Tuesday
Jul272010
Latest Iran Video: Ahmadinejad on Afghanistan, Sanctions, & the US (26 July)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 19:20
Brief notes on this interview of President Ahmadinejad by CBS News:
1. As Marc Lynch has noted at Foreign Policy, there is a real danger of a superficial portrayal of the Wikleaks "War Diary" showing a link between Tehran and the Taliban or even between Tehran and Al Qa'eda.
There is a massive difference between documents recording that "US officials say there are links...." and documents establishing evidence of links. As far as I know --- and this is a general remark on some of those claiming what the documents "show" --- those putting forth the Iran-Taliban-Al Qa'eda connections have not actually read any of the documents, only summaries put out for the press.
2. Beyond Afghanistan, CBS played nicely into Ahmadinejad's hands with softball questions on the nuclear programme, sanctions, and relations with Washington.
3. Most importantly, where was there any reference to Iran's internal situation? Is a major US network really that blinkered?
1. As Marc Lynch has noted at Foreign Policy, there is a real danger of a superficial portrayal of the Wikleaks "War Diary" showing a link between Tehran and the Taliban or even between Tehran and Al Qa'eda.
There is a massive difference between documents recording that "US officials say there are links...." and documents establishing evidence of links. As far as I know --- and this is a general remark on some of those claiming what the documents "show" --- those putting forth the Iran-Taliban-Al Qa'eda connections have not actually read any of the documents, only summaries put out for the press.
2. Beyond Afghanistan, CBS played nicely into Ahmadinejad's hands with softball questions on the nuclear programme, sanctions, and relations with Washington.
3. Most importantly, where was there any reference to Iran's internal situation? Is a major US network really that blinkered?
Reader Comments (1)
I am afraid, having Ahmadinejad on air is the only goal media outlets have. Having him, the ultimate outlaw of the Middle East, for an interview guarantees many, many recipients. For that, you pretty much accept to ask only what HE wants you to ask. If he asks you not to speak about the domestic affairs, you won't because you don't want any other news channel to have him in their show...