Media Matters - National Security/Foreign Policy

Media Matters - National Security/Foreign Policy http://mediamatters.org/tools/syndication/tag_rss/national_security_foreign_policy This link is for use by RSS-enabled software to retrieve Media Matters items matching the term: National Security/Foreign Policy en-US Copyright 2008, Media Matters for America MSNBC's Witt did not note McCain falsehoods in Anbar statement or in later campaign statement purporting to defend it http://mediamatters.org/items/200807230008 On MSNBC Live, Alex Witt uncritically repeated a statement by McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds defending a false statement by Sen. John McCain made the previous day during an interview with CBS, the video clip of which CBS edited to expunge the falsehood. But Witt did not note that Bounds inaccurately represented McCain's original statement or that McCain's statement was itself false. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807230008 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:35:43 EST Jonah Goldberg the latest to falsely claim McCain called for Rumsfeld's resignation http://mediamatters.org/items/200807230002 In his Los Angeles Times column, Jonah Goldberg falsely claimed that "[w]ithin months of the [Iraq] invasion, [Sen. John] McCain was calling for more troops and the head of then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld." In fact, McCain did not call for Rumsfeld to be fired, or for his resignation. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807230002 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:49:30 EST CBS splices McCain interview clip, expunging his false claim on surge timeline and falsely suggesting he gave different answer http://mediamatters.org/items/200807230001 On the CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric aired portions of an interview she conducted with Sen. John McCain, removing a part of a response in which he falsely asserted that the 2007 U.S. troop surge "began the Anbar awakening." Couric gave no indication that McCain's comments had been edited in any manner, nor did she otherwise note his falsehood. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807230001 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:20:37 EST Stephanopoulos falsely suggested Obama "now" aligned with McCain on more troops in Afghanistan -- but Obama has called for more troops for years http://mediamatters.org/items/200807220005 ABC News' George Stephanopoulos falsely suggested that Sen. Barack Obama shifted positions on increasing U.S. troops in Afghanistan and is "now" aligned with the position of Sen. John McCain. In fact, Obama has been calling for increasing U.S. troops in Afghanistan since at least 2006. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807220005 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:20:06 EST LA Times did not report that Maliki statement came only after Bush administration contacted his office "to express concern" over comments in Der Spiegel http://mediamatters.org/items/200807210002 In a story on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's assertion to a German magazine that Sen. Barack Obama's 16-month timeline "would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal," the Los Angeles Times reported that "a Maliki spokesman said the magazine, Der Spiegel, had misinterpreted the prime minister's comments." But the Los Angeles Times did not note that the Maliki office's statement was issued only after the U.S. embassy reportedly contacted Maliki "to express concern." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807210002 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:53:50 EST Kilmeade on NY Times report of American deaths in Iraq due to faulty wiring: "They had to find the negative story in Iraq?" http://mediamatters.org/items/200807180005 On Fox & Friends First, after Gretchen Carlson reported that "The New York Times says shoddy electrical wiring has killed 13 Americans and injured many more," Brian Kilmeade stated: "They had to find the negative story in Iraq?" When Carlson again discussed the Times story on Fox & Friends, Kilmeade stated: "So, this is America bad?" http://mediamatters.org/items/200807180005 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:53:12 EST O'Reilly's guest Hoenig again advocated military strikes on Iran while discussing economy http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170013 On Bill O'Reilly's radio show, financial commentator Jonathan Hoenig said: "[I]f there's bad guys out there, Bill, and you alluded to Iran and whatnot -- let's deal with them militarily. You know, we didn't win -- win World War II by cutting back on German sausages." Hoenig has previously advocated military strikes on Iran and North Korea in appearances on Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170013 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:59:59 EST Media report McCain "mocking" Obama for laying out Iraq, Afghanistan policy before visiting, but McCain has done the same http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170012 Several media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and The Washington Post, have uncritically reported Sen. John McCain's speech attacking Sen. Barack Obama for "outlining a plan" for Afghanistan and Iraq before his upcoming visit to the region without noting that in the same speech, McCain outlined his own "Comprehensive Strategy For Victory In Afghanistan," but hasn't visited that country since December 2006. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170012 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:39:48 EST Scarborough repeats McCain's falsehood that he called for Rumsfeld's resignation, despite MSNBC's previous correction http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170008 On MSNBC's Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough repeated the falsehood that Sen. John McCain called for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation, saying, "I think he [McCain] was saying that Rumsfeld should be fired." Although MSNBC previously corrected this falsehood, and a McCain spokesman reportedly acknowledged that McCain "did not call for his resignation," MSNBC hosts have repeatedly failed to correct guests' assertions that he did so. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170008 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:02:14 EST On America's Election HQ, Ralph Peters made false statements about Obama's foreign policy http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170004 On Fox News' America's Election HQ, Ralph Peters falsely suggested that Sen. Barack Obama has said that the United States "should send ground troops into Pakistan" and "invade the country through which we get our supplies." In fact, Obama did not say he would "invade" Pakistan; rather, he stated: "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and [Pakistani] President [Pervez] Musharraf won't act, we will." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170004 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:58:44 EST ABC and NBC missed mark while reporting on Obama's, McCain's Afghanistan proposals http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170001 ABC's World News and NBC's Nightly News both reported that Sen. John McCain vowed to send more troops to Afghanistan. But neither program noted that McCain also reportedly suggested that, in the words of The Washington Post, "he might call on NATO to supply part of the additional troops he hopes to send to the region." ABC's Charlie Gibson did not report that Obama, too, called for increasing troops in Afghanistan in his July 15 speech. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170001 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:01:54 EST Brzezinski continues pattern of MSNBC hosts not challenging false assertion that McCain called for Rumsfeld's resignation http://mediamatters.org/items/200807160009 On MSNBC Live, Mika Brzezinski failed to correct Mitt Romney's false assertion that Sen. John McCain "said that [Donald] Rumsfeld needed to go." Although a McCain spokesman reportedly acknowledged that McCain "did not call for his resignation," MSNBC hosts have repeatedly failed to correct guests' assertions that he did so. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807160009 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:19:02 EST Angle uncritically reported Hatch's remarks downplaying reach of government's warrantless eavesdropping program http://mediamatters.org/items/200807100011 On Special Report, Jim Angle reported that during debate on the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, "Senator Orrin Hatch dismissed the idea that the intelligence agencies were trying to listen to anyone other than those with terrorist connections" and aired a clip of Hatch stating, "I don't want to bruise anyone's ego, but if Al Qaeda is not on your speed dial, the government is probably not interested in you." Angle did not note that several news articles have reported that surveillance under the government's warrantless eavesdropping program was not limited to those with "Al Qaeda on [their] speed dial," but also included thousands of Americans with no ties to any terrorist group. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807100011 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:57:49 EST Wash. Times posted AP article falsely claiming Obama now "calls for a troop drawdown process that could last 16 months" http://mediamatters.org/items/200807090008 The Washington Times website posted a version of an Associated Press article falsely asserting that Sen. Barack Obama "has gone from hard-line opposition to the war to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for a troop drawdown process that could last 16 months." In fact, as other versions of the AP article noted, Obama has long advocated withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in a process that "could last 16 months." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807090008 Wed, 9 Jul 2008 18:45:16 EST Media quote GOP claim that Obama reversed Iraq policy, without noting Obama's prior statements http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030014 In covering Sen. Barack Obama's comments, "When I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies," the media have reported Republican claims that Obama reversed himself. In fact, Obama has said for months that he would set Iraq war policy in consultation with military commanders. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030014 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 20:47:45 EST