December
1, 2006: Today's mass media is far more mean spirited, cynical, partisan and
manipulative than was the case back in 1941-45. Actually, anyone unfamiliar
with World War II history would believe that the following headlines are
actually from American newspapers of the period. But those of you who do know
your history, will catch the differences in attitude, and greater use of spin,
between then and now.
NAVY,
WHITE HOUSE LIED ABOUT BATTLESHIPS
5,
Not 2, Sunk at Pearl Harbor
HUNDREDS
OF SAILORS STILL TRAPPED UNDERWATER
Victims'
Families: Pearl Rescue Efforts "Disgraceful"
FDR
DUMPS MACARTHUR FOR CHURCHILL
"Writing
Off" Philippines, Sources Say
SECRET
PAYMENT TO MACARTHUR
$500,000
from Manila Bigwigs
MIDWAY
VICTORY DUE TO BROKEN JAP CODES
The
Chicago Tribune did actually print this story. Fortunately, the Japanese didn't
see it. Tribune owner Robert McCormick was sternly told never to let this
happen again, and it never did.
FDR
PLANS NORTH AFRICA INVASION
Critics
Charge "Stunt" To Help Dems in '42 Elections
NORMANDY
"IDEAL" INVASION SITE
Military
Experts Agree This Is Where We'll Land
NEVER
HAD A CHANCE
German
Tank Superiority Causes GI Morale Crisis
WHISTLEBLOWER
REVEALS SUPERBOMB PLANS
Catholic
Bishops Condemn Secret "Manhattan Project"
IKE
ENRAGED
Monty
to Be Fired in SHAEF Meltdown
British
papers which did report, inaccurately, tensions between Ike and Monty, were
stepped on hard by the British government.
"NO
DEFENSE" AGAINST KAMIKAZES
Experts:
Suicide Tactics May Be War-Winner - Fleet Demoralized
FDR
WITH MISTRESS IN DEATH ROOM
Warm
Springs Scandal - Old Flame Watches President Die
First Lady Outed As Lesbian
HITLER
IN PARAGUAY
Soviets
Have Proof Dictator Escaped Berlin
IWO
JIMA FLAG RAISING "STAGED"
Bond
Drive Collapses After Controversy
BURN
BABY BURN
B-29
Crews Laugh, Take Photos as Thousands of Children Die
ATOM
BOMB DROPPED TO COW SOVIETS
Sources
Say Hiroshima Strike Had No Military Purpose
MACARTHUR-NIMITZ
SURRENDER SHOWDOWN
Who
Hosts Ceremony?
Whose
Flag Flies Higher on Battleship's Mast?
The
full and interesting story of the Chicago Tribune blowing the codebreakers is
at http://www.newseum.org/warstories/essay/secrecy.htm. The actual headline was
"NAVY HAD WORD OF JAP PLAN TO STRIKE AT SEA." Monty's near-firing by
Ike, and its contemporary media misrepresentation, are discussed at length in
General Omar Bradley's book "A General's Life."
