Reply #9: Larisa response to Mizgin:

[Hissyspit]

COMMENT #1
... Larisa Alexandrovna said on 1/8/2008 @ 9:14 am PT...

Wow, talk about entirely crazy. Not your post Brad, but on this person Mizgin's post. It is amazing to me that someone who knows nothing of journalism, source-reporter relationships, the work that goes into confirming a story, is going to give me a lecture on their blog about what I posted on my personal blog. At the very least, Mizgin could have read the preface to the list in which I state rather clearly that I am posting information "from my own investigation." Apparently, I am only allowed to post what this Mizgin thinks is appropriate with regard to this case.

I know that with collecting clips of news reports all day, someone could get a bit confused about just what it is they think they know. I would have appreciated an email from this fine mental all star if there were questions, but I don't appreciate the lecture.

I am not going down a laundry list of what ONLY Sibel knows, because I have been for the past few years trying to understand the scope and implications of her allegations. That is why I can add things that do not appear on Edmond's list. I can also subtract things, that do appear on Edmonds list from my own notes. Why? Because if I cannot find a confirming source, then I am not simply going to take someone's word for it.

Sibel has not been and obviously cannot be my source (prison). So for the last few years I have worked this story on my own trying to confirm as much as possible of what Sibel has said.

On Lantos, I simply don't have additional confirmation. That is not to say that I question Sibel's allegations. I don't. It is simply due diligence in terms of investigating. On Kissinger, he does relate from his involvement with funding and supplying the extremists in Turkey (who are still there by the way). You cannot start this story at the birth of Sibel and end it with the photo gallery. Her allegations require context to fully understand.

So I have no problem with my list. Mizgin has shown exactly why there are so many skeptics about citizen journalism. You can believe a source with all of your heart, but a single source without any confirming evidence, context, etc., does not equal fact in the eyes of standard journalistic procedures. That is why one attempts to verify as much as possible on their own if there is only a single source. Otherwise, Mizgin, you would simply be a stenographer - and frankly, that is exactly what Mizgin is.

Sadly, Mizgin has now made this important story about herself and her fight against the big, bad, journalist - me - who has been one of the few people trying to report this story. Really, consider the harsh criticism and tell me - any of you - if Mizgin is justified.

L