Seeing through the lie that is war: from the nightmare of the battlefield, a warning against national self-worship - Cover Story - War Is the Force that Gives Us Meaning - Book Review

National Catholic Reporter, Nov 29, 2002 by Tom Roberts

If there was little of that kind of reportage, particularly on television, it was not because the press was used during the Gulf War, it was because the press "wanted to be used. It saw itself as part of the war effort." If Hedges is unsparing in his criticism of the media, which provided "war as spectacle, war as entertainment" as well as coverage "designed to make us feel good about our nation, about ourselves," he did not spare himself either.

Hedges signed one of the restrictive agreements required of all covering the Gulf War. The agreement would authorize "pool reporters" to be accompanied by military guides on "field trips." Hedges signed the agreement and the next day headed into the field without authorization and negotiated his way to the front lines.

"But even those who do go out are guilty of distortion. For we not only believe the myth of war and feed recklessly off of the drug but also embrace the cause. We may do it with more skepticism. We certainly expose more lies and misconceptions. But we believe. We all believe. When you stop believing you stop going to war."

Tom Roberts is editor of NCR. His e-mail address is troberts@natcath.org