by James Glaser
March 29, 2005

America's media is plastered with talk about Terri Schiavo's life, what is happening with George Bush's push for a revamp of Social Security, and then there is Michael Jackson's trial, but we hear almost nothing about all the American soldiers who are giving their lives in Bush's war.

This Saturday seven Americans died in Afghanistan and Iraq. So far this month 35 Soldiers and Marines have been killed and if the past 23 months hold true, hundreds have been wounded.

We never do know how many young Americans are maimed in this War on Terror, because the Pentagon refuses to give out accurate numbers and even though they tell us how many are killed, the nightly news and print media are not allowed to take pictures of their returning coffins, because it is against the law.

It is against the law for the American news media to take pictures of the flag draped coffins of American troops coming home. Land of the free?

Last year at this time, if seven Americans were killed in one day in this war it would be front page news, this month it has happened twice and if the story is told, it is buried in the middle of the paper. Home town media will cover local boys and girls getting killed, but they are the only ones giving these deaths any play.

Out of sight and out of mind is what the Bush administration wants now. Keep the domestic stories coming, no matter how tawdry they are and people will forget about what is going on in Iraq. Almost every day some American is getting killed over there and many are maimed for life, but Washington has been able to get that story off the front page and not even a suicide bomber will get coverage from Iraq, but if there is even an attempt to kill some Israeli, that makes the front page and the nightly news.

No, I don't know who runs our media, but for sure it is someone who does not give a damn for our troops. All over America you see signs and bumper stickers about supporting our troops. I sure wish the media would.