It Was the Best of Times; It was the Worst of Times: A Tale of Two Embeded Iraq War Reporters
To any but those among the leftmost fringes our political landscape it has become painfully obvious that the MSM has an agenda in Iraq -- and a blatantly anti-War agenda at that.
There are those on the right -- Michael Savage comes to mind -- who make thoughtful criticisms of the Bush Administration's chosen policies in Iraq. Howevever, there is NEVER ANY mistaking two facts with Michael Savage: First, he is unapologetically pro-American in the nationalist (not some weird lefty internationalist) sense; and Second, he dearly loves the American fighting man -- and he is outraged (as I am) by some of the politically-correct Bush/Rumsfeld policies that have gotten and are getting US troops needlessly wounded and/or killed in Iraq.
But, for those on the left, a genuine concern for America's national interests (as opposed to, say, France's or Russia's) or a true compassion for the plight of the US fighing man (yes, I said man: Women do not belong on the battlefield) is totally absent in the writings or oral spewings of the anti-war MSM media types. Oh, sure, they will constantly harp on the number of US casualties, but not out of concern, but rather as a means of demoralizing the war effort altogether.
Interestingly enough, unlike at the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, there are very few (less than 20, I believe I read somewhere recently) embedded reporters. A few weeks back, the President of AP basically conceded that most of his Iraq-war reporters are holed up in hotels due to the hazardous conditions involved in actually going out and reporting on what is actually happening.
In fact, I am currently aware of the names of only two embedded reporters: One is a good (and also very brave) one: Michael Yon; and, the other, while he does get out there with the troops, is a very harmful one to the war effort, and his name is Tom Lasseter.
For some excellent, must-read material, Michael Yon's war reportage may be found on his online blog/magazine. You will notice that -- while Yon never whitewashes the tragic losses in Iraq -- his blog is full of hopeful reports and photos about -- not only our troops, but also about -- the people of Iraq. His writing, while it often moves one to tears, is extremely personalized and uplifting.
On the other hand, Tom Lasseter's caustic and demoralizing work is published for Knight-Ridder. Recently, lgf called readers' attention to what I consider perhaps the very worst instance of seditious and demoralizing reporting from Iraq that I have seen. (Hat tip: lgf.)
Scott Johnson, in a recent piece in The Weekly Standard, entitled, "The Media Quagmire", also references Lasseter's piece among a number of others. (Johnson also commends Michael Yon as a favorable example of an Iraq War reporter.)
Johnson's article is a must read for those concerned about the quality of news coverage coming out of the Iraq War. (Hat tip: realclearpolitics.)
Here is another example of Lasseter's anti-War reporting.
Here is another. Notice that NOTHING in the way of good news is EVER evident in ANYTHING that Lasseter writes -- at least not if you hope for American success in that country. Moreover, to my thinking, his reporting is antiseptic, detached, sterile, and ... well, ... HATEFUL.
For those wishing to commend Michael Yon, you may email him. For those wishing to support him financially (as he is not on the payroll of any news service, such as AP or ABC), can send him funds at: Michael Yon P O Box 416 Westport Pt MA 02791.
On the other hand, those of you who may wish to read a little more about the arrogant-looking (based on his file photo) Lasseter, you may click here.
If you would perchance like to email Mr. Lasseter to let him know that you think his reporting is seditious, click here.
There are those on the right -- Michael Savage comes to mind -- who make thoughtful criticisms of the Bush Administration's chosen policies in Iraq. Howevever, there is NEVER ANY mistaking two facts with Michael Savage: First, he is unapologetically pro-American in the nationalist (not some weird lefty internationalist) sense; and Second, he dearly loves the American fighting man -- and he is outraged (as I am) by some of the politically-correct Bush/Rumsfeld policies that have gotten and are getting US troops needlessly wounded and/or killed in Iraq.
But, for those on the left, a genuine concern for America's national interests (as opposed to, say, France's or Russia's) or a true compassion for the plight of the US fighing man (yes, I said man: Women do not belong on the battlefield) is totally absent in the writings or oral spewings of the anti-war MSM media types. Oh, sure, they will constantly harp on the number of US casualties, but not out of concern, but rather as a means of demoralizing the war effort altogether.
Interestingly enough, unlike at the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, there are very few (less than 20, I believe I read somewhere recently) embedded reporters. A few weeks back, the President of AP basically conceded that most of his Iraq-war reporters are holed up in hotels due to the hazardous conditions involved in actually going out and reporting on what is actually happening.
In fact, I am currently aware of the names of only two embedded reporters: One is a good (and also very brave) one: Michael Yon; and, the other, while he does get out there with the troops, is a very harmful one to the war effort, and his name is Tom Lasseter.
For some excellent, must-read material, Michael Yon's war reportage may be found on his online blog/magazine. You will notice that -- while Yon never whitewashes the tragic losses in Iraq -- his blog is full of hopeful reports and photos about -- not only our troops, but also about -- the people of Iraq. His writing, while it often moves one to tears, is extremely personalized and uplifting.
On the other hand, Tom Lasseter's caustic and demoralizing work is published for Knight-Ridder. Recently, lgf called readers' attention to what I consider perhaps the very worst instance of seditious and demoralizing reporting from Iraq that I have seen. (Hat tip: lgf.)
Scott Johnson, in a recent piece in The Weekly Standard, entitled, "The Media Quagmire", also references Lasseter's piece among a number of others. (Johnson also commends Michael Yon as a favorable example of an Iraq War reporter.)
Johnson's article is a must read for those concerned about the quality of news coverage coming out of the Iraq War. (Hat tip: realclearpolitics.)
Here is another example of Lasseter's anti-War reporting.
Here is another. Notice that NOTHING in the way of good news is EVER evident in ANYTHING that Lasseter writes -- at least not if you hope for American success in that country. Moreover, to my thinking, his reporting is antiseptic, detached, sterile, and ... well, ... HATEFUL.
For those wishing to commend Michael Yon, you may email him. For those wishing to support him financially (as he is not on the payroll of any news service, such as AP or ABC), can send him funds at: Michael Yon P O Box 416 Westport Pt MA 02791.
On the other hand, those of you who may wish to read a little more about the arrogant-looking (based on his file photo) Lasseter, you may click here.
If you would perchance like to email Mr. Lasseter to let him know that you think his reporting is seditious, click here.
posted by GunJam at 11:09 AM
1 Comments:
Sissy: MSM stands for "Mainstream Media", to include such lovelies as ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN,MSNBC,AP,al-Reuters, BBC, AFP, NYT, The Washington Post, etc, and AS OPPOSED to the so-called "new media" or the "blogosphere", as represented (in one small instance) by this blog.
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