Frontline (PBS) report on Vice-President Cheney

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Investigative Journalism, the USA and Iran

This is a new article by Seymour Hirsh who has been at the forefront of investigative journalism and Irak in the last few years and in the last two the American strategy in its relation with Iran.

Shifting Targets
The Administration’s plan for Iran.
by Seymour M. Hersh October 8, 2007
"In a series of public statements in recent months, President Bush and members of his Administration have redefined the war in Iraq, to an increasing degree, as a strategic battle between the United States and Iran. “Shia extremists, backed by Iran, are training Iraqis to carry out attacks on our forces and the Iraqi people,” Bush told the national convention of the American Legion in August. “The attacks on our bases and our troops by Iranian-supplied munitions have increased. . . . The Iranian regime must halt these actions. And, until it does, I will take actions necessary to protect our troops.” He then concluded, to applause, “I have authorized our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran’s murderous activities.”"

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While on the subject of investigative journalism... or the lack thereof

This a link to the transcript, video and links related to a programme by Bill Moyers which aired on public television in May.It is called Buying the War. The show details the extent to which the media did not question the administration's decision. Interesting investigative journalism on the absence of investigative journalism. This has not aired on NZ television.

From the PBS website:
Four years ago on May 1, President Bush landed on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln wearing a flight suit and delivered a speech in front of a giant "Mission Accomplished" banner. He was hailed by media stars as a "breathtaking" example of presidential leadership in toppling Saddam Hussein. Despite profound questions over the failure to locate weapons of mass destruction and the increasing violence in Baghdad, many in the press confirmed the White House's claim that the war was won. MSNBC's Chris Matthews declared, "We're all neo-cons now;" NPR's Bob Edwards said, "The war in Iraq is essentially over;" and Fortune magazine's Jeff Birnbaum said, "It is amazing how thorough the victory in Iraq really was in the broadest context."

How did the mainstream press get it so wrong? How did the evidence disputing the existence of weapons of mass destruction and the link between Saddam Hussein to 9-11 continue to go largely unreported? "What the conservative media did was easy to fathom; they had been cheerleaders for the White House from the beginning and were simply continuing to rally the public behind the President — no questions asked. How mainstream journalists suspended skepticism and scrutiny remains an issue of significance that the media has not satisfactorily explored," says Moyers. "How the administration marketed the war to the American people has been well covered, but critical questions remain: How and why did the press buy it, and what does it say about the role of journalists in helping the public sort out fact from propaganda?"

Watch the programme; read the transcript, follow useful links...

Washington Post's investigative series on Cheney's Vice-Presidency

This is a defining investigative report on Cheney's Vice-Presidency. The report provides much new material and insights. It also provides a perfect example of investigative journalism and what it can do best: draw on many sources to build a insider look on the role of the American Vice-President.

"Dick Cheney is the most influential and powerful man ever to hold the office of vice president. This series examines Cheney's largely hidden and little-understood role in crafting policies for the War on Terror, the economy and the environment."

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