Bill Roggio

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Bill Roggio
Occupation Journalist, blogger

Bill Roggio is an American commentator on military affairs.[1] Roggio is notable for having his opinions quoted, or criticized, by newspapers and broadcasters.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Roggio is the managing editor of The Long War Journal.[8]

Prior to leading a team of online commentators Roggio published the online weblog The Fourth Rail.[1]

Roggio was an active duty soldier in the United States Army in the 1990s.[1]

Long War Journal

Roggio and the Long War Journal's staff use reports from media organizations, including publications in countries where terrorists or Islamic insurgencies are active, such as in Afghanistan and Pakistan, then amplify and add historical context to what they find with information from their own network of US intelligence sources. In some cases, PMI has funded trips by its own media-credentialed journalists to report on war zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Philippines. Roggio, a former United States Army signalman and infantryman, uses his military experience to add strategic, operational, and tactical level context to the journal's reports. According to the Columbia Journalism Review, "Roggio's greatest service, then, may be the way he picks up where the mainstream press leaves off, giving readers a simultaneously more specific and holistic understanding of the battlefield."[9]

The Columbia Journalism Review reports that the Long War Journal for the most part avoids political bias in its stories. The Review, however, noted that Roggio has at times aligned himself with conservative bloggers on issues such as the "Easongate" controversy.[10] The journal states that it is a publication of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which describes itself as non-partisan but has been called "neoconservative" by various resources.[11][12][13][14]

The Long War Journal has been used as a source by media organizations or quoted in press publications including the New York Times (two of which were on the newspaper's front page),[15][16][17] Reuters,[18] Associated Press,[19] United Press International,[20][21][22] Sunday Times,[23] The Hindu,[24] Cable News Network,[25] the Times of India,[26] The Australian,[27] CTC Sentinel,[28] Time,[29] The Nation,[30] Washington Times,[31] and The Atlantic.[32] Marc Thiessen used the journal as a source in a 15 March 2011 opinion piece for the Washington Post.[33] Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Thomas E. Ricks cited Long War Journal reporter Nathan Webster in Ricks' Iraq-related book, The Gamble.[34]

Controversy

In 2006, the Huffington Post commentator Stephen Kaus criticised Roggio as a sensationalist who likes to get people to read his articles by distorting the news.[6] After Baitullah Mehsud was killed in August 2009, Roggio claimed on August 6, 2009 that a US intelligence official told him US officials thought Mehsud was still alive.[35] This was not accurate, as Pentagon spokesman Jeff Morrell and National Security Advisor James Jones claimed that US officials were 90% certain he was killed and they had yet to see any evidence offered by the Taliban to assume otherwise,[36][37] and the Pakistan Taliban later confirmed he was killed.[38]

