GREAT MOMENTS IN JOURNALISM – AT 11:30 A.M. ET:   To watch the deterioration of The New York Times is very sad, especially for those of us who once labored at that paper.  Just read this as an example of how bad things have gotten.  From the Washington Free Beacon:

The Yemeni rebels, the Houthis, have taken control of the capital, including the airport and the United States embassy.

The Houthis forced US Marines leaving the country to leave them their weapons. The rebels have also seized abandoned vehicles once used by US officials.

New York Times reporter Rod Nordland met with the Houthis who reassured him that they were just keeping US vehicles for safekeeping. Nordland said the Houthi government wants to have a friendly relationship with the United States and Saudi Arabia.

When Nordland asked the leader of the Houthi government about their chant, “death to America,” the leader said it was just a slogan and that the Houthis did not really mean it. The Houthis are an Iraq-sponsored group, and the leader down played the connection when asked by Nordland.

“He said it wasn’t true and they didn’t want to see the Iranians make way in Yemeni either,” Nordland said. “It’s a very reassuring message.”

COMMENT:  I'm sure it's reassuring to clowns like Nordland.  After all, people shout "Death to America" every day, don't they?  Why, I hear it in my local supermarket.  Just a slogan.  They don't mean it.  Nothing to worry about.

They call that journalism.

February 13, 2015