Posted on 08/08/2005 9:36:03 AM PDT by goldstategop
Jihadi Journalist: The Real Peter Jennings
By Debbie Schlussel
While the rest of the world is blindly singing the praises of Peter Jennings, here's a reality check: Peter Jennings did more for the cause of Islamic terrorism than any media figure today. And that's nothing to celebrate, honor, or even memorialize.
Before there was Al Jazeerah, there was Peter Jennings.
From the beginning of Jennings career until his death, Jennings' biased coverage went beyond the pale, bending over backward in "understanding" the terrorists who hate us-- from seeing "their side" when he covered the seige and then murder of innocent Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics to honoring an Al-Qaeda operative with a prized "commentator" spot during Jennings coverage of the 9/11 attacks.
Throughout Jennings' coverage of the attacks, he frequently featured a man named Tariq Hamdi (whose commentary urged understanding for the radical Muslim world), identifying Hamdi only as "journalist" on the chyron.
But, in fact, Jennings' friend Hamdi was no journalist at all. As I've written, Hamdi was an alleged Bin Laden Associate and employed by Islamic Jihad's U.S. frontman, Sami Al-Arian.
According to prosecutors and documents in the 1998 trial of the Bin-Laden bombings of U.S. Embassies in Africa (the 7th anniversary of which was yesterday), Hamdi provided Bin Laden a battery instrumental in those bombings. He's also an unindicted co-conspirator with Islamic Jihad frontman Sami Al-Arian, who employed him at his Islamic "charity" fronts at the University of South Florida. Hamdi was also an employee of a Saudi-funded charity raided by Customs agents for allegedly laundering billions to Qaeda through the Isle of Man.
This is the type of "journalist" and "commentator" Jennings frequently employed in his so-called newscast of which he was an all-controlling editor.
I always say, pillow talk is the most effective form of political speech. And it apparently had its effect on Jennings early on. When developing and heading up ABC's Beirut headquarters, Jennings dated (euphemism) Palestinian "beauty" Hanan Ashrawi. And it colored his vitriolic, anti-American, anti-Israel coverage ever since.
Then there were the sneers, the sneers of a Canadian high school drop-out for anything conservative, anything mainstream, anything pro-Western, pro-Israel, etc. Jennings' sneers and snide comments were always evident for those who did not meet his very left-of-center point of view. A great example was his sneering during the 2000 vote recount, and after, when Bush was declared President. Another was his sneering just after the 9/11 attacks when Bush delivered his speech to a joint session of Congress. Jennings' elitist sneers will NOT be missed.
While I never wish death upon anyone, it's only sad that Jennings despicable brand of advocacy journalism--parading as "news"--wasn't laid to rest along with him.
Unfortunately, that will not happen. Sadly, the female, more personable, non-toupeed version of Jennings--Elizabeth Vargas--is set to step into Jenning's shoes. She got off to a great Jennings-esque start in her first hosting duties at ABC's "20/20," last fall. She delivered a very sympathetic profile and interview of HAMAS operative and fundraiser Cat Stevens. Expect more of this to come.
It's sad when anyone dies of cancer. I won't dance on Jennings' grave, the way he danced on the graves of young, innocent athletes slaughtered at the Munich Olympics--the way he blasphemied their murders with his shallow, understand-the-Islamic-terrorists coverage. Unlike the murdered Munich athletes he dishonored, Jennings died in peace and without pain. He got to say good-bye to his loved ones. They did not.
But I will remember Peter Jennings for the less than honorable person he was--not the emperor with no clothing that is now being memorialized.
Jennings used to end his newscasts with, "And that's a look at our world." No, it wasn't a look at our world at all. It was Peter Jennings' slanted world, and every day he acted as if he was doing us a favor giving us his warped look at it.
No, Peter Jennings, that wasn't our world at all. Jennings' legacy is helping advance the cause of Islamic terrorists on broadcast television, parading it as news. He wrote his own epitaph with it. Unfortunately, it came with a lot more tombstones and epitaphs then just Jennings'--and most of those buried beneath are a whole lot more innocent.
