CNN program on the Iraq War shown last evening - .amazing

[peacetalksforall]

the way it departed from the same old boring propaganda about the justification for the attack on Iraq.

Because of the recommendations of people on DU, I got to watch the last 50 minutes of program and commercials.

Structured in documentary form - there were only tidbits out of context from some of the interviewees, but there was substantial substance from others. (For those who didn't see it - the emphasis was the lead up to the war on Iraq with emphasis on the way the administration used the wmd threat to justify their action and insight to some behind the scenes revelations and commentaries by people we don't usually hear from - more below.)

What was amazing to me were two things....

. that they would interview people I would want to listen to such as Ford of the State Dept, McLauglin of the CIA, Johnson (for merely) of the CIA and others - INSTEAD OF - Perle types and AEI and PNAC representatives such as Kristol or even a military guy.

. that CNN would do anything that would reflect negatively about the big lies - lies used to substantiate THE REGIMES reasons for going in and how many in government knew better and who were finally given a voice outside a Congressional Room or the internet. It is also amazing that (to me) they would allow Powell and Tenet to be made to look so awful on the one hand and so used on the other.

My initial thought is that this program was not an independent documentary as a public service. I have a feeling that it was a WARM UP for something (news or something else) that might break soon for which this program was a sympathy warm up or a cushion to soften the blow to the public.

In other words, I can't figure out why CNN would do this. We know who they are - a propaganda arm of the regime who cheats us out of the real news and does all in their power to sway support for the right wing by their selection of the news and their lying spin on it - especially through their talk programs and the guests they select and the attacks on the Democratic Party and the avoidance of focus on other political groups and minorities and the heavy Christian emphasis and the cover up of the real issues.

Keep in mind that the regime does not want coverage of the dead and maimed youth and CNN complied. CNN complies.

So why did they run that show last night?



.

[Pirate Smile]

1. Larry Johnson said CNN was nervous about this piece. He was

interviewed last fall and CNN went back to all the people in the show and had them confirm their quotes and statements.

This is all on the record. Imagine what they will say off the record.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Last fall, BEFORE the November election, Johnson was interviewed by CNN?

Very interesting, indeed. Perhaps Cindy Shehan, plus Bush's drearily low poll numbers on Iraq, has given them the courage to finally show it.

[Pirate Smile]

14. He didn't say it was before the election. He didn't give the exact date.

[murray hill farm]

2. As much as news media wants to be agreeable....

The want even more to be the "first" to air the big, big story...to scoop the others, as they say....as this is a scoop it, do it first before the others do it news presentation....and they did it with much more oomph...than i would ever have imagined....the other stations will follow...having been scooped to such a degree by CNN...who will always be able to say...they said it first. Now that it is done, though..u can expect CNN to show some strong conservative leanings for a few days.....sort of soothing the beast...but it is over for bushco and company...and we can thank Cindy for this....she gave them the go...and the motivation to jump this story and do it first...as cable news.

[KoKo]

3. Agree....either/or in what you said:

A sympathy warm up or a cushion to soften the blow. I too wondered about why CNN aired this. I didn't know whether to be hopeful or worried. Still, anything that can wake up the Average person is a good thing. Since CNN has done no favors in any real info re Iraq, one would question why now...???:shrug:


My initial thought is that this program was not an independent documentary as a public service. I have a feeling that it was a WARM UP for something (news or something else) that might break soon for which this program was a sympathy warm up or a cushion to soften the blow to the public.

[fasttense]

4. You have a point there

"My initial thought is that this program was not an independent documentary as a public service. I have a feeling that it was a WARM UP for something."

I thought the same thing when my husband watched it twice last night. He really thought it trashed brush and loved it.

Considering its corporate connection, it surprises me CNN is doing this and not MSN. Maybe CNN is more interested in getting viewers then in getting legislative and executive perks. Let's face it, the right wing talking heads sound so much alike and repeat and repeat the same thing over and over that they have saturated their market. The left wing talking heads haven't hardly scratched the surface yet. Left leaning news and commentary is going to be the next big, big market.

[Javaman]

8. You are absolutely right. Left leaning news will be big...

Right now we are getting the same crapola over and over. I think the viewing public is at a saturation point. However, since, our now, knee jerk MSM media likes to report adnausium on anything that remotely is news worthy, just for the sake of ratings, a news outlet that suddenly started either reporting real news or left leaning news, would be very controversial thus garnering more viewers. Wait for it, it will happen.

[wtmusic]

5. When FOX's ratings started to tank

they began a slow retreat from the hardline pro-war slant. Likely CNN is now doing the same, since they seem to follow FOX's strategy ever since FOX took the lead in market share.

Count on Chief Propagandist Blitzer to keep banging the war drum.

[Doctor_J]

6. In the first few minutes they showed the Invisible Vice President

talking to the VFW and saying "Saddam has resumed making chemical weapons, is trying to get nukes". Bold-faced LIES. If Dracula would ever come out of his undisclosed location and answer questions, maybe we could find out why he thought lying to us was a good idea.

[Cosmocat]

7. Thoughts ...

IMO, it was their putting their toe in the water to see how far they could stray from the mainstream american media in the year 2005 ...

1) They didn't take an editorial stance against the administration, they just let the facts and interviews pretty much say the admin fixed the intell to push the military overthrow of SH ...

2) They used a VERY watered down title ... The title really does not match the overall conclusions of the piece ...

3) They did slant it toward blaming the CIA more than they should have in some of the people they used in the piece, and they were VERY careful not to put any responsibility on Bobo ...

It is a SAD, SAD, SAD state on the media right now that a basic piece like this, with a watered down title, is seen as breaking from the pack and a highlight of true reporting ...

I have seen CNN breaking away a bit ... I don't know whether they wer coopted into being complisant in the Buschco takeover, or just went that way out of survival ... But, the tides are turning, and we can only HOPE that they at least gravitate back toward just calling things for what they are ...

[peacetalksforall]

10. I don't have faith in Time-Warner and I am one of those who believe

that the owner company runs the show. They might as well call the NBCs GE Cable News or call Fox MBC for Murdoch Broadcasting Corporation.

I don't know enough about the current trends within Time Warner and I'm not even sure if AOL is out of there... but if GE can dictate and interfere with the NBCs, it is because they are complicit and beholden to the regime.

I was blown away with the article on CommonDreams about Jack Welch and Russert. I knew the blatancy was anti-American, but not to the extent that the stories reveal.

I keep worrying about this regime turning this country into slave and serf territory - it is already happening. It is as bad as everything I heard about tv in the old USSR.

[Doctor_J]

12. what stroy about welch and russert?

link?

[peacetalksforall]

15. Here is the link - I want to read more by this author, Podvin.

http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/media/020109_Russert.htm

It is at the Make Them Accountable website (not Common Dreams).

[Doctor_J]

16. Wow, I didn't realize

that Russert is nothing but a sleazy, whoring pig. I'll have to start e-mailing him regularly.

[Im with Rosey]

9. Everything you said

My thoughts exactly. Perhaps we just got a small taste of what's to come? Wishful thinking?

[DURHAM D]

11. CNN - now The History Channel. (CNN-THC alternate) eom