Do you ever wonder what history would look like if today's media had been around all along? Imagine Katie Couric reporting live as George Washington crossed the Delaware, sticking her microphone in his face and asking "General, how do you think the war is going?" Something tells me that the man from Westmoreland (ironic name) County, Virginia wouldn't have been too forthcoming with Ms. Couric. After all, the media exists to report and to inform. Any influence they have on policy is simply coincidental. The role of the media is vital. Some have called it the 4th branch of our government. But in war time, we rely on the media to ensure us that our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers are succeeding and are being kept as safe as possible while dealing with tasks that lesser Americans would shudder to grasp. We rely on the media to tell us the truth. But where does that come from? One would think it would come from those most entrusted. Mr. Rove and Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have successfully broken that trust and placed an iron curtain between themselves and the media and transversely, us. When I think of media in war I can't help but conjur the black and white image of a soldier kissing a young woman in Times Square as news of the end of the war reached New York. That is what we long to see. That is what has been taken away. We are not allowed to see the coffins as they are lowered off the planes. We do not see soldiers kissing strangers in the midst of celebration because there is nothing to celebrate. That much we know. The media has undoubtedly lost focus. Today's journalists are mere shadows of their predecessors. What would Cronkrite and Brinkley think of the petrified lot who we are forced to try and believe? What would Washington think of Petreaus and the blind man who signs his check? He would cross the river, look back to the camera, and smile. And we would know, without having to be told.