Posted on 09/22/2015 1:04:30 PM PDT by Dave346
60 Minutes traveled to Tehran for an interview with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani last week (whole thing and a little more here). Steve Kroft conducted the interview. Among other things, Kroft joined President Obama in defaming the American opponents of the deal with Iran. This is part and parcel of the operation of CBS News as an arm of the Democratic Party (see, e.g., Sharyl Attkisson’s invaluable memoir Stonewalled). David Rhodes is the president of CBS News and the brother of Obama national security adviser Ben Rhodes.
But it is worse than that. There is a long and dishonorable tradition of Western media toadying to tyrants, butchers, and enemies. In the annals of such toadying, Kroft must have tied the low last night. These are the utterly pitiful questions this supposedly hard-hitting journalist asked Rouhani:
Steve Kroft: What do you think of the agreement?
Steve Kroft: Were you surprised by the ferocity of the debate in the United States and the outcome?
Steve Kroft: Opponents have argued that U.S. has given away too much for very little in return from Iran. Agreeing to lift the sanctions on Iran in exchange for, what they call, a temporary 15-year freeze on nuclear operations after which Iran would be free to resume or begin work on a nuclear bomb with far more resources than they have now.
Steve Kroft: The United States seems to have its hardliners and Iran seems to have its hardliners. The opponents say essentially that they think Iran has given up too much control over their nuclear program to the U.S. and other foreign countries, and to the IAEA. Do you see similarities between the United States and Iran in terms of the opposition to this?
Steve Kroft: Some of the opponents are very powerful. The commander of the Revolutionary Guards, for example, has condemned the deal. How do you deal with that? That’s an important political force in this country.
Steve Kroft: You have been very temperate in your statements about these negotiations. You have been trying to encourage a sense of goodwill between the United States and Iran, but some of this — some of the success has been undercut by very harsh statements from both sides. Since the deal, the Ayatollah Khamanei has endorsed, even praised, the chanting of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” at the Friday prayers by demonstrators and he continues to call the United States the “great Satan.” Do you believe the United States is the “great Satan?”
Steve Kroft: Do you think the United States is the “great Satan?”
Steve Kroft: I’m sure you realize that it is difficult for many Americans to get past the fact that President Obama has signed an agreement with a country that says, “Death to America, Death to Israel.” How do you explain this? What are they to make of it? Are they to take it literally? Is this for domestic, internal Iranian political consumption? What are Americans to make of it, the language?
Steve Kroft: “Death to America” is very simple concept. Three words, not much room left for interpretation. Not very conciliatory. Do you see the day when that language will not be used? You yourself have encouraged both sides to try and lower the temperature.
Steve Kroft: The United States has just signed an agreement with Iran to lift the sanctions, is that not a sign of goodwill?
Steve Kroft: Do you think the level of trust between Iran and the United States has improved because of this treaty?
Steve Kroft: There has been speculation and hope both inside and outside of Iran and in the United States that this nuclear deal could be a catalyst for some broader, if limited, cooperation between the two countries where there are mutual interests.
Steve Kroft: You have said that you are willing to sit down with any country, friend or enemy, to discuss the situation in Syria in order to stop the bloodshed. What does Iran see as a possible, workable, acceptable solution to the situation in Syria?
Steve Kroft: This agreement was a big political victory for you personally. You were elected president based on the idea that you wanted to open up Iran to the outside world, that you wanted to get the sanctions lifted, that you wanted to bring prosperity back to the country, so Iran can take its place among the great nations of the world and not be isolated. There are still some things in that agenda that are still unfulfilled: freedom of speech, more access to the Internet and personal freedoms.
Steve Kroft: As we sit here speak the– right now, there is a dual American/Iranian citizen, a journalist for the Washington Post, Jason Rezaian, in prison for more than a year on unspecified charges. There has been talk among leaders in the last few weeks that there might be a prisoner exchange. Is there anything you can say to clarify the situation?
Steve Kroft: Would you support a prisoner exchange?
I would say you have to see it to disbelieve it (video below), but this is CBS News and 60 Minutes. You believe it.
...but the Center for Medical Progress invented selective editing. /s
Fortunately, only two dozen people watched it.
The losers were watching the lowest rated Emmy’s ever, the rest of us were watching Sunday night football.
Steve Kroft probably might have given juicy details about innovative wine drinking to his Iranian host — oops, too despicable to describe here.
Freedom is a negative concept it merely means absence of restraint. The greatest literature in the world was created in times of censorship and licensing requirements; i.e. Shakespeare.
Prevention of sedition and treason is more important than media freedom to interview ones nation's enemies.
I’m surprised he didn’t ask him some of these hardline questions....
Q If you were a flower what kind of flower would you be?
Q What’s your favorite color?
Q Why do you suppose Republicans are so rotten and evil?
With a NEW “conservative” President.. the Justice Department will have to hire hundreds of new prosecutors to handle the LOAD....
Americas Treasonous and Seditious Creme De la Creme has risen to the TOP..
GANG Gallows might be in order..
If the time ever comes, remember that they were traitors and should be tried as such.
Steve Kroft needs to go to Syria and ask how they feel about Hillary.
How could I have been so naive? Maybe the show was good at one time, but the Obama administration butt kissing is so blatantly obvious now.
These days I think most media types should be joining Obama and his staff, Boehner and McConnell plus more than a few other Senators and House members and some Supreme Court justices in orange prison jumpsuits.
that’s very cruel and unusual :)
I see Kroft. I think of pudding. BLECH
I see Tiger Woods. I think of porn.
In 1983 they did a totally inaccurate piece on Hughes Aircraft Company and the Maverick missile. They claimed that Senator Barry Goldwater refused to talk to them. It turns out the Sen. Goldwater was having heart surgery at the time they wanted to interview him. I was privileged to read copies of the correspondence between Sen. Goldwater and Van Gordon Sauter (president of CBS news at the time).
I don’t remember that. I do know there was a flap over a hit piece on Gen. Westmorwland during the Vietnam War and of course, much later, the infamous forged military records of President Bush.
There was a staffer on the Sen. Armed Services Committee that had been an A-7 pilot in the Navy and wanted to go to Nellis AFB to fly in an F-16 with an IR Maverick. He was in favor of the Maverick. I went to Nellis from Tucson to be there when he flew.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.