At the top of Thursday’s CBS "Early Show," co-host Harry Smith questioned the authenticity of an audio tape of the confrontation between U.S. and Iranian ships on January 6:
We're going to try to re -- to deconstruct the Pentagon tapes just released of that hostile incident in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian speedboats taunting a U.S. ship. A tape the Iranians are calling a hoax. There's something strange about the audio.
In the later segment on the issue, Smith talked to international security expert, Jeff McCausland, and again wondered if the Iranian hoax accusation had merit:
Iranian officials are calling this video a hoax, saying those voices sounded like they were recorded someplace else...As you have looked at this tape, listened to -- especially the English coming from the Iranians, does it ring authentic to you? Does it seem real?
Smith’s questioning of whether or not this audio was "real," was reminiscent of left-winger Rosie O’Donnell on ABC’s "The View" in March of last year describing the Iranian capture of British sailors this way: "Gulf of Tonkin, Google it." Smith also sounds similar to a contributor to the left-wing Huffington Post, who today said of the January 6 incident: "On Tuesday, the Navy released video footage and an audiotape to back its claims that the Iranian boats acted in a threatening and provocative manner, but neither the video nor the audio are particularly convincing as proof that Iran had hostile intentions."
Already sounding like a liberal conspiracy theorist, Smith continued to question the tape:
The thing is though, you hear this Iranian voice saying basically 'we're coming to get you, we're going to blow you up.' You don't hear the sound of the -- of the motors on the boats. You don't hear the wind -- the boats look like they're going at least 20 knots. Could it have been broadcast from someplace else? And -- and if you're on the deck of a ship like this and this comes in, how do you determine if it's real or not?
McCausland brought some sanity to the segment as it concluded:
Well, in terms of the allegation by the Iranians that the Navy fabricated their particular video, I think we have to understand to begin with, that would be obviously illegal. I think furthermore, we've got to think about is who would benefit from ratcheting up tensions right now in the Gulf. As we've seen over the last few weeks and months, there's been some attempts, by the United States at least, to reduce tensions. In Iran there has been periodically attempts to ratchet up tensions largely, I think, to benefit them internally and politically.
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
7:01AM TEASER:
HARRY SMITH: We're going to try to re -- to deconstruct the Pentagon tapes just released of that hostile incident in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian speedboats taunting a U.S. ship. A tape the Iranians are calling a hoax. There's something strange about the audio.
UNIDENTIFIED IRANIAN SAILOR: I am coming to you.
SMITH: That is just ahead.
7:09AM SEGMENT:
HARRY SMITH: There are new developments and building tensions in an encounter between U.S. naval ships and Iranian speedboats. The Pentagon has now released video of the incident that happened Sunday. Three U.S. warships were passing through the Strait of Hormuz when five small Iranian boats sped toward them, dropping unidentified white boxes in the water. The Pentagon says there was this warning from the Iranian boat.
UNIDENTIFIED IRANIAN SAILOR: I am coming to you. You will explode in a couple minutes.
UNIDENTIFIED AMERICAN SAILOR: He says you will explode after a few minutes.
SMITH: Iranian officials are calling this video a hoax, saying those voices sounded like they were recorded someplace else. Jeff McCausland is a former U.S. Army colonel and international security affairs expert who has spent a lot of time in the Middle East, he's also visiting professor at the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. Good morning, sir.
JEFF MCCAUSLAND: Good morning to you sir.
SMITH: As you have looked at this tape, listened to -- especially the English coming from the Iranians, does it ring authentic to you? Does it seem real?
MCCAUSLAND: Well, it's possibly real, Harry, but, of course, this whole incident lasted about 20 minutes. And the only thing we see in the Iranian video is frankly how close these particular Iranian ships were operating to the U.S. Navy vessels. And second of all, it seems to underscore the fact that the U.S. Navy ships were in fact operating in international waters, something so far, at least, the Iranians have not disputed.
SMITH: Right. The thing is though, you hear this Iranian voice saying basically 'we're coming to get you, we're going to blow you up.' You don't hear the sound of the -- of the motors on the boats. You don't hear the wind -- the boats look like they're going at least 20 knots. Could it have been broadcast from someplace else? And -- and if you're on the deck of a ship like this and this comes in, how do you determine if it's real or not?
