~5:59pm~ EST
MALKIN'S SECOND SCOOP OF THE DAY:Not long after speaking with Congressman Barney Frank (D - Massachusetts), Michelle Malkin scored her second exclusive of the day with another eye-witness to Eason's comments - panel moderator David Gergen.
First, Gergen confirmed that Eason Jordan did in fact initially assert that journalists in Iraq had been targeted by military "on both sides." Gergen, who has known Jordan for some 20 years, told me Jordan "realized as soon as the words had left his mouth that he had gone too far" and "walked himself back." Gergen said as soon as he heard the assertion that journalists had been deliberately targeted, "I was startled. It's contrary to history, which is so far the other way. Our troops have gone out of their way to protect and rescue journalists."
Gergen mentioned that Jordan had just returned from Iraq and was "caught up in the tension of what was happening there. It's a raw, emotional wound for him."
Gergen said he asked Jordan point blank whether he believed the policy of the U.S. military was to sanction the targeting of journalists. Gergen said Jordan answered no, but then proceeded to speculate about a few incidents involving journalists killed in the Middle East--a discussion which Gergen decided to close down because "the military and the government weren't there to defend themselves."
Gergen also echoed Rep. Frank's recollection that Jordan asserted that there were cases involving journalist deaths where "not enough care was taken by U.S. troops." Gergen said he was approached after the session by European journalists who expressed the belief that American troops were "roughing up" journalists and Iraqi nationals. He also said people left the event "concerned and wanting to know more."
I'll say.
A few more interesting tidbits. Gergen says he has been contacted by four mainstream media outlets, including the Washington Post, about the controversy. He noted that the Post was going to run a story last week but did not.
Gergen also told me that he was under the impression that the panel was off the record, but that he would have no problem if a transcript was released.
The garbage about Eason just returning from Iraq and being "caught up in the tension of what was happneing there" is laughable. It being a "raw, emotional wound for him" is equally absurd.
Why Gergen is providing such cover for such patently inflammatory remarks is ridiculous. Was Gergen aware that this was in fact Eason Jordan's pattern?
As Bill Roggio reminded my listeners (and as is still playing on the stream for the next 24 hours) Eason did this once before, also before an international body.
"Actions speak louder than words. The reality is that at least 10 journalists have been killed by the US military, and according to reports I believe to be true journalists have been arrested and tortured by US forces," Mr Jordan told an audience of news executives at the News Xchange conference in Portugal.
Accusing American troops of targeting journalists, accusing the troops of torturing journalists, and always before an international audience. (Which no doubt brings a certain amount of applause from the America haters abroad.)
Sorry CNN - your pathetic canned e-mail responses will not do - release the transcript, or the video, do so now. Do so now and we blogs may show you mercy. (Allow you to fire Jordan and be done with it) Do so later and risk becoming the CBS equivalent of cable broadcast news.
Talk radio - specifically Hugh Hewitt, and I will continue to pound away, as will our allies across the blogosphere. We will not relent, we will not surrender, cough up the transcript, or the video, release Jordan from ever being able to slander a military man or woman while posing as a journalist ever again and we will let you live to broadcast another day.
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