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Fox News graphics department has shaky grasp of Mideast geography

July 27, 2009 5:28 pm ET by Media Matters staff

From the July 27 edition of Fox News' The Live Desk (hat tip to Twitter user StefanoScalia):

live desk

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    • Author by Leftym0m79 (July 27, 2009 5:33 pm ET)
      7  
      They seriously have Iraq labeled Egypt? Wow...just...wow.
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    • Author by shaggles (July 27, 2009 5:37 pm ET)
      15  
      Now that's what I call liberating a country. It's not even there any more.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pilotshark (July 27, 2009 5:44 pm ET)
      8 2
      That is just way to funny.

      i see that no child left behind is working for the foxnews history fools.

      shaking head
      Report Abuse
    • Author by worrierking (July 27, 2009 6:05 pm ET)
      8  
      This just in, Egypt annexes Iraq.

      Is this some kind of new birfers geografy?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wookie (July 27, 2009 6:09 pm ET)
      27  
      See, this is what I like about Fox. They let you decide where Egypt is instead of having some fancy pants elitist tell ya!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (July 27, 2009 6:16 pm ET)
        9  
        That's right. Fox viewers don't need a map or God forbid a book to tell them where Egypt is. If their guts tell them it's between Syria and Iran who are you to tell them that it's not.
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        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 28, 2009 8:37 am ET)
          6  
          Fox News: "If Obama isn't African, then darn it, Egypt won't be, either."

          Rupert Murdoch: "Make it so, Number Two."
          Report Abuse
          • Author by The_Cat (July 28, 2009 10:47 am ET)
            2  
            I like the sound of that:

            FOX Broadcasting: The 'number two' of network news. I better trademark it!
            Report Abuse
    • Author by Clothodi (July 27, 2009 6:11 pm ET)
      3  
      Beyond strange. How long before they do one of those pieces where they discover that Americans lack a knowledge of Geography. You know the one where the talking heads ponder what's wrong with our educational system.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bilbo_dies (July 27, 2009 6:22 pm ET)
      4  
      Oh come on!!! This is just another example of our excellent educational system.

      Teacher: "OK, Johnny. Can you show the America on the map?"

      Johnny: "uh, whuts a map?"
      Report Abuse
      • Author by leilah (July 28, 2009 12:39 am ET)
        1 4
        Thanks for showing us how America's educational system has failed us in spelling too!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Trev2HI (July 29, 2009 3:53 pm ET)
          3  
          The word "whuts" was quite obviously intentionally misspelled. The best educational system in the world can't compensate for stupid.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by MrPlow99 (July 27, 2009 6:30 pm ET)
      3  
      I know they want to whitewash over the previous administration's misdeeds vis a vis Iraq, but this is ridiculous.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (July 27, 2009 6:45 pm ET)
      3  
      Every Geography teacher's worst nightmare! I used to beg my students not to end up on "Jay Walking," but this is worse!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by harley (July 27, 2009 7:14 pm ET)
      12  
      At least they didn't label any of those counties with "(D)". Congrats
      Report Abuse
    • Author by IRONY 101 (July 27, 2009 7:30 pm ET)
      10  
      And how many FOX viewers would even notice...?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by seeryer (July 27, 2009 8:40 pm ET)
      1  
      Me thinks this was a PSYOPS mission striaght from Ailes to scare the bejezus out of folks that Iran is so dominate in a region were wee little Israel resides.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by EmberOfTruth (July 27, 2009 9:15 pm ET)
      3  
      I thought everybody knew this. Great care had to be exercised during the occupation of Baghdad to insure that the pyramids were kept safe.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by msbatxnyc (July 27, 2009 10:21 pm ET)
      8  
      C'mon people...this one's a gimme:

      I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our [children].
      Report Abuse
    • Author by textbook (July 27, 2009 11:46 pm ET)
      1 3
      It took NBC years to realize that the world was spinning backwards on the Nightly News, and it was CNN that aired a graphic of California with the Atlantic just off the coast. They're *all* fallible.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by harley (July 28, 2009 8:43 am ET)
        3  
        spinning backwards on the Nightly News,
        Failed analogy. Go figure.
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      • Author by Jyrinx (July 29, 2009 3:50 pm ET)
           
        Yes, because which way the world spins is such important context to world events, and it's not possible that they knew perfectly well which way it should be but reversed it for aesthetic reasons.

