During an interview with Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States, Said T. Jawad, on the July 27 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends First, co-host Steve Doocy repeatedly touted Operation Mountain Thrust, in which coalition forces killed 600 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, as “a real success story.” Doocy added that the operation's purported success is “going to allow U.S. forces to withdraw in some measure.” At no point during the segment did Doocy mention why the operation might have been necessary -- according to recent reports by USA Today and Reuters, the Afghan insurgency is a greater threat than at any point since the U.S.-led effort to expel the Taliban following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
During parts of the interview, an onscreen text read: “Progress Gains a Foothold in Southern Afghanistan.”
DOOCY: We have a real success story to tell you about this morning. More than 600 suspected Taliban have been killed in the past month in Afghanistan. The Taliban fighters were targets in Operation Mountain Thrust. Right now we are happy to be joined in the studio by Afghanistan's ambassador to the U.S., Said Jawad. Good morning to you, ambassador.
JAWAD: Good morning.
DOOCY: OK, so over the last couple of months, I think the operation started early June.
JAWAD: Right.
DOOCY: And you've taken out 600, and this is in advance of a NATO peacekeeping force going in, being inserted into your country.
JAWAD: That's right. Well, the NATO forces are in Afghanistan, they are taking more, increasingly more important roles. They are taking the command of the ISAF, International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan. And as part of that new mission, the NATO forces, United States, and the Afghan security forces are carrying out a large-scale military operation that involves about 10,000 soldiers.
DOOCY: Now the good thing for our viewers is this is going to allow U.S. forces to withdraw in some measure.
JAWAD: Well, United States will still remain the biggest troop contributor. The United States will be leading the fight against terror primary, and NATO countries will focus mainly on peacekeeping in Afghanistan and the reconstruction activities and -- and to rebuild the capacity of the Afghan security forces. The engagement of United States is demanded by the Afghan people, and it's very much welcome.
DOOCY: This is a real success story.
JAWAD: It is. From where we are today, it is a tremendous success. Four years ago, Afghans were deprived of most of their basic rights. Today, six million Afghan children are going back to school, 34 percent are girls, 3.5 million refugees have returned. We have an elected president. We have an elected Parliament. We still have -- facing some challenges, but overall, Afghans today benefits, more political rights, more economic rights than any time in the history of the country.
