Is Lara Logan being smeared for her criticism of Iraq war coverage
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Is Lara Logan being smeared for her criticism of Iraq war coverage
Lara Logan used to cover Baghdad for CBS News at the peak of the fighting in Iraq, then became the network's chief foreign correspondent, and just a few days ago it was announced that she'll be coming to Washington with a new title as chief foreign affairs correspondent. She has clearly been an up-and-coming star on CBS, where she sometimes appears on the flagship show "60 Minutes." She's been described in profiles as resourceful, certainly ambitious and seemingly fearless.
She has also been passionate about something that's been sorely lacking: Trying to get stories about the reality on the ground in Iraq and more recently Afghanistan onto American TV, where citizens can see for themselves what is happening in the wars that we pay for with our tax dollars and the blood of our citizens. In 2007, she sent out an email begging for help because her CBS producers wouldn't air a graphic story, that included critical remarks about the U.S. occupation from Iraqi civilians, called "The Battle for Haifa Street."
Logan’s email, with the one-word subject line of ‘help’, was sent to friends and colleagues imploring them to lobby CBS to highlight that people are interested in seeing the piece. In it, Logan argues that the story is “not too gruesome to air, but rather too important to ignore… It should be seen. And people should know about this.”
In fact, the story never appeared on CBS as filmed, although it did appear on its Web site and some footage made it into other stories. But Logan has remained a critic of the way that the war is portrayed on the American media, and when she appeared on the popular "Daily Show" with Jon Stewart this month her outspoken words were hard to ignore.
Five years into the war in Iraq and nearly seven years into the war in Afghanistan, getting news of the conflicts onto television is harder than ever.
“If I were to watch the news that you hear here in the United States, I would just blow my brains out because it would drive me nuts,” Ms. Logan said.
Logan told the New York Times later that CBS's bureau in Baghdad had been drastically downsized:
Ms. Logan said she begged for months to be embedded with a group of Navy Seals, and when she came back with the story, a CBS producer said to her, “One guy in uniform looks like any other guy in a uniform.” In the follow-up phone interview, Ms. Logan said the producer no longer worked at CBS. And in both interviews, she emphasized that many journalists at CBS News are pushing for war coverage, specifically citing Jeff Fager, the executive producer of “60 Minutes.” CBS News won a Peabody Award last week for a “60 Minutes” report about a Marine charged in the killings at Haditha.
On “The Daily Show,” Ms. Logan echoed the comments of other journalists when she said that many Americans seem uninterested in the wars now.
A number of bloggers picked up Logan's comments on "The Daily Show" and to the Times, and the video was a huge hit on the Internet. She was on with Stewart last week and was featured in the Times article on Monday. Later this week, a story appeared about Logan -- not exactly your normal A-list celebrity -- in the pages of the National Enquirer, which of course had nothing to do with Logan's actual news coverage of Iraq or her pointed criticism of the U.S. media.
The story was strictly about allegations involving Logan's personal life. It was quickly picked up by some other outlets, some surprising, like the Huffington Post, and some not surprising at all. In fact, the story was splashed across the front page of this morning's New York Post, the tabloid that is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who is also owner of (among many things) the Fox News Channel, the leading producer of braindead pro-war journalism that is the exact opposite of Logan's groundbreaking work. You'd also be shocked, I'm sure, to learn that the Post article is linked on the highly popular, conservative leaning Drudge Report. I'm not going to link to the articles -- use "the Google" if you must -- but to give you a flavor of this important news story, the Post cover shows a smiling Logan over the large headline, "Sexty Minutes."
If you do read the stories, you'd be hard-pressed to see why these allegations are suddenly rushing out now. One traces back to a court matter filed back in January. The second part of the article is old news, too -- dating back at least to last year. As the Post notes in the one part of the article that I will mention, it's a saga that "first broke on the freerepublic.com in December."
The freerepublic.com? As in, the ultraconservative Web site where reporters and photojournalists who report truthfully from Iraq are frequently attacked or smeared. Indeed, it seems that attacks on Logan in the right-wing blogopshere are nothing new -- last year, conservative Michelle Malkin falsely charged that "Haifa Street" story contained footage provided by al-Qaeda.
