Posted on 02/04/2005 11:02:39 AM PST by mhking
Like many other bloggers, I have received the canned reply from CNN, attempting to clarify Mr. Jordans statements:
Eason was attempting to speak out on an issue that is important to news organizations all over the world. Unfortunately, he was not clear enough in explaining his assertion. He was responding to an assertion that all 63 journalists killed in Iraq were "collateral damage." While the majority of the 63 journalists killed in Iraq have been killed by insurgents, the Pentagon has acknowledged that the U.S. military on occasion has killed people who turned out to be journalists. Mr. Jordan emphatically does not believe that the U.S. Military intended to kill journalists and believes these accidents to be cases of "mistaken identity."
I have sent the following reply, which I copied to several bloggers:
Hello CNNia Administrator,Release the videotape and a transcript of Mr. Jordan's comments at Davos, and I will be convinced. Until then your apologetic is unconvincing and insulting. Several bloggers in attendance heard otherwise, and based on Mr. Jordan's history, I am inclined to agree with them.
Mr. Jordan has a long history of demeaning the US military and accusing them of targeting journalists. As a former soldier I am personally insulted. Perhaps CNN should launch an investigation into his statements. Your association with Mr. Jordan can be very damaging to your credibility and reputation.
I have suspended citing CNN as a source of material in my weblog, which is viewed by over 1,500 people a day, until I am convinced CNN is honest in getting to the bottom of this story. My readers typically follow the links through on my posts to read my sources. I have copied other bloggers in an attempt to convince them to do the same. Hopefully this will create a noticeable impact on your site hits and give your advertisers pause.
Also, I have begun to compile a list of CNN advertisers and will put together a letter to make them aware of this situation unless I see results.
We demand the transcript of Davos and nothing less.
Kindest Regards,
Bill Roggio
I typically shy away from activism as it is not in my constitution, however Eason Jordans statements at Davos accusing American soldiers of intentionally targeting journalists cannot stand. I am requesting the following assistance from readers and fellow bloggers:
- Anyone who would like to assist with compiling a list of CNNs advertisers, please email me or place a comment in the comments section. We can work as a team on compiling a list. Also, if anyone has experience in contacting advertisers to make them aware of situations such as this, I would appreciate your assistance in organizing this effort.
- I am requesting all bloggers who are unhappy with Mr. Jordans statements and CNNs reply to remove CNN from your news source links and halt citing CNN as a source of news. If you wish, please link to this post to let your readers be aware of the effort to convince CNN of making Mr. Jordans statements public. This would also help me organize the effort as no doubt there are readers out there experienced in conducting these activities.
If it turns out I have misinterpreted Mr. Jordans statements upon a review of the transcript, I will post a public apology, as is only fair. If I have not taken Mr. Jordans statements out of context, then we must demand CNN act to rectify this situation, and organize a public boycott if they will not.
The only way we will get at the truth of this issue is if CNN releases the videotape and transcript of the Davos conference. Our military men and women serving this great nation deserve no less.
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
***read
I don't believe the military would target someone they knew was a journalist. If Eason Jordan keeps his libel up, that could change.
Well done.
Was this an innocent misunderstanding based on clumsy phraseology? Or did a top executive at a major news operation tell a lie to foreign representatives in order to ingratiate himself to anti-Americans at the price of slandering American troops?
bttt
Bump!
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