CNN’s obscene voyerism — the video of Iraqi snipers shooting Americans
CNN has a video available from its website entitled “CNN Video: A sniper’s-eye view of Iraq.” The video shows American soldiers being shot by enemy snipers and documents ten separate attacks. This obscene video appeared on Anderson Cooper’s program last night. We think this is one of the lowest and most disgusting things we’ve ever seen. The commentary accompanying the video by Michael Ware is upsetting to the point of madness; he sounds like a stooge shilling for the enemy. It is of course possible for CNN to sink even lower, but it’s hard to imagine how.
Here is an excerpt from Anderson Cooper’s blog, which is also revolting. We were particularly appalled at what Cooper thinks passes for “sensitivity” in CNN’s airing of the video — they faded to black for a moment as the bullets entered our soldiers’ bodies:
[The tape] documented 10 incidents of insurgent snipers attacking U.S. military personnel. To be clear, insurgents shot the tape themselves. This group has released similar tapes in the past. Indeed, you can find them on the Internet. But this tape uniquely included audio from the sniper team as they selected targets, waited for their opportunities and then praised Allah as they made their escapes….
Of course, we also understood that some might conclude there is a public relations benefit for the insurgents if we aired the material, especially on CNN International. We also understood that this kind of footage is upsetting and disturbing for many viewers. But after getting beyond the emotional debate, we concluded the tape meets our criteria for newsworthiness….
You should know we dipped to black at the moment of actual impact of the rounds. A number of us felt airing that precise moment was simply too horrific. That decision, as well as the decision to build a piece around the sniper tape — in fact, all the decisions about this story — were subject to hours of intense editorial debate at the highest levels here at CNN….
Many viewers thought it inappropriate for us to air video of Americans being shot: “If I had a son or daughter over there serving, I would be outraged by what I feel is your aiding and comforting the enemy.”
This tape is a piece of terrorist pornography — it is obviously a turn-on for the scum our brave soldiers fight. As terrorist pornography, there may be an argument for the FCC to go after CNN as a legal matter for broadcasting obscene material. The tape seems to meet the criteria that the FCC has laid out for obscene material. As for Ware and Cooper and “the intense editorial debate at the highest levels here at CNN,” words of contempt fail us.
October 20th, 2006 at 1:52 am
This michael ware ( aussie ) fiend was based in beirut during the Israeli bombardment of the “country”, effectively replacing nic robertson (british), the pencil neck who was recalled when it became public that all reports had to be cleared by hezbolla if he wished to get his passport back.
It is very sad to see that now CNN, still based in Atlanta?, has to seek so many non-American nationals such as ware, robertson and canadian john rogers to report on events affecting Americans and not directly affecting these foreigners whi have no emotional interest in America.
These people are mercenaries – they have no layalties – their entire reason to be there is to cross the line – especially michael ware – he is the one with the croooked nose -as crooked as he is.
He is the modern equivalent of Tokyo Rose – but today, the MBAs who manage CNN et al, would hire Tokyo Rose or Lord Haw-Haw to would work for them.
What’s the frequency Kenneth? (words spoken to Dan Rather before he was beaten in Manhattan)
But michael ware is not the problem, al be it a symptom of the problem. The problem is that:
– America is now very divided; those who have been brainwashed by the left ( academics, journalists, hollywood, al franken, frank rich,,,) & those who are either Republocrats, will listen to whatever Rush or Hannity say without thinking or are conservative in mentality such as yourselves and readers to this website.
So the MBAs know that and exploit their viewers or listeners for their own economic gain, country be damned.
I hope Hillary does surprise us and does protect the American southern border and deals with themuslo-nazis in ways her husband or any other US president has, including Reagan who did NOTHING after the beirut massacre of 250 marines.
at any rate the curent MBAs running the US governemnt ( Rice, Bush and Rumsfeld are inept and a big disappointment ) have got to go.
God Bless America
Jeff Burke, CPA (Il.)
Montreal, Canada
October 20th, 2006 at 6:11 am
A number of us felt airing that precise moment was simply too horrific.
But by no means all of them felt that way. The others probably cheered.
October 20th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
I hate to disagree, but we need to see what our enemies do. Our people should understand what we deal with.
October 22nd, 2006 at 10:57 am
HAve you ever asked yourselves the question “What our soldiers are looking for in IRAQ?”. Do you ever know where IRAQ is on the map? US public opinion is so misinformed by the Bush government that everyone in streets in the US think that it is necessary to invervene IRAQ to prevent mass destruction weapons. Which is not THe truth. IF the question at stake is to prevent mass destruction weapons, why do not US intervene in the North KOrea who has already tested the worst mass destruction weapon :Nuclear Bomb. Did US find any trace of mass destruction weapon in IRAQ? No. Why still US public opinion is sleeping? Unfortunately, US people are letting themselves being guided by a MORONE government without any ethics (at Least Clinton seemed to have some ethic values). As long as US people do not change this government, I am sorry to say that, but US government will be alone in their quest for power in the world. Sniper attacks? Iraqis are merely defending their land. The question is, what the US troops are still seeking in IRAQ? US people must wake up and withdraw their innocent sons from IRAQ hell and question BUSH government about this Scandale! Death toll of US soldiers is obvious, where are the iraqi mass destruction weapons?
March 28th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
“Terrorist Pornography”? Obscenity laws violations? Are you fucking retarded? Perhaps I misunderstand what you hope to get out of news, but the whole point is that grown ups are supposed to see what’s going on in the world. Is this footage not important and interesting, even if it is because it is so disturbing? If you can’t deal with reality, stop watching television about reality. I for one prefer my news as unfiltered as possible, and as unbiased as possible.