MCCAUSLAND: Well, in terms of the allegation by the Iranians that the Navy fabricated their particular video, I think we have to understand to begin with, that would be obviously illegal. I think furthermore, we've got to think about is who would benefit from ratcheting up tensions right now in the Gulf. As we've seen over the last few weeks and months, there's been some attempts, by the United States at least, to reduce tensions. In Iran there has been periodically attempts to ratchet up tensions largely, I think, to benefit them internally and politically.
SMITH: Jeff McCausland, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us today.
MCCAUSLAND: My pleasure.
Editor's Note: For a related post, check here.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
OK new information
January 10, 2008 - 14:28 ET by c5thenHarry Smith plagerizes his "stories" from the Huffington Post blogs.
Even my 10 year old son understands that even without the audio, these fast-boats and their crew were provacative and lucky to still be alive. I suspect that it might have been a "martyr mission" to try and ratchet up tensions and help the price of oil over the $100 mark.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Oh sure, CBS are world
January 10, 2008 - 14:31 ET by Jack BauerOh sure, CBS are world experts at picking up faked stories.
Look how quick they fingered Dan Rather's faked documents.
LOL!
January 10, 2008 - 15:33 ET by KC MulvilleGood pickup, Jack. I never would have made that connection, but it speaks volumes. It's also hilarious.
Actually, the American
January 10, 2008 - 14:39 ET by Ruths husband BenActually, the American version would be easy enough to verify. Ask a couple of the sailors what happened. Not the zeros, but the enlisted pukes. They wouldn't lie about it, they'd brag about it. I know, being an ex-enlisted puke myself. Any conspiracy theory that envolves two or more sailors staying quiet is doomed to be exposed. I never knew a squid who could keep his mouth shut, especially if the story made an officer look stupid.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't. - Ben Franklin
Easy, Ben
January 10, 2008 - 14:46 ET by OldSailor88You better quit being mean to us Squid types. We're fragile, and don't suffer verbal abuse well. Shipmate.
Faciem durum cacantis habes
You were either in a
January 10, 2008 - 14:58 ET by Ruths husband BenYou were either in a different Navy than me, or you are yanking my chain. They gave us verbal abuse in lieu of beer during the long cruises. All ashore who's going ashore!
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't. - Ben Franklin
Just yanking your chain a
January 10, 2008 - 15:07 ET by OldSailor88Just yanking your chain a bit, Ben. Been a squid for 20 years, and I'm a Chief. I can hang with the best of them.
You're right about talking to the squids. Had I been there, this would be one of my top ten sea stories!
Faciem durum cacantis habes
A Chief eh? Let me tell you
January 10, 2008 - 16:24 ET by Ruths husband BenA Chief eh? Let me tell you a story about three Chiefs and a tube of Prussian Blue. Now this is a "no &^%$er"....
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't. - Ben Franklin
Easy, boys! Don't wanna lose
January 10, 2008 - 16:55 ET by drillanwrEasy, boys! Don't wanna lose shore leave, now ... ; ^)
Familiar Sounding
January 10, 2008 - 16:19 ET by CaringwhiteguyI've heard stories similar to this for years. Naval personnel and their relatives and friends relaying stories about how they are tested by the Iranians, the North Koreans and the Chinese.
I could tell a similar story
January 10, 2008 - 17:32 ET by Ruths husband BenI could tell a similar story about a Russian "trawler" (a spy ship) when we were in the Indian Ocean during the Iranian hostage crisis. They came close enough to our starboard side that we could (and did) throw Marlboro cigarette boxes over to them. They threw Russian cigarettes back. So did we. (if you'd ever smoked one you would know why.)
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't. - Ben Franklin
Gee Iran wouldn't be creating a hoax now would it Harpy Smith
January 10, 2008 - 14:40 ET by Lame CherryI don't suppose cheap suit Ahmadinejad who created the hoax of the grinning baboon Brits would ever send out goofy American sounding speed boats, telling American warships they were about to be bombed so they would be blown up before President Bush came to the Middle East to create riots now would he?????
Harry Smith is a DOPE.
Harry Smith is a DUPE.
Harry Smith is a MORON.
Harry Smith is as MENTAL RETARD OF THOUGHT.
Harry Smith is STUPID.
Harry Smith is BRAINLESS.
