As reported here on Newsbusters the Associated Press is refusing to back down from, nor give satisfactory evidence for, its November report that 6 Iraqi Sunnis were burned alive in sectarian violence, a claim heavily disputed seemingly by everyone but the AP.
The AP based their reports of this grisly violence on the word of a single "witness" they named as Iraqi police captain, Jamail Hussein. Unfortunately for the AP, and despite quite a lot of effort by quite a few people, this captain of Iraqi police cannot be located so that the story can be substantiated. The AP, however, continues to claim that he exists despite the paucity of evidence.
And, also as reported here on NewsBusters, Editor & Publisher posted a story making fun of Conservative Bloggers for attacking the AP assuming that they had discovered via a post on the Winds of Change Blog that this captain Hussein had been found. E&P gleefully claimed that folks who criticized the AP for the lack of proof of the existence of the mythical AP source, such as Michelle Malkin, would have to "eat crow" since they imagined him finally found.
But, since E&P's taunting of Conservative Bloggers, no further confirmation of the existence of captain Hussein has been brought forth and his existence is still shrouded in doubt.
Well, now disgraced CNN News Chief Eason Jordan has stepped up his own criticism of the AP's refusal to settle this dispute with a plaintive call to the AP to come clean on a new site called Iraqslogger. Jordan wrapped up his call to bring the AP to account with: "Until this matter is resolved, the AP's credibility will suffer."*
Editor & Publisher dutifully reports this little conflict as if they are merely practicing good journalism while conveniently forgetting their gleeful attack of Conservative Bloggers of only three weeks ago.
Still, despite Editor & Publisher's faulty memory, this Capt. Hussein controversy rolls on making the AP out to be liars, Editor & Publisher to be partisan hacks, and Conservative Bloggers to be right... again.
* And Eason Jordan should know from suffering credibility. For some background on why Eason Jordan left CNN try this story, Blogger's Success- CNN's Eason Jordon Quits.
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Comments Policy
are you sure 6 people were
January 3, 2007 - 03:29 ET by CCCPare you sure 6 people were burned alive? are you sure it wasnt NOTHING!!!
“The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do.” - Comrade Josef Stalin
Hard to be "sure"
January 3, 2007 - 03:33 ET by Warner Todd HustonHard to be "sure" of ANYTHING when the people claiming the story happened won't do anything to prove it!
The bottom line is , the bl
January 3, 2007 - 05:19 ET by Right2thePointThe bottom line is , the blogs don't replace the international press as yet.
If we can not trust in the integrity of the international press, then how are we to be supposed to make informed decisions?
Their lack of addressing this issue speaks volumes, and it is not a voice I wish to hear.
Where
January 3, 2007 - 07:03 ET by pagardid the idea that the AP or Reuters wanted you to have the infomation necessary to make informed decisions come from? Their only interest is getting you to conform to their way of thinking.
"If we can not trust in the integrity of the international press, then how are we to be supposed to make informed decisions?"
Well, obviously, if you are t
January 3, 2007 - 12:28 ET by MikeBWell, obviously, if you are truly informed, their way of thinking is the only possible way of thinking. Presentation of facts might lead you into apostasy, and we couldn't have that, now, could we?
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
It seems that the AP just exp
January 3, 2007 - 05:32 ET by Indiana JoeIt seems that the AP just expects to be believed, no matter any lack of corroboration to this story. That is, to me, in and of itself suspicious. If their bar for verification of a news item is so low, how can they reasonably be expected to be taken seriously? EVER?
I know, I can hear them now: "oldest news service in the world"... "respected for [X #] years".... other similar blather....Horsefeathers! Here's a concept for them: "You're only as good as your last show."
When someone's main argument in defense of themselves is "trust me," the red flags start popping up in my mind.
This ought to the the Arthur
January 3, 2007 - 08:48 ET by rimskyThis ought to the the Arthur Anderson episode for AP.
In the absense of Jamail Huss
January 3, 2007 - 09:34 ET by taznarIn the absense of Jamail Hussein, I'd like to know the names of the "many" journalists at the AP who've maintained this 2 year relationship with him. Has anyone called up the AP to see if they can get the names to do an interview with them?? I'd like to ask the person who interviewed him, in uniform, in his office, a few questions.
Its not like the AP can claim the reporters can't be found (or can they?).
Hey taz here is a even easier
January 3, 2007 - 17:08 ET by tkeefeHey taz here is a even easier one for the ole AP. Becouse you know the reporter on this story might just be to busy making up ooops I mean reporting another story, to answer your questions ya know. How bout we have AP just have another reporter even a nice young company man. (give him a big break into the reporting world ya know) Give us a follow up story something simple nothing difficult. Like oh i don't know maybe some NAMES OF THE SO CALLED BURNED UP. Sure they have family that would love to have us morn over their passing. Would be glad to do so if I only knew who they were. Unlike those that the AP roots for in this WAR yes I did say WAR. This christian man is sad over every death even if neccesary do to the struggle we are in. Unlike the islamic enemy we face. Just show me a name with good strong follow up on it I to can BEILIVE. Make that six of them
Mission Statement of AP or AC
January 3, 2007 - 09:41 ET by donsalesMission Statement of AP or ACLU???? You Decide....
Freedom of Information
"The Associated Press is the bastion of the people’s right to know around the world. With a long history of involvement in FOI issues and actions, AP is an industry leader in “open government issues.”
The scope of AP’s efforts worldwide is extraordinary. Whether reporting on Iraqi prisoner abuse or the difficulty in getting aid to tsunami victims, AP captures the consequences of government action or inaction.
At the state level, AP open government efforts are coordinated by the chief of bureau, working in conjunction with state members, FOI councils, industry associations and other interested groups."
The AP is owned and operated as a cooperative by the leading newspapers in this country (ring any bells?????) and is "supervised" by a board of directors from small to very large newspapers and chains. Like the UN, it is an organization started with honorable intentions. Like the UN, it has now descended into an assemblage of "self-serving" writers and editors around the world who's agenda is anything but support of this country and it's lifelong values.....
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
A.P., CNN, E & P...I don'
January 3, 2007 - 12:48 ET by mattmA.P., CNN, E & P...I don't see any credibility in any of them.
The best and easiest way to know what's really happening in the Middle East is to believe the opposite of whatever is reported in the MSM.