Lit Hub Daily: October 2, 2026

Assal Rad explores how mainstream American media covered the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the genocide in Gaza, highlighting similarities in their reporting approaches.

The invasion of Iraq refers to the U.S.-led military operation that began in March 2003, aimed at removing Saddam Hussein from power, which was justified by claims about weapons of mass destruction that were later disproven.

The genocide in Gaza refers to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory, where mass casualties and destruction have raised international concerns about violations of international law.

Rad argues that in both cases, media outlets often amplified official narratives without sufficient scrutiny, leading to public misinformation.

For example, early reports on Iraq frequently cited unverified intelligence, while coverage of Gaza has sometimes focused on geopolitical tensions rather than humanitarian crises.

The article does not provide specific media outlets or data but emphasizes the broader trend of media alignment with state or institutional perspectives during crises.