        (Oh, and FOX's track record with graphics is decidedly worse, given how many (D)s they've added to scandal-ridden goopers.)
        Report Abuse
    • Author by josephebacon14597 (July 28, 2009 12:06 am ET)
      5  
      Oh my goodness, they forgot to put Freedonia on the map, too! I bet we'll hear a protest from President Rufus T Firefly real soon!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by worrierking (July 28, 2009 8:40 am ET)
        3  
        You upstart!
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 28, 2009 8:41 am ET)
        4  
        "So did you shadow Firefly?"

        "Of course we did."

        "What day was that?"

        "On Shadowday! Hey, that's a pretty good joke, eh, boss?"
        Report Abuse
      • Author by neon desert (July 28, 2009 9:51 am ET)
        2  
        Fox News, while displaying that map, was also running a chyron at the bottom announcing that Grand Fenwick is declaring war on the U.S.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by pattyp (July 30, 2009 10:58 am ET)
           
        On a barely-related note, in May I adopted a cat named Rufus T. Firefly from the local animal shelter. Took me about a week to remember where I'd heard that name before.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Brabantio (July 28, 2009 12:43 am ET)
      5  
      So O'Reilly can't understand proportionality and the FOX graphics people think Egypt borders Iran, both in the same day.

      Perhaps they need to rethink their "Margarita Monday" policy.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by rexrex (July 28, 2009 4:18 am ET)
      3  
      Aha! I knew it!

      Sarah Palin is now working for FOX!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bittermarv (July 29, 2009 7:42 pm ET)
        5  
        She must have moved Iraq closer to Alaska so she could see it from her house.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by El_Cid (July 28, 2009 4:59 am ET)
      1  
      That is truly an impressive demonstration of what an absolute failure Jimmy Carter was -- his so-called 'peace agreement' between Israel and Egypt was really obviously between Israel and an unnamed space of anonymous mapspace somewhat west of the real Egypt which is obviously plotting with Iran.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by z-rex (July 28, 2009 5:56 am ET)
         
      Is Twitter honestly the source for this?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by gmsingh (July 28, 2009 7:42 am ET)
      3  
      So which country did the U.S. really invade, then?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 28, 2009 8:42 am ET)
        6  
        Oceania. We've always been at war with Oceania.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 28, 2009 8:43 am ET)
        6  
        Eastasia. We've always been at war with Eastasia.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 28, 2009 8:43 am ET)
        6  
        Eurasia. We've always been at war with Eurasia.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by neon desert (July 28, 2009 9:42 am ET)
             
          I recall hearing about 9 months ago that the country we were thinking about invading was Africa.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by The_Cat (July 28, 2009 10:51 am ET)
            2  
            Yes, indeed. I saw this as FOX's support of Palin. "If the whole continent of Africa is taken up with the country of Africa, then we need to put Egypt somewhere else," someone at FOX decided. "How about between Israel and Iran?" Nods all around the table. Awkward moment avoided.
            Report Abuse
        • Author by weeziejefferson (July 29, 2009 10:33 am ET)
          1  
          Easy to Refute Wingnuts:

          Win.

          Your posts just made my day.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by Pat the Rat (July 28, 2009 9:06 am ET)
      4  
      Looks like Egypt is between Iraq and a hard place.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by krittersitter (July 28, 2009 11:25 am ET)
      1  
      This is why I watch CNN
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      • Author by latichever (July 28, 2009 2:53 pm ET)
        1  
        Well, to be fair. Egypt and Syria once formed the United Arab Republic, which, in a sense, would have put Egypt on the border of Iraq. Closer but no cigar.

        But I agree that most would not notice this.

        From the 2006 National Geographic survey of geographic knowledge.

        "Only 37% of young Americans can find Iraq on a map—though U.S. troops have been there since 2003."

        Not that American isolationism means we know where things are here:

        "Half of young Americans can't find New York on a map."

