FRIDAY'S LETTERS: Teeing Off on Woodward and the War

By: E&P Staff Yesterday's letters column took aim at Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward, and today readers dish out more abuse for what many see as his crime against journalism -- failing to tell his editor, or the public, about his involvement in the CIA leak investigation. But first, a letter on the future, and present, of investigative reporting.

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Re: Steve Outing's column questioning whether investigative journalism will survive

Even as daily newspapers cut back on investigative reporting, it remains a strong priority for a good share of the nation's alternative newsweeklies. The long investigative piece is a regular centerpiece at many of our papers, and the commitment to doing such in-depth reporting has not flagged.

In the last few years, Westword, an alt-weekly in Denver, broke the story on the Air Force Academy sex scandal; Willamette Week was the first to report on Oregon ex-governor Neil Goldschmidt's sexual molestation of a minor (in a series that won a Pulitzer Prize); and Long Island Press exposed the Newsday
circulation fraud. In September, California's East Bay Express reported on an online gore-for-porn swap by U.S. soldiers in Iraq, and The Portland Phoenix is currently running a series on the mistreatment of prisoners in Maine.

Our papers have broken hundreds of other less-publicized instances of festering malfeasance. Readers of dailies who can no longer find the investigative reporting they crave don't need to wait for NPR or Yahoo! to fund in-depth reporting. They can turn to the pages of their local alternative weeklies.

Richard Karpel
Executive Director
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Washington, D.C.

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Where Attention Should Be Paid

Media consumers are treated to the minutiae of movie stars' mating habits under the pretense that these are of great "public interest." The public had a far greater interest in being told that Mr. Woodward was the first reporter to be given information about Valerie Plame by Bush administration officials in their attempt to discredit Joseph Wilson.

William Torres
New York, N.Y.

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Woodward, Then and Now

I can't help but wonder what the Bob Woodward of 1974 would say to the Bob Woodward of 2005. Perhaps that's something Mr. Woodward should ponder for a while.

Wiley Miller

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Speak Out Against the Myth

Please debunk this claim that Woodward's story contradicts Fitzgerald before it achieves too much currency. They are spreading it like crazy and soon it will be hard to convince anyone of anything different. If you look at the transcript of the news conference PF said "In fact, Mr. Libby was the first official known to have told a reporter when he talked to Judith Miller in June of 2003 about Valerie Wilson." This was absolutely true. Emphasis on the word ?known.? Later he said "He was at the beginning of the chain of phone calls, the first official to disclose this information outside the government to a reporter." Certainly the later comment must be seen in light of the earlier comment.

David Andrews

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More Than a Number?A Hero

Two Americans topped the news cycle the last week of October, more precisely their deaths. One was portrayed as a hero, the other as a number. One as a pioneer, the other as a pawn. Ones life was defined with wonderful words of praise, the other's death was dishonored with partisan political spin. One was Rosa Parks, the other was the 2000th soldier killed in Iraq.

Fifty years ago Mrs. Parks' bold stance against racism started a movement that would eventually deliver social equality to all Americans. Because of her courage she indeed deserves her place in history. But, so too does Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander Jr., a.k.a. number 2000.

Sadly, during their coverage of the "milestone,? the anti-war media made little mention of the fact that Sgt. Alexander served in Desert Storm and that he was on his third tour of duty in Iraq, when an improvised bomb detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Samarra. Even more outrageous, they all but ignored the details of Sgt. Alexander's last courageous act. Consequently, few other than his wife were aware of the praise bestowed to him by the Dept. of Defense, that included these words: "saving a number of his soldiers' lives in exchange of his own."

There is no doubt that Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander Jr. was a hero to his 8-year-old son and his 6-year-old daughter, with his last selfless deed he became one to his men; with his death he must become one to his nation. His sacrifice to insure that America will never be forced to the back of the bus (or worst) by the evils of Islamic fascism deserves the highest admiration. And, although, Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander Jr., a brave black American, was not laid under the dome of the Capitol Rotunda, he also deserves the greatest respect from all who love and enjoy freedom. But, as General George S. Patton Jr., reminded us, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

Champ W. Webb
Paducah, Ky.


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Too much piling on? I don't think so!

Thank you for this article. I really enjoyed it.

Concerning Bob Woodward's dilemma, I think he's getting exactly what he deserves (the piling on). We trusted him to tell us the facts, not biased positions and he betrayed us. He sold his soul and now the payoff.

T. Barr
Scottsdale, Aris.

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I did combat duty in Vietnam -- two Season tours -- and could see the Iraq war was unneeded, and would likely be destabilizing and bankrupting. Many said it then. It is just amazing to me how trumped up "intelligence" can now be excused as honest misinterpretations. Remember Scott Ritter and Hans Blix? Of course YOU do! Their analysis in 2002/3 should be replayed in every newspaper and every TV station in America every day until the logically impaired citizenry finally sees the monstrosity of the Bush administration and the cowardice of its Congress.

RT Carpenter
Lynn Haven, Fla.

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It's time to Miller-ize this extremely-ex-journalist, Bob Woodward. The Washington Post needs to accept Woodward's forced resignation ASAP, and Woodward needs to turn his business of constructing book-length PR releases for the Bush administration into a private endeavor. Shame on him.

Patricia Sierra

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Whatever happened to the Bob Woodward of Watergate days? It seems to me that he's been taken over by someone who bears absolutely no resemblance to that aggressive, truth-seeking reporter who helped bring down a presidency. Now Woodward is an apologist for this administration, which is doing so much more harm to our country and our world that Nixon pales by comparison. Has he allowed himself to be suckered in by becoming one of the Washington elite journalists who have traded integrity for proximity to power? Or is it simply that Carl Bernstein was primarily responsible for the journalistic excellence of Watergate and Woodward just went along for the ride? Certainly Bernstein has maintained his critical analysis of what is happening in the White House today while Woodward has retained none of his.

I have lost all respect for the "new" Mr. Woodward.

Nancy Williams
Phoenix, Ariz.

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If more senators and congressman visit wounded soldiers weekly as Rep. Murtha has (see Greg Mitchell's latest column) they may be they will not be so hasty to continue this war.

The media should do more shows on wounded soldiers so the American people can see like they did with Katrina and get a first-hand account of what this war in Iraq is doing.

And maybe they can from their heart ask is this worth it? And why are we there? The war on terrorism has nothing to do with the war on Iraq, however it has escalated the situation. The media has to do more, it has to let the American people see the wounded, the price they have paid.

Julie Mack
Philadelphia, PA