The al-Jazeera Bombing Story
Is it disgusting hogwash or an indication of the buffoonish nature of the Bush Administration? You’ll find both perspectives in this comprehensive roundup at the newly-rechristened Pajamas Media (there’s been a lot of talk about what’s wrong with PM – here’s one thing that’s right: when they do roundups, they have voices from both sides of the fence)…
Since you ask… my W.A.G. is that this was a joke to break the tension — and Blair’s “talking him out of it” was similarly a joking response. I’d further guess that the note-taking leaker knew it was a joke, but equally knew that he could get the cheap thrill of instigating a major news story (and perhaps tarring a public figure he or she hates) by pretending not to have gotten the joke.
In all… hard for me to get worked up over this. How many *new* and free media sources are now operating in Iraq?
Clint, I’m right with you…I don’t think we are so obtuse as to think we could bomb al-Jazeera without major international consequences…
The original article in the Mirror intoned something to the effect that, had it occurred, the bombing of Al-Jazeera HQ would have been “the greatest foreign policy disaster since the Iraq war itself.” Not much doubt about their editorial position.
Until and unless I see something more compelling, I’m assuming this is another non-scandal blown up out of virtually nothing to discredit Bush&Co. You’re right, Mark: We wouldn’t bomb a civilian target in a friendly country to shut down negative press coverage. Among other things, Bush isn’t nearly sensitive enough to negative press coverage to make that an option.