Blitzer brings up the "alleged abuses" of Iraqis

[bigtree]

Just what I would expect from an alleged reporter.

[newyorican]

1. On an...

alleged news channel...

[Sandpiper]

2. Wolf is legally obligated to say that

Until the perpetrators are convicted of a crime.

[neebob]

4. Right

but it doesn't take a giant brain to know it's not only more than alleged, but also not an isolated case.

[Toucano]

24. I would agree

except they don't apply the same standard when referring to the crimes of Saddam.

They never say he allegedly gased his own people.

Nor that he allegedly had rape rooms.

[Sandpiper]

25. The difference is

Saddam is not a US citizen.

These soldiers are. While all the evidence points to the fact that they are guilty as sin, until they are convicted, a journalist has to refer to their crimes as allegations as a CYA against a potential suit for Libel.

[Toucano]

30. That is a difference

but it is not relevent to the proper use of the word. We have words that only apply to US citizens? :crazy:

alleged (adj.) Represented as existing or as being as described but not so proved; supposed.

Wolfie never said, "Saddam possesses alleged weapons". But that would have been accurate.

[glarius]

3. Are we looking at "alleged" pictures?.....A stupid thing for Wolfie to say

If no pictures had been shown, but were only rumoured to be taken, then he could say "alleged."....I allege you are pretty dumb, Wolf!!!!

[peacetalksforall]

5. Sorry to tell you that is the U.S. way to include the word alleged.

Not doing it is equal to demanding a posse be formed or gathering the wood for the fire at the stake or finding the rope for a hanging - it is in our legal process to let the courts decide and accusing someone without the process is unamerican and not using the word is something we should hold dearly. Another opposite of the legal process is the picture you get when you think of human beings rotting in chicken cages on a naval base on an island in the Caribbean.

[bigtree]

7. Alleged may be appropriate to describe actions of individuals

But who can look at those pictures and say that abuses didn't occur?

Or, do we suppose that the Iraqis performed these acts against themselves without coercion?

These acts are alleged no more. Now for the accountability. Now for the justice that our laws provide.

[peacetalksforall]

13. The way I'm defending the use of the word applies to people....

obviously, the photos, if untouched, are equivalent to a dead body - they are evidence.

The people in the photos, the photographer(s), the 14 or so other people and EVERYONE involved in CIA and Military intelligence whether as employees or contractors and EVERY higher-up in the line of command is alleged to have done it, condoned it, authorized it, promoted it, is alleged to have done it.

That said, I have such a cynical opinion of our leaders based on their history, that I don't use the words alleged even if their crimes don't get to go to court. They have a track record and they are politicians and they are supposed to represent us - so I will accuse them - just as I support Joe Wilson accusing them this morning.

A reporter, however, uses the word alleged in regards to the charges against a PERSON. The responsibility of news reporting is essential.

[bigtree]

14. Blitzer used the word alleged twice in reference to the abuses

As in: "the alleged abuses" with no attribution to anyone. It seems that these alleged reporters have no problem ascribing the worst of motivations and actions when it suits them. Editorializing has replaced reporting, but there is always a reticence, whenever they speak of anything that might implicate the actions of this administration, to call a crime a crime.

[glarius]

21. No one in the military has disputed the authenticity of the pictures

so far as I have heard....They seem to be accepted as authentic...Therefore the abuse depicted was not alleged....IMO

[mouse7]

6. Wolf asks, "Was it (torture) useful?"

Thank you Wolf. Your own words showed more about your character and bias than anyone could have ever claimed.

[tishaLA]

10. That's what got me, too

If I were Sey Hersh, I would have said, "Are you out of your fucking mind, you right wing shill posing as a reporter? When is 'usefulness' ever an excuse for torture?" Just unfathomable old Wolfie is.

[mouse7]

8. Hersh has more evidence!

Hersh is waiting for "a little more" corroboration.

[mouse7]

9. Wolf looked like his dog died by the end of Hersh interview.

Totally deflated.

[Hand]

11. Don't forget...

Blitzer's real name itsn't Wolf. It's Leslie. Just a reminder.

