Inland Northwesterners in Iraq, thin slices, coming up

The story ” Crocker’s world: U.S. envoy talks about future for Iraq and himself ” sparked a lot of discussion about strategy and execution - whether there was new information, and whether the story was sufficiently critical.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker stands in the rotunda of the former Republican Palace in Baghdad, April 4, 2008, where Sadaam Hussein formerly directed his troops against the Coalition Forces some five years ago. Now the palace is the temporary housing for the U.S. Embassy and staff. Brian Plonka photo.

“It sounded like the company line,” but it was also a very interesting story, said photo director Larry Reisnouer. Others agreed. Assistant city editor Scott Maben said the story also reflects what Crocker is telling Congress today.

Veteran city reporters Karen Dorn Steele and Kevin Graman were not convinced. They argued that doing a story on the ambassador gave opportunity for him to bypass the critical eye of other mainstream media, and that putting the Spokesman-Review ‘into the story’ was not appropriate (see blockquote below). Did the story need a more critical tone? Did Crocker say anything new and different from what he said in the interviews with the S-R editorial board and with reporter Jim Camden in early February?

“Well, I never thought I’d stand here in the Republican Palace meeting The Spokesman-Review,” Crocker, a Spokane Valley native, said shaking his head and laughing.

Managing editor Gary Graham offered a different take - We also publish coverage from newswire services that is very critical of the Iraq War, he said, and today’s story balances that out because it “let the ambassador make his case.” Editor Steve Smith finds news of Crocker to be important also because Crocker and his family are moving to Spokane in several months. “He’s gonna be a player in this town,” and it was good to catch up with him.

Correspondent James Hagengruber and S-R staff photographer Brian Plonka originally went overseas to catch up with the Shipp twins . They were promised some time to hang out with the ambassador .

As for Crocker’s February visit, he answered questions for editorial page and for Camden’s story published Feb. 6, ” Crocker: ‘Everything about Iraq is hard’ ” and came with audio clips .