Amanpour: CNN practiced self-censorship
CNN's top war correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, says that the press muzzled itself during the Iraq war. And, she says CNN "was intimidated" by the Bush administration and Fox News, which "put a climate of fear and self-censorship."
As criticism of the war and its aftermath intensifies, Amanpour joins a chorus of journalists and pundits who charge that the media largely toed the Bush administrationline in covering the war and, by doing so, failed to aggressively question the motives behind the invasion.
On last week's Topic A With Tina Brown on CNBC, Brown, the former Talk magazine editor, asked comedian Al Franken, former Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clarke and Amanpour if "we in the media, as much as in the administration, drank the Kool-Aid when it came to the war."
Said Amanpour: "I think the press was muzzled, and I think the press self-muzzled. I'm sorry to say, but certainly television and, perhaps, to a certain extent, my station was intimidated by the administration and its foot soldiers at Fox News. And it did, in fact, put a climate of fear and self-censorship, in my view, in terms of the kind of broadcast work we did."
Brown then asked Amanpour if there was any story during the war that she couldn't report.
"It's not a question of couldn't do it, it's a question of tone," Amanpour said. "It's a question of being rigorous. It's really a question of really asking the questions. All of the entire body politic in my view, whether it's the administration, the intelligence, the journalists, whoever, did not ask enough questions, for instance, about weapons of mass destruction. I mean, it looks like this was disinformation at the highest levels."
Clarke called the disinformation charge "categorically untrue" and added, "In my experience, a little over two years at the Pentagon, I never saw them (the media) holding back. I saw them reporting the good, the bad and the in between."
Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti said of Amanpour's comments: "Given the choice, it's better to be viewed as a foot soldier for Bush than a spokeswoman for al-Qaeda."
CNN had no comment.
by Peter Johnson
© Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
NOTE: The entire article here is posted in spite of what some people claim as their interpretation of copyright law. I am posting it for historical documentation reasons. Often these articles are taken down or changed after they are written. By archiving it in this way I preserve the historical record that this was actually said without the author being able to later change the fact that it was said, I mean no copyright infringement or plagery - but I assert a right to archive news released on the internet for the purpose of historical preservation. I further assert that this article is presented as NEWS and that the very definition of NEWS is that you're supposed to tell people what you found out. News is an announcement and I am announcing it.
Posted by marc at September 15, 2003 08:19 AM | TrackBackI've stolen the following for my homeschool blog:
NOTE: The entire article here is posted in spite of what some people claim as their interpretation of copyright law. I am posting it for historical documentation reasons. Often these articles are taken down or changed after they are written. By archiving it in this way I preserve the historical record that this was actually said without the author being able to later change the fact that it was said, I mean no copyright infringement or plagery - but I assert a right to archive news released on the internet for the purpose of historical preservation. I further assert that this article is presented as NEWS and that the very definition of NEWS is that you're supposed to tell people what you found out. News is an announcement and I am announcing it.
Shall I credit you?
Posted by: Andrea at September 24, 2003 12:35 PMAN AMERICAN TRAGEDY
Written Sept 12, 2001 - the day After the Attack - and Updated
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, on a bright sunny day in New York City and Washington, DC, a Tragedy Struck. It was the result of a Race War between Israel and the Middle Eastern Nations. And, the United States was caught in the middle and suffered extreme damages.
A lot of Americans lost their lives and many were injured over a US Policy issued by our Dumb, Selfish Politicians in Washington, DC. The Financial and Economic losses combined with Public Opinion of Nations throughout the World will hurt the US for years to come. The US took heavy losses, that everyone saw on TV for several days. And, it's not over, yet. It will happen again.
There are two (2) questions that ALL Americans should be concerned with regarding this Tragedy. WHO were the people, or countries, responsible for these terrible deeds, but most importantly WHY did it happen. The Media has focused solely on the WHO did it. Very little attention has been spent on the WHY it was done. Maybe this short letter will shed a little light on the Broad Picture.
First, the WHO . Everyone in the Media is saying Osama bin Laden, an Arab living in Afghanistan is solely responsible. We don't know yet who did it, and this country has always taken Pride in our Justice System of Equal Justice for all, and Proof beyond a Reasonable Doubt. What is wrong with this picture?
Osama bin Ladin was trained by the CIA of the USA to fight the Russians. Maybe our own CIA trained him too well. If he is responsible, then the CIA did a good job, but the result hit the US right in the Face. Lets assume that bin Laden, or some Middle Eastern countries sponsored his actions, then What ? Cut off Trade to Middle Eastern Countries and we have no Gas for our cars. How would you like to pay $5 to $10 a gallon for gas ? Saudi Arabia is where we get the majority of our Gas. And according to the President and the News Media, 15 of the 17 people who took part in the attack were from Saudi Arabia. Interesting.
Second, and more important, is the WHY. Why would any Middle Eastern Country get anyone to attack the USA? Now, we get to the Heart and Soul of the Whole Tragedy.
Arabs have lived in Jerusalem, Jordan, Israel and other Middle Eastern Countries for Thousands of Years. Then, about 50 years ago, the US Government Funded and Helped the Jews from Russia, Poland, Germany, France and England to Attack, Kill, Injure and finally Take Over the land of Israel and chase off everyone living in the area. Why? Because the Jews have been run out of every country where they had settled in. Why?
