I hate to rain on the 'poor me' story of the AP, but, I assume the news community wanted their journalists returned and safe when possible, no? One of the statements made by Andrea Mitchell was, "One of the numbers is a phone we all use." Oh.
I know it is noteworthy for every issue to be a scandal, but, there are reasons for the USA government to tap the lines of those with information captured, missing or imprisoned. One might recall Secretary Clinton was exceptionally successful in having Americans rescued from their own actions abroad. Hello?
I find it interesting how the news media immediately wants to scream, "The sky is falling." Did the Associated Press not take into consideration the real purpose of the government for two months?
Given the business, I hardly think a two month wiretap when the government interfered in the functions of journalists is a sincere issue. The best the news community can do is state "paranoia." Really? Anyone want to try that again?
By DAVID BAUDERDec. 18, 2012
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC was able to keep (click here) the abduction of chief Middle East correspondent Richard Engel in Syria largely a secret until he escaped late Monday because it persuaded some of this country's most prominent news organizations to hold back on the story.
Otherwise, the disappearance of Engel — probably the most high-profile international television reporter on a U.S. network — would have been big news.
Engel and three colleagues, producers Ghazi Balkiz and Aziz Akyavas and photographer John Kooistra, escaped during a firefight between rebels and their captors, forces sympathetic to the Syrian government. The journalists were dragged from their cars, kept bound and blindfolded and threatened with death.
NBC said it did not know what had happened to the men until after their escape. The first sign of trouble came last Thursday, when Engel did not check back with his office at an agreed-upon time....
And the records included Yemen. Get for real.
Journalists are often considered 'agents' abroad by some governments. It makes sense why sometimes.
The 'idea' this is oppressive of 'leakers' is nonsense. There are such things as Whistleblower Laws protecting those that bring information to the public that compromises them. So, that idea can take a hike.
I know it is noteworthy for every issue to be a scandal, but, there are reasons for the USA government to tap the lines of those with information captured, missing or imprisoned. One might recall Secretary Clinton was exceptionally successful in having Americans rescued from their own actions abroad. Hello?
I find it interesting how the news media immediately wants to scream, "The sky is falling." Did the Associated Press not take into consideration the real purpose of the government for two months?
Given the business, I hardly think a two month wiretap when the government interfered in the functions of journalists is a sincere issue. The best the news community can do is state "paranoia." Really? Anyone want to try that again?
NBC News (click here) chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel has gone missing in Syria, according to Turkish news reports. The reports also say that Aziz Akyavaş, a Turkish journalist working with Engel, is unaccounted for. NBC News has been successfully keeping Engel's status subject to a news blackout—one to which Gawker agreed until now—for at least the past 24 hours. ...
All this wasn't sensitive material even after the fact? You mean to tell if the USA government could garner information about Syria by tapping a news organization it wasn't going to do it? Whom exactly does the AP think they are?
By DAVID BAUDERDec. 18, 2012NEW YORK (AP) — NBC was able to keep (click here) the abduction of chief Middle East correspondent Richard Engel in Syria largely a secret until he escaped late Monday because it persuaded some of this country's most prominent news organizations to hold back on the story.
Otherwise, the disappearance of Engel — probably the most high-profile international television reporter on a U.S. network — would have been big news.
Engel and three colleagues, producers Ghazi Balkiz and Aziz Akyavas and photographer John Kooistra, escaped during a firefight between rebels and their captors, forces sympathetic to the Syrian government. The journalists were dragged from their cars, kept bound and blindfolded and threatened with death.
NBC said it did not know what had happened to the men until after their escape. The first sign of trouble came last Thursday, when Engel did not check back with his office at an agreed-upon time....
And the records included Yemen. Get for real.
Journalists are often considered 'agents' abroad by some governments. It makes sense why sometimes.
The 'idea' this is oppressive of 'leakers' is nonsense. There are such things as Whistleblower Laws protecting those that bring information to the public that compromises them. So, that idea can take a hike.
