Unquestioning US media failing in its role to hold government to the law

The Pulitzer Prize, which was awarded this Monday, recognizes journalists’ excellent work in questioning and investigation. It put into sharp contrast the lack of quality reporting on Syria by the US mainstream news outlets.

The April 4 chemical weapons attack in Syria which killed civilians, including children, was shocking. The perpetrators, whoever they were, should be identified and punished.

Yet before any investigation could even be carried out, the US government decided unilaterally it was the Syrian government army that launched the attack. US President Donald Trump ordered an airstrike on the Syrian al-Shayrat air force base. Besides destroying military jets, the air defense system and other logistical facilities, the bombing killed and injured a number of civilians.

In the past week, the US mainstream media has mostly focused on Trump’s U-turn in his Syria policy, or whether it means another Iraq type of war. Few have asked whether it was the Syrian government army or the opposition army that used the chemical weapons or whether the US airstrike violated international law.

It reminds many of the situation in 2003 when then US secretary of state Colin Powell went to the United Nations to make a case for invading Iraq. The argument was later found to be based on false evidence.

Although they were sharply critical later, the unquestioning US news media at that time has been widely viewed as strengthening the credibility of Powell.

Under international laws, such an airstrike on a country would require the mandate of the UN Security Council unless the US was acting in self-defense.