February 2, 2008

The Return of the Wacko Vet Media Narrative

By David Paulin
As the troop build-up in Iraq produces positive results, many media outlets have seized upon a new anti-war narrative. It's right out of the Vietnam War-era: wacko and self-destructive vets running amok on the home front. "Soldier Suicides at Record Levels," trumpeted a 1,500-word front-page piece in the Washington Post this week. And for three recent Sundays, the New York Times has dished up a front-page series of more than 10,000-words called "War Torn." It's about veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have returned home -- only to kill again. According to the Times' series: "Town by town across the country, headlines have been telling similar stories. Taken together they paint the patchwork picture of a quiet phenomenon, tracing a cross-country trail of death and heartbreak." The story is flawed, however. Commenting on "War Torn" in his column last Sunday, public editor Clark Hoyt wrote that the series "tangled itself...(Read Full Article)