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'Easongate': What did CNN's chief really say at Davos? I was there.
The Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal ^ | February 10, 2005 | Bret Stephens

Posted on 02/09/2005 9:28:46 PM PST by quidnunc

Did Eason Jordan, chief news executive of CNN, actually say the American military has deliberately killed journalists covering the conflict in Iraq?

It's a serious question, at least to judge by the heat it's generated. Google "Easongate" and you get 2,500 results. There is an Easongate.com Web site, on which more than 1,000 petitioners demand that Mr. Jordan release a transcript of his remarks — made recently in Davos — by Feb. 15 or, in the manner of Saddam Hussein, face serious consequences. Sean Hannity and the usual Internet suspects have all weighed in. So has Michelle Malkin, who sits suspended somewhere between meltdown and release.

There's a reason the hounds are baying. Already they have feasted on the juicy entrails of Dan Rather. Mr. Jordan, whose previous offenses (other than the general tenor of CNN coverage) include a New York Times op-ed explaining why access is a more important news value than truth, was bound to be their next target. And if Mr. Jordan has now made a defamatory and unsubstantiated allegation against U.S. forces, well then … open the gates.

By chance, I was in the audience of the World Economic Forum's panel discussion where Mr. Jordan spoke. What happened was this: Mr. Jordan observed that of the 60-odd journalists killed in Iraq, 12 had been targeted and killed by coalition forces. He then offered a story of an unnamed 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.

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cnn; davos; easongate; easonjordan

1 posted on 02/09/2005 9:28:46 PM PST by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc; backhoe; Mo1
What happened was this: Mr. Jordan observed that of the 60-odd journalists killed in Iraq, 12 had been targeted and killed by coalition forces.

Facts:

CNN executive Eason Jordan has on two occasions in the past four months accused the US military of targeting journalists for torture and murder. In a November 2004 News Xchange forum in Portugal, Mr. Jordan said the following (quoted by the British newspaper The Guardian): Eason Jordan, chief news executive at CNN, said there had been only a "limited amount of progress", despite repeated meetings between news organisations and the US authorities." "Actions speak louder than words. The reality is that at least 10 journalists have been killed by the US military, and according to reports I believe to be true journalists have been arrested and tortured by US forces," Mr Jordan told an audience of news executives at the News Xchange conference in Portugal.

Two weeks ago, in Davos, Mr. Jordan then asserted that the US military targets journalists for death in Iraq. This has been confirmed by Rep. Barney Frank, who attended the same conference at which Mr. Jordan spoke. Sen. Chris Dodd also attended but so far has refused to comment.

2 posted on 02/09/2005 9:32:59 PM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: Howlin

I heard on Brit's show tonight that Chris Dodd has reported that he was "outraged" by Jordan's comments .. but there was no confirmation of exactly what Chris though Jordan said.


3 posted on 02/09/2005 9:39:10 PM PST by CyberAnt (Where are the dem supporters? - try the trash cans in back of the abortion clinics.)
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To: quidnunc

' Defamatory innuendo--rather than outright allegation--is the vehicle of mainstream media bias.'

I first noticed this when Dean made his comment on 'Meet the Press' about Bush and 9-11. 'There are some that believe...'

Hitting below the belt has become an art.


4 posted on 02/09/2005 9:41:26 PM PST by pacpam (action=consequence applies in all cases)
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To: quidnunc; backhoe

Heating up!


5 posted on 02/09/2005 9:41:39 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: quidnunc

"Al Jazeera Boy" Oh, the horror!


6 posted on 02/09/2005 9:42:15 PM PST by Hildy ( To work is to dance, to live is to worship, to breathe is to love.)
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To: CyberAnt

the tape is coming forth with.....Barney Franks was pissed off as well as the moderator, David Gergan was taken back...the guy said it then tried to back peddle....


7 posted on 02/09/2005 9:50:39 PM PST by NorCalRepub
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To: quidnunc; All
 
 Eason's Fables-- the sordid Jordan Story

8 posted on 02/09/2005 9:57:35 PM PST by backhoe (-30-)
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To: MEG33

Heating up?

Hell, I'd rather the bastard be treated to the good old fashioned cold blooded revenge of immediate dismissal, shunning, tar and feathers and run out of town on a rail..

He has voided his right to remain in ANY position of trust.

Semper Fi


9 posted on 02/09/2005 10:02:36 PM PST by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: river rat

I'd kind of like to see him eat his shoes.


10 posted on 02/09/2005 10:09:27 PM PST by ShowMeMom (I have a mind like a steel whatchmacallit!)
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To: river rat

I think that and you think that but remember Rather?..He didn't get fired ..just quit the evening news..Jordan will still be inluencing the world in a lofty position at CNN. CNN is a culprit here..They could make sure the video and transcript is released...but no go.

We just have to hope that the blogasphere will keep up the heat and not let this drop.

They are drawing and quartering Jeff Gannon and the aide to the Maryland Governor(freeper)..I hate the hypocrisy.

Smearing the military is OK..according to MSM..


11 posted on 02/09/2005 10:12:18 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: river rat

Eason has defamed every member of our military force. In defense of these good people, Congress should suspend the credentials of EVERY embedded reporter until a full investigation has been conducted. The only reporting out of Iraq would be from the freelancers and the military. The MSM, including FOX, would very quickly conduct their own investigations and put enough pressure on the Davos crowd that the tape will be released and the truth would come out.


12 posted on 02/09/2005 10:22:39 PM PST by azsportsterman
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To: quidnunc
...story of an unnamed 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.

This is most certainly NOT innuendo; and WSJ's Stephens should know that.

.

13 posted on 02/09/2005 10:27:25 PM PST by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except to convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: Howlin

It's more than just Eason Jordan. His CNN assistant was a BBC reporter back in 1980 when those 6 Iraqi's (labeled Iranians by the BBC) stormed the Iranian embassy and took hostages, including that BBC cub reporter and his soundman (coincidental timing, eh).

After that raid, the (then) BBC reporter labeled the British SAS rescuers as "worse than the terrorists."

Now that kid has grown into Eason's #2 man at CNN.

14 posted on 02/09/2005 10:28:19 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: ShowMeMom
The trick is to stew them for a LOOOOOOOOONG time, add a LOT of seasoning...

:^)

15 posted on 02/09/2005 10:55:29 PM PST by SAJ
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To: quidnunc

The problem is that Jordan was quoted in an Guardian article saying that US military targeted journalists:

"Actions speak louder than words. The reality is that at least 10 journalists have been killed by the US military, and according to reports I believe to be true journalists have been arrested and tortured by US forces," Mr Jordan told an audience of news executives at the News Xchange conference in Portugal.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1355027,00.html


16 posted on 02/09/2005 11:05:28 PM PST by Cableguy
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To: Hildy
"Al Jazeera Boy" Oh, the horror!

yeah, I don't get it. Now, if they had called him "CBS boy"...

17 posted on 02/09/2005 11:12:31 PM PST by mhx
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To: quidnunc

Bump


18 posted on 02/10/2005 12:53:11 AM PST by BunnySlippers (When it comes to humility, I'm the greatest! - Bullwinkle J. Moose)
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To: Southack

http://sisypheanmusings.blogspot.com/

It's Bigger than Jordan


19 posted on 02/10/2005 2:35:22 AM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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