Are Journalism and Patriotism Mutually Exclusive?

The PX was out of news magazines the other day so I bought a copy of Newsweek where I ran across an article titled "Unholy Allies", the gist of which (strategically dated 26 September, 9 days after the parlimentary elections in Afghanistan) is the increasing violence and effectiveness of the Taliban fighters along with their close links to Al Queda insurgents in Iraq. 

What boggles my mind about this article is that the Newsweek staff can apparently make an appointment to meet with Al Queda leadership in Afghanistan at any given moment.  They have taken to dropping the "Al" and referring to the ultra-extremist terror sponsoring organization as just "Queda".  Kind of a nick name between buddies.  But then why wouldn't these two organizations be on the best of terms?  After all, it was Newsweek that spawned the rioting in Afghanistan which killed 19 people over the stories of Koran desecration at Guantanemo Bay which were exaggerated at best.  (See "Priveliges and Responsibilities")

Sami Yousafzai and Ron Moreau, the authors of this article, give surprising creedence to anything their Taliban contacts tell them while brushing off any explanation or response from the U.S. military.  It seems amazing to me that this article, boasting of a 300% increase in this local Taliban commander's force, and increased liaison with Al Queda (excuse me "Queda") in Iraq had never heard of this letter written by bin Laden's deputy which admits defeat in Afghanistan.  But then, "Unholy Allies" goes to great lengths to imply increasing levels of violence when by all credible counts, hostile actions in Afghanistan have decreased more than 50% since the September 17th elections.  Immediately after this little bit of creative writing quotes the Taliban commander's spike in troop strength, it points out that 2005 has been the deadliest year for Americans in Afghanistan since 2001 with 51 killed.  This jump in fatalities is credited largely to "shaped charge IEDs", a technology imported from Iraq.  The reality is that 33 of these 51 fatalities were in helicopter crashes, one due to weather, the other to hostile fire but nowhere near this commanders region, and in no related to shaped charge IEDs.

I remember watching a documentary on reporters in the Vietnam war when I was in college in which a panel of journalists was given the scenario of being allowed to imbed with North Vietnamese troops and sitting in ambush of an American patrol.  The question was asked of each of them "Are you a journalist first, or an American?  Would you let the Americans die or would you try to warn them first?"  I remember being sickened when most answered that they were journalists first.  Strange that they would say that as citizens of one of the very few countries that would protect them as such. 

The people that were so willingly interviewed by our friends from Newsweek in September, attacked an American patrol in October.  One of our soldiers lost both of his legs during the attack and subsequently died of his injuries.  That means he bled to death in a dark hostile land half a world from home even after all the help his friends could give him and the best medical treatment we had available.  Perhaps if Newsweek had been a little more American and a little less journalist, things might be different.

It's clear that Newsweek's intent with this article is to sow doubt and malcontent about our progress in Afghanistan.  This is precisely the intent of the Taliban's information campaign.  The only way that they can win this war is if America loses her will and the fastest way for that to happen is through irresponsible yet constitutionally protected journalism like this. 

The Schismatics in Dante's "Inferno", those who sowed discord during their lifetime, were punished throughout eternity in the 7th circle of hell by being cleaved nearly in two then allowed to heal before the process is repeated.  I would like to think that I am not a vindicative person, but someone will have to explain to me why I should not wish this punishment on the likes of Newsweek.

Comments

[Christine]

I vaguely remember a couple? of years back reading something regarding, I believe it was a statement by Al Queda regarding winning. It basically said that if they could get a huge backlash from the American public the American's would pull out. I may be wrong on some point of this. I have been fully behind the war since the beginning. But, I am really wondering what happened to the patriotism in this country. How many of the people who are directly feeding into the terrorists hands by standing up and shouting all of this bull? How many of the journalists who are feeding into the terrorists hands by willingly writing their propaganda for them? Stood up with a flag in their hands after 9/11? I think all of those traitors should be shot. Actually, I like your punishment better. Just put me down as, Ex-democrat.

[Toni]

Hey FP - Matt at B5 just had a posting on this same topic where he linked to I think Chapomatic. Chap has the actual transcript for the journo's (Jennings and Wallace). It's sickening especially Wallace but then even Jennings is so spineless you want to just biatch slap him. The media has just whored themselves slowly into oblivion. I should clarify and say those with the major networks/cable and the major print media. I think we still can get some decent reporters with smaller operations. I don't think support for this war is as low as it is portrayed tho. Great write up tho. :)

[GunnNutt]

The type of people who would be journalists first appear to think of themselves as some type of demi-gods. It would be extremely fitting for them to roast in hell for that egregious elitism.

[SK]

How many "Journalist first" responders would scream like school girls and expect help from you and your friends? I think many. Whatever punishment they get, they deserve.

[AmericanJournalist]

So you think Newsweek reporters actually want Al Qeada to win because of their style guide?

Where does your patriot test start and finish? What if a reporter was able to cover an enemy in a conventional battle? Tell me you wouldn't read that story or the story that reporter wrote if he did find himself on an ambush. Like you wouldn't learn something from that story.

What if a reporter wants to write a story about how Karen Hughes is a terrible ambassador to the Mid-East? Does that truth help the enemy?

Here's a better question: Are being an sycophant to this administration and being a patriot mutually exclusive?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------I think the success or failure of Al Queda is secondary in the minds of these journalists The casualties that may be incurred as a result of their reckless journalism are incidental. I believe their objective has less to do with winning or losing the war than to embarrass, discredit, or destroy an administration that they disagree with. If they can pick up the Pulitzer along the way, more's the better.

To answer the question, No, I don't believe I would read the article if I knew beforehand that American journalists let Americans Soldiers die in the name of journalism. At the end of the day, it isn't about journalism, it's about coming up with the big story. It's about recognition, fame, and glory. Sitting in ambush, literally, is not investigative journalism, it's being a witness to murder for personal gain.

Service members take an oath to obey the orders of the president without reservation. This is not sycophancy, this is duty; patriotism drawn from the constitution that dosen't change depending on the president. The same constitution which protects the type of journalist we are talking about who spins the news and disciminatingly creates stories in support of their own personal position.----FP5

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

Love this post! If journalists are as smart as they think they are, they are knowingly aiding & abetting the enemy; otherwise, they're awfully ignorant! If they don't consider themselves Americans before being journalists, I wish they'd just move somewhere else! You'd think they would catch on after a while that everyone who they're trying to influence is not quite as stupid as they think.

[Emma]

Alas I fear that things are getting worse in Afghanistan - hardly any suicide bombings for years and now this year a whole spate of them. Stories like the Newsweek article that help the public realise that there is still a war on in Afghanistan and that it's nowhere near being won yet are not all together bad in my opinion.

[cheap jerseys]

While all good things must end, and these things must be,
Though two are now leaving they are forever the Trinity.

[Michael Oher Jersey]

While all good things must end, and these things must be,
Though two are now leaving they are forever the Trinity.