Posted on 02/02/2005 2:54:33 PM PST by swilhelm73
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.
Do US Troops Target Journalists in Iraq?
[Eason Jordan Accuses Troops of Murder]
The World Economic Forum Weblog ^ | 1/28/05 | Rony Abovitz
Posted on http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1333761/posts
How Crazy Are They?
(CNN big says US troops targeted and killed 12 journalists in Iraq)
Power Line ^ | February 1, 2005 | John H. Hinderaker
Posted on 02/01/2005 9:51:37 PM PST by quidnunc
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1334045/posts
bttt
Great recaps at these two sites:
http://www.hughhewitt.com/#postid1340
http://rconversation.blogs.com/rconversation/2005/02/blogstorm_desce.html
Barney Frank took the side of America over that of the Tranzis and the Islamofascists?
Even if he is a butt pirate that alone makes him better than half the Democratsin Congress.
But .. IIRC it's been disclosed here that Al Jeezera has told it's people to always claim abuse by the USA. In other words, if they are arrested and then released, they're to claim abuse - no matter whether it really happened or not.
We've always known that the Corrupt Old Media was less sane than Rep. Barney Frank.
That's not saying a lot, but it still holds true today.
Is this the same married Jordan Eason who was having an affair with the widow of Daniel Pearl, WSJ journalist?
ping!
I've never heard of such torture this side of the Inquisition. I may have to read that again to believe the horror of it--they called him "Al Jazeera boy"? My God! Humanity has never reached such a low!
Eason seems a little jealous.
"Eason down, eason down the ro-hode."
Thank you...thank you...thank you
for the very much needed laugh. ;o)
Life's been tough, lately.
Well said!
Yea, CNN is p!ssed for they are concerned that bloggers may take their crown from them.
Don't worry CNN, it won't happen.
The truth hurts when it's finally conveyed by the "serfs" doesn't it CNN?
It sure is, however muting and supplying sub titles sure would make his voice more palatable.
Just for the record, apparantly this IS possible. I saw it done a few years ago...
in a movie theatre of all places. The title of the movie was: "Werner Herzog Eats His Shoes". (Herzog is a somewhat wacky German director: "Aguirre, the Wrath of God", "Fitzcaraldo", and a handful of others). He lost a bet, and thus having found he needed to eat his shoes, he decided to make a movie of it. Its a short where he sets up a pot of boiling water on a stove, "cooks" the shoe to make it pliable, and then cuts some pieces of it for consumption.
The News We (CNN) Kept To Ourselves [must read]
The New York Times ^ | 04/11/03 | EASON JORDAN
Posted on 04/10/2003 9:16:06 PM PDT by Pokey78
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/890515/posts
I have this thread bookmarked..I think the internet may be the only place this story will spread..I am so outraged Grrrrrr...
I find it despicable that the head of a major cable news network goes to Davos and worships with the anti American, anti American military "religion" followers..indeed he gives a rousing "sermon" before the congregation.
My advice is to just turn off CNN for good ... Their ratings will show what people really think of them
http://www.pajamahadin.com/index.php/2005/02/02/are_bloggers_journalists_1
scroll down for some good links to blogs,comments.
Sole food?
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