Peter Jennings, Voice of al-Jazeera? Relays Anti-U.S. Complaints --4/8/2004

1. Peter Jennings, Voice of al-Jazeera? Relays Anti-U.S. Complaints
Peter Jennings, the voice of al-Jazeera? On a day of continued anti-U.S. fighting by extremist elements in Iraq, Jennings opened Wednesday's World News Tonight on ABC by stressing how "the U.S. is being hammered editorially all over the Arab media. On one of the Arab television channels today people are heard to ask, 'is this the freedom which the U.S. promised?'" After recounting a battle in which insurgents used mosques, David Wright relayed, over al-Jazeera video, how "the casualties appear to include many civilians." As viewers saw video of an injured kid in a bed, Wright elevated the emotional impact by translating his plea: "'Why do they have to do this?' said this boy from his hospital bed. 'So many dead and I can't walk anymore. Why?'"

2. Rather Treats as Newsworthy Enemy's Claim Iraq "Another Vietnam"
CBS's Dan Rather and ABC's Peter Jennings did their best on Wednesday night to advance Senator Ted Kennedy's notion that Iraq is "Bush's Vietnam," though neither mentioned the Senator as they raised the comparison to the earlier quagmire. Rather treated the allegation of the enemy as newsworthy as he announced at the top of the CBS Evening News: "In Najaf, the militant Shiite cleric Al-Sadr echoed the refrain Iraq could become quote, 'another Vietnam' for America." Over on ABC's World News Tonight, Jennings sat down with two retired military leaders and when one noted that though the U.S. military is superior, it cannot eliminate the threat from an insurgency, Jennings jumped in: "Well that sounds like Vietnam."

3. Retired General Sets Gibson Straight on His Dour View of Iraq
Setting Charlie Gibson straight. Channeling the narrow view of Iraq seen via television's focus on violent scenes, on Wednesday's Good Morning America co-host Charles Gibson proposed to retired General Jack Keane that the military situation is going badly, that the U.S. is losing control of the country and that U.S. attacks on the followers of the extremist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are making him more popular. In each case, Keane rejected Gibson's dour perspective.

4. For Expertise on Rice's Appearance, CNN Turns to...Anita Hill
With National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice set to testify before the 9/11 Commission the next day, the minds of CNN producers naturally were reminded of...Anita Hill! Apparently thinking solely along a racial basis, CNN's American Morning on Wednesday featured an interview with Hill, the discredited accuser against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and asked her to draw "parallels" with Rice, a respected foreign policy expert who has earned her top level position.

5. Sawyer Retorts Willis Claim Same President Needed to Stay Course
Sawyer comes to Kerry's defense. When actor Bruce Willis, a rare conservative in Hollywood, praised the successes in Iraq, declared that "it would be a terrible sin to abandon the Iraqi people now" and argued that "I think it would be a drastic mistake to change administrations now while we're still at war," ABC's Diane Sawyer retorted on Wednesday's Good Morning America: "Well, somebody might argue that changing American Presidents doesn't mean abandoning the Iraqi people."

Peter Jennings, Voice of al-Jazeera?
Relays Anti-U.S. Complaints

Peter Jennings, the voice of al-Jazeera? On a day of continued anti-U.S. fighting by extremist elements in Iraq, Jennings opened Wednesday's World News Tonight on ABC by stressing how "the U.S. is being hammered editorially all over the Arab media. On one of the Arab television channels today people are heard to ask, 'is this the freedom which the U.S. promised?'" After recounting a battle in which insurgents used mosques, David Wright relayed, over al-Jazeera video, how "the casualties appear to include many civilians." As viewers saw video of an injured kid in a bed, Wright elevated the emotional impact by translating his plea: "'Why do they have to do this?' said this boy from his hospital bed. 'So many dead and I can't walk anymore Why?'"

NBC Nightly News and CNN's NewsNight ran stories on how Arab TV is covering the conflict by focusing only on the supposed victims of the U.S. military, but neither of those networks read aloud such a complaint from an injured person.

