Salon: The Media's Pentagon Worship In Action

[Hissyspit]

http://mobile.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/05/05/nbc_changing_osama_story/index.html

THU, 05 MAY 2011 05:24:00 ET
The media's Pentagon worship in action
The journalist's new credo: Never question the Navy SEALs!

BY JUSTIN ELLIOTT

The official Osama bin Laden raid story underwent another major change overnight.

- snip -

The New York Times, for example, writes that "the new details suggested that the raid, though chaotic and bloody, was extremely one-sided." But the bloodiness of the matter was never really in doubt.

Meanwhile, NBC Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski took an almost apologetic tone in his report this morning: "It's important to point out that these new details in no way diminish the courage and accomplishment of those Navy SEALS," he said. "But despite earlier reports from the Obama administration, it turns out now there was no prolonged firefight. And in fact it was the SEALs themselves who did most of the shooting."

And he ended the report this way: "It's important to point out here this morning that these reports of what happened in the buildings are coming from the SEALs themselves, and they more than anyone want to make sure that the story is told correctly."

That's the journalist's credo: never question the SEALs!

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[Hissyspit]

1. Yes! Unrec for media bias and incompetence.

[gratuitous]

2. Miklaszewski is doing a very dangerous thing

His bosses at NBC have already produced a snappy animation, showing plucky star-spangled U.S. fightin' men shootin' it out across the yard with a band of swarthy ululators. The fact that only one side in the firefight caught any bullets is so unremarkable as to not be deemed worthy of mention. And, while the lightning-quick courage and bravery is not to be questioned, our hired and trained military force did have time to take a few souvenir photos, wrap up a body, boost a few computers, hard drives, CDs and thumb drives, and then torch the remains of the malfunctioning helicopter. Nothing to see here, move along.

Miklaszewski, in revealing a few too many pertinent details, is endangering the entire mission. Tread carefully, Jim.

[Poll_Blind]

3. If the stories are coming "from the SEALS themselves" then WTF?

These guys are SEALS. These are not gossipy teenagers. These are the most physically-fit, intelligent, educated, self-reliant soldiers our country has.

I don't believe this is coming from the SEALS. At best someone is claiming to "pass on" what the SEALS say.

SEALS don't contact journalists. They don't. I just refuse to believe it. Someone is passing on a story they claim is coming from the SEALS.

PB

[Hissyspit]

4. Yes, but "it's important to point out here," don't ya know.

Even though there's no particular reason to believe it's true.

[Hissyspit]

5. Yay, more unrecs for lies and unjustified media prejudice

Yeah, I'm pointing out unrecs. 'Cuz it's PATHETIC.