"I believe this is a much more innocent example of countless things the media has done recently to promote violence, particularly in the propaganda campaign to justify the recent war, which at times gains the appearance of a horrifying conspiracy." It depends on which media you are talking about.  The US media unfortunately has been pro-war in general.  The UK media on the other hand has been vehemently anti-war.  I think many will agree the media in the US, and the so-called 'anti-american' rhetoric against protestors against the war is bordering on "Fascism".  I think the US needs to redefine, relook at the specific characteristics of the word "Democracy".  No use "Spreading Democracy" around the world when you don't know what it is, and can't act it out in your own country...unspecified nouns, unspecified verbs and nominalisations are used by politicians so they can do what the 'ell they want.