Hats off to foreign journalists who write about the conflict and at least try to put the gross humanitarian disaster in global fora. They are the only ones who have the freedom to do so without risk of losing their lives. They may make a few mistakes, but the key is that their anslysis is reasonably accurate, and the intents are humanitarian. Judging by the weak analytical strength of your post, it seems people are allowed to make a g few mistakes.

You don’ mention the humanitarian crisis in a single sentence! Doesn’t it matter that thousands of civilians are suffering because of the battle of wits between the government and the LTTE? Have you ever tried to think of the plight of those who lose their husbands, have malnourished children, and are in fear for their lives every second of their lives? Why are you such an apologist for an autocratic national government whose brutality seems only known to those who experience it? Which is little better than the brutality of the LTTE?

Of course to some extent all journalism is parachute journalism. But the relative ignorance of the typical American reader about other cultures places a special premium on journalistic integrity (disclose sources, consider both sides). Especially for small conflicts in places with which Americans are unfamliar — the journalist’s account may well be the ONLY source of input the reader has as a reference point for gauging veracity.