Davos, Switzerland This fiery topic became a real nightmare today for the Chief News Executive of CNN at what was an initially very mild discussion at the World Economic Forum titled "Will Democracy Survive the Media?".
At a discussion moderated by David R. Gergen, the Director for Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, the concept of truth, fairness, and balance in the news was weighed against corporate profit interest, the need for ratings, and how the media can affect democracy. The panel included Richard Sambrook, the worldwide director of BBC radio, U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, Abdullah Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, and Eason Jordan, Chief News Executive of CNN. The audience was a mix of journalists, WEF attendees (many from Arab countries), and a US Senator from Connecticut, Chris Dodd.
During one of the discussions about the number of journalists killed in the Iraq War, Eason Jordan asserted that he knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US troops in Iraq, but they had in fact been targeted. He repeated the assertion a few times, which seemed to win favor in parts of the audience (the anti-US crowd) and cause great strain on others.
Due to the nature of the forum, I was able to directly challenge Eason, asking if he had any objective and clear evidence to backup these claims, because if what he said was true, it would make Abu Ghraib look like a walk in the park. David Gergen was also clearly disturbed and shocked by the allegation that the U.S. would target journalists, foreign or U.S. He had always seen the U.S. military as the providers of safety and rescue for all reporters.
Eason seemed to backpedal quickly, but his initial statements were backed by other members of the audience (one in particular who represented a worldwide journalist group). The ensuing debate was (for lack of better words) a real "sh--storm". What intensified the problem was the fact that the session was a public forum being taped on camera, in front of an international crowd. The other looming shadow on what was going on was the presence of a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator in the middle of some very serious accusations about the U.S. military.
To be fair (and balanced), Eason did backpedal and make a number of statements claiming that he really did not know if what he said was true, and that he did not himself believe it. But when pressed by others, he seemed to waver back and forth between what might have been his beliefs and the realization that he had created a kind of public mess. His statements, his reaction, and the reaction of all in attendance left me perplexed and confused. Many in the crowd, especially those from Arab nations, applauded what he said and called him a "very brave man" for speaking up against the U.S. in a public way amongst a crowd ready to hear anti-US sentiments. I am quite sure that somewhere in the Middle East, right now, his remarks are being printed up in Arab language newspapers as proof that the U.S. is an evil and corrupt nation. That is a real nightmare, because the Arab world is taking something said by a credible leader of the media (CNN!) as the gospel, or koranic truth. What is worse is that I am not really sure what Eason really meant to communicate to us, but I do know that he was quite passionate about it. Members of the audience took away what they wanted to hear, and now they will use it in every vile and twisted way imaginable.
-snip-
(Rony Abovitz in the World Economic Forum Weblog, January 28, 2005)
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Eason Jordon needs an all-expenses paid trip to Gitmo, where he can be interrogated as to his former 'contacts' in the Baathist regime that he worked hand-in-glove with to maintain CNN's illustrious presence in order to maintain their bureau in Baghdad.
Send Jordan to Zarkavi....they can make great CNN news programs together.
Are are we to respond to this?
I heard that Clinton stood by and said nothing as the US was accused of crimes, but I didn't know what they meant.
To accuse the troops in an international forum is despicable..He could not back it up..one other international reporter chimed in to accuse..Jordan is beneath contempt..
Bye Bye credibility..Join the Rather, CBS hall of infamy, Eason...I will NEVER believe a CNN report on our military again.
Unless these jackanape SOB's can produce forensic or photographic evidence, they can go pound sand. In fact, I hope they continue their sniveling and left-handed accusations. The public will really love those assertions from a clutch of Leftist bootlicks that served Saddam as well as they (CNN) did. If the "journalists" that were killed were anything like this specimen, then it was a good thing that the "journalists" were the bullet sponges instead of any US service personnel.
There is a downside to this, isn't there?
But, seriously................is there?
I think that this should be seriously investigated. If the charges are unproven allegations, then I think that Jordan should be held accountable for them. A little time in stir will do wonders for so-called journalists with an agenda.
And I thought Heraldo was making nice just because he
joined the FOXNews team.
I wonder how many American Troops the Journalists have been responsible for killing because of irresponsible journalism?
A hell of a lot more than a dozen me bets!
12? Well, that's a start, but not a very good one.
Only twelve of those scum suckers....??????
Didn't Clinton bomb the TV station in Kosovo?
And now back to argument #876 about how you can be against the war and the United States military, but still support our troops.
(steely)
First CBS, then CNN. I think it's in their water supply. Probably a conspiracy or something like that.
WTF?!? I'd say the guy has lost it ..... if he ever had it to lose.
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"And I would express another most serious warning against the poisonous effects of enemy propaganda.
The wedge that the Germans attempted to drive in western Europe was less dangerous in actual terms of winning the war than the wedges which they are continually attempting to drive between ourselves and our allies.
Every little rumor which is intended to weaken our faith in our allies is like an actual enemy agent in our midst--seeking to sabotage our war effort. There are, here and there, evil and baseless rumors against the Russians--rumors against the British--rumors against our own American commanders in the field.
When you examine these rumors closely, you will observe that every one of them bears the same trade-mark--"Made in Germany.
We must resist this divisive propaganda--we must destroy it -with the same strength and the same determination that our fighting men are displaying as they resist and destroy the panzer divisions."
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CNN LIES
Semper Fi