A FAIR Action Alert (10/24/12) criticized the PBS NewsHour for reporting that “Iran’s nuclear weapons program has been a particular flash point” in the presidential race. As we noted, there is no hard evidence that Iran has such a weapons program; in fact, international inspections have consistently found no evidence that Iran has diverted uranium for military purposes.
Soon after FAIR activists began writing to the show, the NewsHour responded by posting an Editor’s Note:
EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript has been updated to account for an error in the NewsHour‘s broadcast reference to Iran’s widely suspected military ambitions in pursuing nuclear energy, despite Tehran’s assertions that its atomic efforts are entirely peaceful. We should have said that “Iran’s nuclear program has been a particular flashpoint.”
This is important, and wouldn’t have happened without the letter-writing. PBS did not issue an on-air correction, which is unfortunate. But you can’t help but feel like the NewsHour doesn’t really feel like they need to correct much–hence the reference to “Iran’s widely suspected military ambitions in pursuing nuclear energy.”
Widely suspected by whom? They don’t say. What is clear is that the NewsHour knows they shouldn’t have reported this allegation as if it were a fact–but they want you to know that the allegation is considered a fact by a lot of serious people nonetheless.
What does the paragraph titled “Editors Note” mean?
On air, please, on air! It’s only fair, please, it’s only fair!
It would be so useful for FAIR to include the names of PBS reporters/writers associated with the Iran Falsehood. The error is blatant (and acknowledged, albeit slightly, by PBS. Please clearly state who is responsible for this grievous error.
Note sure this matters when people have been trained already to equate “nuclear program” with “nuclear weapons” anyway.
Furthermore, the “correction” is still false as it implies that the US suspects Iran is out to get nukes — contrary to the NIE which stated that there was no evidence of an interest in nuclear weapons.
It is widely suspected among the right-wingnuts and neo-cons who are refusing to take a leak until after Romney gets elected and orders a bombing campaign in Iran. Iran is the only thing between the mega-corporations and complete control of all resources in the region, mostly oil, but other commodities as well.
Susan, the original FAIR Alert has the information you want, naming names and who said what, when and where. BTW, FAIR’s monthly mag clearly names and tells who said what about which.
One problem is that nuclear energy has always been connected to nuclear weapons. The process is similar just that the fissionable materials are processed far longer for greater purity. But otherwise the same. One way to get nukes into more hands. The USA is one of the big traffickers in nukes. They just don’t like India or Pakistan doing it.
Since Iran is on the hit list by the fanatics in the USA and Israel, the propaganda is used as a given. It is promoted that Iran is secretly making 90% weapons grade material. We see it everywhere including the president who sounds little different from his predecessor.
They are strangling Iran even as they try to provoke a one sided war with Iran getting pulverized. With or without nukes from Israel. (Who is never mentioned having nukes.) They talk about Iran could “spark a nuclear arms race” as if Israel didn’t have them already sparking one! Ruining Iran economically is safer for them. So if weapons are used it will Iran in retaliation. Though it won’t be connected as a response to the embargo and economic warfare.
Widely suspected by whom??????Um let me see if I can answer that.There is this guy…he lives in a big white house.Fly’s around in a big silver and blue jet.Drives around in black armored limos.His job title is um……oh yeah the President of the United States.Does he count????
Widely suspected by whom?????oh yeah the President of the United States.Does he count????
Only if the President is the only person in the whole country (a country of one) since “widely” means “Lots”, and that isn’t the case. Do try and pick up a dictionary and couple of lessons in English grammar, punctuation will you.
Padremellyrn did you not understand the nuance in my question?
Hard to un-ring that bell though…
PBS is the highbrow counterpart of mainstream media whose object is to control the college-degreed consumers who think they are educated. Also, much like the mainstream media, the PBS (and NPR) is infiltrated by enough Zionists to make sure that the truth about Israel’s crimes and nuclear weapons is not given much air time.
The (ongoing) war against Iran is a redux of the 2003 Iraq war. Iran is the sole remaining power in the region that doesn’t genuflect before US. The empire must either conquer it (turn it into a proxy base like Iraq and Afghanistan) or destroy it. The current sanctions on Iran are in preparation for a full scale attack much like the sanctions on Iraq 10 years prior to the ’03 attack (2 years under Bush I and 8 years under Clinton) which killed over one million Iraqis.
I anticipate a major attack on Iran after the population has been reduced to 74 million starving dogs. But this time it will be a cowardly war of drones and aerial bombardment because the (narcissistic) American population will not stand for losing more of their sons and daughters (i.e. war criminal mercenaries)…
PBS has been a scion of the corporate network for years. Why you never see Liberals or Progressives etc. on their news shows. Why they are corporate main stream as most of the others. Why they will have on more Republicans than Democrats or any one else who disagrees. It is a racket and we are surrounded by it. You have to dig an most people don’t care to if they care at all about it.
Free spirit may I prescribe a chill pill for you?Relax with a nice glass of wine.Turn on some old episode of TV land.Read a good book on the beach.Smile more.Laugh.There are no dirty zionists under your bed.America is a land full of hopeful, good hearted people.Not all is lost.You really need a more positive out look.For your own happiness and good health.
Free Spirit the one major difference between Iraq and Iran is that going to war with Iran could easily plunge the global economy into a tailspin again. Which leaves us and other democratic-republics vulnerable to violence in the streets and fascist take overs. We are too close as it is. Should Iran decide to blockade some places itself would escalate the already war actions with cyber-warfare and economic attacks on them. We don’t need Israel landing a few of their nukes on Tehran and some suspected nuclear sites. Then we get the third world war. Only the usual suspects would love it. No one else will on either side.
Micheal e: Ad hominem attacks are only used by mentally disadvantaged people who shoot the messenger with the message is either over their reptilian level of intelligence or their psychological capacity to overcome painful facts.
Night-Gaunt: You are assuming that an empire in its sunset years (i.e. the US) will act rationally and out of economic reason. History teaches us (as in WW1) that all empires end up destroying themselves. The US and its master Israel will not sit still and let Iran grow more and more influential in the region. The pattern is preparation is almost identical to that vis-à-vis Iraq.
Michael e: If you had aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in Iran being pressed economically for absolutely no reason whatsoever, you would be upset too. But then again judging from your comments to me I can tell you are so in the head that you are incapable of compassion and empathy.
Night-Gaunt: I’m not “assuming” anything. The US is acting the same way as all other empires we know about have in the past. All the signs and patterns are there. The US imperial monster is going through its last dying pangs (to borrow from that great philosopher and humanitarian Hillary Clinton). It is self devouring at a rapid pace. Of all people, someone who comments on this blog should know enough about history to know that one of the last things an empire experiences is the collapse of the republic however imperfect!