collapse rixhex56 See Profile I'm a Fan of rixhex56

Corporations and religion -- the two most divisive forces in the world today.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:57 PM on 03/19/2008
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