May
10
2009
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In Which I Strangely Agree With Frank Rich... |
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Written by JD Johannes
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Sunday, 10 May 2009 |
Well, not entirely but I agree with him on one point in his column in today's New York Times:
"But opinions, however insightful or provocative and whether expressed online or in print or in prime time, are cheap. Reporting the news can be expensive. (snip) But we can't have serious opinions about America's role in combating the Taliban in Pakistan unless brave and knowledgeable correspondents...tell us in real time what is actually going on there."
Of course the inability to rely on the mainstream media is what sent me off to cover Iraq in the first place.
But Rich's point on opinion being cheap, easy and meaningless without hard news information is valid.
The point was driven home to me in 2007 at the start of the Surge.
I was back inside the wire, having an actual breakfast with some Marines and Fox News was on the big screen TV.
Two "strategists" one Democrat, one Republican were debating the Surge.
Midway through the segment, a young Marine leaned over to me, "Mr. Johannes, those two women have no idea what they are talking about."
The Marine was correct. They had no idea what they were talking about, but they played their parts well and with conviction.
It was later that I learned where these chat show "strategists" come from .
I am now in the spool up for an expedition to Afghanistan. It is not cheap. And after having enough bullets, mortars and bombs come close but, by the grace of God, fail to kill me, the real price is that I put my life and limb on the line. Oddly enough though, financial desolation scares me more than physical decimation.
But after the first shot across the bow from the new defeat caucus last week, the trip is required.
My expeditions are financed by sales of my documentary DVDs . Occasionally I will be able to sell some footage to news outlets, but the primary is DVD sales.
My goal is to sell 200 DVDs before I depart.
The debate over AfPak will be heating up. Opinons will aired. But the facts will be in short supply because they are expensive and dangerous to ascertain.
The one time I was matched up against a "strategist" I ended the debate cold by asking, "have you ever been to Iraq? Because I just got back three weeks ago."
I have not been invited back as guest on that network.
This Summer and next Fall will be an important time in Afghanistan. Strategy and policy will be set determining the shape of the conflict. Absent information from the ground, the strategy and policy debate will likely devolve into something like the segment I watched about the Surge in 2007.
If you feel that first hand reporting from the ground is important, please buy a DVD .
In the battle of ideas, facts win. Gathering those facts is my mission.
In the modern era, wars are fought on the ground and in the media battle space. I have no doubt the Taliban and Al Qaida will be doing everything they can to create spectacular headlines, thus influencing the American public. They nearly succeeded in Iraq and did win over Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
To win the media battlespace requires facts. I am going to Afghanistan to document those facts and ask that if you can afford to, buy a DVD so I can afford to gather the facts and report them.
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