The interim agreement over Iran’s nuclear energy program that was announced early Sunday morning was obviously a big deal on the talkshow circuit. But the debate over Iran in elite politics is extremely limited; Democrats are some of the most enthusiastic supporters of increasing sanctions, for instance. And that means you’re bound to see very little debate on your TV screen.
CNN‘s Sunday show State of the Nation (11/24/13) was a perfect example. The show started off with host Candy Crowley interviewing Secretary of State John Kerry, who obviously supports the deal he just finished negotiating.
Next up was a pair of hawkish lawmakers who mostly agree on Iran sanctions–Republican Ed Royce of California and New York Democrat Eliot Engel. As Crowley said in her introduction: “You both have been quite skeptical of this deal before it was made. You remain skeptical now.”
Next Republican Rep. Mike Rogers joined the show to share his assessment of the deal: “We have just rewarded very bad and dangerous behavior.” Rogers added that Iran have made “no changes in the development of their nuclear weapon program. And I can tell that you with a high degree of certainty.” Naturally, no mention was made of the fact that there is no certainty that Iran even has a nuclear weapons program.
After that, CNN decided to hear from former Republican intelligence officials Michael Hayden and John Negroponte. The latter was a particularly ironic selection; much of the anti-Iran rhetoric on the show accused the country of being heavily involved in international terrorism; Negroponte, during the Reagan years, was a key actor in the US promotion of terrorism in Nicaragua (Extra!, 9-10/01).
The show ended with conservative pundit/GOP consultant Alex Castellanos, the right-leaning A.B. Stoddard of The Hill (“sanctions have been successful”) and Bill Burton of the liberal Center for American Progress.
The problem with the show wasn’t just the one-sided panels. Host Candy Crowley made two misleading statements about Iran and nuclear weapons. While interviewing Kerry she said that Iran
has been a bad actor in the region and elsewhere, not just because of its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, but because of its relationships there, how it backs Assad, a man that the US administration and many other countries don’t think should be there.
Note the CNN definition of a “bad actor”: a nation that doesn’t support overthrowing the same governments Washington does.
This actual leopard has indicated as much ambition for nuclear weapons as Ayatollah Khamenei (cc photo: Jessica Shippee).
And when Negroponte made a comment about whether Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was shifting his stance (“It doesn’t tell you definitively whether the supreme leader–whether the leopard has changed his spots”), Crowley responded:
Do you perceive the leopard, the ayatollah, ever giving up nuclear weapons ambitions?
Again, there is no evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon. And Khamenei has for years denounced nuclear weapons.
It’s bad enough that a show like State of the Union would line up so many hawks, but the host’s erroneous contributions to the discussion only made things worse.
PBS was pretty bad, too.
“Note the CNN definition of a “bad actor”: a nation that doesn’t support overthrowing the same governments Washington does.”
Well said! I mean, you have to go back over a couple centuries in order to find the last time Iran aggressively invaded another country — I believe the last time was the Russo-Prussian war of 1826; and even that has been disputed as being a war of aggression on the part of the Persians (which is now modern-day Iran). The US on the other hand is well versed in such actions, both overtly and covertly.
Lucid analysis here regarding the one-sidedness. I suppose the question is, why would CNN utilize one-sided panels? Are they simply ignorant of the fact that a two-sided debate would perhaps cultivate more meaningful discourse? Or is something else going on here? Indeed, this is a sophisticated form of propaganda where CNN coddles the viewer with two clean-cut analyses of the situation, avoiding any sort of tension via debate. Meanwhile trending topics on Twitter stream at the bottom of the screen, ya know, kittens singing along to Christmas carols and all. The goal is to relax the viewer into agreeing with whomever is on the screen at the time, creating an affable and low-key atmosphere so to not confuse the poor viewer with trifles, which is always good for ratings.
The substance of the Iran deal so far is exceedingly modest, but it exists. When combined with the last-minute aborting of the (non-proxy) Syria war, we are seeing some unfamiliar stresses on the way things have worked (or, more often not worked) for a long time. The rusty behemoth is groaning a bit as it is forced to shift its position a bit.
Haroon Siddique, former editorial editor at Canada’s top daily, Toronto Star, advised his audience the they should stop watching CNN if they’re interested in journalism. He said CNN propagate “jingoism”.
On Monday, the spokewoman for Iran’s foreign ministry accused the White House and Zionist-controlled mainstream media for “misinterpreting” the agreement signed between P5+1 and Iran. She claimed the agreement never questioned Iran’s right to enrich uranium as allowed under NPT.
http://rehmat1.com/2013/11/24/bibi-defeated-at-p51-and-iran-talks-in-geneva/
For all practical purposes, the U.S. has recognized it as a right that an Islamofascist regime that for decades has funded and armed terrorists, some of whom killed U.S .soldiers in Iraq, can .make fuel that powers atomic weapons. Iran’s record of its past behavior suggests that Tehran will bank these concessions and then carry on as before. The regime’s insistence on access to the full fuel
cycle is highly suggestive that it wishes to retain freedom of maneuver to develop nuclear weapons. With Chamberlain’s ghost alive, millions could ultimately be dead through nuclear terror.
