CNN STAR FLASHES HER THIN SKIN

New York Post, Page Six ^ | November 20, 2001 | Richard Johnson

[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."

[MissAmericanPie]

She is under the delusion that she is Laura Croft, grave robber would be a more fitting job for her though.

[contessa machiaveli]

i've been pleasantly surprised by ashleigh banfield, who's done a great job without showboating and sidling up to the enemy. many people would not want to go into the midst of a rather unorthodox and dangerous war. she's been a rising star on cable and could have safely been reporting from the secaucus offices of MSNBC.

[river rat]

War Slut, is not the appropriate term. Sluts give it away.
War Whore, is more appropriate, Whores get paid for what they do.

Semper Fi

[Petronski]

Varadarajan is the best thing to happen to the Wall Street Journal since they developed the Weekend Journal section on Fridays, and is a MUST READ whenever his work appears, just as necessary to good living as the work of Mark Steyn.

[frossca]

Well, let me be the lone ( I know I will be) voice in saying I think Amanpour is a top-notch journalist.

The "War Slut" is not a "journalist". She is an advocate. She has made clear her support for the Palestinian cause and this view taints all her reporting.

[CatoRenasci]

Indeed, the description of Amanpour as a CNN War Slut is one of the most devastating bon mots to see print since Sir Winston Churchill retired from his neat and regular verbal dismembering of Lady Astor.

[jackbill]

"Equally puzzlingly, her alluring dark looks are thought to convey an anti-Barbie seriousness of mind.

"alluring dark looks"? To me she always looks like she could use a good hot bath.

[Schnucki]

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!

I had exactly the same reaction.

[B Knotts]

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."

This guy has just declared himself an honorary FReeper. :-)

[Snardius]

Thin skin stretched over an enormous ego.

[B Knotts]

"alluring dark looks"? To me she always looks like she could use a good hot bath.

...and a shave.

[NYC GOP Chick]

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.

Ah, yes, one of the great joys of the 'net -- finding out that I'm not the only one who can't stand the pretentious war slut. :-D

[Mr. Bungle]

"She doesn't make me want to puke quite as much as most of the journalists."

Grab your barf bag.

puke

[austinTparty]

hear hear

[Mr. Bungle]

"Well, let me be the lone ( I know I will be) voice in saying I think Amanpour is a top-notch journalist."

Ummm...

[dep]

I'm happy to share the recipe.

now if ms. amanpour would provide the recipe of how she got her husband to lactate, in that he's the one home with their infant.

dep

[BigWaveBetty]

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

Don't be too impressed with Ashliegh Tunku, she only did that because she knew wasn't going to be able to get a good dye job in Pakistan.

Tunku very much! :-) sorry, could resist that!

[JoeSchem]

Amanpour uncritically accepted the KLA's false charges of genocide against the Serbian people. She's had years to correct that mistake, and has not done so. We're still looking for the 'hundred thousand Albanian Kosovars murdered by Serbian death squads.' But the 2500 Serbs dead from American bombing -- air strikes called in by Forward Observer Christiane Amanpour -- were all too easy to find.

[Amore]

Thanks for posting that link to Amanpour's comments chastizing the press for letting Bush succeed . . . .

[Elkiejg]

This is the same "War Whore" who gave a speech to the news media right after the 2000 election and chastised her fellow liberals on "how could you have let this happen" -- the election of President Bush!! This is also the "War Whore" who was former "college roommate" of John Kennedy, Jr. AND is married to Jaime what-his-name, former Clinton State Dept. spokesman who still roams the halls of State (thanks to some of his former Clinton hold-over buddies there) and even has them patch him through for overseas call on the State Dept. dime!!!!

Does she have an agenda??????????You bet your AS* she does and it's not the same one President Bush has or the same one American patriots have. So CNN, peddle her someplace else - I refuse to watch her. A WHORE is a WHORE is a WHORE!!!