The six questions that CNN asked:(and that Bozell asked CNN)
CNN’s six questions:
"1. Your spokesman has praised the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of innocent people and threatened to carry out more attacks involving planes and tall buildings. How can you and your followers advocate the killing of innocent people?
"2. What was your role and the role of the al Qaeda organization in the September 11 attacks?
"3. What was your role and the role of your organization in the subsequent anthrax attacks in the United States?
"4. Did any of the September 11 hijackers or their accomplices receive al Qaeda financial support or training at al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan, and was any other government or organization involved?
"5. In the past, you called on your followers to acquire weapons of mass destruction -- nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Do you or your followers have any such weapons and, if so, will those weapons be used?
"6. The vast majority of Muslim and Arab leaders, including Muslim clerics and Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat, say there is no justification in Islam for the terrorist attacks you advocate. They have denounced you, your followers, and your self-declared holy war. How do you respond to their criticism?"
The Web site story, which matches the language employed by CNN on-air staff on Tuesday, concluded: "We have no idea if bin Laden will answer these questions, and we intend to run only what we think is newsworthy. We will report back to you as this process unfolds."
For this story as posted on the CNN Web site, go to: cnn.com
In reaction to CNN’s gambit to give air time to an enemy with whom the U.S. is at war, MRC President L. Brent Bozell on Wednesday released his own six questions to CNN formulated with input from the MRC’s Liz Swasey and Rich Noyes. Bozell suggested: "One finds it absurd to believe that if CNN existed 60 years ago it would give an audience to Adolf Hitler or Emperor Hirohito who ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor. This is truly outrageous, it is harming the war effort and it’s a slap in the face to the American people."
Bozell’s six questions for CNN:
"-- Knowing that terrorists thrive on media exposure to spread their propaganda, and that the interview was instigated by al Qaeda, why would you allow your international network to be used by a wanted terrorist and known killer?
"-- Have you sought assurances from the government of the United States that this endeavor will not in any way jeopardize the war against terrorism or cause further loss of life?
"-- Given that bin Laden is a liar – he first denied having anything to do with the terrorist attacks on the U.S. -- why do you think he will be honest with CNN?
"-- Will you independently verify bin Laden's statements before you put them on the air?
"-- If CNN had existed 60 years ago, would it have interviewed and aired comments from Emperor Hirohito, the man who ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor?
"-- If CNN had existed 60 years ago, would it have given a forum to Adolf Hitler to explain his hatred of Jews and Christians?"
To see the MRC press release in full with Bozell’s comments: mediaresearch.org |
