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Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media Are In Partnership With Al Qaeda

By TChris, Section Media
Posted on Wed Oct 26, 2005 at 07:57:27 AM EST
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by TChris

J. Dorrance Smith wrote a whacky opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal accusing the broadcast networks and the cable news networks (including Fox!) of being in “partnership” with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda because they occasionally report stories that have aired on Al Jazeera. “This partnership,” Smith fumed, “is a powerful tool for the terrorists in the war in Iraq.”

Rather than helping Smith find the medicine he needs to regain a hold on reality, the Bush administration wants to make him the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs -- the “chief Pentagon spokesman.” After Sen. Carl Levin called attention to Smith’s “over the top” characterization of the news media, his nomination may be in well-deserved jeopardy.

After the hearing, the committee chairman, Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, issued an uncharacteristically tepid statement saying only that the committee "will continue to process this nomination."

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    Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media Are In Partnership With Al Qaeda | 30 comments (30 topical)
    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#1)
    by profmarcus on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    they don't want information specialists, they want propaganda specialists... that's been clear for quite some time...

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    This guy should have a Wikipedia article about him. I encourage someone to write it.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    I can not imagine a better man for the job. He is already like a horse champing at the gate with nostrils aflair, a real stallion he is. We'll get those commies, er, terrorists. Keep hunting Mr. Smith, they are everywhere, perhaps you can enact terror free school zones as I hear they have been infiltrating K-6.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    I think the wingnut should be made head propagandist at the Pentagon. Either him or charley.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Sherm-Charlie Chickenhawk lacks the imagination and intelligence for the job. He is only useful as a parrot.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Thinks News Media Are In Partnership With Al Qaeda.. It sure as hell looks that way to most of us here in the good ol USA! See my post on the "2000 dead" blog for all the "good" things that NEVER get reported! Maybe if some of this news found it's way on Al Jazeera things would be different?

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    See how BB gets it in the teeth on his "2000 Dead" post...

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#8)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Judging from cases that I have handled, where the MSM reports, they are not competant to work for terrorists

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#9)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    You know Charley, telling a Jew that palestinian terrorist are his "heroes" is pretty F-ing offensive.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#10)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Roger-Trolls like chickenhawk char-lie are only here to be offensive as they add no content that is not readilly available on FOX, Limbaugh or at the DOD website. Trolls are here to annoy and take discussion into RNC la la land. Best to ignore them, as hard as it may be.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#11)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Sqeaky, Yeah, I know, but when the 101st keyboard brigade goes off on racist tangents, it can get to be a bit much. I guess that my prior work for US intelligence, active military service and commitment to the constitution just does not compare to the ranting of a mentally ill right winger with a keyboard!

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Roger, Squeaky: This may be a bit off-topic, but doesn't Talk Left have some sort of "4 post limit" per day for trolls on this board? If yes, how does that work exactly? Just curious . . .

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#13)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Yeah, "partnership" is way too strong a word, and this guy is not qualified for the position for which he's been nominated. But let's try a little exercise to guestimate media bias. Try to answer these questions just using the media sources Smith listed: 1: How many Americans have terrorists / insurgents killed in Iraq? 2: How many Iraqis have terrorists / insurgents killed in Iraq? How long did it take to figure out each? I did #1 is about 0 seconds, and I'm still working on #2.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#14)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Lab, TL, being a defense attorney, cuts everyone a lot of slack. It takes a while, and repeated trolling, to get limited. Most D attorneys are like this. I expect Charley to be banned eventually. Heck, my dog has better social skills.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#15)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    profmarcus: they don't want information specialists, they want propaganda specialists They seem to view everything as a P.R. issue or problem, as if only the right spin would make the "truth" clear to all. In any individual this would be obviously a symptom of a deep insecurity. ---- off topic - Roger - the link behind your name is broken...

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#16)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    It sure as hell looks that way to most of us here in the good ol USA! Reallllly!? The 'most' who approve the war or the 'most' who approve bush? (snicker, snicker;-)

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#17)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Sorry, that would be here

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#18)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    2: How many Iraqis have terrorists / insurgents killed in Iraq? You mean the media is biased because the DoD says they don't have those numbers and even if they did 'they don't do body counts.' That shows media bias!?

