CNN's "God's (Muslim) Warriors" propaganda by omission

[dorkulon]

I wasn't expecting much from CNN, but I was surprised that, though Amanpour twice related the story of bin Laden and al Qaeda's beginnings as mujahadeen fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, America's own involvement in funding, arming, and training them was not mentioned or even hinted at once. Never mind the pro-jihad textbooks we provided Afghan schools. When Iran was the subject, there was no reference to the US-staged coup which brought down Mossadegh in 1953.

It drives me nuts that a show purporting to bring us "the truth" about Islamic extremists and the roots of their animosity toward us simply refuses to actually enlighten its audience when it has the chance. Public ignorance of these root causes of such animosity is why we find it so baffling, and why we continue to screw up so badly.

To leave America entirely out of the war in Afghanistan, to tell the story as if the Mujahadeen repelled the Soviets without help, which is precisely what CNN just did, is fucking outrageous. This is propaganda, pure and simple.

[WCGreen]

1. They only had about 42 minutes to get it all in....

I think stretching back to 1953 might have needed a little more explaination than they had time for...

[mike_c]

2. the very last thing I'd expect from CNN is the hard truth about America's...

...involvement in the rise of radical islam and the role of our neocolonial foreign policy in maintaining their support. The media who beat the drums for shock and awe in Iraq will never tell the truth.

[napi21]

3. I thought CNN did a great job! Christian is a great reporter.

You hae to remember, this series wasn't about who's responsible for the wars, but WHY the different "God Warriors" believe they must fight!

Tomorrow's Part 3 is about the Christians and THEIR fundies. That IS what all the different religious warriors are you know. I haven't heard any reports about what the Jewish, & Muslim religious think about this series, but you can bet your bipie the LOUD Christians will be screaming on Friday!!!!!

[DCKit]

4. But Jon Stewart picked up the slack and laid it ALL out there.

Check out the reruns on Comedy Central at morning, afternoon and early evening tomorrow. It was a hoot.

[dorkulon]

5. I caught that.

It was refreshing after the whitewash.