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Looking for Something to Kvetch About, MSM Settles for 'Slow Evacuation'
The Early Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 07/19/2006 5:28:21 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

July 19, 2006 - 08:08

It's been a tough week for the MSM. You just know they'd like to find a way spin events in Lebanon and Israel for purposes of criticizing the Bush administration. But one senses they have had a tough time getting traction. Even for our liberal media heroes, making common cause with Hezbollah might be a bridge too far.

When the MSM is reduced to fixating on a mild four-letter word that Pres. Bush let fly, and to second-guessing tactics - as opposed to goals - you know the media's Bush-bashing cupboard is alarmingly bare.

The last best hope for the MSM seemed to be the alleged slowness of the evacuation of Americans in Lebanon. There was Tucker Carlson accusing Israel of 'doing nothing' to help stranded Americans. And the MSM widely reported the number of Americans in Lebanon at 25,000, downplaying the fact that the great majority have dual Lebanese citizenship and are not looking to leave. The actual number of those wishing to get out is apparently in the 5-8,000 range.

By the way: when it comes to American and Israeli concern for Americans in Lebanon, does the MSM think it's a coincidence that, as of last report, no American has been killed in the fighting? Isn't this likely the result of careful coordination between the governments as to the location of Americans and the precise targeting of attacks?

Even on their remaining front - the slow evacuation - the MSM suffered a major blow overnight, with news that Americans are being evacuated by the thousands.

But that didn't prevent Harry Smith and the Early Show from giving it the old college try this morning. Here's how Smith opened the story: "Let's get right to our top story this morning, the crisis in the Middle East. Here's the latest. The first major evacuation of Americans is finally under way in Lebanon."

Smith then brought in CBS correspondent Lee Cowan, who reported from Beirut that

"A lot of Americans are expressing frustration as to why this all took so long. Thousands of Americans in Beirut are trying to flee the war zone. But the process is slow, hot and frustrating."

CBS then rolled a clip of a dissatisfied young American fellow:

"Very disorganized. We got on the boat around 4:30 in Beirut and it was a long time. We were sleeping on the deck all night in wet conditions and no food. So could have gone better."

Gee, an evacuation from a war zone that wasn't perfectly organized and catered? But things went so well in Dunkirk in 1940!

Another MSM line of criticism has been to attack the administration for charging Americans for the cost of evacuation. But the media have generally been derelict in reporting that this was not the result of some mean-spirited Bush administration decision, but merely the implementation of a law adopted by Congress in 1956 and re-enacted in 2003 calling for evacuations to be 'reimbursable.'

In any case, whereas CBS' Cowan was still reporting this morning that the evacuations would come 'all at [the Americans'] own expense', an article from yesterday, Government Will Foot the Bill, reported that Sec. of State Rice had decided to waive the charges.

Hat tip to the first NewsBuster reader to spot an MSMer comparing the evacuation to the Bush administration's handling of Katrina!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: brianwilliams; cbs; earlyshow; evacuations; harrysmith; lebanon; leecowan; nbc; nightlynews; todayshow
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To: OldFriend

You watching MSNBC? David what's his name is hosting a live show, and his eyes look really really wierd.


41 posted on 07/19/2006 6:42:01 AM PDT by YaYa123
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To: propertius

Lebanon let their country become a rat's nest. It's not Israel's fault. The Lebanese people are not innocent victims. They did this to themselves.


42 posted on 07/19/2006 6:43:22 AM PDT by jimbo123
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To: jimbo123

The sins of the father and all that you mean?


43 posted on 07/19/2006 6:49:02 AM PDT by propertius
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15068775.htm

For some reason, your original link wasn't hot.


44 posted on 07/19/2006 6:49:58 AM PDT by Darnright (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: Darnright

Thanks for the fix.


45 posted on 07/19/2006 6:51:13 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: propertius

Not sins of the father. About lying down with dogs and picking up fleas.


46 posted on 07/19/2006 7:06:26 AM PDT by jimbo123
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To: jimbo123

Don't forget that about half the population of Lebanon are Catholic. Do you blame them for picking up fleas?


47 posted on 07/19/2006 7:10:05 AM PDT by propertius
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To: angkor

Not too surprising - Dearborn is the Muslim capital of America - its 40,000+ Muslims make up at least 40% of the total population of Dearborn.


48 posted on 07/19/2006 7:38:06 AM PDT by agrace
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To: YaYa123

Nope, saw a half minute of some whining woman and had enough. NO TV at all for me.......Of course, I did catch some of Bolton's remarks............I LOVE THE GUY


49 posted on 07/19/2006 7:41:48 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
If a hasty evacuation had led to any US casualties the MSM would have blamed the Administration.

The MSM does not report the news, it shapes it.

50 posted on 07/19/2006 7:50:38 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: Bahbah
Harry Reid takes the Katrina prize.
51 posted on 07/19/2006 9:30:20 AM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten per cent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: debg
CNN interviewed a blond woman named Chrisline who claimed it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through to the authorities to get out. She was highly critical.

In all fairness, many posts over the past three days from our own Rebel_Yell2 in Lebanon are similar. He was at the end of his rope. It's not a case of liberals whining because they're whiny liberals.

52 posted on 07/19/2006 9:33:58 AM PDT by jiggyboy (Ten per cent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: God luvs America

Rush was talking about this too. Says that the "Katrina" mentality has apparently taken over these people stuck in Lebanon.


53 posted on 07/19/2006 9:39:48 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Jameison

It's so annoying to see this same old crap from the lamestream media. Do people actually believe them?


54 posted on 07/19/2006 1:08:05 PM PDT by EdnaMode
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