:evilgrin:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. I never knew that...we should ALL start referring to him as Leslie

Since he created the "Wolf" name no doubt to compensate for all the teasing he took as a kid and to give the appearance of MANLY authority, we should begin a compaing on the left to deconstruct his fabricated macho image.

[Hand]

23. Heh heh...

That was the unspoken agenda. This could be HUGE... This could be the next MORANS!!!!

:evilgrin:

[leftchick]

22. omg... I had to google that one...

Not that I did not believe you, just wanted to see it out there. Here it is...ROFL! So he thinks "Wolf" is cool or what?!?

< At a panel entitled You're Only as Sick as Your Secrets, Wolf Blitzer admitted that his real name is Leslie Blitzer. >


http://home.hawaii.rr.com/snlcn/franken/whcd2.html

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Hersh laid it on Wolf, and viewers, too -- horror's being perpetrated..

over there, in our name. Wilson and Hersh sounded two blaring alarms this Sunday.

[Mattforclark]

15. They are alleged. We have a thing in America called the rule of law

supposedly. Fair trials. Innocent until proven guilty, you know? It applies to Jose Padilla, and it applies to those alleged abusers.

Let's be consistent.

[tishaLA]

16. Nope.

We have nothing "alleged" about Padilla because he has never been charged. He has only been given a status.

[Mattforclark]

17. That's true,

unfortunately.

[bigtree]

19. Do we have to avert our eyes from the photos and suppose the Iraqis

did these things to themselves? Should we avert our eyes from the smiling faces of those standing over them and assume that their actions were benign? Should we assume that armed soldiers goading naked Iraqi prisoners are harmless and benevolent?

I won't avert my eyes nor suspend belief that Americans committed these atrocities, or the worst, were indifferent and negligent, consistent with my good eyesight.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. The perps might be alleged but the army has already confirmed the

abuses took place. When one refers to the PERP it is important to refer to the PERP as alleged...anyone old enough to remember Nixon referring to the MANSON MURDERS and having Manson lift up the paper in court knows the value of referring to the PERP as alleged as it can endanger the individual's chances of a fair trial. The murders themselves were not alleged...the perps were alleged.

[diamond14]

26. with criminal kissinger claiming that they deserved it....

right at the end of the interview....kissinger noted that those Iraqis deserved what they are getting because they slit American's throats on TV....

it took Madelyn Albright to STOP kissinger....she stated it clearly and unambiguously....that this was UN-AMERICAN....

[TahitiNut]

27. He is NOT obliged to say "alleged abuses" any more than he's ...

... obliged to say "alleged homicide" when the FACT is indisputable. He may be legally obliged to say "alleged abuser" or "alleged murderer" (before guilt is legally established through due process) but that's NOT what he said.

An allegation of guilt, if stated as a fact rather than an accustaion can be regarded as libelous. We're talking libel laws here - which apply to people, not events.

[arwalden]

28. Makes PERFECT Sense To Me...

thanks!

-- Allen

[liarliartieonfire]

29. Leslie Blitzer??? (what a wuss)

(Repug whipped)

Anyway, I have a repug neighbor who believes the soldiers who tortured their Iraqi prisoners had every right to do so, how ever they chose to do so.!! He is an old fucker, now, been votin' rupub as long as he can remember. "An' nothins gonna change me now." he says.

He tells me this morning, "Our boys should do that to all them Iranians over there! Bush is doin the right thing, he's fightin for the United States of America. Just like the Japs and Pearl Harbor!!" he yells from across the street.
The old white, right, geezer believes the Iraqis had to be tortured to tell us where that Osama guy is.

He only watches Fox News and listens to Rush on his little old radio. He has a brother in Idaho and a daughter who checkes up on him once a week. She doesn't stay long..so he tells me.

He's about 68, I think, but thats no excuse. My parents are both 80 yrs old. They both remarked, within a week after the bombing of the WTC Towers, that "Our own government did this". They don't watch Fox and don't listen to Rush.

There are many corrupt and brainwashed minds in this country, because of people like Rush Limbaugh.

But hopefully, the media is finally being called on to start telling the truth about the neocon party. It has taken a united movement from people like Wilson, Clarke, DUers, and many, many others. The efforts are beginning to make a difference.

Leslie Blitzer looked like a dufuss this morning, Hersch was excellent.