Jennings, anchoring from Washington, DC, led the April 7 broadcast by running through the battles of the day in Iraq. Joining him mid-way through his re-cap, he intoned:
"The Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said today that Iraq was under control. A widespread Shiite Muslim resistance to the U.S. incited by the militant cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr was less intense today, but it continues, and the U.S. is being hammered editorially all over the Arab media. On one of the Arab television channels today people are heard to ask, 'is this the freedom which the U.S. promised?'"

In a subsequent story, David Wright in Baghdad provided a rundown of what occurred in a battle in Fallujah: "According to the U.S. military the insurgents used two of the mosques as fortified positions from which they fired rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and machine guns. The Marines called in an air strike. At first their commanders refused, eventually from air and ground they damaged both mosques and killed dozens of people inside."
"Arab language TV channels reporting from the battle zone, and local residents who witnessed the fighting, say the 40 killed in one mosque included people taking part in afternoon prayers. [over video labeled "aljazeera exclusive"] The main hospital is overflowing. The casualties appear to include many civilians. [over video of kid in bed] "'Why do they have to do this?' said this boy from his hospital bed. 'So many dead and I can't walk anymore. Why?'"
Wright then conceded: "The Marines have sealed off Fallujah completely. Even the phone lines are down. There's no way to independently verify the facts."

But that doesn't inhibit ABC News when they have al-Jazeera as a source.

Rather Treats as Newsworthy Enemy's Claim
Iraq "Another Vietnam"

CBS's Dan Rather and ABC's Peter Jennings did their best on Wednesday night to advance Senator Ted Kennedy's notion that Iraq is "Bush's Vietnam," though neither mentioned the Senator as they raised the comparison to the earlier quagmire. Rather treated the allegation of the enemy as newsworthy as he announced at the top of the CBS Evening News: "In Najaf, the militant Shiite cleric Al-Sadr echoed the refrain Iraq could become quote, 'another Vietnam' for America." Over on ABC's World News Tonight, Jennings sat down with two retired military leaders and when one noted that though the U.S. military is superior, it cannot eliminate the threat from an insurgency, Jennings jumped in: "Well that sounds like Vietnam."

Rather made the situation in Iraq seem as dire as possible as he teased at the start of the April 7 CBS Evening News: "Tonight it's a city by city, street by street battle to fight down Iraqi rebellions..."

Rather then led his broadcast: "The renewed battle for control of Iraq raged for a fourth day today with street clashes in nearly ever corner of the country. Fighting was especially intense in towns west of Baghdad, towns in the so-called 'Sunni Triangle.' U.S. Marines, under heavy fire from two mosque areas in Fallujah, called in air strikes, killing dozens of Iraqis. Since Monday, at least 15 Marines have died in fighting in Fallujah and Ramadi. In Najaf, the militant Shiite cleric al-Sadr echoed the refrain Iraq could become quote, 'another Vietnam' for America."

On screen, CBS displayed a map of Iraq with flashing lights in areas with fighting. As Rather quoted al-Sadr, CBS highlighted his words with text on screen:
SHI'ITE CLERIC AL-SADR:
IRAQ MAY BE
"ANOTHER VIETNAM"

Rather finished his opening summary: "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld downplayed the importance of the new fighting, but said the U.S. may boost its forces in Iraq by keeping some troops scheduled for rotation there longer than promised."

(CBS made no mention of how Muqtada al-Sadr's words matched the theme expressed by Ted Kennedy on Tuesday, though Bill Plante did highlight how on the Senate floor on Wednesday Senator Robert Byrd declared, in reference to calls for more troops to go to Iraq: "Surely I am not the only one who hears echoes of Vietnam in this development." Plante followed with a clip of Senator John McCain insisting now is not the time to panic or to cut and run.)

On ABC's World News Tonight, Jennings sat at a table with retired Lt. General Gregory Newbold, former Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and retired Major General William Nash, a former commander in the Gulf War and in Bosnia.

In the taped and edited session, Jennings asked late in the segment: "I think that one of the things the public probably doesn't get at the moment, is here's the United States with the largest, most potent military force in the world and soldiers and Marines continue to be killed."
Nash: "Well, that's true. That's because they're in an environment that is not war. It's an insurgency against a public security mission that the soldiers are trying to perform for the people of Iraq. And so they are not able to engage regular military forces using the strengths that we have to attack their weaknesses."
Jennings: "Well that sounds like Vietnam."
Nash: "It does sound like Vietnam."
Newbold: "It does because it's an insurgency. It does because, as so much of the fight is determined by means other than military means."

