Media Responsibility and WMD Reporting

The transcript discusses the media's role in the narrative around weapons of mass destruction (WMD) during the Iraq War, highlighting the lack of investigative reporting that could have challenged the Bush administration's claims. It examines The New Yorker's critical stance on the war and the administration, while acknowledging the challenges faced by journalists due to widespread international intelligence reports supporting the existence of WMDs in Iraq. The transcript also touches on Saddam Hussein's tactics to maintain power and the difficulty for reporters to uncover the truth amidst conflicting intelligence.

What was the media's main shortcoming at the start of the Iraq war?

• Overemphasis on opinion journalism

• Failure to cover the war extensively

• Excessive support for the Bush administration

• Lack of investigative reporting on WMDs

Which publication is mentioned as having been critical of the Bush administration?

• The New Yorker

• The Washington Post

• The National Review

• The Weekly Standard

How did the New Yorker approach the Bush administration in recent years?

• With support and agreement

• With neutrality and indifference

• With criticism and investigation

• With praise and admiration

Who is noted for making a clearer case for the Iraq war than the Bush administration?

• Jane Mayer

• Kenneth Pollock

• Rick Hertzberg

• Seymour Hirsch

What is the core focus of The New Yorker according to the speaker?

• Political endorsements

• Entertainment news

• Investigative reporting

• Opinion journalism

What was the speaker's view on their own comment about the Iraq war?

• It was widely praised

• It was off base in hindsight

• It was insightful and accurate

• It was ignored by readers

What was a major challenge for journalists reporting on WMDs in Iraq?

• Contradictory intelligence reports

• Lack of access to Iraq

• Insufficient media coverage

• Saddam Hussein's deception tactics

Which intelligence agencies believed there were WMDs in Iraq?

• American, Israeli, German, and French

• Only the American intelligence

• None of the above

• Only the Israeli intelligence

What was Saddam Hussein's strategy regarding WMDs?

• To deceive his own hierarchy

• To destroy them before the invasion

• To sell them to other nations

• To use them against neighboring countries

What was the international perception of Iraq's behavior?

• Ethical and cooperative

• Neutral and non-threatening

• Aggressive and unethical

• Peaceful and diplomatic