I Am Both Outraged and Speechless
The cynical hypocrisy pouring forth from the mouth of White House press secretary Scott McClellan on the issues surrounding the Newsweek story about alleged interrogation practices is truly a new low in American politics. Blaming a news magazine for tarnishing the "image" of the United States is beyond preposterous in the wake of the Iraq war and this administration's policies in its so-called "war on terror."
Further, the claim that the media shouldn't use anonymous sources flies in the face of the administration's own careful use of unnamed sources -- on a daily basis -- to promote its policies. As I suggested earlier today, it was part of the PR strategy in the run-up to the Iraq war -- and we know how truthful those sources were.
Journalists and media organizations must move away from stories that are only single sourced, particularly if the source is anonymous. But for the White House to place the blame for the poor (understatement heavy) view of the United States among the world community is simply preposterous and counter-productive.
Not to mention that our very own chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Richard Myers, said a few days ago that the violence in Afghanistan had nothing to do with the Newsweek report -- indeed, and this is perhaps the most revealing twist, the Pentagon did not refute the Newsweek claims when given an opportunity before the story ran. Then, 10 days later, after a source suddenly got cold feet, they pounced.
Disgusting.
P.S. I guess I'm not speechless. But man, I am angry.
Further, the claim that the media shouldn't use anonymous sources flies in the face of the administration's own careful use of unnamed sources -- on a daily basis -- to promote its policies. As I suggested earlier today, it was part of the PR strategy in the run-up to the Iraq war -- and we know how truthful those sources were.
Journalists and media organizations must move away from stories that are only single sourced, particularly if the source is anonymous. But for the White House to place the blame for the poor (understatement heavy) view of the United States among the world community is simply preposterous and counter-productive.
Not to mention that our very own chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Richard Myers, said a few days ago that the violence in Afghanistan had nothing to do with the Newsweek report -- indeed, and this is perhaps the most revealing twist, the Pentagon did not refute the Newsweek claims when given an opportunity before the story ran. Then, 10 days later, after a source suddenly got cold feet, they pounced.
Disgusting.
P.S. I guess I'm not speechless. But man, I am angry.
1 Comments:
When reporters forget how to do their job, I don't think a few choice suggestions from the peanut gallery are out of line. Hopefully Geraldo will weigh in soon and put this whole issue in perspective.
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