That should be the headline but wasn’t. The real CNN headline reads: “Colombia admits rescuers posed as journalists.”
The article whines that ”authorities can endanger journalists when they pose as members of the news media,” quoting Jean-Francois Julliard, deputy director of the Reporters Without Borders, who seems to think a nation’s first priority should be the protection of journalists: “We think it is a dangerous practice because it puts in danger real journalists,” he said. Huh? “Real” journalists endangered? I thought they were extinct.
The real story is that CNN’s so-called “journalists” are really ticked that Colombia managed to free Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others without giving something up to FARC. They’re desperate to discredit a highly successful rescue operation that robbed Hugo Chavez and FARC of a huge bargaining chip.
My take: Viva Colombia! Heartiest congratulations, again, to President Uribe. You have my permission to exchange whining journalists for hostages any time it suits you.
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Steve Harrison 07.24.08 at 1:00 pm
For years the terrorists have been posing as “agents of good will” ie. Ambulance medics,police,clerics and yes even journalists. I think what’s good for the goose definately applies here. I’m not totally unsympathetic though in that I can see that some would become leary of reporters. However given that journalists have been killed by terrorists for no damn reason in the past. I can’t see how thier job will get any more or any less dangerous.