This was not a confession: it was a preemptive strike.
Our boys have gotten myriads of files from various Iraqi ministries, and great many Iraqis will be talking now. Mr. CNN is trying to put the most positive spin on his deeds before we learn about them --- and we will --- from Iraqi citizens and Iraqi archives.
It's not conscience that speaks here: just as is slept for a decade it could continue to sleep. It's not sonscience at all --- it's cowardice.
.. cnn probably wants to let the air out of the tires slowly on this one ...
Christiane Amanpour has been on tv badmouthing us all week, while she knew what true mistreatment of journalists was in this conflict.
In fairness to CNN... strike that... not in fairness... but they are not the only duplicitous folks here. Where were the specials on FOX or MSNBC, ABCBSNBC?
They all knew what was going on. But they figured everybody knew Saddam was evil, it isn't "news" when ya discover another atrocity.
This is a problem with media. Context. If somebody does something questionable 10,000 times... they will ignore the last 9,500 cases, for years... and devote their time to jumping on any questionable thing by the other side.
It distorts reality. A US tank might have fired at a hotel housing journalists. That is reported continuously for days. It fills up all the space on the air. By not reporting the "news" about the latest evils by Saddam, it wharps what reality is in the situation.