As UN Confirms DPA to Feltman, ICP's March 28 Scoop, Dodges on Baggage

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 11 -- The UN today confirmed UN official Jeffrey Feltman will come to head the Department of Political Affairs, which Inner City Press first reported on March 28 and some others re-reported, with and without credit, on May 21.

  Even in its March 28 exclusive, Inner City Press quoted a (very) well placed diplomatic source

"'This would strip from the UN its last scrap of credibility in the Middle East,' he said, adding that 'more shoes would be thrown at Ban Ki-moon.' He said, however, that Ban might be 'so out of touch' -- or so powerless or craven -- that he would rubber stamp the nomination of a Permanent Five member of the Security Council as he had France's ill-fated and 11th hour nomination of Herve Ladsous as the UN's top peacekeeper."

  Since then, Inner City Press has continued its reporting, fielding complaints (and incredulity) about Ban's appointment of Feltman and then asking Ban's spokespeople to response. They have repeatedly said they would have nothing to say until an announcement.

  On Monday, ten minutes after Ban's lead spokesman Martin Nesirky made the announcement of Feltman, Inner City Press asked again for a response to the critique.

  This time, Nesirky said that Feltman will become an international civil servant. He noted that Inner City Press had just heard the UN's oath to that effect, at the swearing in of new Under Secretary General for Field Support Amira Haq. (Inner City Press took a photo during the swearing in, and Tweeted it here.)

But Feltman has been the FACE of US policy, and parties have strong feeling about him, in Lebanon and elsewhere, Inner City Press pointed out.

  Nesirky said Feltman is also expert in Eastern Europe. Well, there is that. We'll have more.

Footnote: On what we'll for now call Reuters' unauthorized uncredited May 21 use of Inner City Press' March 28 exclusive on Feltman, we are NOT listing the UN side of that "reporting," but noting that one of the other Reuters people listed is ironically receiving a journalism award this very night at the Water Club. But it costs $135 to get in. 

 

Still no response from Stephen J. Adler and his colleagues at Reuters, even after they've twice been notified of Reuters' role in a process given rise to threats against Inner City Press. Ah, remote corporate journalism...