Re: [CTRL] The coalition's other 'enemy'

[David Sutherland]

-Caveat Lector-   Arnett has dropped quite a few bloopers ... he's obviously under great pressure ... I've heard him on radio a few times and he sounded very tired and fatigued (understandably so) ... I think his sacking was an over reaction ... guess some Americans who are very pro the war would see his commentary as Iraqi suck-up and enemy lackey-ism ...   ... I'm not sure what merit there is in comparison of one mans alleged honours and heroism to another's ... Arnett may simply be addicted to the rush of war ... and if he is half the man you depict ... he'd more likely say "its just a job" ...    I suppose some get obsessive with their job -- Arnett once wrote:  "Then how do you remain objective, or better, intelligent about your copy? That is the test of your professionalism, to be able to observe with as much professional detachment as possible to report a scene with accuracy and clarity. I said it might be called a sense of mission, and in the AP it must take precedence over national patriotism in war, regional propaganda or municipal boostering back home. If you fail in this professional detachment you become an advocate, a worthy enough mission but not journalism. One example of my attempted detachment: I stood one hot noon outside the Saigon market and watched a Buddhist monk in brown robes climb from a taxi and squat on the pavement. He squirted gasoline over himself from a rubber bottle and flicked a cigarette lighter. Here was a political immolation a few feet in front of me. I felt horror and disgust as his body blackened and puffed out like burned pastry. I could have prevented that immolation by rushing at him and kicking the gasoline away. As a human being I wanted to. As a reporter I couldn't. This monk was one of many who committed suicide to dramatize the iniquities of the Diem regime in Saigon. If I had stopped him, the Secret Police who were watching from a distance would have immediately arrested him and carried him off to God knows where. If I had attempted to prevent them doing this I would have propelled myself directly into Vietnamese politics. My role as a reporter would have been destroyed along with my credibility. What did I do? I photographed him burning on the sidewalk." As far as 'Buddha' quotes go ... ?   Well I dunno -- some say one mans fat cunt is another's mans ecstasy. I lean a little toward the idea that all religions are fucked.   Dave.     ----- Original Message ----- From: "Euphorian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 4:58 PM Subject: Re: [CTRL] The coalition's other 'enemy' > -Caveat Lector- > > 4/2/2003 10:35:11 AM, David Sutherland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This looks like a classic example of luring the enemy into a false sense of > security.  I heard Sean Hannity on the Faux News today describe Arnett as > being a propaganda shill, in favour of the Iraqis.  Of course, neither Sean > nor Cal have the cajones to risk their lives by being in the centre of a war > zone, where Arnett has been on and off for forty years.  As a virtual > hostage, it makes some sense to be a little gracious to those who could > cause an untimely death at any time.  Arnett is probably telling everyone > what they want to hear in such circumstances and, in so doing, may be > causing the wannabees a little envy if not jealousy (watch out Sean and > Cal: deadly sins!).  Even MSNBC has stated that the remarks might have > made no difference except they were on Iraqi National TV.  But.  How did > WE hear of these remarks?  I don't get nor (obviously) watch Iraqi TV.  So: > what's the message here?  Extending a further challenge to the Iraqis to be > a little foolishly emboldened?  Did Arnett do what he did (with over 40 > years of wartime journalistic experience) on purpose (and whose)?  Or, did > he have to free himself from some constraints?  This whole thing was too > pat.  See: > > The firing of Peter Arnett: right-wing straitjacket tightens on the US media > http://wsws.org/articles/2003/apr2003/arne-a01.shtml > > >Arnett gave aid and comfort to our enemy when he delivered these gems > on Iraqi TV: "Clearly the American war planners misjudged the > determination of the Iraqi forces," ... < > > >What did they study in school that Arnett skipped? > This is interesting from the standpoint that Cal puts Arnett into the same > group as some of the most respected and distinguished newsmen of their > respective times.  One other thing that Cal doesn't address is what schools > (if any) these three went to (Pulitzer didn't feel good reporters needed to > be schooled; just good reporters.  He has an endowment named after him > at Columbia that was administered a little differently than he might have > wanted [see Weaver, *News and the Culture of Lying*]).  He doesn't tell > about Shirer being in Germany prior to the outbreak of WW2 reporting on > things that were going on.  He asks the reader to assume a lot of things > that he never explains, probably because he's a shill in his own right (!) and > can't explain them.  This story is not over, I would venture to say. > > Well, before my critique gets longer than the article, the enemy is > confinement of speech (except in Sean and Cal's cases, apparently, and > their blithering blabbering is just ducky).  Let them go into the bush with > Arnett and let's see how long they last (and how many Pulitzers do those > two have?). > > A<:>E<:>R > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do > not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- > tions.  Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and > rumoured by many.  Do not believe in anything simply because it is > written in Holy Scriptures.  Do not believe in anything merely on > the authority of teachers, elders or wise men.  Believe only after > careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with > reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. > Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, > from the Kalama Sutra > > <A HREF="">www.ctrl.orghttp://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> > DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER > ========== > CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic > screeds are unwelcomed. Substance-not soap-boxing-please!  These are > sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'-with its many half-truths, mis- > directions and outright frauds-is used politically by different groups with > major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. > That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and > always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om