Why I'll Never Edit The L.A. Times

Here's a story from the L.A. Times that I probably would have edited slightly differently. Which explains why I don't work there as an editor.

SEAL Was Executed, Purported Militant Terrorist Says
U.S. military calls for proof. The search for the commando continues in eastern Afghanistan.

By Paul Watson and Wesal Zaman, Special to The Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. military said it had no evidence to support a Taliban claim Saturday that its militia terrorists executed brutally beheaded an American special operations commando who has been missing for nearly two weeks in remote eastern Afghanistan.

Mullah Latif Hakimi, who says he is a spokesman for the Islamic extremist terrorist group, said in a telephone interview that the Navy SEAL commando's body was dumped in a mountainous region of Kunar province.

The American soldier “was arrested by us exactly nine days before today,” said Hakimi, who was reached by telephone Saturday at an undisclosed location. “The soldier's throat was cut with a knife from the front and his hands were tied.”

The mullah said he was unable to identify the commando or provide details to prove he had been killed. He said proof would be posted on a website today.

The commando was among a four-man Navy SEAL team that went missing during a clash with militants terrorists June 28. A wounded member of the team, who had taken shelter in the home of an Afghan village elder, was rescued four days after the SEALs called for help. The Pentagon said Tuesday that the bodies of two other Navy SEALs had been recovered.

A support team of 16 American troops sent to evacuate the Navy SEAL team died June 28 when suspected Taliban guerrillas terrorists shot down the special forces' MH-47 transport helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Calling the execution claim unsubstantiated, Lt. Cindy Moore, a spokeswoman for the U.S. military, said a search operation for the missing SEAL “is still ongoing.”

Moore refused to say whether the U.S. military had any evidence that the missing commando was alive, citing “operational security.”

Hundreds of U.S. and Afghan troops, backed by air power, are reportedly involved in the search.

Hakimi said that the commando's body was left on a mountainside for Afghan or American soldiers to collect. The American was killed under a religious edict issued before U.S. forces invaded to topple the Taliban in the fall of 2001, Hakimi said.

“This American soldier was slaughtered because of Muslim scholars' orders and that is why we didn't need any trial for his murder,” the mullah said.

Hakimi had contacted Associated Press to report that the helicopter had been shot down before the U.S. military released news of the crash. He also said Taliban fighters terrorists had captured “a high-ranking American” near the crash site.

But he has provided no evidence, such as photographs or videotape, to prove that the Taliban terrorists captured the fourth commando alive.

“The picture and the proof of his murder is not my job, or my responsibility, but it may be shown in our website,” Hakimi said Saturday.

In its report, AP cautioned that Hakimi often called foreign news agencies with claims that have “frequently proven exaggerated or untrue, and his exact tie to the Taliban leadership cannot be independently verified.”

Taliban and allied fighters terrorists have intensified their war against U.S. and Afghan forces since March. At least 50 American soldiers have died under hostile fire in Afghanistan this year.

As I was going through making my edits, a couple of statements stood out that require further emphasis. In fact had I been the editor, they would have been the focus of the story.

“This American soldier was slaughtered because of Muslim scholars' orders and that is why we didn't need any trial for his murder,” the mullah said.

I think I'd like to spray paint this on the side of Dick Durbin's house in 3 foot tall letters. Maybe Teddy Kennedy's place too. And does anyone have an address for Pelosi and Boxer?

Also of note was this quote which is a surprisingly blunt and honest statement that I am quite frankly made it into print

“The picture and the proof of his murder is not my job, or my responsibility, but it may be shown in our website,” Hakimi said Saturday. (emphasis added)

We should thank Hakimi for providing such a clear understanding of our enemy. But why do I think no one will notice?

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 06:00 AM | No Comments | Add Comment