That Didn't Take Long: CNN Editor Suggests Zarqawi Death 'Not Going to Be a Big Deal'

CNN/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Mark Finkelstein

June 8, 2006

You just knew it. The MSM had to find a way to downplay the significance of the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Whereas he had been portrayed as the key to violence in the country, now that he's dead, he is described as just one among many.

And sure enough, on CNN this morning at about 6:20 AM, there was Octavia Nasr CNN's senior editor for Arab affairs, interviewed by host Soledad O'Brien, suggesting that Zarqawi's death might not really be such a big deal, after all. She reported that beyond Al Qaeda, there were hundreds, even thousands, of other, home-grown insurgent groups in Iraq.

Concluded Nasr: "Some people say it will enrage the insurgency, others say it will hurt it pretty bad. But if you think about the different groups in Iraq, you have to think that Zarqawi's death is not going to be a big deal for them."That Didn't Take Long: CNN Editor Suggests Zarqawi Death 'Not Going to Be a Big Deal' view edit Posted by Mark Finkelstein on June 8, 2006 - 06:36. You just knew it. The MSM had to find a way to downplay the significance of the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Whereas he had been portrayed as the key to violence in the country, now that he's dead, he is described as just one among many.

And sure enough, on CNN this morning at about 6:20 AM, there was Octavia Nasr CNN's senior editor for Arab affairs, interviewed by host Soledad O'Brien, suggesting that Zarqawi's death might not really be such a big deal, after all. She reported that beyond Al Qaeda, there were hundreds, even thousands, of other, home-grown insurgent groups in Iraq.

Concluded Nasr: "Some people say it will enrage the insurgency, others say it will hurt it pretty bad. But if you think about the different groups in Iraq, you have to think that Zarqawi's death is not going to be a big deal for them."

[EmilyGeiger]

Stupid CNN. Next up will be John Kerry, Murtha and company wondering why we haven't captured Osama yet. That he's the one we should have killed. I really loathe the extreme lefties.

[petercooper]

Liberal media scumbags. I hate them all.

[soloNYer]

Today show's answer to this bad news was to trot out Joe Biden for better perspective. Plugs reassured the Today audience and DU that this means nothing. Continue to talk about Bush's approval ratings, nothing to see here.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Katie Commie will no doubt don her black mourning attire. We'll get them all, sooner or later.

[Gritty]

So, when is the media going to hold the solemn memorial service for this "leader" so they can get up to give glowing tributes and heart-felt testimonies for him?

[RSmithOpt]

Me too. It's a shame that one human has to kill another for any reason, however, as in a parallel situation, sometimes there is nothing else a human can do but shoot a rabid animal to stop the spread of the disease.

[river rat]

"....now that he's dead, he is described as just one among many."

I agree!
Now, lets kill 10s of THOUSANDS more.....

Give War a chance....Give Bombs a chance......Bleed the bastards white...

Semper Fi

[Sender]

It rarely surprises me any more when the MSM follows their template. I'm sure later today they will have switched back to US deaths in Iraq, Haditha, quagmire etc.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

its a big deal now that he is taking the dirt nap in hell.

Somehow I hope he got his 72 raisins.

[Skooz]

As I was cruising the news networks this morning I noticed that CNN Headline News was off the air for quite some time.

I guess they were observing a moment of silence for their fallen hero.

[RSmithOpt]

Hurry! Hurry! Call the Dixie Chics!!

Let them sing in Al's honor!

Let them profess they wish they were the from the same country as he and how great his religion is in his / their eyes.

Let'em sell their songs to the mullahs......let'em live as honorable servants of the Taliban.

Let'em kiss my a$$!!

[TET1968]

Off topic...sort of.
CNN founder,Ted Turner is trying to get $7 million for his biography, so far no takers.

Brad & Jolie received $7 million dollars for photo's of their African born baby.

[Huck]

Agreed. It's a big deal. Prolly second only to OBL, or that freak right hand man to OBL.

[NavyCanDo]

Air America had a guest on this morning with Government credentials. The host was trying to get this guy to go down that same CNN path, but nooooooo. The guest said killing Zarqawi is very significant because of his ability to communicate with and direct jihadist in Europe, and as far away as Canada who look at him as their leader. In one sentence this guest confirmed that having troops in Iraq to fight the al-qaeda terrorist is a good thing. Not what Air America wanted to broadcast. Now why was a good Reagan conservative listening to Air America? Once in a great while just for kicks I want to hear what the noodle heads are saying about a particular event such as this.

[subterfuge]

I wonder if Today will bring Al-Katie back to the set just to tell their audience that this is not a good thing

Matt Fuzz-Head will likely just use Katie's source, "some people", to do just that.

[Stentor]

The MSM had to find a way to downplay the significance of the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

That Miles dude actually asked Peter Bergen (who was downplaying the importance) what was the difference in style between Zarqawi and Bin Laden. Like is one a Mod and the other a Rocker?

[Raycpa]

Kerry and the Democrats used the logic that we failed the War on Terror because we didn't get one man, Osama bin-Laden. We explained that yes, it would be a great moral booster if we got him but the war was bigger than one man.

Now we got an important terrorist and they all of a sudden figured out that the war is bigger than one man.

The real story here is that they will refuse to acknowledge the work done by the troops there to find and dispatch Zarqawi.

[auto power]

I really, really, really, really despise these people.

[joesbucks]

Look, bottom line is it doesn't matter what we believe, think or desire. It's how the insurgents respond.

Let's face it, after many believed that the capture or killing of Saddam and his sons would diminish the insurgency, it continued.

[Raycpa]

John Murtha

"I'm surprised our troops could rise from their deep depression and take time from their killing sprees, their rapes and pillaging to even feed themselves let alone do the intelligence and launch an air attack to take this guy out."