Posted on 02/24/2005 4:53:33 PM PST by Kaslin
While ABC and NBC stressed the "united" front against Iran presented by President Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, CBS's John Roberts only grudgingly acknowledged that Bush and Schroeder "papered over their differences long enough today to present a united front against Iran." Roberts asserted that Bush's "hard line" on Iran "has the majority of Germans believing that Mr. Bush will take military action." Citing Bush's statement that "all options are on the table," over video of anti-Bush protesters and their signs, Roberts insisted Bush's "statement was jarring to European nations, who are just now getting over the Iraq War." Roberts lectured: "His European charm offensive aside, President Bush still has image problems here. Many people mistrust his policies and think rather than embracing Europe's way of thinking, he wants Europe to embrace his."
Neither ABC or NBC considered the protesters newsworthy as ABC's Terry Moran emphasized the "united stand on the critical issue of Iran's suspected nuclear ambition." NBC anchor Brian Williams cited "common ground over a common adversary" before David Gregory described how Bush "was treated to a warm welcome in Germany," though he noted how Bush "has taken a harder line" on Iran.
On Tuesday night, Roberts had scolded: "Mr. Bush insists he wants a diplomatic solution, but just the mention of the war option was enough to throw a chill on this last night of the Brussels summit. The President says he came here to listen, but many Europeans were left to wonder just how much he heard." See: www.mediaresearch.org
Dan Rather introduced the February 23 CBS Evening News piece from Roberts in Germany: "President Bush is in Slovakia tonight, preparing to meet there tomorrow with Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. Earlier, President Bush concluded talks with European Union leaders in Belgium, and stopped briefly in Germany, where again, the main focus was Iran. CBS's John Roberts is traveling with the President."
Roberts began, as corrected against the closed-captioning by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth: "They still might not truly like each other, but President Bush and German Chancellor Schroeder papered over their differences long enough today to present a united front against Iran." George W. Bush at the joint press conference: "For the sake of security and peace, they must not have a nuclear weapon. And that is a goal shared by Germany, France, Great Britain and the United States." Roberts: "How to achieve that goal is where the two leaders part ways. Germany wants to use carrots, economic and security incentives, President Bush is considering the stick of broader sanctions to punish Iran into submission. The hard line has the majority of Germans believing that Mr. Bush will take military action, a fear he only seemed to reinforce with this mixed message last night." Bush, on Tuesday: "This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table." Over video of protesters with signs with a red through Bush's face and others proclaiming "Don't Violate Human Rights," "Shame on You Mr. Bush" and one with a picture of Bush above the words "Terrorist Nr. 1," Roberts asserted: "The statement was jarring to European nations, who are just now getting over the Iraq War. So today, President Bush felt compelled to explain himself a little further." Bush: "You know, yesterday I was asked about the U.S. position. I said all options are on the table. That's part of our position. But I also reminded people that diplomacy is just beginning. Iran is not Iraq." Roberts lectured: "His European charm offensive aside, President Bush still has image problems here. Many people mistrust his policies and think rather than embracing Europe's way of thinking, he wants Europe to embrace his. Between Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Middle East peace process, there is plenty to keep the U.S. and Europe working toward common goals. No doubt, some intense diplomatic therapy has done wonders for the relationship. The outstanding question tonight, how long will it last? John Roberts, CBS News, Mainz, Germany."
ABC and NBC were more upbeat and didn't center their stories around the protesters.
From Bratislava, Slovakia, Terry Moran reported on Wednesday's World News Tonight: "President Bush and Chancellor Schroeder, who disagreed so bitterly over the Iraq war, took a united stand on the critical issue of Iran's suspected nuclear ambition." Bush: "Iran must not have a nuclear weapon for the sake of security and peace. They must not have a nuclear weapon." Moran: "Schroeder spoke just as forcefully." Schroeder, through translator: "We absolutely agree that Iran must say no to any nuclear weapon." Moran: "Mr. Bush, who has up until now refused to endorse any negotiations with Iran, also surprised some by lending strong support to the European effort to negotiate." Bush: "Diplomacy is just beginning, Iran is not Iraq. We just started the diplomatic efforts and I want to thank our friends for taking the lead." Moran: "The President was doing many things to reach out to friends here, he even went so far as to offer a rare public act of contrition, explaining to a group of young Germans how 9/11 attacks changed the U.S. view of the world, but not Europe's." Bush: "Those two attitudes caused us sometimes to talk past each other and I plead guilty at times."
