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 am not crying over his death PLEASE....
There are bigger fish to fry then Jennings. The sooner we forget him today the better.
However since we have freedom of speech, one can construe my sadness at those dancing on his grave as pro- Jennings...but do so at your own peril as it makes us all look stupid.
Freepers eating their own is coming to mind again.
I'd really hate to think anyone thought those were my words.
Was it Jennings that gave us the misquoted "lettuce roll" from the famous "Let's roll" quote of flight 93?
Again sorry, I should have did an "all"
Your integrity is without question by me : )))
I forgot to mention. She was a Republican too!
Amen. I can already hear the MSM's attacks on the "haters" who tell it like it is.
I take no joy in Mr. Jennings' death from cancer, or from his political views. I remember when he first anchored the ABC News back in the Sixties when he was just a kid. In a way, Peter Jennings was a part of my life just like Captain Kangaroo and Thurl "Tony the Tiger" Ravenscroft. It's too bad his political views were so despicable. But he was what he was.
"'There are bigger fish to fry then Jennings. The sooner we forget him today the better."
OK lets just not empower those who will make him a Saint of American Journalism..so you stop posting your aw can't we all just be nice BS and we will forget the trash.
The thing I remember most about Jennings is, the day of 9/11 attacks and he kept harping on the fact that President Bush didn't fly directly back to Washington, even though we didn't know then if another attack was on the way...
He really questioned President Bush's "courage" that day...and I never, ever watched him again...
so that may be why that is the thing I remember the most..the last time I watched him!
This is the second artticle by Schlussel I have read on this website and it was like the first. The articles present some interesting facts, but IMHO her over-the-top bitchy quality is a little hard to take. I'm guessing that in school she was a prototype for the type of female portrayed in "Mean Girls".
It is sickening to see the media fawn over their fallen comrade. I feel sorry for his family and it must have been a crappy way to go. I will ask God to bless his soul, would he have ever done the same for a Freeper?
Paula Zahn had conniptions, too, when hosting Fox. Good riddance and no surprise she left for the Communist News Network.
Well-written article; thanks for posting this.
What do you think of this article?
That is one of hundreds of instances where PJ deserves a remembrance like this article. That said, condolences to his family and may he rest in peace. I would have preferred that he live a longer life to see his adult life work totally undone....
Again, I didn't and wouldn't wish his death on him; but unfortunately, neither his death, nor the manner of it, can improve the person he was in life.
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