But this is different -- the smearing of Lara Logan is bleeding into the mainstream, more widely read media, and it's getting personal. And of course it's easy to play devil's advocate, because gossip about certain types of TV personalities -- certainly the local news anchors in a market like mine, Philadelphia -- is standard newspaper fare, especially when the personalities are good-looking, as Logan surely is. But she's not an anchorwoman, just a network war correspondent whose not even based around here, and even if these stories about her personal foibles are true, and who knows about that, it's simply not Page 1 news.
But the timing here really stinks. Is this just another low-grade tabloid scandal -- or a message to journalists who dare to criticize big corporate media's growing blackout on news from Iraq?
Consider me highly suspicious.
Footnote: In the short time that it took me to write this post, a link to an article about the "scandal" from a site called Rightpundits was added to her Wikipedia entry -- it just never stops.
As a bonus, here's video of Logan's "Daily Show" appearance:
The courage and bravery shown by lara logan is very much appreciable and the incident is not going to take her courage down
http://www.newscollective.com/blog/?p=3729
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I'm a big fan of Lara Logan's courageous reporting and I couldn't care less about her sex life. Even if these stories are true, I think she deserves a hat tip because that means she's having sex more often than I am and I'd love to be living her life instead of mine at this point. You go, girl! Of course, the story probably contains the same amount of truth as the rest of the Enquirer's stories and most divorce pleadings. Next thing we'll see is a headline that she gave birth to a 3-headed alien wearing 3 turbans dressed in a 3-piece seersucker suit, stilleto high heels, reciting the Koran in tongues. Quick! Somebody call the exorcist, Bobby Jindal. We've got an emergency! Methinks there's a wee bit o' sexism in the air, eh whot?— Mason- Comment removed.
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- No surprise that right wingers don't want stories from Iraq to be broadcast. The people of America might find out the truth and make them as stupid as they are. I admire the courage of Laura Logan. A woman as pretty as she is has no reason to stick her neck out like this for no good reason. Telling the truth appparently takes guts. You can see how people like Xi Jah and b atkinson will believe anything Fox News or extreme right wing web sites like freerepublic.com tells them. The truth is no important apparently. Just like this war has been fought with no oversight, these idiots don't even check on the validity of these smears. Just parrott what you hear right guys? You wanna cracker?— James TL
- Swift. Just what I needed on a Friday. I really laughed at that post. I can't believe you made me eyetalian! My wife will be so pleased.— Patrick M
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- atkinson, if you consider every life precious, then you should want our troops out of harm's way as soon as possible, right? With all of our money that we've been giving to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, shouldn't they be taking the lead and letting us go home. Or don't they care about their own countries?— mike l
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- "Big Oil pockets Iraq - All's fair in business and war." Derrick Z. Jackson-writes for the Boston Globe - from today's Inquirer editorial page. This should be on the front page of every newspaper and read aloud on every newscast.— pal
- "...except when the left wingers are pushing a political hate agenda." Right. Not wanting to see our brave soldiers (and innocent civilians) die im an illegitimate preemptive war and occupation is hateful.— drhammer
- 3 Marines killed in Iraq yesterday - and I don't see it as a headline on the front page of any major newspaper? Not even above "the fold" on any website. I had to search to find the article in the Daily News. Lara Logan rightfully embarrassed every media news organization. Why don't we hear or read everyday about the injuries and casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq, and especially the wasted money and corruption involved in the unneccessary war in Iraq. We should hear about this every day!!!!!!— pal
- TR's response to hearing that 13 people were killed in Iraq: "hahhahah". Stay classy, San Diego.— Captain Awesome
- Don't forget all of the success we're having in Afhanistan too. US troops are now statistically four times more likely to be killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq.— Captain Awesome
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- YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK..... Forget the Good War Wall Street Journal, by Dorothy Rabinowitz Early in "The War of the World" -- PBS's very own entry into the lists of revisionist tracts about World War II now clamoring for attention -- historian Niall Ferguson appears on camera to tell how he had been deceived about that war, and the one before it as well. He had been a schoolboy, and they had taught him wrong -- and what was most wrong, the rest of this three-part work— mookie
- "...another reporter crestfallen that we're now winning in Iraq"...Thirteen americans killed in Iraq since Monday. Yeah, that victory is right around the corner...... hahhahah wow 13 in a week....i realize taht every life is priceless but 13?? thats alot in a war???— TR
- This is one of the reasons that the economy has taken over people's minds. The wars we are fighting should be covered, head to toe, as if they are the most important things to the United States, because they are. If we succeed in Iraq and Afghanistan the United States will be safer and the middle east will be more stable. Iraq will give us a strong democratic ally in the middle east, with a diverse population, that will stand up to Iran's push for regional hegemony. Afghanistan, though it will never be as strong as Iraq, will provide another ally who will assist us in preventing any future attacks on our homeland. (I am curious, Ron, since you say entering the middle east is a fool's errand, if you think the war in Afghanistan was a mistake, too? Be careful, too, to listen to all of our solider and not just the ones who are saying what you want to hear.)— bon
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"Boy this is fustrating because the stories about how bad things are in Iraq and Afghanistan just can't seem to get on the news, can they?" . . . . . . Indeed, like June's troop death toll in Afghanistan, the highest ever.- Xi Jah, where is the doublespeak there? He said states should be allowed to execute someone for child rape if they have a law on the books qualifying child rape as an executable offense. And he said such a law doesn't violate the Constitution.— Captain Awesome
- "We can win this thing in Iraq" . . . . . . . . . . Vero Possemus!
