Eason Jordan Claims American Troops Targeted And Killed Journalists

Note: HaloScan users, to trackback to this post, use SimpleTracks. Word Press and HaloScan don’t get along well.
———————————————————————————–

Eason Jordan, some guy who works for CNN, has stirred up a blog swarm. He apparently said something really stupid (and false?), and mainstream media (MSM) doesn’t consider it newsworthy. From Forumblog:

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. (Emphasis added)

This story is developing. I will update and link to other bloggers and news articles. Trackback to me, and I’ll trackback to you.

Captain’s Quarters (and here), Wizbang, Pajamahadin, The American Mind, Digital Brown-Pajamas (Sleepy Stormtroopers of the Religious Right), Kevin McCullough, Pejmanesque, Winds of Change, Myopic Zeal, The Glittering Eye (and here), The Baron, Ramblings’ Journal, Hugh Hewitt, Jeff Blogworthy, Okie on the Lam, Citizen Smash, Slublog, Shot in the Dark, Power Line, Red State Rant, Professor Bainbridge, Roborant, Kabasue, RedState, Flopping Aces, cerdipity…

This article may be of interest to you: Are Bloggers Journalists?

Update: A journalist and blogger who was present at the forum where Eason made the statement about American troops confirms Rony Abovitz’s (Forumblog) account.

(Hat tip: Captain Ed)

I’m having trackback “issues.” If I haven’t tracked your post yet, I’m working on it.

Update II (5:35 p.m.): CNN responds to an e-mailer:

Many blogs have taken Mr. Jordan’s remarks out of context. Eason Jordan does not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists. Mr. Jordan simply pointed out the facts: While the majority of journalists killed in Iraq have been slain at the hands of insurgents, the Pentagon has also noted that the U.S. military on occasion has killed people who turned out to be journalists. The Pentagon has apologized for those actions.

Nice try, CNN, but this contradicts what “ear-witness” Rony Abovitz said:

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. (Emphasis added)

Jordan said or implied that journalists were TARGETS, not collateral damage.

(National Review Online via Hugh Hewitt)

Update III (6:52 p.m.): CNN should release the transcript so everyone can read it for themselves.

Captain Ed received an e-mail from CNN. Could it be a subtle, “Please leave us alone!” plea?

Jim Geraghty of KerrySpot says he’s willing to give Big Media the benefit of the doubt for not reporting on this quickly. But Hugh Hewitt says:

First, this isn’t a story about media bias. It is a story where a senior American news executive accused the American military of assassinating journalists, and did so before an international crowd of influential opinion-makers….Second…I refuse to believe that not a single reporter/editor/producer in MSM knew about this before deadline last night, or that AP and Reuters are unaware of the story or its significance at this hour. In fact, we have been in contact with Rony Abovitz and he is being pursued by many major media outlets for interviews etc.

Read the rest. Hugh’s reaction and the ensuing “blog swarm” surrounding Jordan’s remarks are why his book BLOG is a prescient piece of work and one that every Big Media type should read.

Update IV (7:26 p.m.): Regarding the transcript, journalist and blogger Rebecca MacKinnon, who confirmed Abovitz’s account of Jordan’s remarks, added this update:

I have emailed people at the World Economic Forum requesting a verbatim transcript of what precisely was said during the panel in question. I have also emailed Eason Jordan asking him whether he’d like to confirm and/or clarify his comments, since I did not record the session myself and my notes are not verbatim. (Emphasis added)

Also, Glenn Reynolds received an e-mail from CNN:

Many blogs have taken Mr. Jordan’s remarks out of context. Eason Jordan does not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists. Mr. Jordan simply pointed out the facts: While the majority of journalists killed in Iraq have been slain at the hands of insurgents, the Pentagon has also noted that the U.S. military on occasion has killed people who turned out to be journalists. The Pentagon has apologized for those actions.

Mr. Jordan was responding to an assertion by Cong. Frank that all 63 journalist victims had been the result of “collateral damage.”

They must be sending out a form e-mail. I’ll wait patiently for mine.

Good grief. Ed Morrissey is all over this. He’s found another Jordan faux pas. Little Green Footballs got a form e-mail, too. I guess mine is in the mail.

But wait. There’s more. Charles Johnson at LGF is reporting that Jordan has made similar statements before, and so has another CNN executive. And Ed suggests you to contact Time Warner, which owns CNN, if you want to see Jordan’s head roll.

Update V (9:12 p.m.): From Hugh Hewitt:

My producer Duane e-mailed blogger Rony Abovitz earlier today and got back this reply, which Abovitz had agreed I can post:

“Dear Duane,

I just returned to the US a few hours ago and have jetlag.
I am getting numerous requests about this story, including calls from
CNN.

Tonight would not work as I am very tired. I can let you know tommorrow
if appearing on your show would make sense. I am also getting requests from some major media outlets, and need to think about what is the best thing to do.

Thank you,

Rony”

Why is CNN calling Rony? And since other major media are on the case, can we expect thorough reporting tomorrow?

Update VI (10:35 p.m.): Eason Jordan responds! (Via Captain’s Quarters) Dig his backtracking, parsing and obfuscating:

To be clear, I do not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists in Iraq. I said so during the forum panel discussion. But, nonetheless, the U.S. military has killed several journalists in Iraq in cases of mistaken identity. The reason the word “targeted” came up at all is because I was responding to a comment by Congressman Franks, who said he believed the 63 journalists killed in Iraq were the victims of “collateral damage.” Since three of my CNN colleagues and many other journalists have been killed on purpose in Iraq, I disputed the “collateral damage” statement, saying, unfortunately, many journalists — not all — killed in Iraq were indeed targeted. When someone aims a gun at someone and pulls the trigger and then learns later the person fired at was actually a journalist, an apology is appropriate and is accepted, and I believe those apologies to be genuine. But such a killing is a tragic case of mistaken identity, not a case of “collateral damage.” That is the distinction I was trying to make even if I did not make it clearly at the time. Further, I have worked closely with the U.S. military for months in an effort to achieve a mutual goal: keeping journalists in Iraq safe and alive.

Says Hugh Hewitt: “Why I am not inclined to believe that Jordan is telling us the truth? Perhaps because he accused American troops of torturing journalists just months ago? The transcript, Mr. Jordan, just the transcript. Not your interpretation of what you want people to think you said. Just the transcript.”

Captain’s Quarters has a rebuttal up already! More thoughts from ThoughtsOnline. Jordan’s probably sorry he ever heard of bloggers.

Update VII (2/4): This post will not be updated. Please see Part I and Part II of The Eason Jordan Repository.