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MONTHLY ARCHIVES
White House Edits ABC News Then Takes it Back
November 02, 2007 12:21 PM
ABC News' Jonathan Karl Reports: News flash -- The White House has selectively edited a report on Iraq, taking out negative information and distorting the report's meaning.
This isn't about intelligence or weapons of mass destruction. It's my report on Thursday's evening on World News with Charles Gibson.
WATCH THE FULL REPORT HERE.
The report noted "violence in Iraq is down and down considerably" in virtually every category, but my report also noted that "there has been almost no political progress on the national level" and that "U.S. officials know military gains won't mean much if the Iraqi government doesn't get its act together."
The White House sent out an edited version of my report in an official White House publication called "White House Iraq Update."
Iraq Update is put together by the National Security Council and distributed by the White House via email to government officials, Congressional staffers, radio & television talk show hosts, journalists and foreign policy experts.
As edited by the White House, my report looked like an unqualified declaration of success in Iraq. The White House e-mail publication is headlined: "In Case You Missed It: "Violence Is Down in Iraq and Down Considerably."
Here's is what it included from my report:
CHARLES GIBSON, ABC NEWS: "At the Pentagon today, military officials gave one of the most upbeat assessments of the security situation in Iraq that we have heard since the opening months of the war. Jonathan Karl is at the Pentagon tonight. Jon?"
JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS: "Charlie, nobody over here is anywhere near ready to declare victory. But the military statistics tell an unmistakable story. Violence in Iraq is down. And down considerably.
"Baghdad's marketplaces are slowly coming back to life, as violent attacks in Iraq have fallen to less than half of what they were a year ago. Until recently, the trends had been deadly and consistent, violence steadily increasing to an all-time high in June. Since then, however, attacks have fallen four straight months -- in every category."
LT. GEN. RAY ODIERNO: "What I'm confident about, is the progress we're making I think is real."
KARL: "Roadside bombs fell in October to an average of 20 a day. Still high, but the lowest level since October 2004. Iraqi civilian deaths have fallen to a third of where they were a year ago. And after the deadliest summer ever for US forces in Iraq, US combat deaths fell to 29 last month, the lowest level in more than 3 years."
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: "The fact that we're seeing a durable trend over half a year time period tells us something real is going on. It doesn't mean, however, that it's guaranteed to last. …"
Here is what the White House left out:
O'HANLON: ... and it doesn't answer the questions about political progress.
KARL: In fact, there's been almost no political progress on the national level, and U.S. officials know military gains won't mean much if the Iraqi government doesn't get its act together, which is one reason the Pentagon doesn't even want to use the word "winning."
[To Defense Secretary] You're not ready to say we're winning, that the surge is working --
ROBERT GATES [Defense Secretary]: (From tape.) I think – I think that those end up being loaded words. I think we have been very successful. We need to continue being successful.
KARL: Today, Defense Secretary Gates said that the reduction in violence would not have been possible without the surge of 30,000 additional troops into Iraq, but, Charlie, those troops are going home in the coming months, raising the question of whether the violence will go up when they leave.
GIBSON: Jonathan Karl tonight reporting from the Pentagon, thanks.
After ABC News expressed concern about the selective editing of the report, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe acknowledged it was inappropriate and agreed to sent out the full text of the ABC report.
"The White House understands your concern and the full text of your report will be released to the same distribution list so that recipients have a chance to see what the entire report was about."
November 2, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (102)
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This is the media's fault to begin with. You let Bush get away with everything in the first three years until you finally noticed he was lying to you constantly. Why would this surprise you? They've beene doing this for years. We're not stupid out here, wake up ABC, we have known this for years. Are you just realizing it now?
Posted by: Shelly T | Nov 3, 2007 7:35:23 AM
I believe it has become quite clear that we have a controlled media in the United States of America.
When the mainstream media can ignor particular candidates while dwelling on others to spin and manipulate an election...That is controlled media.
When the mainstream can neglect coverage of things like the CanaMex NAFTA highway, Bilderberg Group, North American Union, and a whole slew of other IMPORTANT issues...THAT is a controlled media.
When large corporations are allowed to own our media outlets while being major defense contractors and other such things go on...THAT is the downfall of America.
Let's clean it up.
VOTE FOR RON PAUL in 2008.
Posted by: tumbleweedin | Nov 3, 2007 7:25:36 AM
That's why you shouldn't waste your time in mainstream propaganda.
Posted by: Bert | Nov 3, 2007 6:28:54 AM
How does it feel? The American people get the same type of hacked-up information all day, every day from mass media. We have to do our own research, delete the spins, then carefully piece it together ourselves. Sucks, doesn't it?
Posted by: BlueCalico | Nov 3, 2007 3:50:54 AM
This is an incredibly shocking turn of events that no one could have foreseen!
Wake the hell up.
Stop worshiping the office of the president for a minute and realize how far outside the constitution this white house has been operating for 7 years.
Posted by: James Meyers | Nov 3, 2007 3:31:43 AM
I want a FACT BASED president - NOT a FAITH BASED president. I want a president who understands this is a DEMOCRACY - NOT a THEOCRACY. And finally? I want George W. IMPEACHED - before he can do ANYMORE damage to this great country of ours.
Posted by: David Potter | Nov 3, 2007 1:35:03 AM
This is crazy! How is this happening in The United States? I can't believe how far back we have gone in the past 5 years.
