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The US is (unofficially) at war in Pakistan, where reporters face pressure to cover the search for Al Qaeda in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan. But the area is virtually inaccessible to most journalists and information is tightly controlled by the Pakistani military. Journalist Shahan Mufti says reporting from the region poses several ethical dilemmas.
It is almost always a mistake to interview only one Pakistani (or Pakistani-American) journalist on a program. I know scores, and they all have at least one additional agenda beyond the focus of the interview. Shahan Mufti exposed his political slant several times, but in ways that may be too subtle for an American audience to pick up.
He also ignored the existence of a cadre of journalists who actually are reporting from the Tribal Areas, and not because they're embedded with the Pak Army. They are from the region, so the Army can't keep them out. They are among the bravest journalists in the world, and you can see their work on most major media outlets (often with little or no attribution). They would make a much better story for OTM than Mr. Mufti.
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