Thursday, June 25, 2009

Speaking of Editorial Standards--Who's in Charge at "Bosniaks.net"?

As of today, the website Bosniaks.net is featuring some pretty dubious articles.

I understand why the implicitly racist editorial The Balkan Mess Redux might have been featured--the author is former US ambassador William Montgomery, so if this article was submitted for publication, I certainly recognize the pressure a small website such as this would accept the piece, no questions asked. However, I suspect that this article was highlighted because Montgomery advocates partition--this website has a subtly but pervasive Islamist bent, and perhaps ethno-religious partition would suit the editors fine.

I hesitate to make such an accusation with any fervor, because I don't have enough context to confidently make such a claim. However, there are some other troubling stories which collectively suggest that I need to monitor this site more carefully if I'm going to continue to link to it.

If nothing else, one should be leery of any website which publishes an overtly LaRouchite article on the front page--or anywhere else on the site, for that matter.

I will refrain from further comment until I've spent more time reviewing this site with a critical eye.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kirk, they have published various LaRouchist items in the past. They didn't reply when I raised the subject with them. Thanks for raising the issue.

Amila Bosnae said...

I just read the editorial and was disgusted :-S
He's in a lot of hurry to split up other people's countries, even those already split into atoms..

Anonymous said...

Some information about LaRouche's anti-semitism etc. from Erica Duggan's campaigning website, dedicated to finding out the truth about her son Jeremiah's unexplained death after he got involved with the LaRouchists:
http://www.justiceforjeremiah.com/NEW/larouche.htm

Anonymous said...

Galbraith's comment is a very succinct put-down of Montgomery by someone who commands rather more respect.

Anonymous said...

Owen, they don't know who Larouche is. I, for one, did not know until you raised the issue. Let's leave Larouche to himself. By the way, the article promoting Larouche views on that web site was written by a Bosnian Croat. Go back and investigate.

The web site (editorial part) seems to be maintained by a Bosnian Croat who lobbyied for years on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you do a search for Zeljko Milicevic, you will find many of his articles published in Bosnian language on Bosnjaci.net

I wouldn't expect high standard of editorial on that site. Let's not make conspiracy theories here, one web site is not a voice of all Bosniaks. It's just a web site. Get over it.

Daniel

Kirk Johnson said...

Daniel, I have to confess I'm a little baffled by your tone. Owen was merely adding some information to my observations about the website. Nobody was speaking about a conspiracy--it's just disappointing to see a somewhat-visible website for and about Bosniaks relying on dubious sources, that's all.

Anonymous said...

Kirk, I don't use harsh tone, I am just typing.

There are things you don't know and things "we" don't have influence over. Please send me your E-mail and I will let you (and Owen) know more...

Sarah Correia said...

I had never heard of this larouche and his movement. I googled it and read about it ... This is worse than a religious sect!!!

Anonymous said...

Daniel, "Elvir" who posts the news snippets has also posted LaRouchist items. Bosniaks.net simply ignore people's messages and concerns. If that's the way they operate (and they've done the same on other issues) they should expect criticism. More than a year later I'm still waiting for an answer to a number of messages to them about the Trifunovic affair. They might have saved a number of people quite a lot of effort and anxiety if they'd shown any sign that they were slightly more bothered than Vicky Pollard.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Daniel, I maligned Bosnjaks.net, I should have compared them with Lauren Cooper.