Why Are We Back In Iraq?

(NOTE: Why Are We Back In Iraq? guest blogger Ryan Fenno did most of the writing and research for this article.)

As previously proven here and here, ex-Talon News "journalist" Leslie Wetzel prefers to snatch-and-grab articles from real news organizations rather than produce any original copy.

Need more proof?

Compare "Berger Under Investigation for Removing Classified Security Documents, Steps Down as Kerry Advisor" by Leslie Wetzel for Talon News on July 21, 2004 (cache link) with "Clinton Adviser Probed For Taking Classified Terror Memos" by John Solomon for the Associated Press on July 19, 2004 (cache link):

Leslie Wetzel: "Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI agents after he voluntarily returned some sensitive documents to the National Archives."

John Solomon: "Berger's home and office were searched earlier this year by FBI agents…after he voluntarily returned documents to the National Archives."

Leslie Wetzel: "Fox News reports that some documents are still missing. They relate to accounts of the Clinton administration's handling of al Qaeda terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration, officials and lawyers said."

John Solomon: "However, some drafts of a sensitive after-action report on the Clinton administration's handling of al-Qaida terror threats during the December 1999 millennium celebration are still missing, officials and lawyers told The Associated Press."

Leslie Wetzel: "Officials said the missing documents also identified America's terror vulnerabilities at airports to seaports."

John Solomon: "The officials said the missing documents...identification of America's terror vulnerabilities at airports to sea ports."

Leslie Wetzel: "Berger served as Clinton's national security adviser for all of the president's second term and most recently has been informally advising Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry."

John Solomon: "Berger served as Clinton's national security adviser for all of the president's second term and most recently has been informally advising Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry."

Leslie Wetzel: "Clinton asked Berger last year to review and select the administration documents that would be turned over to the 9/11 commission."

John Solomon: "Clinton asked Berger last year to review and select the administration documents that would be turned over to the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."

If you’re still not convinced that “faking it” was encouraged at Bobby Eberle's Talon News, then I suppose you’ll also have to believe that last summer Leslie visited Tel Aviv (cache link), five days after reporting from Lansing, MI (cache link), which was only one day after filing this story (cache link) from the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.

(A special thanks to MKT who left a comment at The Raw Story pointing out the frequent use of fabricated datelines: "I am surprised that I haven’t seen anything about Talon News’ rather unscrupulous use of datelines to mislead readers into believing that its correspondents were reporting from places they clearly had not visited. Most legitimate news organizations have strict rules on datelines allowing locations to be listed ONLY when the correspondent was actually reporting from the location.")

But don't be too hard on Larcenous Leslie, because - believe it or not - she does have her own unique way with words. Ms. Wetzel often posts comments while using the handle "texasleslie" at various right-wing Websites that appreciate her unique voice:

"I just really think that we have been too nice to these guys, as in Fallujah. We should ignore their "sacred sites," if they are using them to cache weapons or firing on our troops. Take them out with heavy firepower, and forget this door to door stuff. If they were warned, too bad! Buildings can be replace, but the life of one American soldier is too high a price to pay for worrying about their sacred places. Those who hate us will continue to do so, and the ones who appreciate us, will understand."

"The only thing these idiots understand is strength. I say send em to their allah, and their virgins, and quit being easy on em, so they can continue to blow themselves up, and take our soldiers with them." posted on 12/22/2004 1:02:56 PM PST by texasleslie (Phillipians 4:6) (Free Republic)

"The whole thing makes me want to gag! Enough of them already, if they don't like our unsensitivity, and arrogance, let em go back to the Middle East. Oh, yeah, I forgot, their goal is to make the whole world a Muslim state!" Posted by: texasleslie at December 23, 2004 10:07 PM (jihad watch)

As you’ve probably guessed, Leslie is a real Patriotic, God-Fearin’ Texan™. Just like the kind that Ol’ Dubya likes to think about when he thinks about home. I have a feeling that there are lots of other White House fakey-fake press folks who share Leslie's Christian tolerance:

Leslie Wetzel: "I agree with your observation of the translating of the name "Allah" to "God" by the media to be a major slap. They are not equivalent, in any way, shape or form, and to translate that as such is a major error. I also do not think it is deliberate, and these "reporters" should do their research." Tuesday, 11.23, 2004, 01:11:42 Carib.us.

Maybe Leslie doesn't just limit herself to stealing her Talon News articles...perhaps she steals her image too.

Will the real Leslie Wetzel please stand up?

Please stand up?

(ENDNOTE - More on Leslie tomorrow including something - I assure you - that you're not gonna want to miss...thanks again to Ryan for doing all the hard work on this)

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