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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEric Boehlert: CNN teams with GOP to concoct new Afghanistan drama
https://pressrun.media/p/cnn-teams-with-gop-to-concoct-anCNN teams with GOP to concoct new Afghanistan drama
Tale doesn't add up
Eric Boehlert
1 hr ago
In a stunning rebuke of the Biden administration, and proof that legislators are still fuming over the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, a bipartisan group of lawmakers stormed out of a classified briefing session because officials failed to answer their basic questions.
At least thats the story CNN and Republicans told this week. But theres little proof that bipartisan outburst actually happened, and plenty to indicate it did not. The episode seems to be the latest, heavy-handed example of the Beltway press pumping up administration critics in an effort to boost controversy surrounding Afghanistan to keep treating hollow GOP claims as breaking news, while portraying President Joe Biden as being constantly under siege.
If Republicans and Democrats did collectively storm out of a closed-door intelligence briefing from top Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security officials, it would have represented a truly extraordinary news event. That kind of across-the-board protocol breach simply does not happen when high ranking players give national security briefings on Capitol Hill. It would be unprecedented.
Theres no indication the walkout actually occurred though, in part because CNN remains the only news outlet to report on the alleged bipartisan act of Congressional disobedience. If lawmakers had angrily marched out because questions werent being answered, news would have spread like wildfire across the Beltway and journalists would have easily confirmed the event.
snip//
Simultaneously, CNN claimed Bidens long-expected troop withdrawal meant the U.S. was walking away from the world stage and leaving Europe exposed, even though most European troops left Afghanistan seven years ago.
Bottom line: Its highly unlikely that Democrats joined forces with Republicans this week to snub high-ranking administration officials and stormed out of an Afghanistan briefing.
malaise
(267,839 posts)Rec
Response to babylonsister (Original post)
malaise This message was self-deleted by its author.
Mad_Machine76
(24,355 posts)That the story didnt even seem to match the headlines.
pwb
(11,205 posts)Cable creates division intentionally. This is good example of no investigation, just always opinion and someone said. That is not news.
Ligyron
(7,592 posts)Theres really not a whole lot one can do about all that nonsense anyway other than recruit others and vote.
Johnny2X2X
(18,745 posts)We had an event where 2 Afghanistan vets gave a presentation yesterday. Was an hour long and included questions and answers. Both were officers and led teams there on two different tours. One of them handled teams of Afghani interpreters.
Really well done and informative. The soldiers on the ground there have their eyes wide open. The people who wanted to get out have been leaving for years. Zero surprise among them that the Afghan army gave up so easily, the Taliban was always there and the soldiers were going to do what is best for their families, not warring with the Taliban was what was best for them.
Really cool and collected assessment from these guys. The Taliban aren't as brutal anymore, and they're going to need our help. Things weren't great in Afghanistan the last 20 years, but they were better than they'll be under the Taliban. Both of these vets are happy we are out now and think we should engage the Taliban in diplomacy as they're going to need our help.
2naSalit
(86,071 posts)That someone is out there telling the truth.
blm
(112,920 posts)Glad you witnessed and shared.
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)In fact MSNBC's Richard Engel has to be the worse. He never has a good word about the US. He always seeks out anyone with a negative story against the US. He's been relentless in his criticism of Pres Biden.
spanone
(135,637 posts)uponit7771
(90,225 posts)... they not see J6 attack ?!
McKim
(2,412 posts)This is a very very important story. I have noticed a dramatic increase in coverage of Afghanistan with women's rights and hunger issues blasted over and over through the MSM. It seems to be encouraging the US public to get behind a US military reengagement in Afghanistan. I am fed up with it and thanks for calling it out. We can't go back there to waste more war dollars when our own people have such great needs. I am contacting media to say I am sick of it.
dlk
(11,438 posts)One major downside of a for-profit media.
C Moon
(12,188 posts)70sEraVet
(3,430 posts)Its a little boring to have a competent, level-headed President, who has carefully put together a cabinet of qualified experts in their respective fields.
I'm sure the cable news networks are suffering from a drop in viewership, so it stands to reason that they will employ the same tactics that Fox and OAN have been using with success for years - JUST MAKE SHIT UP!
Chakaconcarne
(2,387 posts)Already seeing reports of the brutal Taliban heavy hand....amputations, executions... We will be back in soon enough.
VEGANGTA
(20 posts)They just barf out GOP crap. I don't trust them anymore.
Ford_Prefect
(7,830 posts)They have in the past chosen to pretend to be genuine when it suited them and FOX Lite over certain issues and news trends when the money or audience share, or Senior Editors and Owners said so.
I'm not sure how the chain of command works at CNN but they blow hot and cold at some very odd times and occasionally have dabbled in this kind of bizarre propaganda.
McKim
(2,412 posts)Check out Aljazeera today: "Mapping the Mineral Resources of Afghanistan". It turns out there there are a trillion dollars worth of natural mineral resources in Afghanistan. This was the real reason for this war. It was never about "Bringing Democracy" or "Nation Building" or "Women's Rights".
TeamProg
(5,788 posts)Xoan
(25,294 posts)In TWENTY years ?
Jon King
(1,910 posts)For all the lip service that the prime time anchors give to how bad Trump was for democracy, they want him back in the worst way. They had high ratings during all the dramas and their executives made boat loads of money.
TeamProg
(5,788 posts)TeamProg
(5,788 posts)the truth is a good thing?
Is their audience of wingnuts growing and CNN is trying to just keep them on the hook before they can fully reel them in? I could understand that type of 'news marketing', but truth must be at the forefront.
Bev54
(9,963 posts)They are throwing shit all over trying to find something that works for them. Problem is, they are going the wrong way, just like Trump.
TeamProg
(5,788 posts)I'll have to look for some broadcast viewership numbers.
Okay here, found some:
Cable news viewership
In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 394,000 viewers, down 38%, compared to CNN with 191,000, down 58%, and MSNBC with 163,000, down 55%. In total day, Fox News averaged 1.42 million, down 20%, compared to MSNBC with 732,000, down 41%, and CNN with 621,000, down 39%.Aug 31, 2021
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I think with Dems mostly running things, lefty voters are watching less news in general so it makes sense that the more left channels are losing viewership.
Bev54
(9,963 posts)TeamProg
(5,788 posts)In the 25-54 demo, Fox News averaged 394,000 viewers, down 38%, compared to CNN with 191,000, down 58%, and MSNBC with 163,000, down 55%. In total day, Fox News averaged 1.42 million, down 20%, compared to MSNBC with 732,000, down 41%, and CNN with 621,000, down 39%.Aug 31, 2021
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I think with Dems mostly running things, lefty voters are watching less news in general so it makes sense that the more left-leaning channels are losing viewership.