CNN Guest Asks Anchor: Where Are The Hamas Soldiers?

After writing in the National Review that the Western media are “co-conspirators” who “do Hamas’s bidding by perpetuating the myth that there are two morally competing visions at war in Gaza,” conservative news radio executive Lee Habeeb further elaborated on his point in an interview with CNN’s Kate Bolduan.

“Where are the Hamas soldiers?”  Habeeb asked his CNN host.  “We don’t see them because they’re hiding.  Why do we only see the images of dead women and children, and not the images of Hamas soldiers?”

A portion of the interview can be viewed here:

CNN has now edited out, however, the portion of the interview that proves one of the points that Habeeb was trying to make.  In addition to pointing out the lack of images of Hamas fighters, Habeeb complains of the moral equivalency portrayed by the media.  Bolduan helpfully provided an example of this very problem in the version of the interview that aired on television this morning.  She first noted that Israeli spokesman Mark Regev appears on CNN regularly, and then asserted that when Khaled Meshaal was interviewed, Meshaal complained that “the US has now adopted the Israeli narrative.”  Bolduan asked “How can it be both ways? How can the US media be Hamas’s co-conspirators and also be adopting the Israeli narrative?”

The fact that CNN is willing to put statements by Meshaal on the same footing as Regev is the essence of the problem.  Israel, like the US, has a vigorous free press that holds its government accountable for both its actions and its statements, and a public that will send corrupt government officials packing.  As we’ve seen highlighted in this war, Gaza journalists enjoy no such privileges.  Meshaal can make any claim he wants, no matter how far removed such statements are from the truth, without being held accountable to his own public.  No matter how outrageous Meshaal’s claims are, his public has no ability to vote him out.  Indeed, Hamas executes people who disagree.  The problem is that the media equates, on the one hand, statements made by a government that is held accountable by the press, with, on the other hand, statements made by a dictatorial regime, and calls such statements just two sides of the same story.  Bolduan unwittingly provided a perfect example of the very moral equivalency Habeeb rightfully decries.

17 thoughts on “CNN Guest Asks Anchor: Where Are The Hamas Soldiers?”

  1. It’s a start.

    But he should have also challenged them about the source of the casualty figures (Hamas)
    and about the fact that there have been many deaths caused directly by Hamas (executions) and by Hamas rockets falling short
    and also that the press blindly accepts that “most of the casualties are civilians” when we know for a fact that isn’t the case.

  2. CNNs “rebranding” has been an utter disaster. They think being fair and having a “debate” means just getting talking heads from both sides on to spew talking points. Then they judge if they are being fair by saying things like “well, we made both sides mad, we must be doing something right”. It is just embarrassing. Here is a great video of Amb. Derner calling out CNN for their ridiculous coverage.

    http://www.cnn.com/video/standard.html?/video/bestoftv/2014/08/02/ctn-israeli-ambassador-dermer-israel-gaza-conflict.cnn&video_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

    1. Cable Legend, You are quite right and the video link of Amb. Dermer should provide a template for every pro Israel guest to adopt, too many speakers
      take the defensive and dance to the tune of the anti Israel media.

  3. Norman_In_New_York

    We already have laws on the books here in the U.S. requiring truth in lending and truth in packaging. Why can’t we have laws requiring truth in news reporting?

  4. As the current conflict winds down, I’ve noticed many on Left pathetically whining about how unless the MSM were to outright declare itself a subsidiary of the Hamas Propaganda Ministry it would be guilty of media bias in favour of Israel.

  5. i live in israel and i do not apoloeis for no killing in isael as the numbr in gaza we send the army to war and love all of tham i hop that next time we have 0 people die and as maney needed on the ather side

  6. Jewish children in Sydney Australia were terrorized by adults who got onto the bus and threatened to kill them

  7. NOT GOOD ENOUGH HASBARA !!!!!!!!

    HAMAS IS A TERROR GROUP. LIKE AL QUEDA . (NO PROBLEM FINDIND PROOF FOR THAT)
    THERE ARE COMING EVIDENCE FROM PRO-PALESTINIAN MEDIA THAT EVEN THEY REPROT hamas sooting from hospitals and UN !
    SHOW ON CNN hamas footage of teaching thier 4 years old kids to kill ALL JEWS.

    Show hamas media lies !!!!! they are FOOLING YOU ! and you belive that.

    YES – there are many casualties in GAZA.. it’s unfortunate. but there is also MANY lies. by palestinains. STOP THE MEDIA that should reflect the TRUTH assist those lies !! BE BRAVE ,

    WILL YOU EVEN HEAR AN ARAB CONDEM ISRAELI LIFE LOST like we do on palestinian lost ? ALMOST NEVER. thier aim is to kill all jews.

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