Difference between revisions of "Michael Gordon"

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'''Michael R. Gordon''' is the chief military correspondent for the ''[[New York Times]]''. With Judith Miller, Gordon wrote the discredited WMD stories, one of which, the Sept. 8, 2002, “aluminum tubes” story, was especially influential since it was used by the Bush Administration to sell its war against Iraq. In a mea culpa after the war, the ''New York Times'' blamed two of the Miller-Gordon articles for its overblown and misleaing coverage of Iraq.
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'''Michael R. Gordon''' is the chief military correspondent for the ''[[New York Times]]''.  
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==Gordon Does Iraq==
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With Judith Miller, Gordon wrote the discredited WMD stories, one of which, the Sept. 8, 2002, “aluminum tubes” story, was especially influential since it was used by the Bush Administration to sell its war against Iraq. In a mea culpa after the war, the ''New York Times'' blamed two of the Miller-Gordon articles for its overblown and misleaing coverage of Iraq.
  
 
After Powell's misleading case for war at the UN, which according to Bob Woodward, was based on evidence the Secretary doubted himself, Gordon wrote: "it will be difficult for skeptics to argue that Washington's case against Iraq is based on groundless suspicions and not intelligence information."  
 
After Powell's misleading case for war at the UN, which according to Bob Woodward, was based on evidence the Secretary doubted himself, Gordon wrote: "it will be difficult for skeptics to argue that Washington's case against Iraq is based on groundless suspicions and not intelligence information."  
  
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In late 2006, the consisten theme in Gordon's reports was the desirability of an escalation ("troop surge") in Iraq. Appearing on TV, he fully supported the escalation, saying "I think it's worth one last effort for sure to try to get this right, because my personal view is we've never really tried to win."
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==Gordon Selling "Surge"==
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In late 2006, the consisten theme in Gordon's reports was the desirability of an escalation ("troop surge") in Iraq.  
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:On September 11, 2006, the Times ran a Gordon story under the headline, "Grim Outlook Seen in West Iraq Without More Troops and Aid". Gordon cited a senior officer in Iraq saying more American troops were necessary to stabilize Anbar. A story on October 22 emphasized that "the sectarian violence [in Baghdad] would be far worse if not for the American efforts" There were of course plenty of Iraqis and some Americans Gordon could also have found, eager to say the exact opposite.
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On two successive days in November, the ''New York Times'' gave Gordon its front page for selling the "surge". November 14: "Get Out Now? Not So Fast, Some Experts Say". November 15: "General Warns of Risks in Iraq if GIs Are Cut".On December 4, he tried to preempt the the Iraq Study Group report with another story: "Blurring Political Lines in the Military Debate". On December 7, he wrote another attack on the repot: "Will it Work on the Battlefield?"
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On January 2, he co-authored with John Burns and David Sanger a piece attacking Gen. George Casey, the commander of US forces in Iraq, for espousing a defeatist plan of orderly withdrawal.
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Appearing on TV, he fully supported the escalation, saying "I think it's worth one last effort for sure to try to get this right, because my personal view is we've never really tried to win."
 +
 
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==Gordon Does Iran==
  
 
On February 10, the ''New York Times'' again carried a front page story by Gordon; the title this time was "Deadliest Bomb in Iraq is Made by Iran, U.S. Says". While in its mea culpa the New York Times had faulted Gordon for citing "unidentified senior administration officials", it curiously puts Gordon's new story on the frontpage, despite the fact that all the sources cited in it, once again, remain unnamed.
 
On February 10, the ''New York Times'' again carried a front page story by Gordon; the title this time was "Deadliest Bomb in Iraq is Made by Iran, U.S. Says". While in its mea culpa the New York Times had faulted Gordon for citing "unidentified senior administration officials", it curiously puts Gordon's new story on the frontpage, despite the fact that all the sources cited in it, once again, remain unnamed.

Revision as of 20:09, 13 February 2007

Michael R. Gordon is the chief military correspondent for the New York Times.

Gordon Does Iraq

With Judith Miller, Gordon wrote the discredited WMD stories, one of which, the Sept. 8, 2002, “aluminum tubes” story, was especially influential since it was used by the Bush Administration to sell its war against Iraq. In a mea culpa after the war, the New York Times blamed two of the Miller-Gordon articles for its overblown and misleaing coverage of Iraq.

After Powell's misleading case for war at the UN, which according to Bob Woodward, was based on evidence the Secretary doubted himself, Gordon wrote: "it will be difficult for skeptics to argue that Washington's case against Iraq is based on groundless suspicions and not intelligence information."

Gordon Selling "Surge"

In late 2006, the consisten theme in Gordon's reports was the desirability of an escalation ("troop surge") in Iraq.

On September 11, 2006, the Times ran a Gordon story under the headline, "Grim Outlook Seen in West Iraq Without More Troops and Aid". Gordon cited a senior officer in Iraq saying more American troops were necessary to stabilize Anbar. A story on October 22 emphasized that "the sectarian violence [in Baghdad] would be far worse if not for the American efforts" There were of course plenty of Iraqis and some Americans Gordon could also have found, eager to say the exact opposite.

On two successive days in November, the New York Times gave Gordon its front page for selling the "surge". November 14: "Get Out Now? Not So Fast, Some Experts Say". November 15: "General Warns of Risks in Iraq if GIs Are Cut".On December 4, he tried to preempt the the Iraq Study Group report with another story: "Blurring Political Lines in the Military Debate". On December 7, he wrote another attack on the repot: "Will it Work on the Battlefield?"

On January 2, he co-authored with John Burns and David Sanger a piece attacking Gen. George Casey, the commander of US forces in Iraq, for espousing a defeatist plan of orderly withdrawal.

Appearing on TV, he fully supported the escalation, saying "I think it's worth one last effort for sure to try to get this right, because my personal view is we've never really tried to win."

Gordon Does Iran

On February 10, the New York Times again carried a front page story by Gordon; the title this time was "Deadliest Bomb in Iraq is Made by Iran, U.S. Says". While in its mea culpa the New York Times had faulted Gordon for citing "unidentified senior administration officials", it curiously puts Gordon's new story on the frontpage, despite the fact that all the sources cited in it, once again, remain unnamed.

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