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In Defense of The Wanted

The reality show about suspected terrorists living among us has been much maligned ... by journalists who have yet to see it.

by
Karen Northon

Bio

July 18, 2009 - 12:01 am
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The show follows the aforementioned team of experts in various fields conducting interviews, gathering and analyzing information, and following leads, with the ultimate goal of confronting the accused (suspected terrorists and war criminals) and giving them a chance to respond to the allegations against them. Is this not what investigative journalists do?

Anyone who has a working television knows that when there is a high-profile criminal case in this country — O.J. Simpson, BernieMadoff , Scott Peterson — the media blankets it with interviews, updates, and legal analysis that often goes well beyond the bounds of the evidence at hand. The media does not wait for these cases to be decided before launching into full exposition on the case. Nor should they be compelled to.

However, in the case of The Wanted, the Department of Homeland Security has attempted to dissuade the show’s investigation into a particular case of a man wanted for genocide, claiming the actions of the cast and crew could impede any “official” investigations. While most of us cannot speak knowledgeably as to what Homeland Security is or is not doing with regards to any of these cases, one thing we can rally around is the singular importance of a free press — a media that is not beholden to the priorities, agendas, and timelines of a government or any of its agencies.

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So what about the vigilante aspect?

This one is much simpler to answer. Go to Merriam-Webster.com, or the dictionary on your bookshelf, and see the following or a similar definition:

Vigilante: a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily.

At no point in the show does anyone involved attempt to deliver justice, by any means or perception. Those involved with The Wanted are quite clear that their hope is to shine a syndicated light on these cases so that public sentiment will demand justice in the appropriate venue by the appropriate authorities.

Public sentiment is a powerful force. And if the show succeeds in its mission, perhaps the cases they investigate will result in answers to long-posed questions — questions of the guilt or innocence of individuals living among us, accused of terrorism and war crimes.

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Karen Northon is a veteran military journalist and media consultant.

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16 Comments, 16 Threads

  1. 1. Blackwater

    Sounds like a great idea to me. It disgusts me to think that we allow islamist terrorists to live freely in America out of political correctness. Maybe after the general public becomes aware of this disgusting reality they’ll start to demand our government takes action to remedy this disgrace. Especially when they learn a lot of these sick barbarians are living off our tax dollars.

  2. 2. Perry

    Blackwater,

    If we didn’t allow Islamic terrorists to live among us, there would be two very high buildings at the corner of Church and Vessey in Lower Manhattan.

    It’s September 10th again…

  3. 3. "progressive"watch

    I don’t think anyone in the former mainstream media has courage and honesty enough to shine a light on Muslim terrorism. Instead,they lack courage and they are too dishonest and arrogant to admit it. And they have to say something. So they usually end up siding with the terrorists in some way. Or instead of saying terrorists behead people,destroy liberties and treat woman as a subspecies,the former mainstream media usually says something equivalent to terrorists take candy away from babies.

  4. 4. Gary Ogletree

    Looking forward to this show. Special Ops guys beat actors and phony scripts any day.

  5. 5. Fafnir

    The terrorists among us include POTUS and the liberal team that got him elected.

  6. 6. ChronicPaine

    Er, this is NBC we’re talking about, right? If anyone thinks NBC will be rooting out *real* terrorists, I have a bridge to sell you. Wanna bet the show targets more American right-to-life, anti-tax, pro-individual liberty types than Islamofascists?

  7. This program seems reasonable. But it also seems like something which could very easily become distorted by viewers perceptions. Some people could see ‘SWAT team arrests convicted war criminal’ and, after a little thinking, turn this into ‘Anyone who disagrees with my political position hates america, and I must destroy these treasonous scum before they can destroy this country.’ It’s perfect paranoia fuel.

  8. 8. blotto

    ChronicPaine: Bingo!! I bet they will focus on white “suspected” terrorists.

    NBC would never, never allow their orgainzation to target peaceful, law abiding Islamic terrorists living among us. Naw!!! First, it would be unPC. Second, they are terrified about possible repercussions such as law suits and death threats from those peace loving Islamists.

  9. 9. sanjuro

    Hell, just go to Chicago, FOXNEWS reported this AM that radical muslim groups are meeting at the Hilton Hotel to plan how to better recruit terrorists here in the USA. WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT OVER?!!!!
    Need someone alert Napoliano or are they stretched too thin watching out for all the “rightwing terrorists” here in the heartland?

  10. 10. Rockmelon

    Same old, same old. If we don’t confront it isn’t there! I asked my neighbor how many Islamic mosques, schools or associations there were within ten miles of our neighborhood. He laughed and said, “none!” Actually there are three mosques and eight Muslim owned businesses.

    Try it yourself. Visit the link below and enter your zip code or the nearest city larger than yours.

    http://www.islamicfinder.org/

  11. 11. Jaysonrex

    The freedom United States guarantees its citizens is precisely what will bring it down one of these days.

    Just as with serial killers, the only way to neutralize Muslim terrorists is to dispose of them WITHOUT first reading them their rights.

    Since the Left is a great admirer and supporter of everything Islamic, it has neither will nor standing to eliminate radicals and their malignant outgrowth, the terrorists, from our midst. Obama most certainly will not do it nor
    allow others to do it.

    This is our tragedy; it will soon overshadow anything Shakespeare ever conceived.

  12. 12. Carol MN

    Yeah, you can bet they will be focusing on white supremacists, and abortion clinic protesters….it’s mainstreat tv, they’ll be doing it PC.

  13. 13. TomF

    #11 It would seem that freedom would be our downfall, but I would strongly disagree. That is the logic of dictatorial states. Many people confuse freedom with weakness. Just as they confuse meekness with weakness. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of freedom. Freedom is what makes us strong. Maybe it is idealistic, but I believe the “good guy” will win even if he has one hand tied behind his back. Yes, there are a lot of cells operating on our land. Why don’t the authorities do something? They are. It is called intelligence. Let the cells operate and we will gather the connections and mode of operation.

    And if the left will not respond to the threats. If and when we are attacked again, Americans will not put up with it.

  14. 14. Peter Montbriand

    Comment number 4 and number 6 are exactly on target. This is one of those shows you watch once to see what kind of “terrorists” they hunt down. If it’s legit, the show will find an audience, if it’s “right-wing” gun nuts and pro-lifer’s who peacefully picket, then the show will die really quick. This could really be a case of one man’s terrorist is another’s……..

  15. 15. pelaut

    More likely it can be soft propaganda for the poor babies while pretending to be tough. Listen closely to the dialogue.

  16. 16. vigilant

    I am watching the program at this hour. More like the show “24″. It’s informative, but it’s not what I was hoping to see. Apparently, I’ll keep on reading information and being observant. The website posted on comment#10 is a good information tool, but in my zip code it shows one islamic affiliate at a University 50 miles away. With my observation over the past years, since 2001, there are 30 to 40 convenience stores, liquor stores and hotels operated by muslims in a 15 mile radius, maybe more. There have been so many changes of men that operate these stores in the past 8 years; never see them again. They have a safe haven somewhere. Right here in the good old USA. Plotting and planning; exploiting THEIR freedom of speech and suppressing ours. NUF SAID!

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