Gibson falsely claimed Zarqawi "blew up the [USS] Cole"
SUMMARY: On Fox News' The Big Story, John Gibson falsely claimed that former Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was recently killed in Iraq by American forces, "attacked" and "blew up" the USS Cole in October 2000. In fact, according to the 9-11 Commission report, the attack on the Cole was an Al Qaeda operation that was "supervised and directed" by Osama bin Laden.
On the June 8 edition of Fox News' The Big Story, host John Gibson falsely claimed that former Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was recently killed in Iraq by American forces, "attacked" and "blew up" the USS Cole in October 2000. In fact, according to the 9-11 Commission report, the attack on the Cole was an Al Qaeda operation that was "supervised and directed" by Osama bin Laden. The report made no mention of Zarqawi in the operation's planning or execution.
Discussing Zarqawi's death with Peter Brooks, senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, Gibson stated that "today the Cole sailed for the first time since Zarqawi attacked it." Later in the show, talking with Rep. John Kline (R-MN), Gibson again claimed that "[i]t was Zarqawi who blew up the Cole."
But the attack on the Cole "was a full-fledged al Qaeda operation, supervised directly by Bin Ladin," as the 9-11 Commission report detailed. The report said that bin Laden "chose the target and the location of the attack, selected the suicide operatives, and provided the money needed to purchase explosives and equipment." According to the report, Abd Rahim al Nashiri was the field commander of the operation, and he was assisted by Tawfiq bin Attash (AKA Khallad), Jamal al Badawi, and Fahd al Quso. In addition, the report stated that "the two suicide operatives chosen were Hassan al Khamri and Ibrahim al Thawar, also known as Nibras." The 9-11 Commission report made no mention of Zarqawi participating in the attack on the Cole, nor is he mentioned in the entire report.
On November 3, 2002, a missile fired from a U.S. aerial drone killed another Al Qaeda suspect in the Cole bombing, Abu Ali al-Harithi.
From the June 8 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson:
GIBSON: By the way, Peter, today the Cole sailed for the first time since Zarqawi attacked it.
[...]
GIBSON: Congressman, what is missing? I mean, Zarqawi was a very big problem, him personally. Now, we know the insurgency is a big problem. But it was Zarqawi who was creating this Shiite-Sunni sectarian war. He's now gone. It was Zarqawi who was the bomber and the beheader. Zarqawi who blew up the golden dome. It was Zarqawi -- Zarqawi who blew up the Cole. And he's gone. For whatever insurgency is left in Iraq, can't the Iraqis handle that?
diverting from Bin Laden to Zarqawi as the prime suspect.
...in a manner of speaking. They haven't been able to get bin Laden, so just substitute someone they did get and hope nobody notices.
Meanwhile, Bush plays the another strawman...the Scarecrow..."if I only had a brain..."
Like he did when called for whites to start having babies.
What will it be?
"I never said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi attacked the Cole, I said Zarqawi. "Zarqawi" is the Fox News codename for Osama bin Laden, but the folks at MMFA are too stupid to know this."
LOL, I can't wait.
Gibson wouldn't see this as a big deal. They are both terrorist.
"Its just the wrong terrorist leaders name?"
No - It's a distraction.
Do you really think that Gibson (conveniently) forgot the name of the most hated man in the world. The one man everyone agrees we SHOULD be going after. This dog does not hunt.
A little application of common sense goes a long way to having a rational supposition.
"Gibson wouldn't see this as a big deal."
Gibson wouldn't see it as a big deal, because Facts get in the way of his ideological message.
"They are both terrorist[sic]."
Sure, yes, they are both terrorists. That fact is absolutely 100% correct. You got this right.
But one of those terrorists (Bin Laden) actually attacked us on 9/11. He is the one our fearless leader promised to go after.