- Any technology to stop double-posts? Just checking. OK. I withdraw my application. You don't have to tell me who pays you to do nothing but pontificate. Just tell me the field. If I could change career paths to be more in line with yours, maybe my opinions will too...and then I won't be stupid anymore...because anyone who disagrees with you just has to be a stupid sycophant. "Give me what I want and I'll go away"...and return real smart-n-stuff.— Patrick M
- The ex-wife of Logan's first paramour has stated that Logan was not the cause of the divorce. And I can't for the life of me see how one's personal behavior under such circumstances is anyone's business. Logan is courageous and determined, and is trying to bring us the truth in the face of huge corporate obstacles. Additionally, how many of us would be willing to risk our lives in the service of disinformation? Logan's kind of dedication is usually the hallmark of those with principle, unlike the chickenhawks who orchestrated this disaster from the comfort of their walnut-paneled offices. Logan's thwarted attempts to deliver the truth to the American public are but one more reason that so many believe that "the surge is working", as their loved ones, neighbors, and tax dollars disappear forever. Stop allowing yourselves to be distracted by silly bullsh*t. Question EVERYTHING. Your government owes you the truth.— drhammer
- After reading some of the people that answer blogs it's scary how many idiots we have in this country. "We can win this thing in Iraq," is a statement of total stupidity. There has never been a super power in history, that wasn't forced to leave the middle east, with it's tail between it's legs. Ms Logan is seeing this with her own eyes and hopes the uninformed American people can see it too. The ignorant always atack the truth tellers.— Ron
- Santa Claus will drown this summer. Drudge says so.
- Sorry, again, Pat. See, there's this new invention called spell-check. Try one of the new browsers - it's embedded in the user interface for making comments on blogs. Failure to be up on widespread technological advances is further indication that you're not qualified. Apparently, however, you are qualified to get a job making comments on a por***raphy site? Maybe you should try for a job on one of those? (BTW, this filter is really ridiculous).— Talking point sleuth
- Sorry, again, Pat. See, there's this new invention called spell-check. Try Firefox - it's embedded in the user interface on blogs. Failure to be up on widespread technological advances is further indication that you're not qualified. Apparently, however, you are qualified to get a job making comments on a pornography blog. Maybe you should try for a job on one of those?— Talking point sleuth
- Oh no. There was no typo. Your spelling is spot on, braniac. Your grammar blows. Speaking of which, I'd love to leave the map of Hawaii somewhere on Lara.— Patrick M
- Sorry, again, Pat. Assuming that a typo reflects an inability to use proper grammar is just further proof of your lack of qualifications.— Talking point sleuth
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- TPS. Are you required to use proper grammar when tsk-tsking other posters all day? "[The one(?)] of the requirements for my job is that you can formulate a cogent argument." Come on. It can't be that hard. Where can I send my resume?— Patrick M
- Sorry, Pat. The one of the requirements for my job is that you can formulate a cogent argument.— Talking point sleuth
- Oh, and Lara Logan -- I would.— Patrick M
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- TPS. Do you have a job? If so, are there any positions open? Where can I get paid to have internet hissy fits all day?— Patrick M
Boy this is fustrating because the stories about how bad things are in Iraq and Afghanistan just can't seem to get on the news, can they?— jmc- Nice, sloboat. Good to see that you haven't changed. Last time you tried that technique, I completely humiliated you. You remember, don't you? You insulted an older woman who posts here with some of your typically vile language. I called you on it. The site had just switched systems and you figured I couldn't prove that you said it and that you lied when you said that you didn't. You wailed like a little baby about how you had been wrongly accused. And then. Calmly. I provided proof. What a fraud you are. I'm not going to bother doing the search. I've already proven that you are enough of a fraud to claim you didn't say something that you absolutely said. No need to do it again. It was in one of your excerpts from Mark Steyn or Krauthammer - and you agreed with what it said. Find it yourself.— Talking point sleuth
