This is essentially what General McChrystal was saying in the now infamous Rolling Stone article that got him dismissed from his position.

Did the pervasive revelations of how we're *failing in the war in Afghanistan which emerged from this article indicate a change in U.S. strategy?

No. Just a change in leadership and a continuation of the failed strategies as usual.

>> ^Skeeve:

The reporter's lack of discretion destroyed the career of the man leading troops in a war zone - next time he might kill more than a career.


You still make a poor argument for two reasons:

1- No battle plans or secret locations were revealed.
All that was printed was what McChrystal and his men really thought about the new administration.

Explain how that jeopardizes the lives of troops.

2- McChrystal was in charge/responsible for the cover up of Pat Tillman.

Your points are moot because, as I said, troops are ammunition.

They are going to be destroyed just like bullets, tanks or any other weapon. That's what they signed up for.

So stop crying about how "this might get our troops killed."

Like their lives are more important than the Pashtun civilians they murder with predator drones from an air-conditioned warehouse in Nevada.

Your video, TYT: Cenk Rips Apart Lara Logan over Rolling Stone comments, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

I've personally heard high-ranking officers make comments about Afghanistan that would land them in the news papers. Do I write a news article blasting them? No, because I know that they were just letting off steam and they expected those around them to sympathize with them but not take it as a serious comment on the state of the war.

I see three options available for a reporter in this situation; ignore the comments and write the glowing reviews Cenk is talking about, ignore the comments and write a balanced article like Lara is talking about, or shit all over people who trusted you and write what they said in confidence just so you can write a controversial, military-blasting article.

I think people should stay somewhere in the middle.
>> ^GenjiKilpatrick:

When the purpose of your story is to delve into the personalities, thoughts & attitudes of Military "Top Brass..
How is withholding relevant statements because they might be damaging NOT protecting the military?
Good faith & not snitching is more important to you than truth and actuality?
You would rather read a sugar-coated article about how old men with glorified scout badges are "working so hard to end this war"?
About how they need just a few thousand more troops [human ammo] from other countries?

>> ^Skeeve:

Cenk seems to think that using one's discretion when it comes to printing private statements is somehow protecting the big bad thing called the military.

>> ^BoneyD:

I just caught the interview with John Pilger at Democracy Now! and Amy indicated that Rolling Stone said that there was plenty they didn't print. Remember that Hastings double checked with the general that those were indeed his comments in his piece, and Rolling Stone checked again themselves. McChrystal knew what he was doing, or at least thought Hastings would report it just like all the other press - in a positive light.


The general's staff denies this. They say the facts that were checked were not related to the controversial comments. They provided the email from Rolling Stone, and if the email is genuine I agree with them.

>> ^NetRunner:

Not accusing Cenk of plagiarism or anything like that, but Matt Taibbi made this point first, and with more swearing.


It's not up on YouTube yet, but TYT had an interview today with Matt Taibbi regarding that very article. Watch this space.

Edit: Also Taibbi only beat him by about two hours, this clip I posted is from their show on the 28th.

I just caught the interview with John Pilger at Democracy Now! and Amy indicated that Rolling Stone said that there was plenty they didn't print. Remember that Hastings double checked with the general that those were indeed his comments in his piece, and Rolling Stone checked again themselves. McChrystal knew what he was doing, or at least thought Hastings would report it just like all the other press - in a positive light.

I was listening to NPR a couple of days ago. There was a reporter who had reported on the DOD for a while talking about this issue. You can basically read Skeeve's response to get the gist of what the reporter said. He talked about the main reason this happened is that the guy from the Rolling Stones was there for one story. The Rolling Stones reporter didn't care if he burned all his sources because he didn't need any information beyond the one story. I can almost guarantee that the same Rolling Stones reporter treats groups that he frequently reports on different. The reporter on NPR also talked about the trust that is built up that allowed him to be at off-the-record meetings where he was really able to gain some perspective on situations beyond the scenes.

Being "embedded" with an organization will always call for some give and take. Or you can act like the Rolling Stones reporter - get in, report on some improper comments and be forever shut out of that organization forever.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'conan obrien, nbc, cars, luxury, stickin it to the man' to 'conan obrien, nbc, cars, luxury, stickin it to the man, rolling stones, satisfaction' - edited by kronosposeidon

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Those are good.>> ^darkrowan:

I like either puns or mental word play personally.
"I submitted ten puns to a contest but did I win? No Pun In Ten Did!"
Also, a crude one:
What's the difference between The Rolling Stones and a Scotsman? The Stones sang "Hey, you, Get off of my cloud". The Scotsman said "Hey, McCloud, get off of my ewe!"

I like either puns or mental word play personally.

"I submitted ten puns to a contest but did I win? No Pun In Ten Did!"

Also, a crude one:
What's the difference between The Rolling Stones and a Scotsman? The Stones sang "Hey, you, Get off of my cloud". The Scotsman said "Hey, McCloud, get off of my ewe!"

http://infocirc.org/rollston.htm -- an excellent Rolling Stone article by John Colapinto

Since we're on the subject of armpit hair in general (and who the hell knows when the conversation will swing back in this direction...), I have to share a little story.

Years ago, I used to subscribe to Rolling Stone. Right after Steve Clark had died, the magazine caught up with the remaining members of Def Leppard and did an interview with them. I flipped to the article and began reading; the article starting off with a nice page-sized picture of the remaining members, minus drummer Rick Allen. I noticed it, but didn't think anything of it at that moment, so I keep reading. I turn the page, and stare at another page-sized picture, and there's Rick, shirtless. Missing his arm. With armpit hair.

You know, I knew he only had one arm, and naturally, he didn't shave. But I never put the two together until it was abruptly put in front of me like that. Man....(shakes head, dazed) It was like moss growing on the side of a tree, you know? Just kind of took me by surprise.

Anyway...

You have been awarded 1 Power Point for fixing the embed code for Dead Pool video Rolling Stones: "Angie". Thank you for helping maintain VideoSift's reliability.

Fuck! I promoted this without first checking the status....try to find a replacement-

http://www.videosift.com/video/Rolling-Stones-Gimme-Shelter-the-Murder-of-Meredith-Hunter