NICK KRISTOF - Half the Truth

Unlike Amber Lyon, one does not need to wonder as to what is between his ears; He is a thinker, a humanitarian, a crusader for the under-privileged, an excellent smooth pen. The guy is squeaky clean; you can't but love him. Did I mention he is a Pulitzer winner? Two Pulitzers not one sit pretty in his trophy cabinet alongside his Harvard certificate and a law degree from Oxford and countless awards. The guy speaks Arabic, Chinese and Japanese, how could you not admire this man !!?

The problem with good ol' Nick is that he is anti almost everything that is mainstream, anti establishment, anti globalization, anti big business and anti religion, any religion.  He reminds me of myself back in my freshman year at college, I was anti every organized thing that ever was.  I think he is still stuck in his freshman year and could not out grow it.  He is the kind of man who would have fit very nicely with the 60's peace crowd, and I could just see him sitting on the grass in Woodstock smoking a joint with a headband on his forehead.

He is not only a liberal, but he is a liberal elitist, he is what you get when you cross Michael Moore with Richard Simons. His simplistic solutions to complex historical and social issues undermine his capability as a writer and a thinker.  Nicklaus' irrational devotion to the far left agendas make him lose sight of the big picture which forces him to take some liberty with the truth. However, I don't believe he intends to distort the truth on purpose; it just seems that his mind is on a one track set.

He is very sympathetic to the causes of the oppressed anywhere, from Tibet to Darfur, and from Palestine to South Africa and all countries in between. His eagerness to rally for their causes may make him forget to dig deep enough to search for the truth. I would venture to guess that he is a softhearted lefty who could be easily manipulated by a tear or two.

Joe Ceasarea asked " Has smiling Nicholas been fooled again for the umpteenth time? A reply on the subject of poverty in which Nick Suggested stopping the rising birthrate as a solution to poverty, Bryan Clowes, Research Manager, Human Life International LifeSiteNews.com  wrote " the fallacy that complex social problems have a “quick fix” that will make everything better, or at least greatly improve the situation".

I wish not to dwell on his many writings and the fact that he may have one critic for every supporter , but one particular article "Test Your Savvy on Religion",  in The New York Times  - in which he asked his readers questions and then he gave the answers - drew fire from Muslims for its shallow and wrong interpretations of Islam.

He visited Bahrain in February of 2011, and yes he went to the roundabout, Arghhhh . I think he just fell into the "protesters' " trap; he was duped into believing that their cause is truly genuine and their sufferance is immense. He did not – or ignored to– see the other side of the equation and dismissed historical and social issues. I think, had the truth been his aim, he would have been able to give a better a balanced reporting. But was he really bamboozled!!??

When I saw his articles on Bahrain, I was amazed that this far left winger would sympathize with a right wing movement. I could not believe that a man with his credentials is that gullible, but it all came crystal clear as I followed his other writings.

Nicholas is one of mutant breed of journalists in the US who advocated normalization of relations between the US and Iran. He wrote several articles about the so called The Grand bargain" with Iran which the Bush administration turned down, He spoke of missed opportunities and he actually called it "appalling mistake" to turn it down. Nickola – surprisingly- has warm relations with the Iranians. He was a guest speaker at the American Iranian Council in 2007. The purpose of the conference was to promote better relations between the two nations.

He is one of handful American journalists who are welcome in Iran, he has a multiple entry visa to Tehran, and he makes a full use of it. While visiting New York to address the UN last September, Ahmadinejad sat down for a one-on-one with Kristof for a cozy interview, a privilege that is not easily offered to other hostile and satanic journalists.

Amazingly, Nick – the humanitarian – does not seem to be overly concerned with the plight of the Ahwazi people, nor did he speak of the atrocities committed by the Iranian regime in Ahwaz, mum is the word for someone who is never at a loss for words. But hush he was not when it came to Bahrain; he unleashed all of his fury in support of the Shia movement. That must have appeased his Iranian bosom bodies for damn sure.

So, that is it then, Nicky is an admirer of the Ayatollahs of Qum and Mashhad!? Hardly, I would say. His belief in God is limited to when it comes written on note that says "In God We Trust". I sincerely doubt that he is on contract with the Iranian government, but he is a professional writer with Pulitzers, remember? And that makes him expensive. Speaking engagements cost a hefty price to a lobbying council, and so do one-on-one interviews, especially when you are the president of the most hated country in the world and you need someone to help you polish up a little. Ok, make that a lot of polishing up.  

To fly into Tehran and stay few days there, and then come out with touching stories about people, normal folks just like the Smiths and the Johns' , stories average Americans can relate to – now that is expensive. But for the isolated Iranians it is money well spent and a very cheap price for premium media services.

He was already in bed with the Bahraini "opposition" long before his arrival to the roundabout, Arghhhhh. The first meeting that I was able to document between him and the "opposition" goes back to 2006, and that was in NY arranged for by a high level Iranian diplomat at the UN. That was followed by several get-together encounters, and let us see how we can bash the "brutal" Bahraini regime. There are talks that his relationship with one Bahraini Opposition figure who is also a part time human rights activist, go back many years. Dr. Kristof – Nick's mother – who was a university professor introduced this figure to her offspring and they lived happily ever after.

It was not by pure coincidence when Nick came to Bahrain calling on his buddy, the timing was well planned for this glob trotter columnist, and off to the roundabout he went, Arghhhhhh.  Would you believe he had a hair cut there!!? That, as he would tell his readers, how peaceful the protest was. And he was invited to share a deliciously catered dinner and BBQ kebabs and washed it all down with a cold Heineken. Oh, the life of the oppressed, must have been really tough.  
But in the end, money talks, and the Iranian regime has a lot of talking to do, and Nick is a good listener.

Even if  these claims are true, I personally don't think he broke any US laws – but I am not a US Attorney General - provided he declared it to the IRS – they don't care where the money come from, hell they just want their share.  He would though, have broken all the ethical and liberal ideals he lives by or at least trying to live by it. So much for being stuck in freshman year ! Say it aint so, Nick…..

                                                                                                                   DR.KNOW