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Pundits return to talk about Iraq violence

  As the violence escalates in Iraq at the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), there's a steady stream of hawkish pundits on television talking about the need to act.  What do Paul Wolfowitz, Paul Bremer, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have to say today that's different than prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq? Missouri School of Journalism professors Margaret Duffy, Mike McKean and Amy Simons discuss the issue.

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Current conflicts in Iraq have brought back a familiar crowd to news media. A Huffington Post article from Monday, June 16 said the weekend's news talk shows were almost like a blast from the past.

11 years after the invasion of Iraq, viewers could be forgiven for thinking it was still 2003, given the seemingly endless stream of hawkish pundits and politicians who appear to be far outweighing their counterparts in the debate about the country's latest crisis.

Similarities to 2003 coverage of Iraq did not escape Jon Stewart, who said major news outlets were quick to "get the band back together."

Missouri School of Journalism Professor Margaret Duffy said she was disappointed that journalists weren't holding these pundits responsible for their previous statements about Iraq.

It was interesting that Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert consistently show these politicians making assertions and then they juxtapose it with video from the past saying exactly the opposite thing. Why do 'fake journalists' do that and the real, responsible journalists don't do that and let it go?

Hope Kirwan left KBIA in September 2015.
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