Josh Rushing, the former USMC media liaison who is joining al-Jazeera, tells USA Today that he is just trying to “turn the map around.”

What he hopes critics will understand, Rushing says, is that he believes he’s doing what a Marine officer is trained to do.
“We’re taught to ‘turn the map around,’ ” to see things from the enemy’s perspective, Rushing says. He hopes he can help people around the world see America differently, and help Americans see the world in new ways.

I’m skeptical. Kadnine, who is quoted in the article, e-mails:

Um… when a Marine tries to gain insight into his “enemy’s perspective” it is for the purpose of defeating that enemy. I am still curious how Josh reconciles “once a Marine, always a Marine” with his new duty, “helping Americans see the world in new ways.”

Rushing tells USA Today, “I’d like to go on Fox News as much as possible to explain what I’m doing.” Well, I’ve extended the offer of a Q&A with the Media Blog to Rushing’s representation and haven’t gotten a response. That invitation is still open, if Rushing wants to explain himself to a more skeptical, but fair, interview.