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P.O. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
Email: editor@dailyemerald.com
Online Edition:
www.dailyemerald.com
Thursday, April 3,2003
-Oregon Daily Emerald
Commentary
Editor in Chief:
Michael J. Kleckner
Managing Editor:
Jessica Richelderfer
Editorial Page Assistant:
Salena De La Cruz
Honest war coverage under fire
Addicts to the never-ending war
coverage on NBC and its cable sis
ter stations lost out on an honest
insider’s view Monday when the
cocky peacock network fired jour
nalist Peter Arnett for daring to
have an opinion.
Arnett, a former correspondent
for CNN during the 1991 Gulf War
and Pulitzer Prize winner for his re
porting in Viet
nam for The
Associated
Press, was first
defended by
NBC on Sun
day when news
broke he gave
an impromptu
interview on
Iraqi television
regarding the
success of U.S.
war plans. The
original NBC reaction was that the
interview was granted as a “profes
sional courtesy” and that Arnett’s re
marks were “analytical in nature.”
But by Monday morning, after a
firestorm of mostly Bush supporters
vocalized their disgust with Arnett,
all hell had broken loose. Sweating
bullets, NBC News President Neal
Shapiro reneged original comments
and sacked the news veteran.
NBC started airing Arnett’s re
ports when other network re
porters left Baghdad for safety rea
sons. He was originally an
employee of the MSNBC show “Na
tional Geographic Explorer,” which
also axed him Monday.
Arnett’s comments weren’t real
ly so outlandish and his opinions
weren’t anything anti-war protest
ers haven’t been circulating for
days. In answering questions, he
Julie
Lauderbaugh
Judge Julie
said that the U.S. is delaying the
battle “and rewriting the war plan.
The first war plan has failed be
cause of Iraqi resistance.”
“Clearly, the American war plans
misjudged the determination of the
Iraqi forces,” Arnett said.
Well, duh. Few anticipated plain
clothes Iraqis would pretend to sur
render and then ambush soldiers.
And while war planners have
claimed all along the war would be
difficult, Americans didn’t anticipate
battles in An Nasiriyah and Basra
would be so bloody — especially af
ter all of the good news being filtered
through during the first week of the
“shock and awe” air raids.
But without solid journalists like
Arnett in the field, Americans would
never know what really went on to
begin with. We would have to rely on
information passing through the
sieve of government public relations
and “carefully phrased” statements
by Defense Secretary Donald Rums
feld and the like, who may not be
trained in the wiles of fair and bal
anced reporting.
Surely, Arnett would have never
announced his personal views on
the war in one of his news seg
ments because it would taint his
credibility. But in this instance on
Iraqi television he was “off the
clock,” a phrase in the journalism
world that some editors — and ap
parently NBC executives — don’t
particularly believe in.
Journalists face a dilemma deter
mining when they can put down
their pen and act like a regular citi
zen. As humans, reporters will in
herently have an opinion even if
they try and suppress it.
In this vein, Arnett should be
commended for admitting he has a
Peter Utsey Emerald
view instead of pretending he did
not, further tainting his own report
ing with disillusionment. Arnett was
fired because he was taking ques
tions for the enemy more than for
the content of his answers.
In the end, the Arnett debacle
will have a chilling effect on re
porters in the field who may take
his fate to heart. Journalists in Iraq
will have to tip-toe around the ed
iting process to make sure they
don’t offend the Bush administra
tion or question its war tactics.
Peter Arnett was one of the last
Western television reporters remain
ing in Baghdad providing coverage
for a U.S. network and had a working
relationship with Iraqi sources that
no other reporter could boast.
Perhaps for canned news
junkies, Arnett was too lovey
dovey with the Iraqis to be objec
tive, but outraged popular opinion
had its way with him. Honest war
coverage may never be the same.
Contact the columnist
atjulielauderbaugh@dailyemerald.com.
Her views do not necessarily represent
those of the Emerald.
."7'.;"r
Everyone should show respect at walk-out on war
Guest commentary
The undersigned are members of Students for Peace.
