Journalists: Missing in action or missing the action?

On his radio program last Friday, Hugh Hewitt interviewed Fred Barnes and the newly engaged Mort Kondracke, the beltway's very own Dynamic Duo of Demosthenesian Dissuasion. (Transcript is here)

The Beltway Boys are among the very best pundits in cable television. Their reasoned, rational debate is a welcome contrast to the yowling scream fests that plague much of political talk today. Their wide-ranging conversation with Mr. Hewitt was no exception.

Among the sundry topics discussed was Michael Yon’s nonpareil reporting from Iraq. In comparing his work to the mainstream media, Mr. Hewitt said:

[Yon] believes that the American people are getting the most distorted picture of Iraq possible. That in fact, the war is going very well. The insurgency's getting crippled, but that we don't have journalists over there to tell that story.

In fairness to journalists, Iraq does not yield information easily.

My correspondent in Iraq said this:

Conversely, virtually all reporters in this country are stuck inside US bases, because of the simple fact that if they were to venture out the spies would alert the insurgent/mafia/criminal cells and you wouldn't last the afternoon. Plus, you can't really get good stories done with a hundred US troops around, anyone seen talking to us is immediately marked for suspicion and followup by the bad guys as soon as we leave - this is related to why I always am saying the news you get about the daily stuff going on here is really way off, for 1 because the US mil is only going to tell the media so much and 2 the iraqi sources only say so much.

It's a difficult environment, which makes the work Michael Yon is doing all the more remarkable.

Now, if we can just help Mort Kondracke figure out the difference between John Roberts and Pat Robertson... ;)