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ABC, CBS and NBC largely ignore terrorists among anti-Assad forces.
The United States is poised to fire missiles at Syria in response to chemical attacks on Syrian civilians. But the assault will also pit the U.S. against one side of the civil war and aid the other side, which includes Al Qaeda. That falls just days before the anniversary of Al Qaeda attacks against both the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
Broadcast news outlets are clearly aware of the Islamic terror group’s role in Syria, but rarely report it. Nearly 94 percent of all Syria stories since the gas attacks have made no mention of Al Qaeda whatsoever.
It’s not like the networks haven’t had time. Since the gas attack, which happened Aug. 21 in Ghoutta, Syria, ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening news shows have done at least 171 stories on the conflict. Just 11 of those stories have made any mention of the terrorists of Al Qaeda, and all of those have been passing references. There hasn’t been one story focused exclusively on Al Qaeda in Syria during that time.
But the connection is clear and journalists know it. On ABC’s “Nightline,” ABC’s Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross noted the unusual alliance. “The role of the Al Qaeda group fighting against Assad is one of the great ironies of the United States military strike in Syria,” he said.
Ross interviewed Rand “counter-terror expert” Seth Jones, who called it “a great irony.” “12 years after the attack, the United States finds itself on the same side as Al Qaeda trying to overthrow the Assad regime,” he explained.
But ABC only mentioned that connection three times (3 stories out of 51) since the Aug. 21 gas attack
NBC has a similarly poor showing, mentioning the connection just 3 times out of 64 stories. During an Aug. 28 report.
CBS did just a little better, mentioning Al Qaeda 5 times out of 56 reports. During an Aug. 29, “This Morning” appearance, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez (New Jersey) expressed his concern about what could happen if the Assad regime falls and Syria becomes “a failed state” with “Hezbollah who are backed by Iran” and “Al Qaeda elements there.
Even the major print outlets acknowledge the connection, sometimes. On Aug. 29, The Washington Post wrote about the impact of a U.S. assault might have on Al Qaeda. “Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups are redeploying their resources in rebel-held parts of Syria amid widespread fears that any strikes carried out by the United States would target not only the Syrian government but also Islamists in the opposition, according to rebels and activists,” stated Liz Sly.....snip~
Days Before 9/11 Anniversary, 94% of Stories Don
Not much word on Al Qaeda 2days before the Anniversary. No tape has been released by Al Zawahiri. So far all we have is Al Ghadan calling for our Diplomats to be assassinated on Aug 19 of this year. Looking around I sure am not seeing a whole lot on AQ.
The United States is poised to fire missiles at Syria in response to chemical attacks on Syrian civilians. But the assault will also pit the U.S. against one side of the civil war and aid the other side, which includes Al Qaeda. That falls just days before the anniversary of Al Qaeda attacks against both the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
Broadcast news outlets are clearly aware of the Islamic terror group’s role in Syria, but rarely report it. Nearly 94 percent of all Syria stories since the gas attacks have made no mention of Al Qaeda whatsoever.
It’s not like the networks haven’t had time. Since the gas attack, which happened Aug. 21 in Ghoutta, Syria, ABC, CBS and NBC morning and evening news shows have done at least 171 stories on the conflict. Just 11 of those stories have made any mention of the terrorists of Al Qaeda, and all of those have been passing references. There hasn’t been one story focused exclusively on Al Qaeda in Syria during that time.
But the connection is clear and journalists know it. On ABC’s “Nightline,” ABC’s Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross noted the unusual alliance. “The role of the Al Qaeda group fighting against Assad is one of the great ironies of the United States military strike in Syria,” he said.
Ross interviewed Rand “counter-terror expert” Seth Jones, who called it “a great irony.” “12 years after the attack, the United States finds itself on the same side as Al Qaeda trying to overthrow the Assad regime,” he explained.
But ABC only mentioned that connection three times (3 stories out of 51) since the Aug. 21 gas attack
NBC has a similarly poor showing, mentioning the connection just 3 times out of 64 stories. During an Aug. 28 report.
CBS did just a little better, mentioning Al Qaeda 5 times out of 56 reports. During an Aug. 29, “This Morning” appearance, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez (New Jersey) expressed his concern about what could happen if the Assad regime falls and Syria becomes “a failed state” with “Hezbollah who are backed by Iran” and “Al Qaeda elements there.
Even the major print outlets acknowledge the connection, sometimes. On Aug. 29, The Washington Post wrote about the impact of a U.S. assault might have on Al Qaeda. “Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups are redeploying their resources in rebel-held parts of Syria amid widespread fears that any strikes carried out by the United States would target not only the Syrian government but also Islamists in the opposition, according to rebels and activists,” stated Liz Sly.....snip~
Days Before 9/11 Anniversary, 94% of Stories Don
Not much word on Al Qaeda 2days before the Anniversary. No tape has been released by Al Zawahiri. So far all we have is Al Ghadan calling for our Diplomats to be assassinated on Aug 19 of this year. Looking around I sure am not seeing a whole lot on AQ.