Media AWOL On National Guard Coverage

Below is the March "Media Rants" column for the Scene. I wrote the piece in mid-February. A few days after submitting it, we learned that Green Bay soldier Kris Walker is refusing to return to Iraq. He told the press,"I signed up to defend the constitution and defend the country against foreign enemies. But I’m not going to do something immoral and contrary to the contract I signed up for."

And now the Media Rant:

Media AWOL on National Guard Coverage

Media Rants by Tony Palmeri

From the March, 2009 edition of The Scene

As I write in mid-February, the Iraq War has claimed the lives of over 4,200 US soldiers (including 87 from the Badger State) and many more thousands of Iraqis, cost almost $600 billion, and wreaked havoc in the lives of military families throughout the land. Indeed, no war in history has demanded as much sacrifice from National Guard troops and their families.

Mainstream media coverage of the Guard is usually limited to two main story lines. The first features warm farewells and celebration of troops headed off to war. The second gives us moving obituaries of the fallen.

Consider the February 17th deployment of 3,200 members of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The Brigade includes 75 soldiers in the Guard’s Appleton-based Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment. The Appleton unit is going on its second tour in five years. Sgt. Dan Lederhaus of Fremont, a married father of two whose first deployment was from June of 2005 to August of 2006, told the Post Crescent that, “It was kind of rough because no one knew what to expect. But we anticipate this second tour will be a little easier, but it’s still hard on the families. I just want to get this over with, come home and hopefully retire from the military within two years."

Wisconsin’s major media portrayed the send-off of what represents the largest deployment of Wisconsin Guard forces since WW II as a morale-booster and celebration of the soldiers’ sacrifices. Senators Kohl and Feingold, along with Governor Doyle and other establishment pols, were on hand to show support. Not surprising given the mainstream media’s track record on veteran’s issues, Feingold’s recent call for the Veterans Administration to establish more Vet Centers in Wisconsin received little ink or TV space.

What’s received even less space is the peace movement’s credible case for challenging the legality of continued Guard deployments to Iraq. “Bring the Guard Home” grassroots movements have sprouted across the nation, with legislation challenging the legality of the deployment already introduced in three states (New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont) and being prepared in two others (Pennsylvania and Wisconsin). According to the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (http://www.wnpj.org/), the legal case against the deployments can be summarized as follows:

In 2002 the Congress passed an Authorization For Use of Military Force in Iraq (AUMF) based on a limited, two-part mission for our military in Iraq:

1. To eliminate the alleged threat posed by Iraqi WMDs; and


2. To remove Saddam Hussein from power.

The WMDs did not exist. Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. The mission authorized by Congress is over, and Congress has never voted to reauthorize the mission to Iraq on any other basis. Therefore, the 2002 AUMF – which is the only legal basis by which the President can demand National Guard troops for Iraq – has expired. Any continued deployment of Guard units to Iraq is now unlawful.

In Wisconsin, State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) will soon sponsor legislation mandating that in all future Guard deployments the Governor, as Commander in Chief of the Wisconsin National Guard, would be required to review the federal order calling them into duty. If the Governor determines that the order is not proper, he or she would take the matter to federal court to get a determination of legality.

Representative Black told me that the legislation, if passed, would not apply to the recent deployment of the 32nd Infantry. That’s unfortunate, but at least if passed if might help prevent soldiers like Sgt. Lederhaus from going on a third tour. Black also said that he does not expect any difficulty in getting representatives to cosponsor the bill. Governor Doyle has not indicated yet if he supports such legislation, though one hopes he would see it as an opportunity to assert his powers under Article V, section 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution (“The governor shall be commander in chief of the military and naval forces of the state.”).

The Wisconsin Action Alliance (http://wiscaction.org/petitions/) is sponsoring an online petition to bring our Guard home. The petition says: “We petition the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor to oppose the illegal deployment of Wisconsin National Guard units to Iraq. We ask them to join with legislators in dozens of other states who are submitting similar legislation recognizing that Congress' 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq has expired and has not been renewed, and is therefore no longer a legal basis for Guard deployment to Iraq. “

Vermont Representative Michael Fisher led the effort in that state to get the legislature to approve a bill urging Governor James Douglas to bring the Guard home. Fisher told the Vermont press that far from being “anti-Iraq War” legislation, the bill merely ask that war planners “follow-the-laws-governing-the-Guard.” What could be more conservative?

Mainstream media do a decent job of sending off troops and mourning their deaths. Absent are stories or editorials challenging the legality of Guard deployments. Such challenges represent real attempts to save lives. Yet instead of real reporting on such challenges, mainstream media continue the six-year pattern of cheerleading. The Guard and their families, not to mention the general public, deserve better.



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Tony Palmeri (www.tonypalmeri.com) is an associate professor of communication at UW Oshkosh and holds a seat on the Oshkosh Common Council.