The truth is that good old-fashioned journalism is no longer possible in today's war zones, and especially in Afghanistan. Hence the rise of rooftop journalism, in which sharply dressed reporters address the camera from inside fortified compounds.
As a result, the most consequential war of our time is reported principally by "embeds", journalists embedded for short periods with army units. It is a trade-off for freedom for access. It has produced some vivid journalism, both in print and online, but is inevitably one-sided.
The first time I met Al Jazeera’s Gaza team lead, Tamer Almisshal, was in July last...
