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| Iraq-Jordan |
| CNN Big Eason Jordan Alleges US Troops Target Reporters |
| 2005-02-01 |
| Live from Davos via NRO - the asshole makes the allegations then backs off An extremely disturbing report from Rony Abovitz at the Davos conference: During one of the discussions about the number of journalists killed in the Iraq War, Eason Jordan [chief news executive of CNN] asserted that he knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by U.S. troops in Iraq, but they had in fact been targeted. He repeated the assertion a few times, which seemed to win favor in parts of the audience (the anti-US crowd) and cause great strain on others. Due to the nature of the forum, I was able to directly challenge Eason, asking if he had any objective and clear evidence to backup these claims, because if what he said was true, it would make Abu Ghraib look like a walk in the park. David Gergen was also clearly disturbed and shocked by the allegation that the U.S. would target journalists, foreign or U.S. He had always seen the U.S. military as the providers of safety and rescue for all reporters. Eason seemed to backpedal quickly, but his initial statements were backed by other members of the audience (one in particular who represented a worldwide journalist group). The ensuing debate was (for lack of better words) a real "sh — storm". What intensified the problem was the fact that the session was a public forum being taped on camera, in front of an international crowd. The other looming shadow on what was going on was the presence of a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator in the middle of some very serious accusations about the U.S. military. To be fair (and balanced), Eason did backpedal and make a number of statements claiming that he really did not know if what he said was true, and that he did not himself believe it. But when pressed by others, he seemed to waver back and forth between what might have been his beliefs and the realization that he had created a kind of public mess. His statements, his reaction, and the reaction of all in attendance left me perplexed and confused. Rony Abovitz is calling on the U.S. lawmakers present to get to the bottom of Jordan's story - if there's something to it, let's investigate. If it isn't, CNN ought to clear up why their head man is spreading horrifying rumors around about U.S. troops. Yes, this is the same Eason Jordan who wrote in the New York Times that CNN reporters in Baghdad witnessed abuses, including torture of Iraqis by Saddam's secret police, and did not report this to viewers in order to to keep CNN's Baghdad bureau open. UPDATE: Another account of this: According to Friday's Wall Street Journal Political Diary (available by subscription), Eason Jordan, Chief News Executive at CNN, implied that the American military was deliberately killing journalists in Iraq. He even "offered the story of an Al-Jazeera journalist who had been 'tortured for weeks' at Abu Ghraib, made to eat his shoes, and called "Al Jazeera boy" by his American captors." And then, this liberal Democrat pressed Mr. Jordan to be more specific, putting the CNN Executive on the spot. The newsman rambled on a bit and mumbled some sort of response about how "'There are people who believe there are people in the military who have it out' for journalists." He could provide no evidence to buttress his claims, then "offered another anecdote: A reporter who'd been standing in a long line to get through a checkpoint at Baghdad's Green Zone had been turned back by the GI on duty. Apparently the soldier had been displeased with the reporter's dispatches, and sent him to the back of the line." Had Mr. Frank not challenged him, the global elites there might have taken Jordan's words at face value, convinced that Americans were indiscriminately targeting journalists. Thanks to Barney Frank, world leaders assembled in Davos learned that there was no substance to such claims. Good job, Barney Frank. |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #20 The MSM meltdown is accelerating. Who would have thought that the next 2 big hits would come from Barney Frank and GI-Joe? |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2005-02-01 11:32:52 PM |
| #19 Unfortunately, it is not true that the military targeted the liberal left MSM. In my opinion, they aid and abet the terrorists with their bullshit reporting (e.g. Dan Rather and others of his ilk). |
| Posted by: John Q. Citizen 2005-02-01 11:00:00 PM |
| #18 The alledgedly Al Jazeera reporter alledgedly got off easy. Some of those guys are willing accomplices, as they show up at the right time, many the time. They are enemy combatants, AFAIC. The soldier alledgedly sending the reporter to the end of the line in the green zone sounds fair to me, though I am sure that the Humiliation™ will require the reporter to go through some kind of therapy. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-02-01 10:49:43 PM |