Jennings asked Moran: "Terry, we've been hearing every day from the White House that the President's been doing very well with the Europeans. You've been listening also to the Europeans, what are they saying about the President's trip?" Moran answered: "Well, Peter, you get the sense that there is a genuine, if grudging recognition that Mr. Bush is trying and the admission of error that you just heard can help go a long way in that regard because what you hear a lot and what you read a lot is that, beyond all the policy disagreements, Europeans had the sense that the President and his administration disrespected them, didn't treat them as equals. And so much of this trip is really about re-establishing trust as much as anything else."
Over on the NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams teased: "United front. President Bush in Germany, the U.S. and Europe closer to agreeing on how to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions." Williams led his newscast: "Good evening. It was right about the time when french fries were being renamed 'freedom fries' around this country, relations between the U.S. and Europe reached a low point for the modern era. The disagreement was over the war in Iraq. Some of that has healed with time, and the President's visit to Europe this week has gone a long way. As proof of that, there is now common ground over a common adversary, Iran, for the U.S. and Europe to agree on, as they did today, on a common goal. We begin tonight with NBC's David Gregory, who is traveling with the President."
Gregory explained: "The President was treated to a warm welcome in Germany today, the bitterness over the Iraq war faded, though not forgotten. In its place, the first signs of common ground on Iran. Both Mr. Bush and Chancellor Schroeder agreed today on the goal." Bush: "Iran must not have a nuclear weapon for the sake of security and peace." Gregory: "How to force Iran to give up its nuclear designs is where Europe and the U.S. remain divided. Germany, France, and Britain are pushing for economic incentives, diplomatic carrots over sticks, but the President has taken a harder line, refusing to join the negotiations or rule out military action. Today, however, Mr. Bush tried to calm European nerves, still frayed over Iraq." Bush: "Iran is not Iraq. We will work with them to convince the mullahs that they need to give up their nuclear ambitions."
I'll be mighty surprised if history does not prove that Iran's current rulers didn't have a hand in 9/11.
And we're supposed to sit back and let them build a nuke?
I'll be mighty surprised if history does not prove that Iran's current rulers didn't have a hand in 9/11.
And we're supposed to sit back and let them build a nuke?
And we should care what the socialist's of Europe think?
That's why Bob Schieffer...and not John Roberts...
will sit on Rather's Golden Throne come March.
I certainly don't care what they think
After centuries of being warmongering zealots, all of the sudden Europe is appalled at war? I think it's laughable.
But I think I have happened upon the true reason Europe is in the state it's in. They reached their potential years ago and now they can't keep up with advanced civilizations like the USA. But they would rather be blown off the face of the earth than admit it.
And their ratings sink deeper into the toilet.
Rule #1 in exposing a Liberal/Communist!
Bob Schieffer is no better than Dan Rather when it comes to leftist bias. The CBS nightly news has no reason to exist anymore, other than to play to leftwing Republican haters.
Conservative bashing is job #1 at CBS news.
CBS Nightly News Tuesday lead story on Ahmed Omar Abu Ali arrest.
The narrator/reporter used the phrase
"..... prosecutors would have you believe...." ,
essentially accusing the prosecutors of lying. I doubt the prosecutors are lying and I am certain this reporter had no evidence of prosecutors lying, thus this was a pure fabrication.
I know of no other interpretation of the phrase "X would have you believe" then "X is trying to deceive, or create a false impression"
Yes we should embrace embrace the way of thinking of the continent who lead us into two world wars instead of the nation that lead the world to freedom....
Did the protestors have to make their own signs, or did CBS helpfully supply them?
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