Iraq all over again? The press & Iranian nuke allegations

There have been recent discussions (e.g., New York Times, 9/29/09) about whether the press is doing a better job covering allegations about Iran's nuclear program than they did during the run-up to the Iraq War. But in some crucial and very basic ways, many in the media are performing just as poorly as they did in 2002 and 2003. The core concern is whether Iran's nuclear enrichment is intended for weapons. Pundits and reporters seem to think they have the answer. "As if Afghanistan were not enough, now there's Iran's move to get nuclear weapons," declared NBC's Chris Matthews (10/4/09). "Iran--will talks push that country to give up its nuclear weapons program?" wondered Meet the Press host David Gregory (NBC, 10/4/09). ABC's Good Morning America host Bill Weir (9/26/09) put it this way: "This morning, line in the sand. President Obama and a united front of world leaders charge Iran with secretly building nuclear weapons." And Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly explained (9/25/09): "All hell breaking loose as a new nuclear weapons facility is discovered in Iran, proving the mullahs have been lying for years." He added: "Iran's nuclear weapons program has now reached critical mass. And worldwide conflict is very possible. Friday, President Obama, British Prime Minister Brown and French President Sarkozy revealed a secret nuclear weapons facility located inside Iran."