Two weeks after it was first reported that Colombian soldiers dressed up as not only Red Cross agents, but also Telesur journalists to carry out military operations, the Committee to Protect Journalists has finally weighed in. (We, like most of the media, missed it at first too, but screw you it's not our mission). In a letter to Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, the CPJ lamely "understand what was at stake and recognize that 15 people were rescued in the operation," but still see the need to like, "Protect Journalists," so they make a few other points, like:
>>> "By posing as journalists, security forces undermine the role of the free press and bring mistrust to the profession, ultimately damaging the public good," and
>>> "Colombia remains one of the most murderous countries for the press worldwide, and has the highest rate of unsolved journalist murders at the percentage of the population of any nation in Latin America;" and
>>> The whole fucking thing violates the Geneva Conventions.
Wouldn't hold my breath for a response from asshat Santos. For his part, Hugo Chavez noted that if he had done such a thing, "they would be trying me in The Hague, notice the double morality of the world." No kidding, dude. Not to mention they'd be sending one heck of a stern letter.
