28/05/2006 5:55:53 pm
See What You Want To See. President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair had a joint press conference in the White House this past Thursday. The Swedish media described the two leaders as humble, regretful, bleak and defensive. That is, you got the impression that they now know that they were wrong about the Iraq war and that they are sorry for what they did. Well, I read the transcript from the press conference, which probably gives a more objective picture of the event.

My impression now is totally different. Bush and Blair strongly defend the Iraq war, and they emphasise the importance of support for the Iraqi democracy. Yes, they say that there have been tactical misjudgements and communications could have been better. But they have said that all along. That′s not new. All in all, a strong defence for using military force against dictatorships - in partcular in the Middle East - to build democracy and thereby secure peace.

Why did media, at least here, give another picture? Partly probably because that is wishful thinking on the journalists′ behalf. And partly because they have a political agenda to always report from a negative angle about Bush and Blair.