Monday, May 05, 2008

Great Moments in Journalism - Take 4

The New York Times has just broken another Michael R. Gordon Middle East expose.

Hezbollah Trains Iraqis in Iran, Officials Say

Yesterday -A U.S. official said the account of Hezbollah’s role was provided by militia members who were captured in Iraq.


» Full Story on New York Times


As anyone familiar with Mr. Gordon's work can see, the title covers the meat of the story pretty effectively. Mr. Gordon, with the able assistance of his editors and the NY Times, smears and ties together Iraqi insurgents, Hezbollah, and Iran in one simple story. A hat trick, us hockey crazed Canucks might say. And, as usual, all on the inside information provided by...wait for it... unnamed US government officials!

Before war is declared on Iran, a few questions might be in order;

Who are the sources? Are they the same guys who passed on the previous false information for Mr. Gordon and Ms. Miller? Why can't you name them?
Who are the editors? The same enablers who have blindly approved the previous stories?

And finally, don't you ever learn?

I must admit to being surprised that the 'sources' did not try to sneak in a few more of the bad guys du jour like al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Syria. Perhaps the Times and the sources thought that might be a little over the top for the increasingly cynical audience they are trying to influence? Or sadly, they may be in the follow up to this travesty.