'The Most Trusted Name in News' Hid Truth of Saddam's Horrors

Talon News ^ | April 14, 2003 | Jeff Gannon

[BplusK]

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- CNN's Chief News Executive revealed Friday that his network suppressed stories about Saddam Hussein's reign of terror in Iraq in order to maintain a bureau in Baghdad. In an Op-Ed piece for The New York Times titled, "The News We Kept To Ourselves," Eason Jordan wrote, "I felt awful having these stories bottled up inside me." Those stories are accounts of atrocities committed by Iraq's regime over three decades.

Eason tells of the murder and dismembering of a Kuwaiti woman who dared to speak to CNN on the phone. A plastic bag of her body parts was left on her family's doorstep. One of Jordan's own cameramen was abducted, beaten and electroshock tortured to force him to admit that Eason was the Central Intelligence Agency's Iraqi station chief. Eason confessed that he had prior knowledge of Uday Hussein's plan to murder two of his brothers-in-law who had defected. While he warned their protector, King Hussein of Jordan, the men returned to Baghdad and were subsequently killed.

Media reaction has been virtually non-existent, the most notable blackout occurring at CBS. The network has repeatedly declined to discuss the conditions if any, under which Dan Rather was able to interview Saddam Hussein in February of this year. Once the regime fell last week, the CBS anchor was able to return to Baghdad, arriving on Friday.

In contrast to the silence from the television networks, talk radio has been ablaze with expressions of outrage over what many see as CNN's complicity with Saddam's propaganda campaign. One host recalled Jordan's October 2002 interview by Bob Garfield of WNYC, a New York public-radio station. The topic was an article written by Franklin Fodor in The New Republic that accused the Western press of appeasing the Iraqi regime to remain in the country should war break out. Jordan dismissed the claim saying, "We are not going to make journalistic compromises in an effort to make that happen."

Jordan complained that the article was "lopsided [and] unfair." Later in the interview, Jordan said that his network was "forthright in its reporting."

There was disagreement with Jordan's statements even before Friday's confessional. Bob Bevelacqua, former U.S. Army Major and Fox News military analyst told Talon News, "CNN is an organization with an agenda - the agenda of the Left. That's why we in the military called them the Clinton News Network. When they would come around, we would go in the opposite direction."

Bevelacqua made those statements at Saturday's Rally for America in Washington, DC that attracted tens of thousands, yet did not merit coverage by the network in question. CNN did however, report Sunday's small pro-Saddam rally in Baghdad.

Others who spoke at the rally added their comments about CNN's dishonesty. Author and syndicated talk show host, Laura Ingraham told Talon News, "They sold their soul for a story, they are completely devoid of journalistic ethics. If they withheld information about George W. Bush, they would be excoriated by their peers."

Aziz Al-Taee, President of the Iraqi American Council, when asked to comment by Talon News, denounced the network for making "a bad decision."

"Professionals [journalists] need to always report the truth. Were it not for their self-serving actions, there might have been more support for ending the regime sooner," Al-Taee said.

Jordan concluded his apologia by stating, "Now that Saddam Hussein's regime is gone, I suspect we will hear many, many more gut-wrenching tales from Iraqis about the decades of torment." Jordan did not indicate if CNN would be one of the networks to finally report it.

[BplusK]

We now know more about the honesty and truthfulness of the "embedded journalists" with Saddam's Regime!

[Poohbah]

While he warned their protector, King Hussein of Jordan, the men returned to Baghdad and were subsequently killed.

How convenient that the only guy who can substantiate this particular piece of his claim to being a good guy--King Hussein--is dead.

[Support Free Republic]

Keep Free Republic Rockin' 'Round The Clock!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[Carry_Okie]

I don't know who to acknowledge for this but...

NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS!!!

[Eala]

What else would one expect of the "Clinton News Network"?

[thinktwice]

Today's Wall Street Journal Editorial story (already posted on FR) titled CNN's Access of Evil reveals CNN's truly evil soul.

Most notably, the WSJ piece notes that " ... the network (CNN) still sends correspondents to such countries as Cuba, Burma, and Syria, ruled by dictators who impose media 'guidelines.'"

[TLBSHOW]

The truth is out just who the enemy is and its CNN and liberal Hollywood and the countries that slam us!

[prairiebreeze]

The item about the Rather interview also brings many many questions to mind about the unsavory, unethical or criminal actions of news media

Prairie

[jlogajan]

Did anyone see on Fox News, the video clip of al Douri kissing and hugging the CNN correspondent goodbye?

Pretty telling.

[The Wizard]

".....most Trusted...." based on whom

[Grampa Dave]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/892775/posts?page=5#5

NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS!!!


5 posted on 04/14/2003 5:30 AM PDT by The G Man (Hey CNN ... "NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS!!!")

[Mo1]

Jordan concluded his apologia by stating, "Now that Saddam Hussein's regime is gone, I suspect we will hear many, many more gut-wrenching tales from Iraqis about the decades of torment." Jordan did not indicate if CNN would be one of the networks to finally report it.

ZING!!! ... he nailed that one

[BplusK]

"most trusted" must be understood as a sarcasm.

[The G Man]

Heh, thanks.

NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS!!

[VOA]

"most trusted" must be understood as a sarcasm.

Additionally, it is truth reflecting the "very special relationship" between CNN
and murderous dictators.

I really love that tagline of
"NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS!"

[Saundra Duffy]

An employee of a VA Hospital wrote this letter to her superiors:

To Whom It May Concern:

As you may or may not know, CNN has been found to have suppressed stories - for over eight years - about Saddam Hussein's reign of terror in Iraq in order to maintain a bureau in Baghdad. CNN's Chief News Executive, Eason Jordan, recently wrote about how, for example, the murder and dismembering of a Kuwaiti woman who spoke with CNN on the phone, was perpetrated; a plastic bag containing her body parts was left on her family's doorstep. There are similar stories of torture, murder and rape that CNN refused to report in order NOT to jeopardize their "contacts" in Iraq.

In other words, CNN knew about Saddam Hussein's atrocities but decided NOT to report them, thereby misleading and duping the people of the world and consequently enabling Saddam Hussein and his cruel regime to continue to brutalize, maim, torture and murder whoever got in their way.

In addition, the case could be made that by CNN's duplicity, the safety of our own citizens and military personnel has been put at risk.

I am outraged that our VA Hospital has CNN blaring on virtually every TV set in waiting and dining areas. CNN is dishonest, dangerous, and has proven itself to be an enemy of the truth.

Could someone explain to me, please, why CNN has an apparent monopoly on the news reported within the VA system?

Please forward my complaint to the appropriate VA officials. Thank you.

[dfwgator]

You mean the "Castro News Network."

[Shermy]

How convenient that the only guy who can substantiate this particular piece of his claim to being a good guy--King Hussein--is dead.

I didn't read that in the first story. And, why not tell our guys? Or some lower level Jordanian? His claim of talking to the King is grandiose, just like CNN's claim that it's the "worlds" network.

[backhoe]

Hmmm!

---

 

 The Talons of Intimidation- Jeff Gannon's saga

 

 Eason's Fables-- the sordid Jordan Story