For a photo of Nash, from 1995: www.defenselink.mil [1]

For a photo of Newbold, from 2001: www.defenselink.mil [2]

Retired General Sets Gibson Straight
on His Dour View of Iraq

Setting Charlie Gibson straight. Channeling the narrow view of Iraq seen via television's focus on violent scenes, on Wednesday's Good Morning America, co-host Charles Gibson proposed to retired General Jack Keane that the military situation is going badly, that the U.S. is losing control of the country and that the U.S. attacks on the extremist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are making him more popular. In each case, Keane rejected Gibson's dour perspective.

Gibson contended that "the ferocity of the fighting that is going on up around Fallujah and the number of casualties that we've now taken in the last couple of days, and the fact that we're fighting in so many cities -- from a military stand point, we got troubles, don't we?"

When Gibson suggested that "it seems each day as if we have less" control over Iraq, Keane fired back: "No we don't." And when Gibson argued that the more the U.S. takes on al-Sadr the more support he gets, Keane pointed out that the crowds you see on TV don't convey how he does "not represent the views of the Shia majority."

Gibson began his April 7 in-studio interview with retired General Jack Keane, the former Vice Chief-of-Staff of the U.S. Army:
"General, when you look at what's going on in Iraq right now, the ferocity of the fighting that is going on up around Fallujah and the number of casualties that we've now taken in the last couple of days, and the fact that we're fighting in so many cities -- from a military stand point, we got troubles, don't we?"
Keane countered: "Well we're being challenged and our authority is being challenged. Fundamentally what's happening is we're going to transition power in the end of June and these factions, three of them now, recognize that. They don't want any part of it, they are opposing those objectives. And that's fundamentally the issue."
Gibson nonetheless insisted: "But we're trying to re-establish control and it's tough to get a view from here, but it seems each day as if we have less."
Keane: "No we don't. The reality in Fallujah certainly is we're back in Fallujah to re-assert our authority. That's number one. Secondly to catch the thugs, certainly, who mutilated those corpses. And fundamentally what they're trying to do is break our will. They want us to hand ring. This is an exercise in resolve, it's an exercise in perseverance. And also, it's going to require some courage -- not only on the part of soldiers, but on the part of leaders and the American people."

And, he could have added, on the part of journalists watching TV pictures from afar and assuming failure.

Gibson's next question: "Alright, given the number of areas where there's fighting going on, you're the military man, do we need more troops over there?"
Keane answered that only General Abizaid can assess that and if he wants them he'll get them.

Gibson moved on to whether troops will be required to stay longer and what tactics could be used to regain control of Fallujah.

Gibson then queried: "The number of casualties. As a military man, does that begin to eat into the morale of your troops?"
Keane asserted that in battle soldiers control their emotions.
Gibson next asked about the popularity of Muqtada al-Sadr: "It does seem like the more he defies us the more people who are around him, you know, in full throat screaming about the oppression of America."
Keane: "Sure, but those people, while when you se it on TV and as a visual representation of hundreds of thousands of people, it does not represent the views of the Shia majority..."

For pictures of Keane, from during his service years:
www.defenselink.mil [3]
www.defenselink.mil [4]

For Expertise on Rice's Appearance, CNN
Turns to...Anita Hill

With National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice set to testify before the 9/11 Commission the next day, the minds of CNN producers naturally were reminded of...Anita Hill! Apparently thinking solely along a racial basis, CNN's American Morning on Wednesday featured an interview with Hill, the discredited accuser against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and asked her to draw "parallels" with Rice, a respected foreign policy expert who has earned her top level position.

Co-host Heidi Collins proposed to Hill: "Like you, Condoleezza Rice is going to be facing some very highly-anticipated public testimony. How difficult is it to step into the spotlight when all of that attention is focused on you?" Collins also tried to link the plight of the two women: "Your situation was very much about conflicting testimony. 'He said, she said,' if you will. Is that the case here? Of course, referring to Richard Clarke versus Condoleezza Rice, if you will."

The MRC's Rich Noyes noticed CNN's news judgment in bringing aboard Hill via satellite, and the MRC's Ken Shepherd checked the transcript against the tape.

