pessimist,
The fact that Josh Rushing has taken a position with Al Jazeera is a step in the right direction.
Now, if only we could get CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, WaPo, NYT and the other media outlets that have the same outlook as Al Jazeera to hire someone like him, the world would be a better place.
Posted by j.west at October 1, 2005 10:09 AMAs a retired Military man as ARDENT supporter of our country I have to raise an eyebrow when a Marine joins a network such as Al Jazeera. Now if you think Al Jazeera is nothing more than a CNN for Arabs then you probably see nothing wrong with the Marine and his “honest” reporting. But if you the other 90% of the world and see it as an Arab version of Soviet Pravda then you might be a little uneasy about the reports coming from this Marine. For those publicly educated people or students attending college today: The Soviet Union was this Evil Empire that used to exists in the world until Ronald Reagan crushed them with our economic might. Yes that right without even a single troop setting foot on their soil. I have not heard a single report other than the announcement, but I eagerly await the first report. I bet it will go over big here.
Posted by Cyber Sarge at October 1, 2005 10:35 AMdo you trolls have your heads up your asses for the warmth?
Posted by headxray at October 1, 2005 10:38 AMThe full article notes that Josh Rushing was the information officer who appeared in the documentary film on Al-Jazeera, Control Room.
Posted by ldm at October 1, 2005 11:50 AMAlthough it is not common knowledge, Al-Jazeera is actually run by the Pentagon. After screwing up the WMD fallacy, the Donald decided they would start up their own station. Good, clean hatred that guarantees Christian retribution each and every day. By the way, John Lennon would have been 65 on October 9th.
Posted by tempus at October 1, 2005 12:50 PMNo, headxray, having their head up their ass is just the easiest and quickest way for them to get that first bite of delicious shit they're so interested in.
I don't know much about Al-Jazerra, although I guess in Right Wing World I'm supposed to love it because I'm a liberal.
Perhaps someone could tell me exactly what country or government decrees the content of Al-Jazeera, since it is equated above with Pravda, an official Soviet publication.
Posted by euzoius at October 1, 2005 12:53 PMCyber Sarge:
You weren't exposed to Agent Orange by any chance, were you? In addition, there is a really neat book out called a dictionary.
sarge explained long ago that he was USAF and never saw combat. I'd worry, like any supporter of our troops, if we had turncoats in our own ranks. But I would be surprised if we didn't have a liason with foreign press to try to influence their news for our benefit, wouldn't you?
If this is the same guy from Control Room, then he's a pentagon stooge that actually seemed to be learning a few things. I had the impression that AJ has its detractors in the Middle East because it follows stories from many different perspectives as opposed to endorsing a hardline ideology.
Posted by iamcoyote at October 1, 2005 03:49 PMHaving lived in a former Soviet Republic and been publicly educated, I must say that those who believe that Reagan crushed them with our economic might see things a bit differently from the people who actually lived through the breakup of the Soviet Union. I know it's anecdotal, but no one I met in Latvia, Lithuanian or Estonia ever mentioned Reagan in discussing what happened. Many of them blamed Gorby and credited their own citizens with much of their successful move to independence.
I was just about to read more about the bush propaganda story when I decided to read this post. I find the lack of outrage on the part of people supposedly in favor of less government concerning the use of "manufactured" news stories quite disturbing. Why are they willing to ignore it? Do they think it's ok? Having mentioned Pravda, do you think that C.S. could explain the difference between what that agency used to do and what this administration has done -- outside of some excuse concerning quantity (i.e. the bush admin. only did it a little and with Pravda it was all the time)?
Posted by dorita at October 1, 2005 05:33 PM"I had the impression that AJ has its detractors in the Middle East because it follows stories from many different perspectives as opposed to endorsing a hardline ideology."
I read Al Jazeera on the Internet all the time. Now, unless the Al Jazeera Internet site is different than their TV news, the above statement is true. I have found nothing offensive on the their site. I find it more informative than our media, and in fact, more often than not read about something first there before we see it here, if at all.
Dorita, Gorby himself admitted that Reagan buried the Soviet Union. Yes the Baltic States were somewhat independent but do you really believe they would have been able to leave the Soviet sphere while it was still in power? Also I never hear a lick about anything good going on in Iraq and Afghanistan? My neighbor just returned and he said were going pretty well. He was there to set up schools, roads, and infrastructure near Kirkuk. Yes there is terrorist’s presence but most of the Iraqis were grateful to get a new school, power, or a well. Oh wait he wasn’t in combat so I guess his story doesn’t count. Iamcoyote, before you discount my service I suggest you enlist and dedicate 20 years of your life. If you haven’t or don’t care to then shove it up you ass! You may have to mover you head over a little to accomplish this.
Posted by Cyber Sarge at October 2, 2005 08:25 AMsarge, I made a statement of fact about your service, I wasn't discounting it. In fact, after I posted I realized I should have added that you should be commended for doing your 20 because others were making snarky comments, and it was likely you might take offense. I should have taken the time.
In fact, I was actually agreeing with you that on the surface, a US soldier working for a foreign news source might look hinky.
Posted by iamcoyote at October 2, 2005 09:24 AMNo one who heard Capt. Marshall speak when interviewed by NPR about the Al-Jazeera movie could doubt his intelligence, patriotism or common sense. The US Marine Corps doesn't make just anyone an officer. When I heard his story at that point (3-4 months ago), I figured it was just one more addition to the long, sad list of forthright and capable military people who have been bullied into silence or retirement by the fools running our government and the time-serving Pentagon knuckleheads who are enabling them.
It appears to me that there are folks in our military who take defending the Constitution, our Republic and the honor of their respective services to be absolutes. God bless 'em. We live in their debt.
Josh Marshall worked with Al-Jazeera reporters in his capacity as a Marine public-affairs officer in Iraq. In the interview I heard, he found them to be responsible reporters working for a legitimate news organization. I got the impression that he saw an opportunity to advance his country's position using the truth. What higher calling?
And he seemed to say that he believed Al-Jazeera would report his remarks and interviews fairly. All the while understanding that Al-Jazeera, like any news organization, has a constituency and its own imperatives.
He sounds to me like a bright young man who found himself at loose ends and was smart enough to grab a promising opportunity. Kinda like Wes Clark at FoxNews, without the swatting at gnats.
Posted by farmergiles at October 3, 2005 07:36 PM