| #17 Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this were true, in a manner of speaking. Back in August, I put up a post about this picture. Caption (not included with photo -- you'll thank me for not pointing you to the slow-loading Chinese[?] site where I found this) reads "An Iraqi Shi'ite militiaman takes aim at a U.S. Apache helicopter flying above a cemetery in the Holy city of Najaf." The point of the post was that there were two nearly identical photos, from two different photographers, one from Reuters, one from AP. Since the photogs were so cozy with the jihadis while they're taking aim at Americans, it wouldn't be too surprising if they were "targeted" (along with their jihadi pals). |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2005-02-01 10:44:38 PM |
| #16 I think this story, which appears to be confirmed by the Wall Street Journal, deserves a firestorm from Americans. Email, write, fax the network -- and their corporate parent. Let advertisers know how angry you are. DEMAND proof or a PUBLIC RETRACTION BROADCAST THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD. We laugh and shake our heads at this, thinking others will realize it's stupid. But words have power and these words are beyond irresponsible. It's time to put an end to this sort of shit on the part of senior news executives. |
| Posted by: true nuff 2005-02-01 9:52:19 PM |
| #15 fragging journalists huh? Not out of the realm of possibility but not very plausible. I'm sure there's a few asshole reporters out there the lads would love to fuck with, but enough to go sanction them? Quite a stretch, even by hollywood standards. Sounds like Jordan has problems w/puffery, integrity, & stupidity. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2005-02-01 9:51:41 PM |
| #14 remember: Eason is the one who said they had to sit on info bad for Saddam (like killings, torture, et al) to maintain "access" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-02-01 9:21:31 PM |
| #13 SteveS / Frank G - LOL! |
| Posted by: .com 2005-02-01 9:19:46 PM |
| #12 Perhaps CNN reporters ought to be the targets of some Civilians doing things that are quit legal but limit CNNs ability to report. It's hard to get stories when you can't access them. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-02-01 9:18:25 PM |
| #11 well, the State of the Union is tomorrow. Someone will have to operate the Pelosi-doll.......maybe Senor Wences? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-02-01 9:10:47 PM |
| #10 Good job, Barney Frank Barney Frank as a stand-up guy, John Kerry running guns to the Khmer Rouge and G.I. Joe at the mercy of the jihadis; talk about your Bizarro World! This is beyond parody and it's only Tuesday. If we keep going like this, ScrappleFace will be out of business by the end of the week. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-02-01 9:08:42 PM |
| #9 Senator Chris Dodd was there and apparently did not say a thing; it was all Gergen and Frank. Follow the links to the end and read the whole thing. You'll be even madder. Frank is right; I'm gobsmacked to give my dispised former Congresscritter Barney Frank a big Attaboy. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-02-01 8:34:55 PM |
| #8 "...and called Al Jazeera boy" by his American captors." Oh, the humanity! However will the reporter be able to function???? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2005-02-01 8:11:00 PM |
| #7 Fox News should show the video of this every hour. It's well past time to educate the public about the ideological taint of Eason, Mapes and the kindred pack that control most of the news operations in this country and around the world. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-02-01 8:06:08 PM |
| #6 You'd think at some point the suits at Time-Warner would see the wisdom of putting a bona-fide news professional in charge of the news organization. Having a moonbat in charge isn't good for business. |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2005-02-01 7:56:39 PM |
| #5 Better yet, someone put together a photo of Ken and GI Joe as 'proof!' |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-02-01 7:45:46 PM |
| #4 What a tool, I hope he IS assigned to Iraq and has to deal with the military. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-02-01 7:28:46 PM |
| #3 The question is: Was what Jordan said a mistake or a deliberate lie? I think the later. People at his level dont make that sort of mistake - and if they do they should be fired on-the-spot. Like Dan Rather and memogate he thought everyone would simply swallow his bullshait hook line and sinker like they have been doing for decades. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-02-01 7:24:53 PM |
| #2 this might also be the only time in my life you see me note "good job Barney Frank" he deserves it this time |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-02-01 7:20:12 PM |
| #1 Jesus, these bastards know no limits whatsoever, do they? |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-02-01 7:15:13 PM |
