Category Archives: Afghanistan

WaPo Defines Obama's Afghan War Mission

Posted on 06/22/2011 by Peter Hart

The headline in today's Post, previewing Obama's speech tonight: Obamaâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s challenge: Leaving, but not too quickly Funny how it's not the other way around– leaving too slowly would seem to be a larger political problem, given the state of public … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, War/Military, Washington Post | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Debating the Big Issues, NewsHour Style

Posted on 06/10/2011 by Peter Hart

One of the most common criticisms of the PBS NewsHour is that it too often mimics the elite bias of the commercial media. A recent broadcast of the NewsHour (6/8/11) had two segments about the debate over the Afghan War–the … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Economy, PBS | Tagged , | 6 Comments

ABC's Raddatz, Citing Her 'Combat Mission,' Says Bombs Must Go On

Posted on 06/06/2011 by Peter Hart

Afghan president Hamid Karzai denounced once again U.S./NATO airstrikes that killed civilians. In this recent incident, 14 were killed, including 11 children. This prompted ABC World News anchor Diane Sawyer (5/31/11) to call in ABC reporters to sort things out, … Continue reading →

Posted in ABC, Afghanistan, War/Military | Tagged , | 23 Comments

Did the WaPo Hire Sean Hannity?

Posted on 05/05/2011 by Peter Hart

OK, this isn't Sean Hannity's byline in the Post today, but it might as well be. The headline should stop you: In bin Laden Victory, Echoes of the Bush Years The piece–actually written by Scott Wilson and Anne Kornblut–lays out … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Washington Post | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

The Wrong Time to Talk About the Afghan War?

Posted on 05/02/2011 by Peter Hart

During an interview on CNN last night (5/1/11) with New York firefighter and 9/11 first responder Kenny Specht: BLITZER: Did you ever give up hope, Kenny, that the U.S. would kill bin Laden? SPECHT: No, but I'd be lying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, CNN, War/Military | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Drone 'Debate' Breaks Out at Washington Post

Posted on 04/25/2011 by Peter Hart

Readers of the Washington Post can see this headline in today's edition (4/25/11) about the U.S. drone airstrikes: Debates Underway on Combat Drones But there is no actual debate in the article. Reporter Walter Pincus cites a British military study … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, War/Military, Washington Post | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Afghan War Is Over (If You Want It)

Posted on 04/04/2011 by Peter Hart

The Los Angeles Times' Michael Muskal explains Obama's 2012 campaign: Running for reelection is different than running for the first time because the incumbent has a record that voters can evaluate. Obama will cite healthcare insurance overhaul, his administration's response … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Barack Obama, L.A. Times | Tagged | 9 Comments

To Milbank, Ending NPR and Afghan War Are Both 'Trivial Pursuits'

Posted on 03/21/2011 by Peter Hart

Washington Post Dana Milbank (3/19/11) skewers the Republicans for their "emergency meeting" to defund NPR: This particular emergency involved the lower end of the FM radio dial. Republicans, in an urgent budget-cutting maneuver, were voting to cut off funding for … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, NPR, Politics, Washington Post | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Afghan War Less Popular Than Ever

Posted on 03/15/2011 by Peter Hart

The new Washington Post/ABC poll is on the front page of the paper today (3/15/11): Nearly two-thirds of Americans now say the war in Afghanistan is no longer worth fighting, the highest proportion yet opposed to the conflict, according to … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Media Criticism, Polling, War/Military, Washington Post | 8 Comments

Fareed Zakaria's Contra Solution in Libya

Posted on 03/07/2011 by Peter Hart

CNN/Time pundit Fareed Zakaria is considered one of the smartest guys in elite policy/media circles.Speaking with CNN host Anderson Cooper on Friday(3/4/11), he advocated CIA intervention in Libya. Deriding a no-fly zone as something less than a "magic solution," he … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Latin America, Libya, Media Criticism | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Hearts, Minds and Dead Children

Posted on 03/07/2011 by Peter Hart

Froma March 2 report on CNN about the U.S. killing nine Afghan boys: MICHAEL HOLMES: I mean, just another terrible thing. We've seen this happen before. DON LEMON: Yes. Sad all the way around. He did apologize, but still. HOLMES: … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, CNN | Tagged , | 32 Comments

General Hails His Own Success, USA Today Investigation Finds

Posted on 02/15/2011 by Jim Naureckas

For a good example of how not to report the Afghan War, check out the lead story in today's USA Today (2/15/11): General: Taliban 'Beaten' by Surge Momentum Shifts in Afghanistan The piece–by Jim Michaels, who has an unfortunate history … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, USA Today, War/Military | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Joe Klein and the Rotten Fruit of Arab Democracy

Posted on 02/03/2011 by Peter Hart

Sometimes words fail. Joe Klein, writing in the new issue of Time, wonders: How on earth do we get saddled with such creepy clients as Karzai and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, over and over again? Yes, why do they keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Egypt, Time | Tagged , | 22 Comments

More War = Aid to Afghans

Posted on 01/12/2011 by Peter Hart

The Washington Post headline overa story about Joe Biden's remarksthat U.S. military forces would stay in Afghanistan after the supposed 2014 withdrawal deadline "if the Afghan people want it" is: Biden Promises Long-Term Aid to Afghans Of course, if theU.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Washington Post | Tagged | 5 Comments

At NBC, Olympics Were Bigger News Than Healthcare or Unemployment

Posted on 01/05/2011 by Peter Hart

I always enjoy Andrew Tyndall's year-in-review report, which tallies the minutes each network newscast devoted to the important stories of the year. His 2010 report is worth a look. The most newsworthywoman of the year? GOP Senate hopeful and Tea … Continue reading →

Posted in ABC, Afghanistan, CBS, Healthcare, NBC | 7 Comments