# CNN Breaking News: Propagandist bullshit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540 "2010-02-18T21:53:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/21 "2010-02-19T04:00:14Z")
I may be working on nukes. Just thought I’d give you a heads up. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/22 "2010-02-19T04:01:31Z")
Is the IAEA _known_ for rampant “speculation” without any factual evidence? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/23 "2010-02-19T04:07:48Z")
Count me in as one of the generically confused. Is CNN a mouth piece for the IAEA? Is CNN reporting exactly the same news as every other news site proof that is a front for, um, er, you know … … got it! According the OP it’s the establishment. What the word “establishment” refers to is, of course, an exercise for the reader. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/24 "2010-02-19T04:08:27Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Iran may be building an army of giant robots with laser beams for eyes. :eek: Michael Jackson faked his death and moved to Iran! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/25 "2010-02-19T04:20:18Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :eek: Michael Jackson faked his death and moved to Iran! Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/26 "2010-02-19T04:32:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :eek: Michael Jackson faked his death and moved to Iran! We’re doomed! DOOOOOOOOOMED! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/27 "2010-02-19T05:23:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Perhaps the more correct term is “speculation”, rather than “information”. Not in this case, absolutely not. CNN isn’t speculating; they’re reporting on an investigation that has not produced conclusive results. That’s newsworthy, on an issue like this. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/28 "2010-02-19T05:49:40Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > what’s newsworthy here is that an active investigation has determined that there is some evidence, although inconclusive at this stage, that Iran may in fact actually be messing with nukes. > > That’s newsworthy. It’s not the end of the story, of course, but it’s newsworthy that an active investigation has found enough evidence that it remains a serious possibility. The UN agrees with your assessment. Its not just the bad old US of A, rattling its war sabres again, as much as you want it to be so so you can complain ineffectually about it…its everyone else too, except the countries that already sell them arms… ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/29 "2010-02-19T06:26:03Z")
To the OP: are you suggesting that the word “may” is never appropriate in a news story? That the press should remain absolutely silent on any issue until it’s a done deal and come to pass? That the likelihood or even possibility of a nation that’s politically hostile to the U.S. is in the process of developing a nuclear bomb–press moratorium until there’s an actual smoking gun? That the results of an active investigation are completely unworthy of mention unless certain arbitrary parameters of certainty have been met? Does any of that seem reasonable to you? Do you WANT to know if an official investigation has found a possibility, but not yet a certainty, that Iran is developing nuclear weapons? Or do you want them to keep it to themselves until the first nuclear test? You do understand, don’t you, that there’s a substantive difference between the headline “Iran may be working on secretly developing a nuclear warhead for a missile, IAEA draft report says,” and the headline, “Barack Obama may be a reptile alien from another planet, reliable sources say”? That the word “may” does not automatically invalidate any news report? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/30 "2010-02-19T10:34:58Z")
I think the problem is that “may” is too weak a word to cover what the report actually meant. By saying it, they sound like idiots. Just say the report found some evidence that Iran is making nukes. I think to make your point, lissener, you need to come up with other headlines that would use the word “may” in the way you are describing. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/31 "2010-02-19T10:59:20Z")
I agree that CNN is crap in principle and only reports whatever “news” gets Twitted to them these days, but I’m not see the reason for outrage here. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/32 "2010-02-19T13:19:05Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Well, because there is no evidence of this (i.e. you made it up), while, sadly (for some) there seem to actually BE some evidence that they are developing nukes. You’re only saying that because you haven’t seen my draft report yet. After you read it, you’ll be singing a different tune, I assure you. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/33 "2010-02-19T15:16:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :eek: Michael Jackson faked his death and moved to Iran! The Islamic Revolution will end not with a bang, but with a squeaking rubber sole while Ayatollah Khomeini does the moonwalk. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/34 "2010-02-19T15:30:44Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > To the OP: are you suggesting that the word “may” is never appropriate in a news story? Iraq may have WMDs. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/35 "2010-02-19T15:37:45Z")
I take exception to this type of “news” reporting because it’s vague and suggestive, and doesn’t deliver any content other than to instill fear and loathing in the citizenry, and seems like a pretty transparent ploy to get the American public on board to strike down Iran’s “evil regime”. Bush 43 pulled this shit in Iraq, and now Obama’s setting the stage to pull the same stunt in Iran, except he’s using the American news media as his shill instead of the FBI (or CIA) like Bush did. If you can’t see this for what it is (propaganda), you’re asleep at the wheel. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/36 "2010-02-19T15:43:33Z")
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: we (America) have no business being there (the Middle East). They were perfectly happy fighting amongst themselves for thousands of years before we came along, and I think they’d be perfectly happy to continue to fight amongst themselves if we ever smarten up and get the fuck out of there. I’m no commie-pinko-Anti-American, but I honestly don’t blame Iran for building nukes. I’m sure they feel like it’s a necessity with America’s history of conjuring up a bunch of bullshit “evidence” and acting on it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/37 "2010-02-19T15:47:03Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > Bush 43 pulled this shit in Iraq, and now Obama’s setting the stage to pull the same stunt in Iran, except he’s using the American news media as his shill instead of the FBI (or CIA) like Bush did. > > If you can’t see this for what it is (propaganda), you’re asleep at the wheel. Sorry. Obama is not in charge of the IAEA or CNN - and there is _zero_ probability that we will invade Iran in the next five years. Perhaps it’s time to patch your tinfoil hat. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/38 "2010-02-19T15:50:46Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Iran may be building an army of giant robots with laser beams for eyes. I’d be one of their biggest fans, if that was true. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/39 "2010-02-19T15:51:05Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Obama is not in charge of the IAEA or CNN - and there is _zero_ probability that we will invade Iran in the next five years. > > Perhaps it’s time to patch your tinfoil hat. You don’t think it’s within the power of the US Gov’t to “leak” some “news” through the “proper channels” to give an idea some legs? Heh. All the “quotes” tie the whole “tinfoil hat” thing in nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540/40 "2010-02-19T15:57:24Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > You don’t think it’s within the power of the US Gov’t to “leak” some “news” through the “proper channels” to give an idea some legs? > > Heh. All the “quotes” tie the whole “tinfoil hat” thing in nicely. Sure it is. When the United Nations becomes an arm of the US government, your complaint might have merit. However, considering that [the Obama administration is currently _downplaying_ the threat posed by Iran’s alleged nuclear program](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82005-un-agency-fears-iran-may-be-working-on-nuclear-warhead), it hardly seems likely that this is (a) administration propaganda, or (b) even something the administration wants reported: > [@](#): > > The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog also confirmed that Iran had indeed enriched uranium to nearly 20 percent, a claim made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during revolutionary anniversary festivities last week but rebuffed by the White House. > > “We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree they say they are enriching,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at last Thursday’s daily briefing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-breaking-news-propagandist-bullshit/529540.md?page=3)