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Article: Soviets get a naval foothold in Mideast
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- September 1, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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If the discovery of the new Soviet naval base being built at the
ancient Syrian port of Tartus was a journalistic scoop, the credit
surely does not belong to the New York Times.
With all due respect, the story was broadcast over
Israel's unique military radio station here at least three weeks
before Manhattan's venerable "gray lady" included it in its columns.
The Pentagon evidently shared some of its information with
the Times, timing the leak to coincide with whatever strategical or
political objectives the Defense Department sources may have had in
mind earlier this week.
No American correspondents are permanently assigned to
Syria, and those who turn up there ...