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- "...Logan - another reporter crestfallen that we're now winning in Iraq...." This from the commenter who claimed, years ago, that things were going "swimmingly" in Iraq. Apparently, in retrospect, he now realizes that things were actually a complete disaster at the time - and that actually, in his terms, we were "losing." I guess that about sums up the validity of his perspective, eh?— Talking point sleuth
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She is a great reporter, but she has ruined her reputation by feeling entitled to multiple affairs while in Iraq. She will be trashed every time her name is mentioned by those on the right, whether fair or not. Though others in the DC media establishment may have screwed their way to the top at least they were more discreet about it. Logan has made a major career path error and as a result of all this will never again get the respect she otherwise has earned. It makes one question her rational thought process.- Good point by Commander Swifty. As of late, Attytood has become an extension of Danny Gross' and Howie Gensler's Gossip. Stu Byko would be disappointed though. Not enough coverag of Harry Jay Katz from Will the Thrill— shoeshineboy
- I guess liberal journalists are above criticism... Will The Shill is quick to post links to "smears" of Republicans, but censors them when they are about Democrat/liberal journalists. And what exactly is the difference to Will between "conservative" and "ultraconservative"? How do you decide to apply which label? Is there ever a "ultraliberal" in your book?— fafafooey
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- Typically insightful comment from sloboat— Talking point sleuth
- Reading this article, it suddenly struck me how long it's been since I used to watch Logan's stories from Iraq. I always was amazed at how such a petite person would seem fairly fearless in reporting hot stories there and was never intimidated by the hulking officers she used to interview. It also seemd they gave her at least a modicum of respect because of her guttiness. It then struck me that I can't remember any stories from Iraq since she left. In fact, the only real on the ground info one gets these days from Iraq is either when Charlie Rose interviews reporters returning from Iraq (an ever increasing event as many don't seem to have returned) or NPR does a quick interview. Otherwise it's a dead story, although Afghanistan seems be making at least a small comeback. I've always thought that most of those network wusses that never leave the safety of their studios, were probably quite jealous of her.— atp2007
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The most interesting (to me) news story of the day, which appeared on the first page of international news in the NY Times, was that the Pakistani Intelligence Service were behind the last attempt to kill the president of Afghanistan (an attempt that came close to success). I knew as I was reading it that it would not be on the NBC Nightly News (which I watch by long custom) nor on Olbermann's Countdown and I strongly suspect that it did not make any television news. It MIGHT appear in my local paper tomorrow as a one-paragraph story, since they are usually a day late and a paragraph short. Certainly Logan is right. But I have missed her coverage since I seldom watch any CBS news outside of 60 Minutes. When she appeared on The Daily Show I almost did not believe she was a real correspondent because of her movie-star looks. But I really came to like her attitude even more than her looks. Few are willing to speak up as she did.- Even Murdoch and Rove can't spin the truth from this war...the media only marginally covers loss of American lives and does not place any emphasis on the Iraqui casualities. This will go down with Vietnam and the Bay of Pigs as one of the greatest US political blunders in history.— natedog
- Even Murdoch and Rove can't spin the truth from this war...the media only marginally covers loss of American lives and does not place any emphasis on the Iraqui casualities. This will go down with Vietnam and the Bay of Pigs as one of the greatest US political blunders in history.— natedog
- Did Meddling Larry Mendte also try to throw Lara under the bus to Basra?— shoeshineboy
We agree on one thing Will. There does seem to be a blackout on news from Iraq.— ocjones
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