Posted by: The Worlds Smartest Man | Nov 3, 2007 1:28:58 AM
In a case like this, it is the responsibility of the media to correct their 'changes' and report it truthfully. The White House doesn't, in any way, own the press.
Posted by: PJ | Nov 3, 2007 1:21:46 AM
So, once again, King George trashes the First Amendment, once more he violates his oath of office, and once more even the MEDIA rolls over and says nothing. The American people want Bush and Cheney impeached! And trust me, not a few people in Europe wouldn't mind seeing it either!!
Report THAT, ABC!! (if you have the guts)
Posted by: Steve | Nov 3, 2007 12:26:29 AM
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
De facto, like de jure, ordinances must abide by the Constitution as well. ABC should take the government to court over this because, unlike the press, the government is not allowed to report only the data that supports its claim and leave out everything else. The government has a legal obligation to serve the people such that the duties of their offices are fulfilled and that they abide by the laws set forth by the Constitution and Congress. The onus is on the government to prove that they were not skewing reports to mislead the public, a feat not so easy to accomplish.
Posted by: First Amendment | Nov 3, 2007 12:12:47 AM
Go to PBS and watch the Cheney documentary. Why did our mainstream media stop reporting the truth? This admistration is wiping out our Constitution, to the point it is making other Republicans sick.
Posted by: Luella lynn | Nov 2, 2007 11:44:56 PM
The only reason violence is down in Iraq is because the "terrorists" had to tend to their pumpkin patches for Halloween. Now that it's November they can go back to making roadside bombs. It's a little known fact that most "terrorists" own pumpkin patches but it's true.
Posted by: Jack O | Nov 2, 2007 11:41:56 PM
This happens everyday! Apparently the companies that own our media are getting so rich from this administration that they have decided to stop reporting real news. They have now just decided to let this administration write their own news, which is what they have basically done this entire time anyway. If the media would have truly done their jobs we wouldn't even be in this war.
Posted by: Luella lynn | Nov 2, 2007 11:33:09 PM
This has been going on since the 1920s or so. Virtually ALL of mainstream media in the U.S. is owned or connected to the CFR. I'm starting to learn this is the tip of the iceberg as far as corruption goes and it goes WAY beyond this administration. I will not say what connections ive made but I encourage everyone to do a bit of research and decide for themselves.
Posted by: Rexblade | Nov 2, 2007 11:30:14 PM
This will be a stupid question, and probably asked long before this: Why is the White House getting it's hands on ABC's footage AT ALL???? Are they taking it, or is ABC giving it???
Posted by: Steve | Nov 2, 2007 11:07:35 PM
I don't feel sorry for you. ABC and the other members of the mainstream media have been more than willing to participate in mass brainwashing on behalf of a rogue administration and legislature hell bent on breaking every known law. I guess you didn't get the memo.
Posted by: truth hurts | Nov 2, 2007 10:56:04 PM
shunnangreen...no need to keep re-posting the same nonsense over and over. We all got that it was nonsense the first time.
Posted by: wilder5121 | Nov 2, 2007 10:40:36 PM
"The left-wing media has done this kind of thing all the time: ignore the important part of the information by not reporting it or down playing it. These things have been happening everyday, so what's the big deal???!!!
Posted by: shunnangreen | Nov 2, 2007 4:33:27 PM"
Uh... WHAT left wing media? There is virtually NO left wing media in this country. Most definitely none that has any major network behind it. When will you people stop with the false talking points? Sheesh.
This is about the administration, not the media.
Posted by: cui bono | Nov 2, 2007 10:36:28 PM
I think if there is a sense of the MOVEMENT--to have a Global Community..qand the actions of violance in IRAQ..it might be apparent that INROADS by terrorist groups have been given the BOOT/NOT--only heroin production and arms sales against neighbors/but regular consumer items meant as inventions and technology..THE TERRORIST dream to command the streets has waned/by the measure of scope/or investigation..but really what about TERRORISM--minus--inroads..do we really have them caught in a noose of justice and reality..??
Posted by: Mark S. M. | Nov 2, 2007 6:57:55 PM
I am appalled by how many can still defend this Administration and his party after all these years. Apparently some of these phony patriots would vote for Bin Laden if he was republican.
Posted by: koriks | Nov 2, 2007 5:33:26 PM
As a thirty-five year veteran of advertising, public relations and government affairs I can tell you that it is in no way remarkable that any administration attempt to spin a quote or excerpt in the direction of their particular bias. What would be truly remarkable would be if this particular administration did not.
Posted by: michael basham | Nov 2, 2007 5:27:17 PM
BUSH and his entire administration are dirty stinking liars who trash this great democracy as they wave the american flag
Posted by: Squierghia74 | Nov 2, 2007 4:46:35 PM
WE THE PEOPLE, you do not yet know the power of the dark side of the GOP; join me, Darth Bushie and together we will rule the galaxy! LOL!!!!!!!!! This is freakin nuts; IMPEACH this self glorified traitor!
Posted by: Citizen1960 | Nov 2, 2007 4:41:08 PM
The left-wing media has done this kind of thing all the time: ignore the important part of the information by not reporting it or down playing it. These things have been happening everyday, so what's the big deal???!!!
Posted by: shunnangreen | Nov 2, 2007 4:33:27 PM
Maybe ABC News needs to reconsider its policy of sending advance notice of "news" to the White House.
Posted by: dena | Nov 2, 2007 3:56:46 PM
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