www.mediaresearch.org
Retired Army Colonel David Hackworth gave CNN a surprise on Wednesday night when he lashed out at a story by CNN’s Bob Franken on how Pentagon video does not show civilian casualties and how the Taliban are proving to be a tough foe two weeks after a military leader insisted they had been "eviscerated." Appearing just after Franken’s story aired, Hackworth called it "garbage," MRC analyst Ken Shepherd observed.
The criticism occurred on CNN’s new 10pm EST show, repeated at 1am EST, NewsNight with Aaron Brown. From the Pentagon, Bob Franken reported on November 7:
"One month into this new war in Afghanistan, it's almost exclusively a war fought from above Afghanistan. This is how the Pentagon likes to tell the bombing story: through the lens of the airplane nose cameras. But the nose cameras do not show the other part of the bombing story: the misses, the unintended civilian casualties that U.S. officials say are few and regrettable. The Taliban have tried to exploit the casualties by conducting media tours. Still, the barrage against Taliban troop positions grows more intense daily, two weeks after these memorable words."
Lt. General Gregory Newbold: "I really do. I think, as I say, the combat power of the Taliban has been eviscerated."
Franken: "Pentagon officials wish the word ‘eviscerated’ had never escaped that general's lips. Rather than being gutted, Taliban forces are still holding their ground. Al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden are still presumed to be hiding in the country's vast web of caves. So-called 'bunker buster' bombs have failed to make much of a dent. Air power has limitations.
General Peter Pace, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs: "There are certain formations on the ground that dropping bombs on them has some effect, but not the final effect that you need."
Franken: "So far, as the Pentagon will say, the extent of the U.S. ground operations has been one commando attack and several special operations forces patrols, working with Northern Alliance troops, spotting targets for the bombers. But there are enough forces in the area for a much larger presence on the ground. One month in, there are few reported casualties. But if there is an expanded ground assault, the risks would be much higher. The test of resolve back home much tougher, in the months ahead. Bob Franken, CNN, the Pentagon."
Anchor Aaron Brown then went to Hackworth for comment on the status of the war effort, but Hackworth was more interested in taking on CNN’s story, though he was a bit off on Franken’s name:
"Well, I think before the American people -- in spite of guys like Mr. Franklin -- when you read that report and listen to it, it really is discouraging, when the American people slice into their turkey on Turkey Day, we will see the Taliban no longer in business. And that will not be the end of round one. Then it will be, for the next six months or even year, mopping up the Taliban. This is a 30-round fight. We haven't even got in the middle of round one. It's not World War II. It's not Korea. It's not Vietnam, Desert Storm or a General Clark Serbian war -- a little bit of each. But it's an absolutely different kind of war. And that's what the American people must understand. Not that garbage we heard from Franklin."
File that under taking advantage of an opportunity. |
