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."

[Muzzle_em]

WooHoo!
This is the biggest news I've read in weeks!
May he burn in H!

[synbad600]

"Oh my Allah! Helen Thomas is still a virgin!?! And Andrea Dworkin too!!? ARGGGHHH!"

[Lazamataz]

Hitler's death was no big deal to Nazism. There were 100's and 1000's of Nazis willing to take his place.

[Daryl L.Hunter]

bump

[Non-Sequitur]

I noticed that the film CNN was showing while the talking heads were going at it was shot at the crash site. They were hauling out back packs, baby shoes, kids toys, clothing and all the rest. No doubt the lead on al Jazeera will be about the U.S. air strike that whiped out children and their family. And oh, by the way, Zarqawi got waxed as well.

[Lurking in Kansas]

What is CNN?

[PurpleMan]

This morninig on a radio interview, Jim Miklaszewski commented that this annnouncement was "staged" differently than when Saddam was captured in 2003. When Saddam was captured Paul Bremmer came out and said, "We got him." Today, Miklaszewski made the point of sayingg that the Iraqi PM came out and made the announcement.

What a friggin' insulting spin!!

HELLO!!! Iraq didn't have an elected gov't when Saddam was captured.

Bremmer became Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance on May 6, 2003. Iraqi sovereignty was restored on June 28, 2004.

Another reason not to listen to the MSM. (Sigh)

[capydick]

His last words: Hey what’s that buzzing noise?

And his last hit was against the wall!

[Leisler]

Bit by bit, person by person the US and Iraqi security gets stronger, better, every day. Not so their targets, they get weaker, more informants, everything in uncountable ways gets more difficult. Any new 'leader' that brings himself to public prominence will be found out. That is the lesson.

In a way the Muslim bitch is right. It isn't a big deal, because the grinding down, the hunting and killing of these people and their networks is now routine. A matter of time and process. The US military is doing what they do best, grinding down enemy into dust. Nothing fancy, just hard work ethic. Smart people know this, leaving only the delusional and romantics. They don't last long against cold professional.

[YaYa123]

"Maybe this is a good thing. In the power vacuum, they'll be focussed on fighting and killing each other rather than innocent people."

Too damn bad CNN expert Octavia doesn't share your ability to think through all the possible ramifications of an important event.

[discipler]

So typical of the Socialist/Elitist jackasses who run the major media outlets to minimize the importance of anything good, and conversely to make a moutain out of a molehill if it will. In other words, they act like the enemy by saying whatever will create doubt, fear, or contempt for the war effort.

Here is the template of the spiritually depraved as told by the great prophet: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Woe to Dan Rather; woe to Katie Couric; woe to Jon Daily; woe to Jim Lehrer.

Al-Quaida operatives might boldly pronounce that it changes nothing, but they would lie. When you kill the ugly head, you likely neutralize the beast. CNN knows this intellectually, but they also think that to admit it would help their greatest enemy: George Bush and the conservatives who aren't pacifist wussies.

CNN can shove it up their poop-shoot with a red hot poker.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Oh! Those MSM nuts! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. The C(ommunist)N(ews)N(etwork) has lost one of its heroes.

[LibSnubber]

I switched to CNN to see how they were covering this and sure enough Michael Berg was on the phone with them too. He said he feels "doubly bad" that this has happened. First because a human life has been taken and second, because this means that there's going to be more violence because of his death... Then Berg said something about Bush being the king of Iraq - but I missed that complete statement so I can't put it in proper context (but I can just about figure it out anyway).

Like there wasn't going to be more violence in the days ahead had zarqawi not been killed?

[Beckwith]

She says there are thousands of groups like his.

Actually, there are two groups in Iraq, the Sunni insurgents and the al-Qaeda terrorists.

This Muslim Mouthpiece is only hoping there are more.

[Redleg Duke]

It would be ironic if the pilot that delivered the bombs name was "Roberts".

You know that according to Roberts Rules, an motion to adjourn is always in order! :-)

[panthermom]

Golly, with all his money can't he get his teeth bleached or something, Crest whitestrips maybe?

[NormsRevenge]

Iraqi men walk through the scene near the town of Hibhib, northwest of Baqouba, following a US air raid in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, was killed Wednesday, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced Thursday, June 6, 2006. (AP Photo/Mohammed Adnan)

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This is a frame from TV of the scene Thursday, June 8 2006, following a US air raid in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, was killed, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed about Wednesday evening along with seven aides north of Baghdad. The Jordanian-born militant, who is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States put a US$25 million (about euro20 million) bounty on al-Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden. (AP Photo / APTN)

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This is a frame from TV of the scene Thursday, June 8 2006, following a US air raid in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, was killed, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed about Wednesday evening along with seven aides north of Baghdad. The Jordanian-born militant, who is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States put a US$25 million (about euro20 million) bounty on al-Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden. (AP Photo / APTN)

---

This is a frame from TV of the scene Thursday, June 8 2006, following a US air raid in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, was killed, Iraq's prime minister said Thursday. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said al-Zarqawi was killed about Wednesday evening along with seven aides north of Baghdad. The Jordanian-born militant, who is believed to have personally beheaded at least two American hostages, became Iraq's most wanted militant, as notorious as Osama bin Laden, to whom he swore allegiance in 2004. The United States put a US$25 million (about euro20 million) bounty on al-Zarqawi, the same as bin Laden. (AP Photo / APTN)

[JCEccles]

Busby loses the bellwether race she was preordained by leftists to win in the California 50th, and liberal hero al-Zarqawi comes out the loser in head-to-head match with a US 2500 pound bomb. They had a promising diversion with the Ann Coulter book tour, but now nobody will pay attention to their hit pieces of Coulter because of the al-Zarqawi news.

It's been a tough, depressing two days for the MSM. They haven't been this discombobulated since Kerry lost the race he was preordained by leftists to win in 2004.

[doc30]

Switched to ErrAmerika for a laugh this morning and this was the topic. THey were wondering what foreign intelligence service helped the U.S. (i.e. U.S. intelligence couldn't find him) because Zarqawi is popular amonst the average Iraqi for his leadership against the illegal U.S. occupation. There is no way Iraqi's would help the U.S. and the U.S. is incompetent, so it had to be another foreign power that provided the intelligence. They were thinking it was Jordan that did the heavy lifting for the U.S. I can't believe how much hatred some Americans can actually have for America.

[elhombrelibre]

I remember some time back when it appeared we were going to get bin Laden, the MSM used the same template in advance to negate the obvious success that killing or capturing him would be. The MSM embarrasses itself with its self-evident Catch-22. If we don't get these guys, we're incompetent. If we get them, it's futile in the war on terror. They look for the most pessimistic way to spin good news to assure that their side - the anti-American, anti-Bush side - looks better. In doing so, they've become de facto allies of our enemies because of their relentless defeatist propaganda.