As members of this student organization, our anti-war
sentiment cannot be denied. The belief expressed by
President George W. Bush, that the war is in some way
going to serve die cause of peace, is one that we all cate
gorically reject. We have organized a rally for today to
express our personal opposition to the Bush regime and
our feelings on whatever we may think are related issues
—classism, sexism, racism, feminism, environmental
ism, political radicalism, humanism, objectivism, etc.
Though opinions within the organization vary, the
undersigned would like to invite persons with intelli
gent objections to any agenda taken up by the group
or by individual members on the issues of activism,
information, or the war itself, to attend the rally and
make informed selections as to what they believe. De
bate and doubt — be it personal or social — are an
essential part of reaching certainty about many
things. Among these, informed political positions are
very prominent and vital areas.
Students for Peace, as an organization, has no
more objection to pro-war demonstrators shout
ing, “Kill, kill, kill” (as has been shouted) than it
has to anti-war demonstrators endorsing radical
agendas unaffiliated with Students for Peace
(though it is important to point out that a large
percentage of dedicated activists do possess radi
cal leanings, and are often more informed about
these issues than many of the political moderates
who dismiss them).
People with objections should make their opinions
known in a non-insulting manner, and in a way that
acknowledges their presence at a rally that was or
ganized by anti-war demonstrators. Believe it or not,
there’s work that goes into these things. Disrespect is
an important issue.
The walk-out will be taking place at 2:30 p.m. Those
who have class at that time should leave it and congre
gate at the EMU Amphitheater. There will be music,
slam poets, speakers and people from every walk of life
at the rally. Anyone from any walk is welcome.
At 4 p.m., a Bikes Not Bombs ride and a march will be
going to the Federal Building to join a larger rally that
will be forming there. Community activism is an impor
tant activity, whether you intend to make specific
changes or are just going on record as agreeing with
whatever sane power finally comes into existence.
Bob Rademacher, Nathaniel N-T, Alexander Gonzales,
Bethany Ayres and one co-signer signed on behalf of
Students for Peace.
Letters to the editor
Allow non-smokers
some breathing room
I have some concerns about smoking on
campus. I am not a smoker, and I chose this
way of life for various reasons, mainly for the
sake of my health. I believe that people have
their own choice in what they want to do,
but when it affects me and my health, I am
not so open-minded.
Every day on campus someone walks ahead
of me smoking, and the smoke comes back
and hits me in the face. When I leave a building
I can always expect to breathe smoke. This al
ways makes my eyes itch and turn red; some
times it makes me cough and affects my
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breathing. The most common reaction is to get
a headache.
I know that some smokers are more con
science while they are smoking. They really
try not to affect others around them and I
thank them, but I am writing to others not
so compliant. Sometimes we do not realize
the effects of our actions, so maybe people
will try to make an effort not to walk while
smoking and to smoke in better locations
around campus, away from doors.
Perhaps a solution would be to have the
University make designated smoking spots
protected from the weather. That way, they
are able to smoke on campus, between
classes or work, and the people who chose
to not smoke will no longer have to deql
with smoke in their face. I am only asking
for smokers to be respectful of those
around them.
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Sarah Day
sophomore
sociology
Shively-Bae ticket brings
‘breadth of experience’
The Christa Shively-Greg Bae ticket for
ASUO Executive has the most experience and
most innovative, thorough platform. They
have a breadth of experience from such organ
izations as the Multicultural Center, Erb
Memorial Union Board, Associated Students
Presidential Advisory Committee, Delta Sigma
Phi and more. Moreover, they are genuine, in
telligent, kind, hard-working students dedicat
ed to bettering the lives of students.
This ticket will fight for need-based grants,
cut severely in recent state legislative sessions.
They will fight to keep tuition down and fee in
creases reasonable, while helping the student
body better understand the incidental fee
process. They will also advance the cause of a
leadership center where students can hone
their skills and learn how to get involved. And
they will continue to push for a city housing
code. Perhaps most importantly, Christa and
Greg will collaborate with student organiza
tions and the University to ensure that inter
national students’ rights are not infringed in
these trying times.
I fully endorse Christa and Greg for ASUO
Executive and hope you join me in voting for
them April 9-11 on DuckWeb. Nobody is more
qualified, and nobody cares more. Check out
their Web site at
http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~gbae.
Eric Bailey
senior
PPPM and political science
ASUO student senator
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