Henican Forgets There's a War On - Pinkerton Reminds Him

Fox & Friends Weekend/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

December 31, 2005 - 07:56

In their heart of hearts, do the liberal media believe that when it comes to the struggle against terrorism, we are truly at war? To judge by liberal Newsday columnist Ellis Henican's performance on this morning's Fox & Friends Weekend, you would have to conclude not. Thankfully, fellow Newsday columnist Jim Pinkerton was there to remind his colleague of some cold, hard facts.

The topic was the Justice Department's investigation into the leaks behind the New York Times' publication of the highly-classified program of NSA surveillance of possible Al-Qaeda-related phone calls. Henican appeared utterly unphased by the way in which the Times' revelations could undermine national security and the fight against terrorism. His overwhelming focus was on the possible infringement of civil liberties. He brushed off the security leak in these terms:

"Frankly I'm much more interested in the government spying perhaps illegally on American citizens than trying to blame the people who revealed and told the truth about it. We see another example of trying to turn the attention onto the messenger and blame the people who stood up and told Americans what they need to know instead of those who are doing something that at the very least was highly questionable."

Pinkerton scored a direct hit with this response:

"There's also the issue of course of telling Al-Qaeda what they need to know."

Bada-bing!

Although Pinkerton's bullseye seemed to momentarily rock Henican, in no time he was back to his one-sided view of the struggle, in which the only real concern is for civil liberties, even at the price of intentionally undermining secret government security programs.

Henican: "Without confidential sources investigative reporters can't do their work."

Pinkerton reminded Henican of the flip-side of that formulation: "Without confidential methods, government can't do its work."

Henican could care less:

"[The government's] job is to keep the secret, our job is to tell the truth."

So even in a time of war, Henican views the media as the government's antagonist on national security matters. Wonder how during WWII the administration of liberal-icon FDR would have dealt with a Henican trying to undermine secret programs aimed at the enemy?

[Congressman Billybob]

You raise the right point. The lib-Dems went way out on a limb with their caterwauling about the Valerie Plame affair. Now, the Bush Administration is sawing that limb off. Once again, Bush has trapped the Democrats in a losing position by counting on them to follow their usual habit of shooting their mouths off, regardless of consequences.

I wrote about exactly the point you raise, in my column posted yesterday. Click below.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "Football, Warfare, and Public Policy"

[jackv]

As is always the case,
Henicon, and most-if not all liberals, ALWAYS WANT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Extra credit for apt use of "caterwauling" ;-)

[pointsal]

Ellis Henican is such a worthless twit.

[Congressman Billybob]

It is a false statement that the imprisonment of 110,000 Japanese-Americans had NOTHING to do with espionage. None of them were ever tried and convicted of any such crime. On the other hand, Italian- and German-Americans, who were not imprisoned, WERE convicted of such crimes.

I wrote one of the definitive books on this subject, Manzanar, about a camp of that name near Lone Pine in the Sierra Nevada. It's available in better libraries everywhere.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "Football, Warfare, and Public Policy"

[MNJohnnie]

Unfortunately the rats got a head start over the holidays with the "heroic leaker saving our civil rights from illegal wiretaps" nonsense. The debate has already been framed.

Obviously not since 64% of Americans in the polls have stated they agree with the NSA tapping program. Maybe people should try actually finding out some facts instead of just launching into the same old hysteric whining at the Bush Administration in post after post after post after post.

[YaYa123]

At least twice I heard Hennigan (sp) tell viewers the information reporters got leaked to them was "the truth".

That's the part that really ticks me off. Anti Bush leaks are NOT about revealing "truth". The leaks are agenda driven attacks on this president. Hennigan has no idea if leak receiving, anti Bush reporters are receiving truth or slanted opinion.

[Wristpin]

Only 64% of Americans favor legal surveillance of AL Queda operatives during a time of war? That's not stellar IMHO.

My problem is that the Republican War Room(sleepy hollow) took off the holidays, instead of framing this issue as the "The Dems intentionally leaking Top Secret SCI during a time of war". I cannot believe the media is actually debating whether these disclosures were moral and just. Which shows just how inept the RNC is.

You may be content with the Presidents nuanced approach on dealing with the Democrats and his vastly improved 47% job approval rating. I have three nephews on the deck in Iraq and allowing the Dems to steal the moral authority for the war, virtually unopposed,has made every minute more dangerous for them. Politics is a nasty business with the the rat War Room is working 24/7 dreaming up the next lie for public consumption. I see are lackluster effort in countering them especially since the truth is on our side.

[mass55th]

Henican's a buffoon. Every time the Libs spew their hate about President Bush, his poll numbers go up. They'll never learn.

[rodguy911]

There are forces at work to get the word out about how well the war actually is going and what heroes our troops actually are.
Yesterday in the first half hour of Rush Limbaugh fill-in host Roger Hedgecock read a story e-mailed to him from a medical doctor serving in Iraq.
I was driving at the time and it was so heart wrenching that I pulled over.
The doctor told of operating on a soldier whose humbvee or other veichle, I don't remember what type, was hit by an ied.
The soldier got out safely but went back "6 times" to pull out other wounded, his guys he was in charge of!
He died several days later from severe burns so bad his gloves were melted into his hands.
That's the kind of stories that are not getting out in the msm but "are" in the "new media" we are working at it.Is it enough? Never!
Don't expect favorable news stories from the msm because it just won't happen they have a proven traitorous agenda.
I salute your nephew's service to our country and Happy New Year.

[CaptRon]

"[The government's] job is to keep the secret, our job is to tell the truth."

Since when have you beend doing that, Ellis?

[CaptRon]

Ellis Hennican is the only man alive who can strut while seated.

[SubMareener]

It is a false statement that the imprisonment of 110,000 Japanese-Americans had NOTHING to do with espionage. None of them were ever tried and convicted of any such crime.

I am not sure what those two sentences next to each other are meant to say. It is my assertion based on recent declassified papers, that the purpose of the "imprisonment" was to prevent espionage and sabotage without revealing the fact that we had broken the Japanese codes. Are you disputing this assertion or supporting it?

[Uncle Vlad]

These leaks don't border on being treasonous, they are treasonous. If they caught the party or parties, tried them and found them guilty of treason, I'd be willing to shoot them myself.

[Uncle Vlad]

Yeah, Ellis--you didn't seem to mind when Bubba used the IRS to go after his political and personal enemies. Just ask Elizabeth Ward Gracen and a number of other people about that one. And Ellis didn't seem to make a peep about Ruby Ridge and Waco. I'm sure he was one of those clowns who thought it was okay to violate the law and "reunite" Elian with his father.

Back then, the silence was deafening.

Enjoy the Kool-Aid, Ellis.

[happyathome]

Bound to happen (and continue) when kids join journalism school because they think journalism will help them solve social injustice.

[School of Rational Thought]

"[The government's] job is to keep the secret, our job is to tell the truth."



Seems like the Justice Department is after the truth as well.

[School of Rational Thought]

What is the Barrett report?

[ricks_place]

Only 64% of Americans favor legal surveillance of AL Queda operatives during a time of war? That's not stellar IMHO.

What poll? What percent actually opposed the covert surveillance? Probably many didn't know about it and had no opinion, so take heart.

[ricks_place]

Please, somebody punch out this little creep, preferably on national TV. Soon.

The Henicans of the world are the stone upon which the conservative sword is sharpened. They are necessary.