Posted on 11/20/2001 6:38:00 AM PST by Amore
CNN president Walter Isaacson has come to the defense of his thin-skinned correspondent Christiane Amanpour with a letter to the Wall Street Journal denying she is a "second-rate . . . diva of parachute journalism."
Those were just some of the words Tunku Varadarajan used in a Nov. 12 piece on the Journal's op-ed page critiquing today's female war correspondents.
Amanpour's "faint foreign accent is misinterpreted as erudition by Americans," wrote Varadarajan, an Indian educated in Britain. "Equally puzzlingly, her alluring dark looks are thought to convey an anti-Barbie seriousness of mind.
"War is a time for instant expertise from the likes of Ms. Amanpour, who parachutes into benighted places, kitted out in flak-jackets and other kinds of tough girl raiment . . . in lieu of informing us better, she sells us a lifestyle." Amanpour was said to be upset by the "attack" on her work and business attire. But a CNN spokesman said Isaacson "never had a conversation with Christiane about the piece in the Journal" before he wrote a letter published yesterday.
"As CNN's chief correspondent, Christiane Amanpour has earned her title through tenacity and old-fashioned grit, dodging bullets . . .
"Tunku Varadarajan may not care for Ms. Amanpour's style; that is his prerogative. But . . . for 20 years she has shown an unswerving commitment to covering international affairs with a depth of knowledge, subtle understanding and bravery. Her ability, attention to detail, intellect and perseverance have been very much on display in her reports from Pakistan."
Varadarajan prefers MSNBC's Ashleigh Banfield, "the perfect anti-Amanpour," who cut off her blond hair and dyed it brown to blend in better in Pakistan - "most gratifying has been her unwillingness to pose as The Omniscent One." Topping Varadarajan's list is the BBC's Lyse Doucet - "a clear-headed, clever and self-effacing correspondent" - who called back from Islamabad on a satellite phone to explain why she won't wear a safari jacket: "I'm not going to give a false impression of danger by wearing one. There isn't a war going on here on the roof of the Marriott."
The column rankled feminists. John Doyle of the Canadian Globe & Mail wrote: "This sort of sexist, ranting commentary is unnerving, and women journalists across the print and broadcast media are furious."
Mischievous Varadarajan loves the backlash. "I'm baffled and tickled by all the fuss, and the noses out of joint," he told us. "It was a light, perky piece, rather like the sort of sorbet that cleanses the palate. I'm happy to share the recipe."
In other words, he just told them to "eat sh!t."
Good on ya, Varadarajan!
Meaning what? She wasn't upset? This does not compute.
We all know that in journalism you must climb the PC leftist corporate ladder, truth, the hell with it. So they are not convincing us here that at CNN you have to be earnest.
She doesn't make me want to puke quite as much as most of the journalists.
However, for me the phrase WAR SLUT made me realize that I was not the only person on the planet who was genuinely appalled with this reporter. She is so divorced from her audience. SHE IS SO FAKE!
Christiane Amanpour has oceans of Christian blood on her hands. She also had a important part in setting up muslim "Bosnia" as a forward base for the terrorists and fifth columnists who are now attacking America. It is because of the muslim goons whom she supports that there is a war in Afghanistan for her to report on. Any comments about her dress or "lifestyle" are ludicrously irrelevant!!!!
snooker
That's the line that really ticked Christiane's defenders off. Meow.
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