Peter Arnett, Back in the Minefield - Praises Iraqi "Handling" of News Media

The Washington Post ^ | 31 March, 2003

[Happy2BMe]

Peter Arnett, who fought off charges of conveying Iraqi propaganda during the first Gulf War, has handed fresh ammunition to those who say he sympathizes with Saddam Hussein's regime.

"It is clear that within the United States there is growing challenge to President Bush about the conduct of the war and also opposition to the war. So our reports about civilian casualties here, about the resistance of the Iraqi forces . . . help those who oppose the war. . . .

[laz17]

Arnett has completely crossed the line, no matter how you slice it. He has pioneered a new level of treachery. Until now, anti-American journalists were content merely to serve as conduits for enemy propaganda. Until now, they were happy just to stick their microphones in the enemy's face and allow the enemy to spew their lies unchallenged. Arnett has outdone them all. He has surpassed the likes of Dan Rather, who went to Baghdad and personally interviewed Saddam. He has also surpassed Peter Jennings, which is no mean feat. Arnett, a reporter employed by an American company, has sat down in a studio and allowed himself to be interviewed by Iraq. Instead of interviewing the enemy, he has allowed himself to be interviewed BY the enemy, giving more "credibility" to the enemy's propaganda by parroting it himself. He might as well be an official of Saddam's information ministry. Maybe he's gunning for Baghdad Bob's job.

Arnett had better be careful over there in Baghdad. He'd better hope special forces don't put a red dot on his forehead. He has committed treason, and freedom of speech is no defense for what he's done. Freedom of speech protects dissenters here in CONUS, not in Baghdad. Arnett spewed his venom against the US in Baghdad, and the First Amendment does not protect him over there. He has violated the oath he made to the Constitution when he became a US citizen. What he's done over there makes him indistinguishable from the enemy.

Words fail to describe the obscenity of what he has done. He should make his treachery complete, quit National Geographic, and go to work for Al Jazeera.

[cinFLA]

Forget Arnett...what he said has been stated by many analysts in the US as well and isn't all that detrimental ...

Forget the Dixie Chicks, Forget Michael Moore, forget the Columbia professor Genova, forget Al-Sarien, forget them all. BS! LET EVERYONE KNOW WE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!

[CyberAnt]

I don't really know much about him or his wife.

[JakeINJoisey]

Look...find me ONE thing Arnett said in that interview that you couldn't have heard from some analyst on ANY of the major media outlets. He's trying to save his credentials to report from Iraq. The FACT that he probably HAD to consent to that interview is simply more grist for our intelligence analysts to consider.

As to the rest of the pond scum you mentioned, they're not even worth consideration and have been roundly and rightly condemned by the majority of Americans.

My point is, simply, don't get distracted by this type of inflammatory media sensationalism...we've MUCH bigger fish to fry

[Hildy]

You know what? NOTHING would surprise me about Clinton's involvement. I have a theory of my own, if I ever get the guts I'll post it.

[Nucluside]

I aint forgetting Di Genova! But:
A MODEST PROPOSAL:
We establish a fund with donations and award the money, all of it,
to the coalition soldier who can prove beyond doubt that he is the one
who waxed Arnett. Hell, I'd be glad to chair the organization. It's probably illegal, but I'd bet that any investigating agency personel would probably look the other way and even contribute to the fund. Well...!

[Kevin Curry]

We've got a big enough pan to fry them all.

I'm not letting Arnett off the hook.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I saw Arnett on tv, before the war started, he was in Baghdad, I believe, and was trying to find his old friends to visit with. He loves the Iraqi people. There is nothing wrong with him having affection for the people.

But, his commentary on the war's progress is very disheartening. He is aiding the enemy in their fight to the nth degree. He is emboldening the Iraqi military to continue fighting!

[oyez]

What a freekin disgrace. Slimebag mother pus bucket. May he draop dead.

[hole_n_one]

FNC:

Pentagon is "furious" with Arnett.

[John Lenin]

I totally agree. He should not be allowed back in the country. Does anybody see the irony of the US Media and Al Jazerra ? The US media is hyping up civilian deaths feeding the anti-war phobes and Al Jazerra is showing pictures of kids who died from errant bombs feeding the suicide bombers. Ann Coulter is right again, The Enemy Within !!!

[cinFLA]

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/community/email.html#email

Have at it. I zipped out four quick ones! Peter Arnett is not reporting. He is advising the enemy and working to strengthen the anti-US movement in the US; again.

[ILBBACH]

I just e-mailed the Nat'l Geographic. I told them I was cancelling my subscription if they didn't fire Arnett. Hit'em where it hurts...

Actually, you should tell your doctor and dentist that you will go elsewhere if they don't cancel their subscriptions to National Geographic! ;-)

[cinFLA]

As to the rest of the pond scum you mentioned, they're not even worth consideration and have been roundly and rightly condemned by the majority of Americans. My point is, simply, don't get distracted by this type of inflammatory media sensationalism...we've MUCH bigger fish to fry

Right. Leave it all up to the media. Let's all sit in our armchair and relax. Get real.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

For the record, I will not say that al Jazeera is a wonderful media outlet, and I do not wish to defend them.

But, taken against all of the other Arab media outlets, they really do have much more freedom in what they put on the air. They are not muzzled by their government.

You must keep some context in mind. All media outlets are speaking to their audiences. They are not going to wave the American flag and call for Hussein to step down!

[cinFLA]

Look...find me ONE thing Arnett said in that interview that you couldn't have heard from some analyst on ANY of the major media outlets

He was telling it directly to the enemy! That the war plan was failing! That he needed more help sending pictures of civilians dying at the hands of the Christians to send back to the US to help strengthen the communsist movement in the US to help defeat the US.

[cinFLA]

My point is, simply, don't get distracted by this type of inflammatory media sensationalism...we've MUCH bigger fish to fry

OK. What do you say we do? Nothing or do you have better idea?

[ILBBACH]

just emailed the big three (Bob Wright, Phil Griffin, & Eric Sorenson) subject line "please forward this reading material to Peter Arnett". body: The U.S. Sedition Act

Hook 'em horns!