Russia complains of Western media bias

I see that the Russian authorities are accusing the Western media of bias over the reporting of the conflict in South Ossetia.

Deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin said at a press conference that

We want television screens in the West to be showing not only Russian tanks, and texts saying Russia is at war in South Ossetia and with Georgia, but also showing the suffering of the Ossetian people, the murdered elderly people and children, the destroyed towns of South Ossetia and Tskhinvali,”

and added that

Western media is a well-organized machine, which is showing only those pictures that fit in well with their thoughts. We find it very difficult to squeeze our opinion into the pages of their newspapers.”

I think by and large coverage has been fair,the problem from reporting on the Russian side has been actually getting journalists into South Ossetia.Hence the coverage of bombardment that we have seen up to now has be of Gori.

It must also be remembered that Georgia has tried to run a slick PR operation aimed at the West almost as an appeal for military help.

The understanding or lack of it of the situation has not helped either.As with many conflicts the David in the battle will be given sympathy even though he may,which I think is the case in this conflict was the cause of it.

The war exploded onto our screens during a traditional quiet time and that added with the Olympics has meant that the detailed background has not always been available.

No doubt this will be analysed in some depth at a later date but by and large the West has reported on it with a degree of impartiality.