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Ear to the Ground

Rumsfeld’s CIA Critic Swats Away Paula Zahn

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Posted on May 5, 2006
Ray McGovern with Paula Zahn
From crooksandliars.com

CNN’s Paula Zahn interviews former CIA analyst Ray McGovern on his pointed criticism of Rumsfeld’s faulty reasoning for going to war in Iraq.

Ray McGovern, the retired CIA veteran who sharply challenged Rumsfeld’s war rationales, angrily swatted away CNN’s Paula Zahn’s questions about McGovern’s motives. This was “not a matter of axes to grind. It’s a matter of telling the truth.”


Think Progress:

Former 27-year CIA analyst Ray McGovern courageously challenged Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday afternoon in Atlanta about his lies about Iraq’s WMD program. He was interviewed last night by CNN’s Paula Zahn. Watch it:

The media is framing McGovern’s tough questioning as the act of a “hostile war critic.” CNN’s Paula Zahn took that approach, posing leading questions that criticized McGovern while defending Rumsfeld. Salon’s War Room points us to some of the ‘fair and balanced’ questions Zahn had for McGovern:

Did you go to this speech today with the intent of challenging Secretary Rumsfeld?

How much of an ax do you have to grind with Secretary Rumsfeld?

Donald Rumsfeld encouraged whoever I think had their hands on you at the time to let you stay there. Does he get any credit for that today?

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By G. Andeson, May 7, 2006 at 12:56 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Mr. McGovern, you sir are a Hero. Watching you confront Rumsfeld with the truth, was an act of courage and patriotism.

Of course the apologists for this administration, will try to “kill the messenger”, because they are culpable in its crimes.

A media that values posturing more than the truth has betrayed the people of this country, and become an arm of propaganda and deception.

Paula Zahn, is just a “news model”,someone who models the news, like a new dress or designer creation, providing something pretty to look at, and doing their job of making the truth seem ugly and gross. The media has become adept, at providing “news Models” like her, instead of doing their job.

If she had any sense she should be ashamed of herself.

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By Colonel, May 7, 2006 at 11:59 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Those at CNN who wrote the questions Paula Zahn asked Ray McGovern obviously are pro-Iraq War, despite the war’s disastrous consequences for the United States. The real question is WHY those people at CNN are pro-Iraq War. What interests of theirs does the Iraq War serve?

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By Chuck Drake, May 7, 2006 at 1:06 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I watched this whole thing unfold in the media, and have to ask why is this some kind of flashpoint? Anyone with any common sense can see, whats going on. If the previous administration had done with this administration is doing, several members of the past administration would be facing removal and possibly jail time , but then again if they didnt lock up Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan or Oliver North, or any other American political criminal for violation human rights in the US or around the world we can be assured that no one wil ever be held responsible for slavery, jim crow, iran contra, el salvador, the iraq war, or any other atrosity that the people here in this country or government turn a blind eye to or sit quietly while these things, happen.

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By waag, May 6, 2006 at 12:57 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

PZ rhymes with sleazy

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By eddy, May 5, 2006 at 10:24 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Gee, I just weatched this three times, and McGovern may have been annoyed with Zahn’s flackery, but to say he “angrily swatted away” her questions seems inaccurate (at least from what I can tell on the poor quality video). McGovern is gracious, reasonable and temperate throughout the clip, even when Zahn tries to impugn his motives.

Not hard as she is an obvious whimp. It was a bit more difficult when he was getting lied to his face by Rumsfeld himself, but even then he remained civil and in command of his emotions. Very impressive. I would have been sputtering with rage.

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By Michelle Meyer, May 5, 2006 at 5:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Maybe while she is down on her knees bowing to this lying administration she could just give GWB a BJ,then he could lie about it and then we could impeach him

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By Ed Boswell, May 5, 2006 at 4:19 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

What I find particularly offensive is Ray McGovern being called a HECKLER by AP, Tucker Carlson, and many other papers.
HECKLE: To attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
          Since when is asking Rumsfeld to explain and defend his own words “heckling”?

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By Sid Leader, May 5, 2006 at 3:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

CNN’s Paula Zahn is in WAY over her peroxide blonde hair.

She does not write any questions. They are written by the folks in CNN Guest Bookings.

Paula and entourage show up a few minutes before the show and leave a few minutes afterwards.

At first, Poor Paula thought the CIA was the Cooking Institute of America and wondered why she was interviewing a cooking expert about the war.

So sad, so true. Ask her yourself.

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