Do US Troops Target Journalists in Iraq? [Eason Jordan Accuses Troops of Murder]

The World Economic Forum Weblog ^ | 1/28/05 | Rony Abovitz

[Dales]

At a discussion moderated by David R. Gergen, the Director for Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, the concept of truth, fairness, and balance in the news was weighed against corporate profit interest, the need for ratings, and how the media can affect democracy. The panel included Richard Sambrook, the worldwide director of BBC radio, U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, Abdullah Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, and Eason Jordan, Chief News Executive of CNN. The audience was a mix of journalists, WEF attendees (many from Arab countries), and a US Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd.

During one of the discussions about the number of journalists killed in the Iraq War, Eason Jordan asserted that he knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US 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". ...

[Zacs Mom]

does the name Pete Arnett ring a bell?

[mbraynard]

I expect he will be tendering his resignation soon.

[shellshocked]

We can only hope.

[Darkwolf377]

He should be selling Grit.

[OldFriend]

The CSPIN crazies will be swearing to this by this evening.

[King Prout]

"Remember John Adam!"

I want this to become an ubiquitous response when conservatives must deal with the LSM and/or lunatic Left.

[ChinaThreat]

The US Army's 3 Infantry Division's Assassin brigade were indeed responsible for firing a tank shell into the Palestine hotel killing two foreign journalists. This brigade was involved with the "Thunder Run" armored strike into Baghdad and were the first US boots in Baghdad. They fought valiantly and were involved in some very intense battles along HWY 8 at 3 separate objectives. The heroics of these men is beyond belief during these battles.

Cpt. Woolford, who was responsible for securing a major bridge over the Euphrates was responsible for approving the shot at the hotel. Some pundit jockey who has never seen a battle may think that this is "targeting journalists". In reality this is absurd.

At the time the Captain was taking artillery fire and fighting off incessant suicidal dismounted attacks. These journalists were standing on a balcony of the Palestine Hotel trying to get some film of the ongoing battle to their west. The Palestine Hotel was technically outside of the Army brigade's AOR (this had been designated to the Marines who were fighting their way through the slums of eastern Baghdad) and they were not aware the Palestine Hotel had been housing foreign journalists.

Meanwhile, an intelligence officer with the brigade was relaying to the unit that there was a spotter guiding in mortars and artillery shells onto Cpt Woolford's armor and personnel. A phone had been recovered from a captured bunker in a previous battle and they were listening to an Iraqi spotter guide artillery on the Assassin units.

Capt. Woolford's men spotted a man on the balcony and wrongly assumed that it was the Iraqi forward artillery observers. They tried as best as they could to positively identify the target as hostile and got clearance from the Brigade commander. The first and foremost task at hand when facing an artillery attack is to locate and kill the spotter. They fired a HEAT round into the balcony injuring the two journalists who later died.

These monday morning QBs who have never been fired at or attacked with taxi loads of C-4 have no business making commentary or accusatory statements about our fine soldiers. Our soldiers are not untrained murderers. They have a responsibility to protect their men and they do the best job they can while people are trying to kill them. I'd like to see Mr. Jordan make clear decisions while 100s of suicidal Fedeyeen are trying to kill him.

[MplsSteve]

Sherman said that?!

LOL

I guess journalists were not well regarded back then either.

My God, can you imagine what Sherman would have done with Geraldo Rivera or Peter Jennings?!

[bill1952]

I strongly feel that some people, including a few infamous lawyers and tenured college professors, that openly call for or contribute to, the death of Americans, need to be beaten, shaved, stripped, tarred and feathered, and then run right out of town on a rail.

I'm inclined to think this guy is a prospect...

[Howlin]

The News We (CNN) Kept To Ourselves [must read]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/890515/posts

The Access of Evil-- CNN's Duplicity
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/893150/posts

[Maynerd]

Mr. Jordan will be eaten alive by the blogs, then Drudge, then talk radio, then Fox news . . . .

I don't care if he resigns in disgrace. He has once again revealed the true nature and core values of himself and his network (CNN). AMF

[SpeakingUp]

U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, Eason Jordan, Chief News Executive of CNN, and a US Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd.

Anyone there we can trust?

[Stopislamnow]

Whats the big deal?

Seditious and treasonous reporters should be concerned, frankly, after the way the media has treated the whole WoT, I'm suprised there are any overseas reporters left.

Fragging went out of vogue in Vietnam, sadly.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Since the journalists are on the side of the terrorists, I'm not sure why anyone would object if this were true.

[popdonnelly]

Twelve journalists killed by U.S. troops? Eason Jordan, meet Joe McCarthy.

[Howlin]

Just when you thought CNN couldn't be more duplicitous.

[RobbyS]

Let us take it case by case, or is Anderson not into facts? No doubt that if a reporter--especially an Arab--chooses to consort with these thugs, then he is fair game in a firefight. But if Anderson is taking about assassination, then he should do more than play to the paranoia of the Arab press.He has to give particulars,

[Howlin]

[UpHereEh]

How do these people face themselves in the mirror after spewing this garbage?

[danno3150]

What a surprise that Representative Hotbottom (D-MA) and Senator Stewardess Sandwich (D-CT) didn't jump to the defense of our armed forces. /s

What a disgusting display by that dipwad Jordan and the rest of the spineless weasels that didn't immediately b***h slap him.