They are the victims of Islamic terrorism--the brand Peter Jennings helped build into a network news product. That cancer,unfortunately, is still here. And it has metasticized
I thought he smoked cigarettes for years.
Well, you are entitled to think it could have waited to be in better taste. I don't happen to agree.
But, it (and any non gushy pieces on PJ) will be dismissed as mean rantings no matter when they are done.
Finally a piece that cuts through all syrupy BS and tells it like it is
Jennings was an enemy of America and just because he died of lung cancer doesn't change that fact
He and his fellow left wing media types who slanted and warped the news are responsible for a lot of suffering and pain in the world
HE AIN'T IN MY PRAYERS anymore than Bubba was when he was in the hospital for his problems
The attitude of so many on this site that are bending over trying to be MR Nice Guy is one reason I think the left will eventually cause the death of our Republic
This is a life and death struggle and too damn many don't know what it takes to fight the left
Being Joe Nice Guy ain't the way
Thanks. I don't know anything about Ms. Schlussel, but it almost appears she's a one-trick pony. I admire her candor on the subject of PJ's mideast ties, but my picture of PJ's shenanigans, like most Freepers, is much broader(although you couldn't tell it from the dirth of criticism on the earlier threads). "Saint Peter" he ain't.
I can't say what troubles me most about the glowing remarks about his style, presentation, consumate professionalism, etc. I do know one thing, and that is so many otherwise knowledgable Freepers seemed to get caught up in the "style over substance" thing. Something nearly every one of us to a person deplores as irrational thinking.
What we should be doing IMO is beating abc's servers, fax machines, and mail rooms to a froth in a effort to wean them from their Marxist teachings. Strike while the iron is hot; before sainthood is bestowed on PJ. FWIW, abc's demise also seems to be happening, but not soon enough for me.
Sortof of an aside: I have for years labeled these liberals/leftists/utopian dreamers as teenagers in suits, and I believe it's more accurate than not. What they in turn do is project their own failings onto the rest of us that aren't interested in a nanny to look after our affairs. We want to be left alone. Stay out of our way. Take your cradle to grave mentality and put it where the sun don't shine.
But he had style.
FGS
More's the pity. Your anger and hatred says less about Peter Jennings than it does you.
Sick - get help
OK. So, how long after his death does the high road require we wait before pointing out some of his reprehensible behavior over the last 25 years?
Three weeks? How about three months?
I'm not being ugly or sarcastic. I am simply wondering what is the acceptable period for being honest, not slanderous.
Thanks for a good article and clarity at a time when even those who should know better are genuflecting and groveling before the memory of this man.
Nobody I know would have wished for his suffering or death, but having come and finished him off we can all move on and be glad that his influence is over. This article does a fine job of recasting his legacy and illustrating the sham of the 'state funeral' he is being given.
Condolences for his family, but I, for one, am very glad his influence is over and gone.
Here's a good article. Read it and learn something - or have a coronary. Whatever.
Osama Jennings. RIP or NOT!
Although I am always (well almost always) saddened by someones death, I gotta agree with this article. Watching Good Morning American today was frightening.
who IS that ?
Well said.
What a nice person you are....
In the 19th century and into the 20th century, people were usually given a year to mourn the loss of a loved one. It's not up to me to decide what the appropriate time is, but, IMO, within 24 hours of his death is beyond the pale. This is the type of reprehensible behavior we see from the left all the time and we don't like it when they do it.
All I am saying is we should at least wait to begin bashing him until he is gathering a little dust in the grave. He's not going anywhere and no one is buying any of the "tributes" to him. There is no need to rush to bash Peter Jennings; we'll have plenty of time.
I think, in this case, you may be being a little over sensitive, but I acknowledge your point.
I disagree though with the notion that what was written here is on any sort of comparitive level with the left's behavior when one of ours dies.
When Reagan died a dem friend of mine (who is otherwise a very nice man) said he was not at all pleased that they just didn't dig a hole and toss his body in. What else did he deserve? And a few other choice comments.
Let the TRUTH shine out against the darkness.
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