Fisk's Claims Undermine His Journalistic Integrity

To the editors:

Regarding the claim by journalist Robert Fisk that the U.S. media downplay claims that the government does not want the public to know, there is a staggeringly obvious reason that Western newspapers did not cover the story of the “epidemic of cancer caused by Depleted Uranium (D.U.) in Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War” (News, “Renowned Journalist Criticizes the Media”, Feb. 5). The reason is that there was no epidemic of cancer caused by D.U. After pretty much every national health service has studied the issue, it is accepted by everyone with any knowledge of the issue that there is no link between D.U. exposure and cancer. The only evidence that such a link exists is the very deeply entrenched belief held by very misguided people that it does.

The fact that Fisk would cite such a “fact” is indicative of his commitment to honest and responsible journalism. Much as he invents “facts” to fit his public speeches, he also invents “facts” to fill his “award-winning journalism.”

Jai Nair ’99-’01

Feb. 5, 2003