PAPER WITHDRAWN--4235----Violence in Search of Democracy: The Media Portrayal of the War in Iraq.

Since September 11, 2001 terror has been a word in the forefront of the minds of many Americans. Terror was one of the reasons given for the war in Iraq, as was a desire to "free the Iraqis" from their own source of terror, a ruthless dictator. This study examines the language used in media reports of the war in Iraq between September 12, 2006 and January 12, 2007 in all articles mentioning the war in the New York Times. Words used to describe events in Iraq are analyzed to understand how the war is conceptualized. Reasons for remaining in Iraq, and debates on why the United States went there are analyzed for word content and sources quoted, since some sources have more authority than others. Any mention of democracy, enhanced freedom, or restricted rights are also examined to present a picture of how the war in Iraq is portrayed in the New York Times. While violence is an essential part of war, it can be portrayed in numerous ways, and the framing of war can influence how citizens view it and policies related to war. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]