Being used to getting my news not just from the US media, but from all over the world, I didn't particularly need any confirmation of the tremendous bias of the mass media in this country. This bias has now been officially confirmed, anyway: Today, NBC fired one of its reporters for expressing views on Iraqi television that are not 'accepted' by the invaders and their supporters. And what were the insidous remarks in question? Answer: That the unexpectedly great resistance from the Iraqis had forced the war planners in Washington to change tactics.

Not surprisingly, given their disdain for a free and independent press, US representatives have been screaming for this reporter's head, e.g. this quote in the New York Times today:

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican of Florida, said on Fox News Channel that she found the interview "nauseating." She added, "It's incredible he would be kowtowing to what clearly is the enemy in this way."

In other words, reporters better shut up, report the stories they're told to and not engage in any 'fraternizing with the enemy'. They need to realize that they are soldiers too. Fighting for a favourable picture of the invasion in the minds of the American public.

This is sickening.