Iraq article example of 'dire straits' in journalism

Robert Burns' article reporting on the bombing of Iraq ("U.S. planes attack Iraqi radar sites," Associated Press report printed Feb. 19) is an exemplary case of the dire straits of U.S. journalism today, one that mindlessly parrots State Department doublespeak. General Newbold called the attack a "self-defense measure" because Iraqi "command sites" were "threatening American and British aircraft."\nTo call this attack "self-defense" is the height of American imperial arrogance; more than 300 civilians have been killed by U.S. bombings during the past two years. These bombings occur almost weekly. In this respect, the bombing is indeed routine. But much more devastating and almost completely missing from media accounts is the ongoing blockade of Iraq, which has killed more than 500,000 children under the age of 5, according to UNICEF. \nEven according to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Iraq is no longer a threat to its neighbors. Certainly, children under the age of 5 are not. But our leaders continue to build their own power on the corpses of the powerless. It's time that we tell our leaders that we will not abide the killing of innocents.