Collins set up the April 7 session: "At this time tomorrow, Condoleezza Rice will be testifying before the 9/11 Commission. Live coverage right here on CNN. As national security adviser, Rice is accustomed to being in the fish bowl. Back in 1991, Anita Hill was a little known law professor when she was thrust into the glare of the Washington spotlight. It was during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Anita Hill joins us now from Watertown, Massachusetts. Good morning, Ms. Hill. Thanks for being with us. We appreciate your time this morning."

Collins' first question: "You know, of course, your situation was very, very different from what Condoleezza Rice is going through right now, but there are some parallels to make. Like you, Condoleezza Rice is going to be facing some very highly-anticipated public testimony. How difficult is it to step into the spotlight when all of that attention is focused on you?"
Hill: "Well, it's hard for me to assess exactly how difficult it will be for her. I think the situations are quite different because she does have the resources of the White House to help her prepare for this testimony. And, as you say, she has been in the spotlight before. But the nature of this intensity, as well as the political stakes behind it, will sort of ratchet up the anxiety, I'm sure, that she is feeling."
Collins: "Your situation was very much about conflicting testimony. 'He said, she said,' if you will. Is that the case here? Of course, referring to Richard Clarke versus Condoleezza Rice, if you will."
Hill: "Well, I think that's the way that in many ways the committee, some members of the committee, as well as the media, tempted to frame it. But in this situation, what you have is a body of evidence, a large body of evidence that includes a number of different witnesses....And so there is a broader body of evidence, there are different types of evidence. And so that makes it somewhat different from the typical, what we call he said, she said scenario."
Collins: "Do you think Rice was hurt about all the back and forth that went on in Washington before allowing her to testify?"
Hill: "Well, I'm not sure if she was hurt. I don't think she was helped by it. We will see how her testimony goes tomorrow...."
Collins wouldn't let go of supposed similarities: "Ms. Hill, just a few seconds left here. Again, your situation very different from Condoleezza Rices's. But do you notice any parallels?"
Hill: "Well, the level of the intensity, the attention that's being paid to this, the high political stakes, the high level of media attention...."

Sawyer Retorts Willis Claim Same President
Needed to Stay Course

Sawyer comes to Kerry's defense. When actor Bruce Willis a rare conservative in Hollywood, praised the successes in Iraq, declared that "it would be a terrible sin to abandon the Iraqi people now" and argued that "I think it would be a drastic mistake to change administrations now while we're still at war," ABC's Diane Sawyer retorted on Wednesday's Good Morning America: "Well, somebody might argue that changing American Presidents doesn't mean abandoning the Iraqi people."

The MRC's Jessica Anderson caught this exchange, on the April 7 GMA, between Sawyer and Willis in a taped interview segment to promote Willis' new movie, The Whole Ten Yards:

Sawyer: "Bruce Willis flew into war-torn Iraq not long ago to thank the troops."
Willis: "They are doing really great things in Iraq. They're opening schools, they're getting the power turned back on. It may take some time, but it would be a terrible sin to abandon the Iraqi people now. I think it would be a drastic mistake to change administrations now while we're still at war."
Sawyer: "Well, somebody might argue that changing American Presidents doesn't mean abandoning the Iraqi people."
Willis: "Well, I would certainly be distressed to see not only the President being changed, but to take Colin Powell out of the position that he's in and the other people that are, I think, doing a really good job. And look, you know, mistakes get made all through governmental history, but change for the sake of change is just a mistake."
Sawyer: "Bush supporter and full-fledged Hollywood star, who comes back to a beautiful new girlfriend, Brooke Burns, half his age...."

For a picture of Willis, though with hair despite the fact he's shaved his head, and a rundown of his movie and TV credits, check his page on the Internet Movie Database: imdb.com [5]

# "Burning Blair: Is there an irrelevant, disgraced ex-journalist in the House?" National Review Online on Wednesday posted a review, by Clay Waters, Director of the MRC's Times Watch project, of Jayson Blair's little-purchased book. Go to: www.nationalreview.com [6]

For the latest on bias in the New York Times, check the MRC's TimesWatch site: www.timeswatch.org [7]

-- Brent Baker [8]