Quite disturbing that Israel, the real documented “outlaw state” in the region, is expending so much energy trying to deflect its own negative light on Iran, while providing no evidence of its claims outside of toddler-esque temper tantrums. Why is Israel allowed to procure, manufacture, and deploy weapons of mass destruction, while pointing its hypocritical finger at others for simply being the subject of its own unfounded allegations? How many hundreds of nuclear bombs does Israel neither confirm or deny these days?
Great article.
Israeli-born writer, author and musician, Gilad Atzmon, on September 14, 2013, once again urged Tehran to acquire a nuclear deterrent. He said that’s the only way to bring Israeli aggression to an end. This is not the first time, Atzmon has made such suggestion. He did on several occasions during the last ten years I happen to know him.
“Israeli leaders knew all along that Egypt possessed the capacity to inflict pain to Israel’s cities. They must have realised that Egyptian objectives were not genocidal – but it also means that Israel’s enemies: Arab countries, as well as Iran, must pursue every possible means to posses the kind of weaponry that deters Israel,” wrote Gilad Atzmon.
http://rehmat1.com/2013/09/15/gilad-atzmon-iran-must-have-nuclear-deterrent/
This is one of those rare times that the Obama administration has done the right (civilized) thing. The mainstream media’s reaction (i.e. plastering the airwaves and print with Israel’s POV which is clearly against US interests) shows who owns public debate in this country. I will not utter the “Z” word!
The regime’s insistence on access to the full fuel cycle is highly suggestive that it wishes to retain freedom of maneuver to develop nuclear weapons.
Could anything be more confusing? And misleading? Please show us the “nuclear weapons”, and compare them to the 200 plus that Isreal has, thus contravening the Non-Proliferation Pact.
If your just going to parrot tin-foil hat non-sense with evidence to back it up, don’t bother; we already hear from the Corpse-artions Media, lead by Fux Snooze Nitwork. And we all have connections to the same BS since no one has bothered to vet it or back it up.
So in retro, Have you stopped beating your Dog?
Washington itself lies so often, so egregiously, and so chronically, that they have NEVER even paid attention to Iran’s routine denials of any Bomb ambitions. ANY policy maker is in essence REQUIRED to simply ignore that recurring bit of information.
Hence, to our “Officials,” there is no way in Hell that Iran is NOT trying for the Bomb. Hence, ANYTHING Iran says is taken to be a dog-and-pony act.
Hence, this HISTORIC turnover in Iranian policy is “shown to be,” by these died-in-the-wool hawks, one more strategem to get away with building Bombs.
Never mind that THEY came to US, offering what we SAY we’ve always wanted… serious talks about monitoring their nuclear program. Those talks seem as serious as they can get just now, so why the continuing push, not even to continue current sanctions, but to punish this intent of opening to us?
It doesn’t bode good. It’s as if our own intent is to simply punish them (for what?), and to never stop doing it, no matter what they offer.
(originally posted as a rebuttal to a blog post at Conservative Black Chick:)
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I have a bumper sticker that reads
IRAN IS NOT A THREAT
THOSE PEOPLE ON TV ARE JUST LIARS
The 2006 National Intelligence Estimate – a compilation of material gathered by 26 different US intelligence agencies – said that Iran had dismantled anything of its ‘weapons program’ as of 2003 and had no apparent intention of resuming it.
And yet from that moment to the present day, the politicians repeated a demand that Iran “dismantle its nuclear weapons program” in a way strongly analogous to the well-known “have you quit beating your wife?” — namely, it’s propaganda and a lie, and they think we’re stupid.
Iran was a signer of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NNPT). They are entirely within their rights under International Law to enrich Uranium in order to build nuclear reactors to provide power for their country, which is in their interest to do so they can spare consuming their oil in order to increase exports. The burden of proof that they are doing any more than this is on the people making the accusations, and all those people do is repeat their hysterical fallacies.
The leader of the country, Ayatollah Khamenei, said that the building of nuclear weapons was “unIslamic.” If he’s saying that as a cover for any actual nuclear weapons program then he’s impeaching his own credibility as the spiritual leader of that nation and impugning Iran’s integrity on the world stage. I suggest he’s not that venal and stupid.
I think it’s about time to quit repeating this lie.
There are TWO Mike Rogers – which STATE was this Mike Rogers from? (Michigan, apparently.)
Iran is under an economic siege broader and tighter than the one Britain and the US imposed upon Japan immediately before Japan struck at Pearl Harbor. We have limited Iran’s markets for oil exports, collaborated with Israel to murder their best nuclear scientists, weakened their currency, and made it nearly impossible for Iran to draw export earnings from banks. Even some critical medicine is scarce. Against any other country, these acts of economic embargo and quarantine would be recognized as acts of war, especially if one throws in the various Western-financed terrorist groups that commit sobotage against Iran. And did I forget the cyber attack (Stuxnet virus) we have already waged, which the Pentagon admits is an act of war?
