Where is the Investigative Reporting?

I've been wondering what happened to good old fashioned investigative reporting? We used to trust the media to do their homework and root out the truth, but they have been cowed by the knowledge that criticism or questioning of the secretive Bush administration leads to being cut-off from any further information. In years past, that would have infuriated journalists and emboldened them to dig deeper, not so today.Where were the front page stories questioning the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq? Didn't reporters wonder why our President disagreed with the rest of the world, why he was in such a hurry? Now we have proof, out of Britain, that he was already planning to invade and merely needed a rationalization, nonexistent WMDs met that need. How about the billions of dollars that were to be used for rebuilding, now missing, and the work has barely been started? Where is that money and why is there no longer any mention of it?Why does our military have to pay private suppliers inflated prices? With their profit a percentage over cost, where's the incentive to keep those costs down? We have been overcharged for everything from tires to cleaning services to food preparation. That was Rumsfeld's grand scheme, use private contractors to save the military money, but instead, it assures exorbitant profits to the suppliers. After numerous investigations, and before assessed fines are even paid, larger contracts are awarded to those same businesses.How many articles have you seen on the off shore tax-havens being used by American corporations, including oil companies? Who's writing about the assault on the environment that has led to overturning hundreds of rules and regulations put in place by every presidents since Teddy Roosevelt? Or why do we hear nothing about the Bush family members who are receiving large salaries from defense contractors, including Halliburtin subsidiaries?If this were a Democratic President, Congress would be falling all over themselves setting up panels to investigate and prosecute. With one party rule leading to very little oversight, who can we depend on to report the truth if the media abdicates its responsibility?

Submitted by BETTIE REINA

Milmay