February 2, 2003
|
Blix Gets Bushwhacked by Mainstream American Media
A
BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Paul Lukasiak
On Friday, January 31st, a number of things happened related to the possible war with Iraq. One was the scheduled meeting between George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. No real news came out of the meeting. They stood side by side, and once again warned Saddam Hussein that he must disarm.
The other event, perhaps even more significant, was UNMOVIC Chief Inspector Hans Blix telling the New York Times that the there was insufficient evidence to justify a war with Iraq.
Except for the New York Times, all the major media's web outlets led with the Blair Bush meeting, and virtually ignored the Blix story. When the American media did report on the Blix interview, it headlined Blix's criticism of Iraq.
ABC News does not mention Blix's denunciation of war on its homepage. Instead, its lead story is..
'New Deception'
President Bush and Britain's Tony Blair dismissed Iraq's new invitation to weapons inspectors. Calling Saddam Hussein "a danger to the world," the leaders vowed to resolve the standoff "in a matter of weeks."
CBS News does not mention Blix's denunciation of war on its homepage. Instead, its lead story is..
United Against Iraq
Meeting in Washington to review possible timetables for diplomacy and war, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iraq's Saddam Hussein is not disarming and the world must hold him to account.
MSNBC does not mention Blix's denunciation of war on its homepage. Instead, its lead story is..
Bush stresses 'present danger'
Jan. 31 -- At a joint press conference with President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair says Iraq is not disarming, and that "if they don't do it through the U.N. route then they will have to be disarmed by force.
CNN does not mention Blix's denunciation of war on its homepage. Instead, its lead story is..
Bush: 'New deception' from Saddam
U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iraq's invitation to U.N. weapons inspectors was another stalling tactic by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Bush called the Iraqi invitation a "new deception" by Saddam.
Fox News does not mention Blix's denunciation of war on its homepage. Instead, its lead story is..
Bush, Blair Put Saddam on Notice
President and British prime minister warn Iraqi leader to disarm now or face an allied attack
In fact, each of these web sites carried multiple Iraq related stories. But Blix’s denunciation of Bush’s war plans do not rate a mention.
Yet the international media gave heavy coverage to Blix's denunciation of war.
At 5:41 PM a Google News search was done for "Blix". Here are the results....
"No evidence for Iraq war, says Blix
The Age, Australia - 38 minutes ago
Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix, in an interview has challenged a series of accusations
Washington has lobbed at Iraq, saying inspection teams found nothing ...
War not justified: Blix - The Hindu
Blix sees no new Iraqi cooperation - CNN
Blix report misrepresents our compliance: Iraq - The Hindu
US Sour, Blix Undecided on Baghdad Invitation
Reuters, UK - 3 hours ago
... Hans Blix, executive chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection
Commission, discussed the invitation with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan but ...
Blix says no evidence to justify war in Iraq - Deutsche Welle
Blix Says No Evidence to Justify War on Iraq - Islam Online
Blix says no evidence to justify war in Iraq - Outlookindia.com
US is misquoting my Iraq report, says Blix
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 9 hours ago
Days after delivering a broadly negative report on Iraq's cooperation with international
inspectors, Hans Blix challenged several of the Bush Administration's ...
Bush Gives Diplomacy Weeks, Blix Wants Iraqi Help - ABC News
Bush gets a little help from Blix - Straits Times
Blix ready to meet Saddam
Albawaba Middle East News, Jordan - 1 hour ago
Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said on Friday he would meet with Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein if he were invited to do so, and would tell Saddam to ...
Blix would accept invitation to meet Saddam - ABC Online
Blix says would accept invitation to meet Saddam - Ha'aretz
UN sets out rules for Iraq talks - Guardian
Daily Oklahoman - ABC News - and more "
There is nothing in Iraq to prompt a war: Blix
Times of India, India - 4 hours ago
UNITED NATIONS: Challenging several contentions of the United States on Iraq's response
to arms inspection, UN's Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix has said he ...
There is nothing in Iraq to prompt a war: Blix - Outlookindia.com
Blix contest Bush claims in interview
Deutsche Welle, Germany - 38 minutes ago
In an interview with the New York Times, Hans Blix took issue with many claims made
by President George W. Bush in his 'State of the Union' address on Tuesday. ...
Blix contest Bush claims in interview - Deutsche Welle
Blix: No evidence to justify war in Iraq - Middle East Online
Blix: S. Africa Disarmed the Right Way
Newsday - 12 hours ago
... In his report to the UN Security Council Monday, chief weapons inspector Hans
Blix said South Africa had offered unfettered access and cooperation to UN ...
Disarmament: SA shows how - News24
S. Africa Touted for 'Real Disarmament' - Austin American Statesman
South Africa held as model for Iraq - Washington Times
ABC News
Note that there is not a single major American media outlet that finds it important that Hans Blix says that what he has seen so far does not justify a war.
Instead, each major news outlet lead with the completely unsurprising news that Bush and Blair agree that Saddam Hussein is a bad guy.
A
BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
