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Review title: Gosh, a real writer about the Gulf War!
Product review: Considering the amount of propaganda about the first Gulf War, and the current invasion of Iraq, Mr. MacFarquhar's writing is impressive. There's not simply one reporter at a major event, but dozens. His writing gives a real sense of the organized chaos and infighting that occurs; both on the part of the military and the press.Since satellite television provides instant communication, the requirement by the military and the press to provide a balance between adequate reporting and advising the enemy of their successes becomes a real tightrope. The author illustrates this requirement very well.His sideplot concerning Thea is well-intentioned, but misplaced. The author was trying to show that even reporters have personal lives; no question about that, but somehow the balance is not achieved. It may be that the author is more comfortable writing about reporting than personal relationships.