The Jews in Russia started the Communist Party with six (6) Jews and one (1) Russian. Then the Jews took over Russian Politics and the KGB (known by several names through the years). The Communist Jews Murdered and Tortured beyond belief over Forty Million (40,000,000) Russians over a forty (40) year period. It took many years for the Russians to regain control of their country and chase off the Communist Jews from Russia. These same Jews were trying to spread their Dominance and Racial Hatred into Poland, Germany and England. No doubt everyone knows what happened to the Jews from the Germans. Then, England wanted to get rid of the Jews, but England wanted to do it slowly over a number of years for whatever Political reason they had at the time. Germany brought the situation to a head. Leave Now or stay at your own Risk.
The US Government got involved by Supporting and Funding the Jews with Military Weapons and Money from US Taxpayers so the Jews could Kill, Torture, and chase off people that had lived in Palestine for over 2,000 years. Did you know that the US gives the Jews in Israel over Five Billion ($5,000,000,000) dollars a Year of US Taxpayers money, in addition to Military Equipment and Aid. Five Billion Dollars would build 10 World Trade Center Buildings. Do you see any High Rise buildings in Israel ? Well, then where is all that Money Going ? USA Taxpayers Money goes to the Jews every year, for the past 40 years. Our General Accounting Office requested from Israel an accounting of the money and the Jews in Israel answered with, " It's None of your Business where we spend the Money " .
Here is where all this heading. In the last twenty (20) years, the Jews in Israel have been Expanding their area of Israel to build New Houses for Jews. You have seen the pictures on TV. The Israelis have Automatic Weapons, Tanks, and Planes and they Kill Innocent people - Women, Children, Old People, Anyone. Until recently, all the local people could do was fight back by throwing rocks. The Jews are trying to take over All the Land, with the help from the US. Now, we are finally at the point of WHY did the Middle Eastern Countries Attack the US ? Here's the answer. Basically, they wanted to show the US how it Felt when Innocent people were Killed in Palestine. A Horrible way to bring the Truth home, but if the shoe fits, you have to wear it. The Middle East Hates the US, at this time, because the US Government Supports, Trains, and Funds the Israeli Jews to Kill, Torture, and Injure their people. To add Insult to Injury, the US Government pulled out of the Racism Meeting at the United Nations along with who else, Israel.
If the US were to let go of Israel and Quit Funding and Supporting the Jews in Israel, then we would be more Respected by All Nations and the Terrorism would cease. However, because we have so many Jews in our US Government that is not likely to happen soon. In the meantime, Terrorism will continue against the US. What will happen next? My guess is that the Water Supply will be Poisoned, thereby Killing Millions of Americans. Then, certain Power Plants will be taken out with a loss of Power to Millions. Then, well, I don't want to disturb the reader too much at one time, but there are more things that can and will possibly happen soon.
How can we Stop all this ? First, get out of Bed with the Jews. Second, Get rid of Dishonest Politicians that favor Jewish Aid of Five Billion Dollars ($5,000,000,000) a year of US Taxpayers money. Third, elect honest, Non Jew Politicians. If you are interested in who is a Jew in Government, check their last names. Here are a few - Feinstein, Levi, Levin, Schumer, Leiberman, King, and the list goes on. Some people you may not even think about.
Why was the World Trade Center Buildings selected as the Target for Assault ? The reason is well known in the Middle East Countries. The World Trade Center Buildings were predominately occupied by Jewish Workers. Who are the Jewish Workers ? They are in the Finance and Money Industry and Stock Market. Listen to this. Thirty (30) to Thirty five (35) percent of the workers in the World Trade Center Buildings are Jewish. Now here is the Key to All this. If 30% to 35% of All the workers in the World Trade Center Buildings are Jewish, then WHY was there only ONE (1) Jew killed in the attack ? All the other 3,000 Victims were Non Jews, also called Gentiles. How did the Jews know about the attack coming and why didn't the Jews tell the Non Jews about the situation ? How can this situation be explained ? These Facts were made public by the News Media and President Bush in a Nation Wide Speech.
One last note on Jews in this country. Not all the Jews are Bad Jews. There are numerous Good Jews that don't like what the Bad ones are doing. For further reading try Benjamin Freedman, (he is an Ex-Jew that spent two Million dollars of his own money to try and Enlighten the people of America), or Samuel Roth, John Sach, Maurice Samuels, David Goldstein, Dr E R Fields. Also a Catholic Priest spent 30 years decoding the Jewish Talmud, titled "The Talmud Unmasked", for which he was Murdered within 6 months of its release. Get the book and read it. The answers are there. Also, "My Awakening" by Duke. There are many more.
But let me say there are thousands that are the Bad Jews. They control our Money Supply (Greenspan with the Federal Reserve), several Banking Institutions, and Stock Market. Between 80 to 85% of All Major TV Networks, Newspapers, Book Companies, and even the Movie Industry are owned and/or controlled by Jews. They Let the American Public See and Hear what They want you to See and Hear. How do you Feel about that ?
It's time to Let Go and Get Out of Bed with the Jews, the Bad Ones, if you really Care about America. As a senior citizen, all I can do is write a little on my computer. The rest is up to you.
Posted by: Jim Wilson at August 26, 2006 09:28 PM