by Mr. Jay L.

Created on: April 16, 2008   Last Updated: April 19, 2008

The Forgotten War. That is how the war in 1950s Korea is known. The Korean War was brutal and public, covered daily by journalists, and was set against the backdrop of the Cold War. But was it truly a forgotten war? No, it was merely overshadowed by the Vietnam War a decade later. The Korean War had the advantage - if you can call it that - of having been fought independently of any other war, meaning no other major conflict was active at the time.

Afghanistan, conversely, lacks that advantage, being fought at the same time and overshadowed by the War in Iraq. This war is no less bloody, dangerous, or deadly than the other war; it merely lacks the media attention that is lavished on Iraq. As such, the war has become marginalized by the press and nearly forgotten by the American population.

What possible motivations are there for the lack of media coverage?

The primary source of ratings in relation to the War in Iraq is the characterization of the conflict as being unjust, illegal, and a complete debacle. Iraq has been called "Bush's War," and also viewed as the current president finishing what his daddy started. Motivations propelling us into Iraq have included revenge, arrogance, imperialism, and oil.

And the media has loved every minute and every updated body count. It's all great for ratings.

By contrast, Afghanistan housed only the Taliban, Al-Quaida, and Osama bin Laden - minor figures in the geo-politcal long run. Afghanistan has poppy crops, not oil fields, and therefore less value to an oil hungry nation like the United States. The suppressive regime of the Taliban was successfully removed in a short period of time and a "democratic," U.S. friendly government installed.

Mission accomplished? Not really. As the Afghanistan war slowed and attention switched to the invasion of Iraq, nobody has really covered the aftermath of Afghanistan in depth. The American press only occasionally talks about how the Taliban has become entrenched and has even retaken some of its earlier territory. Rarely are human rights violations discussed.

Even more uncommon are the release of casualty figures for Afghanistan on the evening news. Iraq has overshadowed Afghanistan.

Korea was called The Forgotten War. This is a title that in truth, and to our media and governments shame, is more fitting for the War in Afghanistan.

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