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    I expect Charley to be banned eventually.
    I would vote for that, since his posts waste space and never contribute anything, they are just heckling. I cannot imagine anyone's thinking ever being influenced by them.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#20)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    The only despicable allegiance the left seems to have are trolls like Char-lie the chickenhawk who has been banned and somehow has reappeared with more chatter than ever. A nasty piece of work, thank god he is quite dim and has no imagination, otherwise we would have a real monster on our hands. At least we get to see what Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, and Rush Limbaugh are spinning without having to go to a primary source. Echo chambers have their function. nice when they are turned off too.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#21)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Find some love in your life, Charley. You are a terribly damaged human being. Your anger and lashing-out deserve attention and treatment. BTW, suddenly every lefty poster is evil EXCEPT Roger? Seems when you get human in your exchanges you learn something that opens your eyes. You know something about Roger, so now he gets a pass from all the vile crap you hurl at "the left"?

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:24 PM EST
    Charley... I'm sure you've seen by now what you (we) are dealing with on here. You post something and the immediate response is .... Trolls like chickenhawk charlie ... but doesn't Talk Left have some sort of "4 post limit".....You are a terribly damaged human being. ... Etc etc. They accuse you of being a troll... and attack (as is the way with most of the left) without engaging in any meaningful dialog... In effect... doing exactly what they accuse you of... So typical isn't it. All they want on here is to pat each other's bottom and tell each other how great they are.... Very sad... Sailor.... Reallllly!? The 'most' who approve the war or the 'most' who approve bush? Both.... which equals most of the American public.... (louder snicker snicker...

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#23)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:25 PM EST
    bush approval ratings:40% Approve the war in iraq: 32% bb has a very odd definition of "most of the American public."

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#24)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:25 PM EST
    et al - The question raised by the nominee is media bias. He says it exists. Wants some examples? Instead it shows an "all-american demonstration." How about this one giving us a real view.
    I don't think US should be the leader of the world" Philip Bennett, Managing Editor of Washington Post -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- An Exclusive Interview with the Washington Post Managing Editor Philip Bennett
    How about this one
    Lewis Lapham, the liberal, anti-Bush editor of Harper's magazine, has been exposed for journalistic fraud. He has egg all over his face for writing a story about the content of the speeches at the Republican National Convention before the event was held and the speeches were given. Without knowing what he was talking about, he blasted the speeches as the same old "hollow rattle of the rhetorical brass and tin" that is "preached from the pulpits of Fox News and The Wall Street Journal." Lapham has since apologized for what he's calling a "rhetorical invention," use of "poetic license," and a "mistake."
    So maybe the guy went a little postal. Never happened to anyone on this blog.... Unless they were attacking someone they disagreed with. ;-)

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#25)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:25 PM EST
    Jim, do you agree with the pentagon spokesman nominee?

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:26 PM EST
    This should keep J. Dorrance Smith busy for awhile: al-Jazeera was recently voted the fifth most influential global brand (behind Apple and Google). independent

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#27)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:26 PM EST
    Sailor - Do you still beat your wife? What the man said, was:
    "Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Al Qaeda have a partner in Al Jazeera and, by extension, most networks in the U.S.," Mr. Smith wrote. "This partnership is a powerful tool for the terrorists in the war in Iraq." "Al Jazeera," he added, "has very strong partners in the U.S. - ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN and MSNBC. Video aired by Al Jazeera ends up on these networks, sometimes within minutes."
    He states an opinion and then provides facts. I have no problem with that, although it us a bit of an overstatement. At least he didn't tell us Iraq hadn't purchased yellowcake when the question was had Iraq attempted to purchase.... Read the article, not Levin's attack. BTW - Anyone got the actual article Dorrance wrote? I couldn't find it.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#29)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
    Hey! I want to be evil too! And BTW- there is no link from my name, I dont know why it posts that way

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#30)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
    Maybe I just figured it out! Some things, I know a lot about. Some, like computers, not so much.

    Re: Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media A (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
    shorter charley: only support good terrorists and totalitarian regimes, only support U.S. government-approved terrorist friends and allies. i.e., Luis Posada, the Somozas, Noriega (1983-1989) House of Saud, Osama Bin Laden (1984-1992), etc.,etc.

    Pentagon Spokesman Nominee Thinks News Media Are In Partnership With Al Qaeda | 30 comments (30 topical)