How were the American people prepared for the war on Iraq? How have political agents and media gatekeepers sought to develop public support for the first preventive war of the modern age? Bring 'Em On highlights the complex links between media and politics, analyzing how communication practices are modified in times of crisis to protect political interests or implement political goals. International contributors in mass communication, political science, and sociology address how U.S. institutional media practices, government policy, and culture can influence public mobilization for war.

Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1 Political Legitimacy, Cultural Leadership, and Public Action Chapter 4 2 Banal Militarism and the Culture of War Chapter 5 3 National Security Strategy and the Ideology of Preventive War Chapter 6 4 Foreign Policy, Public Diplomacy, and Public Relations: Selling America to the World Chapter 7 5 The Problem with Patriotism: Steps Toward the Redemption of American Journalism and Democracy Chapter 8 6 Culture as Persuasion: Metaphor as Weapon Chapter 9 7 The Invisible Ally: Marketing Australia's War in Iraq Chapter 10 8 The Construction of Arabs as Enemies: Post-9/11 Discourse of George W. Bush Chapter 11 9 The Political Rhetoric of Sacrifice and Heroism and U.S. Military Intervention Chapter 12 10 'The Great American Bubble': Fox News Channel, the 'Mirage' of Objectivity and the Isolation of American Public Opinion Chapter 13 11 Pre-emptive Strikes on the Cultural Front: Big Radio, the Dixie Chicks, and Homeland Insecurity Chapter 14 12 The Mass Media, Politics, and Warfare Chapter 15 13 Might Makes Right: News Reportage as Discursive Weapon in the War in Iraq Chapter 16 14 Journalists Embedded in Culture: War Stories as Political Strategy Chapter 17 15 The Power of Public Reporting: The Independent Media Center's Challenge to Corporate Media Chapter 18 Suggested Readings