In April 2009, Roggio claimed Rashid Rauf was still alive.[39] This claim was never proven to be true and it was later reported in September by both USA Today and UPI that Rauf was still believed to have been killed in a US drone strike.[40][41] In March 2012, Roggio echoed claims by the Daily Times that Ilyas Kashmiri was still alive and was spotted in North Waziristan,[42] The accuracy of the report, however, was disputed because journalists were unable to access the region where Kashmiri was allegedly spotted.[43] A few days later, the report of Kashmiri's survival was further contradicted when an Al Qaeda spokesman eulogized him along with other Pakistani militants who had been killed in various drone strikes.[44]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Staff: Bill Roggio". The Long War Journal. http://www.longwarjournal.org/staff.php. Retrieved 2009-02-05. 
  2. ↑ "Lashkar focus only Kashmir, says no interest in global jihad". Times of India. 2009-01-20. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Lashkar_focus_only_Kashmir_says_no_interest_in_global_jihad_/articleshow/4000732.cms. Retrieved 2009-02-05. "However, Lashkar watchers are unconvinced about this turnaround. US terrorism analyst Bill Roggio points out that the renamed Jamaat-ud-Dawa signals its global jihad footprint in its new name." 
  3. ↑ "W's Biggest Hits". Investor's Business Daily. 2009-01-09. Archived from the original on 2009-07-27. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibdeditorials.com%2FIBDArticles.aspx%3Fid%3D316396837243124&date=2009-07-27. Retrieved 2009-02-05. "Bill Roggio of the Long War Journal has compiled a list of some of those who have received final justice recently." 
  4. ↑ Daveed Gartenstein-Ross (2009-02-05). "What Does Ethiopia's Withdrawal Mean for Somalia's Future?". Middle East Times. http://www.metimes.com/International/2009/02/05/special_report_what_does_ethiopias_withdrawal_mean_for_somalias_future/1885/. Retrieved 2009-02-05. "Bill Roggio, a civilian military affairs analyst who has followed the situation in Somalia closely for the Long War Journal, suggests that on the whole Shabaab may be implementing Sharia more slowly than the ICU did during its rise in 2006. 'I think they're doing it more subtly this time,' he says. 'They've learned that you can't rush into Sharia.'" [dead link]
  5. ↑ Spencer Ackerman (2009-01-30). "Pakistanis Beg: Bomb Us!". Washington Independent. http://washingtonindependent.com/28321/pakistanis-beg-bomb-us. Retrieved 2009-02-06. "In recent days, the Pakistani military has undertaken a major operation against the insurgents in Swat, although, as Bill Roggio writes, the results are still ambiguous." 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kaus, Stephen (2006-01-08). "Military Blogger Bill Roggio Swiftboats the Washington Post". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-kaus/military-blogger-bill-rog_b_13477.html. Retrieved 2009-02-05. 
  7. ↑ Jonathan Finer, Doug Struck (2005-12-26). "Bloggers, Money Now Weapons in Information War". Washington Post. p. A24. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/25/AR2005122500659_pf.html. Retrieved 2008-09-28. 
  8. ↑ McLeary, Paul, "Blogging the Long War", Columbia Journalism Review, March/April 2008, p. 36 (5).
  9. ↑ Mcleary, Paul, "Blogging the long war: Bill Roggio wants to be your source for conflict coverage", Columbia Journalism Review, 46.6 (March–April 2008): 36+, (3621 words).
  10. ↑ Mcleary, Paul, "Blogging the long war: Bill Roggio wants to be your source for conflict coverage", Columbia Journalism Review, 46.6 (March–April 2008): 36+, (3621 words).
  11. ↑ Goldberg, Michelle, "The 'Hero' of the War on Terror", The Nation, 10 February 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  12. ↑ US News / Special: Empire Builders / Spheres of influence: Neocon think tanks and periodicals | Christian Science Monitor, archived
  13. ↑ Oct 9, 2004 (October 9, 2004). "Asia Times - Asia's most trusted news source for the Middle East". Atimes.com. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FJ09Ak01.html. Retrieved April 30, 2012. 
  14. ↑ USA. "Foundation for Defense of Democracies - Right Web Profile - Institute for Policy Studies - Right Web". Rightweb.irc-online.org. http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1475. Retrieved April 30, 2012. 
  15. ↑ Shane, Scott, "C.I.A. Is Disputed On Civilian Toll In Drone Strikes", New York Times, 12 August 2011, p. 1.
  16. ↑ Schmitt, Eric, "New C.I.A. Drone Attack Draws Rebuke From Pakistan", New York Times, 13 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  17. ↑ Bumiller, Elisabeth, and Thom Shanker, "War Evolves With Drones, Some Tiny As Bugs", New York Times, 20 June 2011, p. 1.
  18. ↑ Taylor, Rob, "Senior Qaeda leader in Afghanistan killed - NATO", Reuters, 26 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  19. ↑ Straziuso, Jason, "American extremist in Somalia releases 2 new rap songs on Internet", Associated Press via Seattle Times, 12 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  20. ↑ United Press International, "Bin laden aide leaves Iran.", 29 September 2010 (wire service report).
  21. ↑ United Press International, "'Pretty sure' bin Laden son killed", 23 July 2009 (wire service report).
  22. ↑ United Press International, "Iraq security development slowed in 2008", 16 January 2009, (wire service report).
  23. ↑ Lamb, Christina, "School bombing exposes Obama's secret war inside Pakistan", Sunday Times, 7 February 2010 (correction published on 15 February 2010 noting attribution to the Long War Journal was accidentally omitted), p. 27.
  24. ↑ Joshua, Anita, "Senior Taliban leader killed in drone attack: report", The Hindu, 21 December 2010
  25. ↑ Cable News Network, A top insurgent in Afghanistan killed, coalition confirms", 26 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012
  26. ↑ Times of India, "What happens to global jihad after Osama bin Laden's death?", 4 May 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  27. ↑ Neighbor, Sally, "Libya ripe for jihad's rallying cries", The Australian, 26 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  28. ↑ CTC Sentinel, July 2009.
  29. ↑ Thompson, Mark, "Battleland: Mullen Talks Tougher in Pakistan", Time, 21 April 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  30. ↑ Goldberg, Michelle, "The 'Hero' of the War on Terror", The Nation, 10 February 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  31. ↑ Lake, Eli, "Terrorist hit puts Pakistani reporter under fire", Washington Times, 25 May 2010; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  32. ↑ Hudson, John, "What We Know About the Planned Terror Plot in Europe", The Atlantic, 30 September 2010; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  33. ↑ Thiessen, Mark, "Adam Serwer’s ignorance of a terrorist group", Washington Post, 15 March 2011; retrieved 30 April 2012.
  34. ↑ Ricks, Thomas E., The Gamble (book) (New York: Penguin Press, 2009), p. 266.
  35. ↑ http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/baitullah_mehsud_is.php
  36. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/90-sure-Mehsud-is-dead-Pentagon/Article1-442459.aspx
  37. ↑ . London. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6003341/Pakistan-issues-reassurance-that-Baitullah-Mehsud-is-dead.htmlx. [dead link]
  38. ↑ "Taliban admit commander's death". BBC. 2009-08-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm. Retrieved 2012-04-01. 
  39. ↑ http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/04/al_qaeda_operative_r_1.php
  40. ↑ http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/09/08/US-nearly-upset-Britains-terror-case/UPI-25941252425345/
  41. ↑ Johnson, Kevin (9 September 2009). "Weakened al-Qaeda is still a threat". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-09-08-alqaeda-still-a-threat_N.htm. 
  42. ↑ http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/03/al_qaeda_leader_ilya.php
  43. ↑ http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/al-qaeda-leader-reported-dead-found-alive-and-well
  44. ↑ "New Statement By Al-Qaeda's Ustad Ahmad Farooq Confirms Ilyas Kashmiri Dead". Memri Urdu-Pashtu Media Blog. March 16, 2012. http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/41890.htm. Retrieved April 1, 2012. 

External links

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