Independent journalism ace Michael Totten is "in Baku, Azerbaijan, and heading to Georgia in two days." These are shameful times to be an American, having to sit by and watch the rape of Georgia. Totten’s work won’t change that, but at least it will give focus to it. I contribute to his work, and enjoy his eye for detail. You should consider contributing, as well, at the link above.
Via Instapundit.
UPDATE: Totten’s first report from Tbilisi is a good ‘un. And he’s promised another one.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
No, thanks, after reading his reportages from Lebanon I rather not support him – let his liberal friends do it.
He has his own agenda that he supports with numerous carefully selected personal anecdotes that he believes prove bigger point – but they don’t. He’s one of the supporters of fictitious “moderate muslim” concept.
His favorite argument to every opponent – you haven’t been to Kosovo, and I was; you haven’t been to Lebanon, and I was – that’s what you call a journalism?
So – thanks, but no thanks.
That’s funny, because I don’t see him as a liberal at all. We read him differently. Every journalist selects his sources and anecdotes to “prove” whatever he thinks the point is, which makes objectivity so hard to realize. But I don’t see dogmatism in Michael’s work.
Ok, look at his column on the right, with acknowledgments from different sources – and what Lileks says about him. And then read his last post about Kosovo, and his comments in the thread – and his argumentation against Julia Gorin (whom I met at Alarming News blogger parties and spoke to) – whom he calls “crank” and worse.
His emphasis is on the fact that most Americans haven’t lived in Muslim-populated country country. He compares Arab states and Kosovo and thinks personal anecdotes and interviews with locals he managed to collect in a few days/weeks is all the research needed to fit his preconceived idea. OK, I, too lived in a muslimpmajority-populated country, and for more than few weeks or even months: and I’m telling you, nothing is that simple. Even if the muslims one sees on the street will drink vodka with you and their girls are wearing mini-skirts instead of burkahs.
Well, journalists are not deep-thinkers or researchers, as a rule. They have to work fast, usually on deadline, to produce the so-called “rough draft of history.” Of course it’s over-simplified. Totten’s certainly right that most Americans have not lived in a “Muslim-populated country,” though I hear Detroit and certain other parts of Michigan are changing that. I lived in Turkey for almost two years, when I was a teenager, a place which is about as Muslim-majority as you can get–despite its claim to secularism. I did not like the Turkish intolerance of other religions. I have come to realize that Islam itself is intolerant, yet I have known some of its practitioners who are not so.