The story behind the story

Salon has an interview with their recently rescued correspondent. Phillip Robertson and photographer Thorne Anderson are the journalists who were trapped in the Imam Ali shrine as the American army geared up for an attack on the Mahdi army.

I suppose it’s not surprising that Robertson found himself in the middle of a difficult situation. His articles in Salon, including last week’s diary of his journeys through battles in Najaf and Sadr, paint a picture of a skilled war correspondent who can anticipate the story.

Lagging intelligence

Poll shows Americans still uninformed about Iraq.

[a new poll] finds that a large majority perceives the Bush administration making assertions about pre-war Iraq in sharp contrast to the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission and the Senate Intelligence Committee. Eighty percent perceive the administration as “currently saying that Iraq, just before the war, had actual weapons of mass destruction” (60%) or that it had a major WMD program (20%). Similarly, 70% perceive the administration as currently saying Iraq “gave substantial support to al-Qaeda” (43%) or was directly involved in the September 11 attacks (27%).

Read more...

The NY Times explains Bush...

The NY Times explains Bush family funding of the anti-Kerry group “Swift Boat Veterns for Truth”

Dick van Dyke does CG...

Dick van Dyke does CG animation

Guts, the South and forgotten times

Journalists head into the fray to rescue cohorts from Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf. Makes one wish our domestic political reporters had the same kind of guts.

Despite Kerry holding a substantial electoral advantage for the last six weeks the press continue reporting “It’s a tie.”

A staunch liberal from the Northeast went looking for the 45% that want Bush. That meant touring the South. The folks he talked to don’t like Bush but they’ll stick by the girl they brought to the dance.

Book of Lamentations chapter 3

Been wandering around the city barefoot in pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. I’m having a hard time focusing on my life. Things to do and yet I’m not getting them done. Crazy. I know. Lots of staring into space though. Supposing someone interrupted my staring after I told them I’m a practicing catatonic they might say something like this:

You know Mr. Midboe I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a girl or two at the center of this discombobulation.

This great country

Near term plans

This month, I’m moving out of the house I rent and putting everything into storage. After that the plan is to leave at some point in September take a circuit around the country and then go to Dallas.

Props to the CSMonitor

The Christian Science Monitor has really done a great job with it’s coverage surrounding the war in Iraq. Right now, they are the only Western reporters reporting on fighting in Najaf this week. They’ve had great, solid reporting for the most part. Their editor stood by his reporter when the Pentagon kicked a reporter out of a Marine unit.

While they had missteps with their coverage going into the war they owned up to them. Although their missteps weren’t quite as big as their well known compatriots, the Times and the Washington Post. Some blame Judith Miller at the New York Times for selling the war to America. The Times mistakes in coverage eventually lead to this mea culpa from the editors. The Washington Post made a similar confession.

Take What You Like: July 2004

Here is the track listing for Take What You Like: July 2004. As always if anyone is interested in a copy, and doesn’t already receive one, email me your address and I’ll mail one.