        But every Foxist knows that New York--wherever it is--is not part of the real USA.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Jamey (July 28, 2009 1:14 pm ET)
      1  
      Egypt were doing so well in N. Africa, they decided to open another one in Mesopotamia.

      (h/t Woody Allen)
      Report Abuse
    • Author by gryffinator (July 28, 2009 1:16 pm ET)
      2  
      Awwww. You've got to be kidding. I hope there's an editor screaming somewhere in Foxland.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by hbobrien (July 28, 2009 3:07 pm ET)
         
      If they'd labeled Syria "Egypt" I would have understood, given the old Nasserite United Arab Republic.

      But this is just wrong. {shock, horror}
      Report Abuse
    • Author by koloheboy09 (July 28, 2009 5:14 pm ET)
      1  
      So this explains where Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck get all their information!!! QUACKS!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Scotius (July 28, 2009 6:44 pm ET)
         
      Silly me... I thought that Egypt was in North Africa.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bittermarv (July 29, 2009 7:46 pm ET)
           
        You must be living in some reality-based community. Fox makes its own reality.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Abiaka (July 28, 2009 10:38 pm ET)
         
      Brought to you by the same people that brought you the 'faked moon landing conspiracy.'

      http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/tv/foxapollo.html

      Fox News. Dumbing down the American public since 1996.™
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Kmelion (July 29, 2009 1:04 am ET)
      1  
      Iraq, the new Egypt... also nice to see that Lebanon is too insignificant to even mention.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by smartalek (July 29, 2009 3:06 am ET)
      1  
      Gosh, that's pretty mavericky.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Thargor21 (July 29, 2009 11:15 am ET)
      3  
      HAHAHA! All of you have had creative comments, my favorites being the 1984 and "between iraq and a hard place." thank you!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Wildean (July 29, 2009 4:35 pm ET)
           
        Truly, these comments were clever and hilarious! That Fox News, what kidders!
        Report Abuse
    • Author by willsat (July 29, 2009 3:58 pm ET)
         
      For Fox News people, reality is what you make it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Rader (July 29, 2009 4:20 pm ET)
         
      Let's face it. There are not 15 regular Faux watchers who have a clue whether Egypt is in Iraq or is a city in Tehran, Afghanistan. These are very, very dump people, let us not forget; otherwise they would have figured out long ago that they are dupes of the worst kind. I say we ask voters who show up at the polls whether or not they watch Faux News, and if the answer is "yes," we hand them a lollipop and just kicked their rear ends right out of the place!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ScruffyLokingNerfHerder (July 29, 2009 5:39 pm ET)
      1  
      This shouldn't be taken so lightly, seeing that the Junior Executive in charge of Map Graphics for Fox just had his soul consumed by Rupert Murdoch.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by the sage of lexington (July 29, 2009 5:44 pm ET)
         
      home schooling?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by redraven (July 29, 2009 6:17 pm ET)
      1  
      I can't wait to get the FOX Geography channel. I won't be able to leave my house it'll be so entertaining...
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Katkooteh (July 29, 2009 6:42 pm ET)
      1  
      Well at least they properly labeled Jordan, poor guys never get any mention.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by springyahoo (July 29, 2009 7:14 pm ET)
      1  
      CNN's not really much different. The other day they showed the coast of Liberia as the Pacific Ocean.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by thought3 (July 29, 2009 8:29 pm ET)
      1  
      We came SOOOO close to winning the war in Iraq, we were almost at the point where Iraq could govern itself, but now it's governed by Egypt. We were SOOOO CLOSE DAMMIT!!!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ComradeAnon (July 29, 2009 9:24 pm ET)
      1  
      So, what country did we invade?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by cugagcmu805031 (July 30, 2009 10:04 am ET)
         
      Frankly, this comes as no surprise to me. I taught social studies for 33 years, and most students just don't see/understand the need to learn geography. It's a direct result of American exceptionalism. They and their parents think we're the greatest nation on earth, and that's all they need to know. Unfortunately, they are proud of their ignorance instead of ashamed of it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by christopherjfredrickson (July 30, 2009 1:21 pm ET)
      1  
      To quote Miss Teen South Carolina 2007

      “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t have maps and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the US should help the US, uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us."

      Enough said.

      Might be time for some additional education reform?
      Report Abuse

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