The other one (al-Zarqawi) was not even on the radar until Oct. 2002. He didn't start 'Al-Qaeda in Iraq' until Oct 2004. I'm glad he is gone, but he is not the prize that we should have our eye on.
when you count on sheep following you.
On the other hand, I'm surprised Gibson didn't say Bill Clinton did it.
Gibson is SHILL for the Bush Administration (I think we can we all agree with that)
Zarqawi was one of the BAD guys, he's dead, and the world (at least the Middle East) is better off with him GONE.
There's really NO need to build him up as being WORSE than he was, BUT unfortunately that seems to be the *game plan*. Gibson and the rest of the Fox Patrol will milk THIS guy's death for all it's worth.
Geez, I think I need a cup of coffee...it looks like I was half asleep when I wrote some of the ABOVE post ;-)
I've heard Hannity use this same MO. They slip in some little tidbit of information (usually false) to support some position they have, or make Bush look better. If you're not paying attention, you'll miss it (that's the idea), and hence you'll have a different understaning of events (the understanding they want you to have).
Kind of like Bush, in his little prop-up-the-poll-numbers visit to Bagdhad, he once again slipped in a reference to 9/11 and how Iraq was a front on the 'War on Turr". It's all about misdirection and, in essence, telling whatever lie is necessary.
Know it, live it, preach it.
I can't even spell 'strategery' right.
And they'll have Zarqawi planning 9/11. Propaganda saturation is a gradual process. It tends to work best on the weak-minded, kind of like those Jedi mind tricks.
These aren't the droids you're looking for...
Gibson: "Tonight, the Big Story: Now with Zarqawi dead, will we ever find out where he buried Jimmy Hoffa?"
"Zarqawi: the Mastermind Behind the Fall of the Roman Empire"
"Zarqawi known to cause tooth decay"
Only on FOX!
--Fox Exclusive!--
GIBSON: "Coming up: Was Zarqawi the second gunman on the Grassy Knoll?"
told the 9-11 commission that the bush administration didn't respond to the cole because they didn't want to "embolden" the terrorists.
...they didn't whack Zarqawi last Tuesday. Gibson could have claimed he was the anti-Christ!
It's a strange claim to make.
I mean, if their rocketing of this particular bogey-man (which card in the deck was he? Was he even in that deck of 52 cards?)...
If the bogey-man's death were a sufficient enough accomplishment to the American People, then why exaggerate the bogey-man's deeds?
Don't tell me the administration conducted a snap poll... And found the American People to think that the death of this bogey-man is hardly worth the lives of 2,497 U.S. Troops killed in Iraq?
Or why else suddenly exaggerate the bogey-man's deeds?
I mean why not just pull out all the stops, and lie and say this bogey-man had something to do with the attacks of September 11, 2001, or was a threat to the National Security of the United States?
Upon the Boss's secretive departure overseas, the Senior Advisor made one last effort...
"Come on Boss, say it. It's a real winner; I'm sure of it."
"No, not on your life."
"But it'll make headlines around the world; look what it did for JFK!"
No, I won't say it. Look, I know you're right most of the time, but nobody's right all the time; and I'm sorry, but this is one of those times. I can't take your advice on this one."
"You're just being stubborn; you're afraid of greatness..."
"Easy... be careful what you say to me..."
"Well if you won't say it there, in Baghdad, at least give it a try here, just between us."
"No way!"
"I'm not letting you on the plane until you at least give it a try..."
"Oh, what a nag! OK, if it'll get you off my back; here goes...
ICH BIN EIN IRAQI!
...there! Happy now?"
"What was so hard about that? Don't be so afraid of greatness Boss!"
"Easy, you... easy"
... when in fact it came from the rear end of Gibson.
More Republican echo chamber from the mental midgets at Redstate.com:
[link to www.redstate.com]
Hope this works:
http://www.redstate.com/story/2006/6/9/105418/9661>www.redstate.com/story/2006/6/9/105418/9661
I'm an idiot too, apparently.
[link to www.redstate.com]