[mdlug-discuss] [mdlug] Is MS bribing bloggers?

[Ingles, Raymond]

> From: Aaron Kulkis

> > More recently there's the illusive Iraqi police lieutenant 
> > that AP has grown fond of.
> 
> Recently, also AP made up a story about 6 Shi'ites being burned alive
> at a Sunni mosque in downtown Baghdad...  quoting anonymous sources.
> Both US Army and Iraqi Police said we have no knowledge of this --
> can you get some specific information.

 Um... no. they didn't quote anonymous sources, they quoted the "illusive
[sic] Iraqui police lieutenant". That's the story we're talking about.

> AP, instead of responding with information which could be followed up
> and investigated, did the "how dare you try to censor us" scheme.

 Um... no, they didn't. They stood by their story, insisted that Jamil
Hussien (their main source) exists, and found other witnesses. And, gee,
it turns out that the guy really *does* exist, despite initial denial by
Iraqi officials.

 At the risk of invoking Godwin's law, at least tangentially, I direct
your attention here:

 http://www.tinyrevolution.com/mt/archives/001259.html

> Sorry, those of us not in the journalism business expect that when
> a reporter reports something, that he or she has actual, firsthand
> knowledge of what he's reporting

 Again: Um... no. If you were right... why bother with interviews?

> not merely repeating whatever propaganda shows up in the fax machine...

 Let's assume, for the sake of the argument, that you're right. We'll
assume (though this is by no means established) that AP was, in fact,
lax in this matter and put too much credence in a source of dubious
reliability.

 Now... what substantive difference does this make? Are you alleging
that the situation in Iraq is being badly reported overall? If so, in
what way?

 Is the level of violence being exaggerated? If so, in what way? Aside
from terminology, I don't see anything like an order-of-magnitude
difference between what's reported in the "MSM" and, say, what you
read here:

 http://www.usafns.com/date-_from_the_pentagon.shtml

 Are positive steps not being reported? Again, I don't see any real
evidence of that. What's the biggest positive sign in Iraq that you
think hasn't been highlighted?

 Sincerely,

 Ray Ingles                                        (313) 227-2317

 "However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at
              the results." -- Winston Churchill
The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately and then destroy it.