BLOGOSPHERE SLAP FIGHT

BLOGOSPHERE SLAP FIGHT: Strategic Armchair Command and The Agonist are having a little war over credibility. SAC is winning right now. Not only is Agonist stealing subscriber-only material from STRATFOR and passing it off as his own, but he’s stealing material from STRATFOR and passing it off as his own. (STRATFOR, for the uninitiated, is a rather lame source.)

The Agonist’s response sounds very Doris Kearns Goodwin-esque:

On March 21st, 2003 I wrote this in Flash Post XII:

“I’m blogging via PDA, bear with me. I really do wish I could cite all the sources here. If you’re upset about it as some people are, please understand the time constraints I am under. Please also note that some of the updates are copied and pasted others are not. Just consider it all from another news source unless I say otherwise. I’m not interested in pissing anyone off here. I’m just trying to provide a service.”

Now, various nefarious elements have accused me of lying or plagiarism or something to that effect. I think the above post clears it up.

If you are disappointed I understand. If you feel like I have betrayed your trust, I understand.

However, I do not think either is the case. Throughout the course of the war I have done my utmost to maintain an unbiased position on the war. That has been my one and only goal. So that you get the information you need to make an educated decision.

Hmm. Posting pay-for-view material in the open, especially without mentioning the source, strikes me as a disservice to all concerned. And it’s not like there isn’t a Command Post to turn to for straight-out news clippings. Of course, even at CP–which is built on cut-and-pasted clips from elsewhere–the sources are given. Always.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.