Left hanging.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)

In "Hung Out to Dry" (CJR, January/ February), Laura Rozen makes a good point when she writes that "the national-security press dug up the dirt, but Congress wilted." But let's not forget that for most of the Bush years, the Republicans were the majority in both houses and weren't likely to have hearings on their own party. The Dems (Waxman, Conyers) did try to hold minority-party hearings, but after 2006, they stopped pushing back. Still, it isn't fair to lay the blame on Congress and exempt the press from responsibility.

Many of us citizens formed around the blogosphere to get information and lobby journalists and news organizations to pursue national-security stories. The mainstream media were our only hope, and by and large, they failed us. Of course, I recognize the work of the courageous few-Priest, Risen, Lichtblau, Laura Rozen, and a few others, without whom we would know less than we do, but Rozen shouldn't let her less courageous colleagues off the hook.

James

Comment posted on CJR.org

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