These sanctions are in place only because NATO and its allies believe that Iran is in violation of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Prolifereation Treaty; yet, it is not clear that it is, given reports from the National Inteligence Estimate to the contrary. That makes the above acts of war even more egregious.
Given that the US hired Saddam in 1981 to attack and gas Iran and years later violently attacked two oil rich states, Iraq and Libya, which were of no threat to us, it would be remarkable if Iran didn’t seek some extraordinary means of self-defense.
I have lost faith in our (USA) media outlets. The newsprint, radio, and TV talking heads are just full of it. There is never any balance reporting anymore, if there ever was in the first place. I mean what ticks me off about our media folks is this simple little fact that they never talk about is, Iran has been able to build a nuclear device for at least seven years and has not done so. But u will never hear our talking heads mention that fact. Or the simple logic of Iran is so determined to build a nuclear weapon that it renounces them under all circumctances, reduces its production of enrich uranium, and invites the largest group of inspectors in history to monitor its activities! I mean this is news worthy but you never hear that fact from our media.
Look up Iranian verbal attacks on israel and you will get 6 million hits.Yeah i would count them as trust worthy.
Thanks for putting his out there. It should be pointed out that CNN Host Candy Crowley serves each year as the host of annual dinner of the Friends of Israel Defense Forces at the Waldorf Astoria, an event that raises more than $20 million dollars, tax-free, for the IDF.
It should also be mentioned that there is no reporting of this event by CNN or any other US media other than the Jewish weeklies.
Jeff .,,what real American would NOT be a friend of Israels?They are the only Democracy in the middle east.Their values are so similar to our own.We are sister countries.
Those who mock Democracy here or in Israel should try something.Walk in fron of the white house and shout that your president is a pig.His God a whore.Then drive your car home.Go to the seats of power in Israel and do it.Then drive your car home.Go to the headquarters of the ruling Mullahs in Iran and do it.To the outer sanctum in North Korea.I could name many places.You wont need your car.A body bag will do nicely.
Are we having the argument that we are not a pure Democracy?Of course not.It would be chaos.The republic as formed offers the best chance for personal freedom.You simply dont have that in places like Iran.
@michael e: After the treatment of Manning, Assange, Snowden, Greenwald, and Greenwald’s partner, you can no longer claim that this country has the kind of freedom of press (speech) you can hold up against Iran.
Glenn Greenwald recently gave a speech to Council on American Islamic Relations. He had to do it via Skype since he doesn’t trust this government not to treat him like Manning. It’s a shame.
On a related note, my respect for Glenn Greenwald shot through the roof. For a gay Jewish man to give a talk to a Muslim group he demonstrated exemplary tolerance and compassion. Being a recovering Muslim myself, I don’t know if I could! Glenn Greenwald is a real American hero not like those cowardly soldiers who kill innocent people (this includes anyone who defends his/her homeland against foreign aggressors) with drones from 8,000 miles away.
Crowley is absolutely God-awful–Jeff Blankfort’s report on Crowley’s unseemliness above is no surprise, really. Did you know that if you Google “Iran is Satan’s plaything” you get 1 billion hits, because everybody knows it’s true? Hey, m.e., try getting and reading Max Blumenthal’s very disturbing “Goliath” and that get back to us about good ole Democracyland here and in Israel. Oh, and besides Israel being “the only democracy in the middle east,” there’s Turkey, Morocco and Lebanon that you forgot, you numbskull.
Freespirit That the press is wholly in the pocket of the left(excepting FOX) is a given.But as of now you and I have freedom of speech.Iran does not.Iranians may of outvoted Americans,and that is shameful.BUT who did they have to vote for?A rubber stamp for whomever they choose to serve the real leader there?Who is NOT voted in.The only question is why vote at all there.Iran and freedom in the same sentance is a joke.No matter how you try to poke holes or hypocracy in our freedoms.Watch this…..President Obama is an idiot.See …no body at my door to arrest me.
michael e.:
Wow, it seems that you want to blame Iran for………..everything. The 25,000 Jewish people living in Iran are not leaving in mass, in fact they are not leaving at all.
You think everything is Iran’s fault? Hmmmmmm, well Cyruas the Great ( Persian) did free the Jewish people from Babylon. Although, if he hadn’t done that, they would probably still be in Babylon and the US probably would have never bombed and attacked Iraq.
Yes, you will probably blame Cyrus the Great, and therefore every Iranian born since then, which would be a silly and unfair thing to do. After all, there have been hundreds of years of US and European statecraft which has solved nothing. Cyrus and Iran…… both the ancient and the new, are looking like peace makers to me; give peace a chance, michael e. That is after all, the only thiing most nations have not tried. : )