Mark Steyn: The cost of losing

Washington Times ^ | May 3, 2004

[John Jorsett]

According to Ted Koppel, dragging his gravitas like a ball and chain, "The most important thing a journalist can do is remind people of the cost of war."

So Friday evening on ABC he read out the names of the more than 530 American men and women to die in combat in Iraq. " 'Nightline' will not include those who died by accident and other causes because of time constraints," reported the New York Times, deadpan, acknowledging even the cost of war must defer to the cost of air time. "Mr. Koppel," it continued, "will barely have 2 seconds for each name."

[Izzy Dunne]

The cost of war is the cost of losing it measured against the cost of winning it.

I thought he would never get it said.
Why doesn't Alfred E. Koppel uunderstand that there is a cost to NOT fighting a war, as well?

[goldstategop]

To take the context into account 40,000 Americans die in auto accidents each year. We've suffered 700 casualties after a year in Iraq. It would take four years to even approach the total number of people murdered on 9/11. Its so easy to lose sight of the big picture and what is at stake what you recite the number of dead to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[grellis]

Had they been given a chance to live long enough to be named, I wonder how much time it would take to read the names of our approximately 43 million fellow citizens that died as a result of abortion.

[Pietro]

The terrorists cannot defeat the United States; but the democrats can.

[Tares]

ping

[neverdem]

Wasn't Nightline rumored to be considered for cancellation not long ago, only to be given an extension of its contract for another couple of years? I would bet against another contract. From Drudge:

'NIGHTLINE' RATINGS DOWN IN MAJOR CITIES WITH DEATH LIST; LOSES AUDIENCE FROM PREVIOUS FRIDAY WITH READING OF IRAQ WAR CASUALTIES... DEVELOPING... ABCNEWS SPECIAL HITS 9 SHARE IN NYC [FLAT FROM PREVIOUS WEEK]; 14 SHARE IN L.A.; 11 SHARE CHICAGO [DOWN FROM 15 SHARE PREVIOUS FRIDAY ]; 8 SHARE IN PHILLY [OFF FROM 11 SHARE]...

[My2Cents]

I don't care about Mr. Kerry's medals, or about Vietnam. But I care about him trapping this new war in the prism of an old war America lost.

Bears repeating.

[dead]

We can reach our own conclusions about which the coalition's dead would opt for.

Bump.

[RightWingMama]

Bttt

[wayoverontheright]

If one of those names was my son's, I would have a big problem with Koppel's stunt.

These kids died for a CAUSE they believed in, and a MISSION which they will not be part of completing. In searching for what a public role call of the dead at this point in time might accomplish, I can only surmise that the purpose would be to undermine the public's belief in the CAUSE and the MISSION, which cannot be done in my view, without dishonoring those who died believing in both.

It is precisely at this juncture where ANTI-WAR becomes ANTI-AMERICAN, in my opinion.

[Sarastro]

Which is Koppel? On the left or right? Jeez…give us Freepers a clue!

[dg62]

"To take the context into account 40,000 Americans die in auto accidents each year."

And probably 35,000 of these are young people in the 16-24 age bracket. I guess this means that statistically speaking, American youth would have been safer in the military this past year(no sarcasm intended).

[wizardoz]

I think the technical term for Koppel's stunt is "Waving the bloody shirt."

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

    Here's where it's worth considering more broadly the cost of Ted Koppel.

All you really need to know about journalism is that its practitioners are - under the terms of the First Amendment - not to be held responsible by the government. And that simply means that they can be irresponsible - and that inevitably means that they will be irresponsible.

There is a saying that "the pen is mightier than the sword;" there is no gainsaying that an irresponsible press is a danger to ourselves. And that is where we must leave it, as far as the literal press is concerned.

But of course the portion of "the press" in which Ted Koppel works is not the literal press but broadcast journalism. And since broadcasting is allowed only to the licensed few in order that the unlicensed many may have a "right to hear" the licensees, broadcasting is not the mere exercise of a right of citizenship but an act of priviledge. As a group those who are certified by the government (i.e., by FCC license) as speaking in the public interest are the closest thing America has to a class of nobility.

The claim of objectivity is self righteousness, and it is folly to accept such a claim from anyone. I fondly hope to see the day when broadcast journalists, and the FCC which is their enabler, get their socks sued off.

Why Broadcast Journalism is
Unnecessary and Illegitimate

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Ping to my #15

[vanmorrison]

The most disheartening thing about Steyn's remarks, and the most sickening thing about us as a nation, is that there are so MANY of us that eat up the bullshit Democrats, like Koppel, throw up at us with alacrity! Maybe the majority of us ARE decadent, effete, and just plain asinine!

[irv]

Ted Koppel, dragging his gravitas like a ball and chain

I've said for years that it would be impossible to make a movie of Koppel's life, because Ted Knight is dead (and truly missed).

[Allan]

Bump

[Gritty]

Steyn BUMP!

Thanks for beating Quidnunc and posting the entire article!