In war, the media plays a crucial role in both reporting, monitoring and updating. During the Vietnam War from 1955 to 1975, the American press played a crucial role in reporting until it eventually changed its tone under the influence of certain events such as the Tet Offensive, the massacre of My Lai, the bombing of Cambodia and the escape from the Pentagon. newspapers leading to a lack of trust in the press (Knightly 1975). From the beginning of the war to the present day, there have been eternal debates about the role of the media in the war. The actions and influence of the American media on the outcome of the war have been the subject of various criticisms. The debate centers around particular political assumptions seen across the American political spectrum. Those who criticize the media for its role are of the opinion that the media misunderstood the United States military effort, thereby hindering the succession of American will in a war that had to be won. By 1968, claims that the media had lost Vietnam became a point of contention. among members of the public, military officers, veterans, and many political conservatives, seemingly indicating the crucial role the media played in the war. Supporters of the media were of the view that the media had successfully played its role as a watchdog of citizens and the state by revealing the bitter truth of failed policies, thus compelling legislatures to change the course of the war ( Schmitz 2005). Even though both sides were at odds over the role the media played in the outcome of the war, they still believed that the media was a decisive player in the war and that a change in coverage of the war also had a impact on public opinion. Both groups further believed that the...... middle of paper ......004). This shows the role the media played in the Iraq War and how the media was used to change the general public's perception of the invasion.BibliographyKnightly, P. The First Casualty: From the Crimea to Vietnam: the War Correspondent. Harcourt Brace, 1975. Lucas, Dean. “The famous fall of the statue of Saddam Hussein”. The Famous Picture Magazine, 2007: 9-15. Miller, David. “The Domination Effect”. The Guardian, 2004: 21-24. Muller, John E. War, Presidents and Public Opinion. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1973. Schmitz, David F. The Tet Offensive: Politics, War, and Public Opinion. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005. Taylor, MP War and the Media: Propaganda and Persuasion in the Gulf War. University of Manchester., 1998. Venanzi, G. Democracy and protracted war: the impact of television. 1983. www.airpower.au.af.mil (accessed 04 12, 2011).