The mainstream media intends on selling the Iraqis short, just as they did the Afghanis prior to their election. We heard nothing but how the clannish Afghanis would never embrace democracy, how the warlords would use violence to prevent the election, and how the Taliban remnants would overwhelm the voting centers with terrorist attacks everywhere except Kabul. It all turned out to be nothing but defeatist nonsense. Apparently, it looks like the same is true in Iraq.
I'm sure that the press will note that things went well if we pull off the election in a reasonable fashion. They did report on the tremendous success of the Afghan elections, right? No? Oh. Well surely the fact that Australians returned a pro-war-on-terror government to office was trumpeted in the press after they built up the vote as a referendum on the war? Again, no? Hmm.
Sometimes I forget that our reporters like to consider themselves reporters who happen to be Americans and not Americans who happen to be reporters. The latter would be so unprofessional after all.
