tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151392762208539379.post5357157901927063821..comments2023-06-23T03:17:34.523-07:00Comments on Burton Hersh: Burton Hershhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02811412812377062372noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151392762208539379.post-14671444016225063522011-07-24T15:47:58.257-07:002011-07-24T15:47:58.257-07:00I think your reasoning is simplistic, and I assume...I think your reasoning is simplistic, and I assume that you have never worked as an embedded journalist yourself. While one certainly has greater empathy for the troops one is embedded with, this simply doesn't translate into a sympathy for the "military-industrial propaganda mill".<br /><br />Despite what I often hear, one just doesn't check one's intelligence at the door when embedded, unless one isn't that intelligent to begin with.<br /><br />You take Filkins to task for not reporting on 2 issues that happened to catch your eye. <br />Do you really imagine reporters (even the great Mr Filkins) to be that omnipresent, all-seeing? <br />Iraq and Afghanistan comprise large areas, not to mention Pakistan; furthermore, war is a beast not unlike the proverbial elephant, understood by blind men for its parts, hardly ever seen whole.<br /><br />Many great reporters have covered this area over the last several years, including Anthony Shadid, George Packer, etc, etc.<br />No one has gotten it right all the time, in a comprehensive manner. This simply isn't possible, especially as events are unfolding.<br /><br />As for the Times and corruption in the south of Iraq, freelancer Steven Vincent reported on just that, was published in the Times op ed page and was killed a few days later. If the paper of record didn't have more reporters focusing on Basra, it wasn't because anybody's interests were being protected, it's because papers ain't what they used to be. In case you hadn't noticed, they've had to cut way back on reporters in the field.<br /><br />I tire of lefties casually dismissing the courageous and difficult work of reporters trying to untangle the knot of our wars, by claiming that they're intellectually and morally compromised because they were embedded.Steve Mumfordhttp://www.artnet.com/magazineus/features/mumford/a-visit-to-kabuls-national-gallery8-16-10.aspnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1151392762208539379.post-30685914312646886172011-07-24T12:52:02.311-07:002011-07-24T12:52:02.311-07:00The Taliban just hanged and eight your old boy be...The Taliban just hanged and eight your old boy because his father, an Afghan officer, would not give them a military vehicle. This is the future of Afghanistan, because twice, the Americans left the country in the lurch. After the Russians were forced to withdraw, America did nothing to help rebuild the country, which led to civil war. The Taliban took power and let Bin Laden and Al Queda plot the greatest terrorist attack in history, 9/11. America invaded Afghanistan and with the Northern Alliance, defeated the Taliban, who escaped into Pakistan. Invading Iraq instead of securing Afghanistan, Bush allowed the Taliban to return in force, aided by Pakistan, a country that has received billions in American aid. This is a monumental tragedy. There is a corrupt government that no one supports and a useless army that is supposed to take over the fight. This is all starting to make Vietnam look like a success.Richard Cummingshttp://thefireinsider.comnoreply@blogger.com