Jihad Watch reader asks journalist/propagandist Michael Kruse an uncomfortable question

This is a GREAT sign that posters/readers are allowed to ask questions.

I think JW can be strengthened significantly by allowing posters to submit articles and questions.

By allowing readers to submit articles and questions for publication, the world can see what the "non-experts" are thinking about, while allowing Mr. Spencer some "down-time" so he doesn't burn out.

I suppose it's not easy being a NY Times Best Seller repeatedly, receiving hate mail and death threats regularly, flying around the country at one's own expense helping ex-Muslims, defending reputation, etc.

"2. Michael Kruse to B. A.:

Omar Ahmad has denied again and again ever having said that. At this point Robert Spencer and those who share his beliefs are the ones perpetuating this idea. It's not CAIR saying this -- it's Robert Spencer."

One thing you learn if you keep reading about about Muslims such as those from the various Muslim organizations such as CAIR is that they often suffer from selected amnesia and when they talk you are able to deciper their flowery attempts to lure you into believing they are the victims..You are able to correctly identify what their real goals are and what actions they are taking to accomplish these goals...

A Muslims worst enemy is one who knows him and his plans...

The world is getting better at this..just look at all the surprizing court actions in recent weeks that just haven't gone Islams way..

The road is long but its directions is sure once you can read the map.

The main point illuminated by B.A. is that Kruse should have

1) accurately recorded the Spencer quote to include the Ahmed attribution.

2) Then, if he wished, Kruse could have added, as B.A. notes, a little editorial remark about how Ahmed has denied this (journalists these days have become quite adept at this when it comes to stories about Islam -- e.g., invariably in any story about some Islamic pathology in Indonesia, the reporter will feel compelled, by some spastic reaction, to add "but the vast majority of Indonesians practice a mild, tolerant and moderate form of Islam").

3) However, Kruse would not be in the clear yet: if he added that editorial remark, he should also out of fairness to the truth (cf. Edward R. Murrow rather than Dan Rather) add the other pertinent side of that (as B.A. also noted), that the original journalism colleague of Kruse, Lisa Gardner, stands by that quote, as does the paper she was working for.

But all this is expecting way too much of Kruse, whose curriculum vitae brevis Hugh Fitzgerald recently exposed:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/027473.php#c628265

Excellent, but I misread the beginning of the questioning at first, and thought it might get a bit dirty.
Nice work!

I've been making the acquaintance Mr. Kruse on Atlas Shrugs, Pamela even has a marvelous picture of this truly choice example of a Young Progressive American Journalist. Puke.
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c60bf53ef0120a5475d7b970b-popup

Bravo to JW reader B. A.

Here's more on the story by Lisa Gardiner in the Fremont Argus from 1998, from the Oakland Tribune in 2003. It is worth noting that Gardiner is far from some sort of "Islamophobe"--she is not even particularly knowledgable about Islam.

The Argus is a small paper, and she was a general reporter for them--I doubt she would have been able to fabricate Omar Ahmad's rhetoric, even if she had been so inclined.

She had a good reputation as a reporter, and felt she had a good relationship with Fremont's large Muslim community. I have found no reason to doubt her words.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20030606/ai_n14549189/

Gravenimage - that link was interesting.

It gives the date - 4 July 1998 - that Lisa Gardiner's original report appeared in the 'Fremont Argus'.

Now, surely, somewhere, in the bowels of some large public or university library in the USA there should be either that actual paper (the Fremont Argus, 4 July 1998) or a microfilm thereof.

Anybody out there able to track it down and do a transcript of the original article in its entirety?

Presumably Mr Pipes, who first brought it to the attention of the general public, has it on file as a newspaper clipping in a scrapbook, or as a photocopy or a digital scan.

dumbledoresarmy,

Even finding the original doesn't directly address Ahmed's claim that the reporter who wrote it didn't faithfully transcribe his words. A shame there weren't any voice recording devices used on that occasion -- or were there...?

With his statement to B.A., Kruse seems to be implicating himself in even more trouble journalistically and morally. It would have been easier for him to simply issue an apology and correction.

B.A.- Like sweet music for the Eyes. Especially that whole bit about lying. A point almost unheard of in the Press. Unless they, themselves are the ones doing it.