“How about we talk about how special America is?” Fox News host and U.S. Army veteran, Pete Hegseth, recently posed this question to his viewers. However, unlike what one might expect, he wasn’t talking about America’s diversity, democracy or cultural contributions. Instead, Hegseth’s focus was on America’s military might and its supposed superiority over other nations.
This statement came in the aftermath of the U.S. killing of top Iranian commander, Qasem Soleimani, which has led to increased tensions between the two countries. The media coverage of this event has been largely critical, with many questioning the legality and consequences of the U.S. strike. But for Hegseth and other pro-war advocates, the media’s coverage has been too negative and not celebratory enough of America’s actions.
In a post on The Intercept, journalist Jon Schwarz highlights how Hegseth’s statement is not an anomaly, but rather a reflection of the current mindset of many U.S. officials. There is a growing trend of demanding pro-war propaganda from the media, instead of critical and unbiased coverage of U.S. actions.
This is not the first time the media has been accused of not being patriotic enough in their coverage of U.S. military interventions. During the Iraq War, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, famously criticized the media for showing images of U.S. soldiers’ coffins, stating that it was “unpatriotic” and “a disservice to the country”. This sentiment has continued to persist, with the media often being accused of being “un-American” when they don’t align with the government’s narrative.
But let’s take a step back and examine why it is the media’s responsibility to cover any military action, whether it be positive or negative, in an unbiased and critical manner. Journalism is supposed to hold those in power accountable and provide the public with the necessary information to form their own opinions. It is not the job of the media to act as a mouthpiece for the government or promote war in any way.
Furthermore, celebrating war and glorifying military actions is unethical and dangerous. It creates a false sense of patriotism and dehumanizes the victims of these actions. War is not something to be celebrated, it is a devastating and traumatic experience that should only be used as a last resort. As journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted, “Healthy, patriotic citizens don’t celebrate the killing of other human beings. That’s the behavior of a sociopath.”
Hegseth’s statement also ignores the fact that the U.S. is not always on the right side of history. The U.S. has a long history of military interventions and regime changes that have had disastrous consequences for the countries involved. It is important for the media to provide a balanced view of these actions and not just blindly promote them as acts of heroism.
Furthermore, the media’s coverage of the U.S. strike on Soleimani has been critical for valid reasons. The U.S. government has yet to provide concrete evidence of an imminent threat posed by Soleimani, and the strike has raised concerns about the legality of targeted assassinations. It is the media’s responsibility to question and scrutinize these actions, instead of blindly promoting them.
Lastly, it is important to remember that the media is not the enemy of the people. A free and independent press is a cornerstone of democracy and any attempts to silence or control the media should be met with strong opposition. The media’s role is to inform, not to appease the government or promote their agenda.
In conclusion, it is concerning to see U.S. officials like Pete Hegseth demanding pro-war propaganda from the media. War should never be glorified or celebrated, and it is the media’s responsibility to provide unbiased and critical coverage of any military action. As citizens, we should demand that the media holds those in power accountable, instead of blindly promoting their actions. Let us not forget the true purpose and importance of a free press in a democracy.
