NBC Sees Scandal in 'Abusive' Interrogations; MSNBC: 'More Lies'

 Courtesy of Media Research Center

NBC Sees Scandal in 'Abusive' Interrogations; MSNBC: 'More Lies'

Presuming Bush administration dissembling and illegality, NBC anchor Brian Williams considered it "big" news Thursday night that the administration "secretly authorized abusive interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects, including torture, despite denial from everyone from President Bush on down. And the policy remains even though the Supreme Court ruled against it." Picking up on the front page New York Times disclosure of the classified documents, which neither ABC nor CBS considered newsworthy, NBC ran a slanted story that, other than one short soundbite from White House Press Secretary Dana Perino about how "they were safe, necessary and lawful, these techniques, and have helped save American lives," aired only condemnatory comments as Andrea Mitchell assumed the methods are torture. She reminded viewers that "after a political firestorm, devastating pictures from Abu Ghraib and a Supreme Court ruling," last year the President promised the U.S. "does not torture" and yet the Justice Dept. under Alberto Gonzales issued memos "authorizing much harsher techniques, including head-slapping, waterboarding, frigid temperatures..." With "More Lies?" displayed on screen under a photo of Bush, MSNBC's Live with Dan Abrams began by re-playing Mitchell's report.

For the rest of the story, link here: NBC Sees Scandal in 'Abusive' Interrogations; MSNBC: 'More Lies'

Technorati tags: political pundits, media matters, media research center, nbc, msnbc, Bush administration, Brian Williams, abusive interrogation techniques, terrorism suspects, torture, President Bush, Supreme Court, New York Times, classified documents, slanted news, Abu Ghraib, Justice Department, waterboarding

.

Be prepared for another attack at home

I cannot believe the stupidity of our elected officials. Maybe it comes from too much education? On Wednesday, Attorney General Gonzales sent a letter to Sens. Spectar and Leahy letting them know that the "domestic" spying (which was leaked by someone who was never charged, btw) would be discontinued so that every case of eavesdropping would go through FISA. This is the program that helped us to foil many attacks to date. It is international calls coming into the USA or calls going to known countries that support al Qaida!

ZDNet news has this: Attorney general: NSA spy program to be reformed. I expect every citizen who reads this to call the White House at 202-456-1111 and ask, "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

They will now have to have probable cause instead of cause for reasonable searches. Why is President Bush giving up presidential powers? I am very afraid. You should be, too. I usually say about here, "Have a great day." Today I will say, "Eat, Drink and be Merry, for tomorrow we die."

Update: American Civil Liberties Union et al., v. National Security Agency et al.

Hat tip: Council on Foreign Relations.