OUR VIEW: TV viewers aren’t getting the whole truth

It seems like the United States is winning the war in Iraq, whose troops surrender with every advance.

CNN just reported the other day Jessica Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital by special forces.

Troops advance within miles of Baghdad. The power goes out in the capital city.

Saddam International Airport is overtaken.

An eerie, green glow on TV screens shows random bursts of white, signaling destruction and mayhem.

Each of these seems to be a symbol of victory, and each gives hope to the die-hard supporters of the war.

However, there seem to be too many symbols of this war being a crusade, a thwarting of evil. People aren’t getting the whole story. Wars provide many horrific stories. People die, are shot, maimed and separated from loved ones.

They lose their homes and friends. They lose their livelihoods.

The point is that Americans aren’t seeing the results of this engagement, other than burning buildings and attack-pattern graphics. If there were less cheerleading and more, inquisitive journalism, people would know more about what is going on in Iraq. The role of journalists is to inform. It doesn’t mean everyone will see pleasing images and hear pleasing stories.

But war, despite any noble cause, is not pleasing. Americans ought to have a better idea of how displeasing it really is. Maybe more people will have a responsible attitude toward war.