Why Jordan?

The lynch mob wanted Jordan because he was a powerful figure at CNN. The inconsistency there, however, was that he wasn't using CNN as a pulpit from which to disseminate the "US troops deliberately kill journalists" meme. He may or may not have said it behind closed doors in Davos. He certainly tried to "take it back" afterwards.

Had he been abusing his influence to preach baseless fire and brimstone against the US military over the air, perhaps the anger against him would have been somewhat more justified. Without having done that, I feel like he is a victim of jingoist hysteria.

The fact remains that numerous journalists have died from friendly fire in Iraq. For whose benefit is it that we are supposed to tiptoe around unpleasant realities like these? A nation that celebrates war needs to be able to confront war's ugly truths, one of which is that even American soldiers make mistakes sometimes and kill the wrong people.

If it is the feelings of the soldiers we are supposed to be sparing - come on - it's time to grow up. Something tells me that these guys can handle a little criticism.

Tonight "the right" put another nail into free speech's coffin.

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