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Being There

Mike Fumento on how readers are served when reporters actually go to the places they are reporting on:

In a Nov. 29 blog, “Will the real Ramadi please stand up?” I observed that three articles on conditions in Ramadi and al Anbar Province had appeared within a week of each other giving entirely different points of view. Mine and one in the Times of London said we’re winning the war in Ramadi; a Washington Post A1 story co-authored by “Fiasco” author Thomas Ricks claimed exactly the opposite. The difference, I said, could be explained simply. I and the Times writer reported from Ramadi. Ricks and his co-author have not only never been to Ramadi, they wrote their piece from Washington. Well now the WashPost has printed another article on the city, this time an upbeat one. What gives? You guessed it.The second one was reported from Ramadi. Case closed, thank you very much. Unfortunately, it’s little solace knowing how few journalists ever leave their safe little hovels in Baghdad hotels or Washington, D.C

Fumento’s original item: Will the real Ramadi please stand up?

WaPo’s new Ramadi happy report: Extended Occupation Helps US in Ramadi.

Hey, that’s an interesting conclusion. So maybe, if an extended occupation helps US in Ramadi, then an extended occupation will help US in Iraq. Someone please notify following:

James Baker, Inane Strategy Guesswork
Lee Hamilton, Inane Strategy Guesswork
Nancy Pelosi, Americans for Cutting and Running
John Murtha, Americans for Cutting and Running
John Kerry, Americans for Cutting and Running
Chuck Hagel, Americans for Cutting and Running
Et al

Hey, now that I think about it, the Inane Strategy Guesswork crowd didn’t leave their hotel in Baghdad, either.

Rule No. 1 of reporting. Go have a look.

Topics: Uncategorized

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 10:02 am on Monday, December 11, 2006

3 Responses to “Being There”

1. The Ripper Says:
   December 11th, 2006 at 11:04 am

   Great post, thanks. Don’t know if you’ve seen these two short videos from Iraq yet or not, but both show the US Military engaging in some very dubious actions. I have them up on my site at http://www.minor-ripper.blogspot.com ..You have to wonder what these soldiers were thinking when videotaping this stuff…

2. Purple Avenger Says:
   December 11th, 2006 at 3:28 pm

   FYI: The assholes in the water bottle incident are already under investigation.

3. Uriah Says:
   December 11th, 2006 at 11:01 pm

   A plan authored by a recently deceased soldier in Iraq. Yeah, it uses stick figures.

   http://hotair.com/archives/2006/12/11/powerpoint-how-to-win-in-anbar-province-in-18-easy-steps/

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