# What the fuck is wrong with CNN? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 24, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663 "2002-05-24T14:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/1 "2002-05-24T14:41:26Z")
Two nuclear nations face each other on a “knife edge”, a million troops at the ready, almost certainly just about to engage in open warfare. This surely must be the most potentially calamitous event in modern history since the Cuban Missile Crisis. > [@](#): > > Bush, Putin sign arms deal OK, that’s very, very important. The rest: > [@](#): > > Pope accepts archbishop’s resignation > House approves $29 billion anti-terror bill > Levy probe looks at park attacker > Lindh plea in Afghanistan: ‘Please don’t kill me’ > CNN/Money: Stop smoking, drink water > Netanyahu to run in next Israeli elections > Hurricane season off to early start? > New combat drone to hunt in packs All fairly significant. But of the potential nuclear war, **fuck all** is how much they have. They do, though, have space for this: > [@](#): > > An Indiana man builds a rollercoaster in his backyard :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/2 "2002-05-24T14:43:14Z")
Oh, I forgot to mention: the items in the WORLD section are: > [@](#): > > • Finland approves nuclear reactor > • Sudan says government no Taliban > • [TIME.com](http://TIME.com): The battle for Ground Zero ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/3 "2002-05-24T14:45:31Z")
And, uh, _which_ potential nuclear war would this be? Nothing in the Washington Post about any current escalation beween Pakistan and India, or Germany and France for that matter… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/4 "2002-05-24T14:56:11Z")
Am I being whooshed? [Pakistan and India](http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/240502/dlnat43.asp), of course. Shame on the Washington Post too then. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/5 "2002-05-24T14:56:48Z")
Well, I’d suggest that the ultimatum issued by India concerning cross-border Pakistani terrorists, saying basically that they **will** go to war if the conditions are not met, combined with their amassing of troops at the Pakistani border and Pakistan’s recall of troops from peacekeeping duties in West Africa, in preparation for anticipated Indian invasion qualifies for the “potential nuclear war” tag. Call me an old worrywort and all. pan ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/6 "2002-05-24T15:04:02Z")
[Worrying](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_2006000/2006349.stm) and [more worrying](http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=31&si=760735&issue_id=7475) ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/7 "2002-05-24T15:12:06Z")
In fairness the European and Asian edition of CNN have it as their main story. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/8 "2002-05-24T15:40:11Z")
Well, nothing on the front page of [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/), the single line “India: Pakistan planning missle tests” on [MSNBC](http://www.msnbc.com/news/default.asp), still nothing at the Washington Post or CNN. Perhaps it’s just being a bit overblown in the rest of the world? It’s not like Pakistan and India have been anything _but_ at each other’s throats for the last two years. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/9 "2002-05-24T15:44:10Z")
Didn’t realise that. Still, all the same, surely’s it should be big enough to get into _all_ the editions… ---
**Author:** ![Macro\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Macro\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macro_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/10 "2002-05-24T16:05:37Z")
Violence might erupt in the Middle East? OMG, alert the media!!! I’m glad I don’t have to hear about it in the media. Frankly, I’m sick of every fucking country in the region. Live in peace or blow yourself up. I don’t give a fuck. Just get it overwith. This has been going on for hundreds of years, and probably will continue as long as there’s at least one muslim/jew/hindu standing. To head off any discussion about racism/etc let me just add this. I am sure these thoughts are no different from the rest of the world’s thoughts as the US and the USSR teetered on the brink of world destruction for 50 years. The one difference is we kissed and made up. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/11 "2002-05-24T16:11:32Z")
Oops - “surely’s” - surely some mistake. It’s escalated really badly in the past month or so - as I said, a million troops (combined) from both sides have entered the area; the UN are trying to mediate; Vajpayee has told the troops to prepare for “a decisive battle”; Chris Patten has described Indian patience as being at “breaking point”; the Pakistanis suddenly announced missile tests “for domestic audience” (yeah, right); the Indians have sent warships into the Arabian sea, on the other side of Pakistan; the British Embassy is advising British nationals to leave both Pakistan and India; both sides have been discussing nuclear response. Doesn’t sound overblown to me. **Macro Man** , I don’t call that region the Middle East - it’s South Asia (YMMV). It’s certainly a different kettle of fish from the Israel problem. And it’s also two nuclear-capable countries about to embark on open warfare (AFAIK this hasn’t happened before). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/12 "2002-05-24T16:14:02Z")
I just realised you wrote this: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Macro Man \* > **I’m glad I don’t have to hear about it in the media.** What’s the media for, in your world then? What’s happening in the world, or rollercoasters in Indiana backyards? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/13 "2002-05-24T16:15:36Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t give a fuck You might if the pricks start lobbing nukes at each other. American troops aren’t that far away you know. Pakistan has already said that if backed into a corner they would use them. India would most likely be able to back pakistan into that corner if war breaks out. 1,000,000 troops on the border. ---
**Author:** ![airdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@airdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/airdisc)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/14 "2002-05-24T16:16:36Z")
> [@](#): > > And it’s also two nuclear-capable countries about to embark on open warfare (AFAIK this hasn’t happened before). It hasn’t, aside from this thing we call the “Cold War”. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/15 "2002-05-24T16:17:49Z")
Why are you suprised **jjimm**? So far the only other thread I’ve seen on this in SDMB is “If Pakistan and India nuke each other what effect will this have on the US?” The US media, insular or what? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/16 "2002-05-24T16:20:12Z")
**airdisc** , the Cold war was just that: cold. Not open. Otherwise it would have been called “World War III”. They’re firing artillery and machine guns at each other as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![Macro\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Macro\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macro_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/17 "2002-05-24T16:38:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \* > \*\*The US media, insular or what? \*\* Glad to see you’re speaking with authority on the US media, given your location. For the record, I do understand there would be grave implications if India and Pakistan engaged in full-blown war. Not just for the two combatants, but also for the rest of the world. Nothing the West can really do about it, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/18 "2002-05-24T16:40:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > Oh, I forgot to mention: the items in the WORLD section are: Actually there is a link under ASIA-PACIFIC in the WORLD section to this pretty lengthy story: \*\*[Fears over Pakistan missile tests](http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/05/24/india.pakistan.asiaresponse/index.html) \*\* ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/19 "2002-05-24T16:44:07Z")
Note that the story contains links to, if I counted right, 13 other related stories or videos. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663/20 "2002-05-24T17:25:05Z")
Next time a Merkin complains about the rest of the world considering them insular, I’ll point them at this thread. The world’s largest democracy about to go to war with another nuclear power. A _million_ troops squaring off against eachother. And half the US media doesn’t even consider it worth mentioning. Not only that, but people are here actually _defending that view_. Unbelievable. For the rational Merkins - and that’s about 90% of this message board - be assured that this is _not_ overblown but really very serious indeed. pan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-cnn/110663.md?page=2)