The Times and Iraq: A Mea Culpa

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/international/middleeast/26FTE_NOTE.html

The recent New York Times editorial on May 26, 2004 while refreshing in its candor raises important questions on what caused this behavior at all. The New York Times is not alone in this matter. Almost all media organizations, without exception, did not take ten steps back, before they decided to punt the story to the front pages.

It is increasingly evident, that post 9-11, as a society we wrapped ourselves in the flag and rightfully so. In that process we got too absorbed in righting the wrong inflicted upon us. When Monsieur Bin Laden went AWOL we were, as a nation, still desperate to bring someone to justice and bad boy Saddam was the perfect enemy.

The mea culpa by the New York Times is a humbling reminder of the frailties of people in general and journalists in particular. When your nation is under attack, and people you know either directly or indirectly have died, it is difficult to stay unbiased and objective. It is easier to get carried away and betray the principles of fairness and justice that this country was founded on.

Mob mentality is not the preserve of the uneducated-depending on the circumstances, educated and intelligent people are equally guilty of condemning people en masse.