Harry Smith is married to a babe ......or I used to think she was until this chattering chimp of banana brain atrophied stupidity appeared. Faith Daniels what were you thinking????? Bald, idiotic, just too gay and girly and plain repulsive!
Harry Smith is a LIBERAL........which means all of the above.
What a dolt Harry Smith is!
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Unbelievable.....CBS is
January 10, 2008 - 14:41 ET by JayTeeIs this the kind of Journalists, Reporters of news, that our Universities put out on the Street ? ? Geez.
I guess if we blow up the 'Fast Boats' out of the water, gather up the Debris, and Air drop it over the CEO of CBS's house. When he sees an Iranian Registration number on the boat, he might start thinking about hiring some professional Reporters.
Okay,
January 10, 2008 - 20:29 ET by UndercoverConservativeSo the Iranian's are supposedly not "stupid" enough to start a confrontation in an attempt to escalate tensions by harassing warships outside of their national waters, because they'd get caught or exposed...but the American Navy is supposedly so stupid as to "fake" up a video and expect to not get away with it....
Too bad the MSM thinks that "nobody would be stupid enough to" do things...except the US. Then we'll do everything apparently.
Of course, if they'd pull their heads outta their @sses, they'd know *why* the English announcement would be recorded-do you think the Iranians would waste an English speaking asset on what they HOPED was a suicide mission? Of course not. Or do you think they'd send radio threats in a language their opponent couldn't understand and "fear"? They're too stupid to think that little detail out apparently..
Somebody on a liberal-infested conspiracy board pointed out something obvious...craft like these have very limited range. Unless they were specifically outfitted with nothing but fuel tanks (which would be difficult and reduce chances of a return trip), or weren't *expected* to return, or were deployed by a larger craft at a distance, then they couldn't have just been some "wild" Arabs out counting coup with the American Navy.
Seems an awful lot of work to go thru (since the Iranians even admitted the boats were theirs) just to attempt to impress the few female sailors of their mad boatin' skillz...
Harry should stick to
January 10, 2008 - 14:43 ET by SwamprunnerHarry should stick to hosting and doing voice-overs for the docu-dramas on the "History" channel.
The navy has already stated
January 10, 2008 - 14:49 ET by mvfreemanThe navy has already stated that the audio and video were recorded separately. It's possible they cleaned up the audio by cutting down the amount of background noise. That doesn't make it a hoax.
To Hell With What The Navy Stated
January 10, 2008 - 15:03 ET by BourbeauYou don't expect Harry Smith to let a few explanations from Satan's Navy to get in the way of his phoney speculation? After all, this is CBS, the home of Dan Rather; when have they ever gone out of there way to authenticate anything? It's beyond egregious for these hosts to offer their denigrating suspicions of our men and women serving in a combat zone, to further there own liberal bias. Considering where they were, how would Harry Smith like sitting there in the Strait of Hormuz and have a band islamist whatevers, making a mad dash for his ship. Remember the USS Cole? I hope our Navy's rules of engagement are one verbal warning, then you're ass is off to see the virgins.
A little off-topic, but it
January 10, 2008 - 15:27 ET by KillgraveA little off-topic, but it just came out that Rather's case against CBS will proceed.
It's such a beautiful thing. It's like watching two dinosaurs claw and bite each other as they sink further and further into the tarpit of irrelevance.
A little off-topic, but it
January 10, 2008 - 15:41 ET by drillanwrA little off-topic, but it just came out that Rather's case against CBS will proceed.
Think CBS will cover it in Katie's nightly "chats"?
Heh!
Harry Smith
January 10, 2008 - 15:18 ET by iveseenitallAmericans bad, Iranians good. No fool like an old fool. These are our kids who are in harm's way, jerko. After all this nation has given you, Harry --- Crawl back in your hole,you dirty rat. And some people still wonder why "liberals" are so despised.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Iran's already addressed the issue.
January 10, 2008 - 15:09 ET by mastersofdeceitSo how could it be a hoax? In fact they played it off as something ordinary.
" No unusual confrontation has taken place between the Guard’s patrol vessels and U.S. ships,” state-run television quoted the official as saying....The Guard official said the Guard’s vessels were conducting normal patrols in the Strait of Hormuz when they saw three U.S. ships enter the waters of the region."
http://www.msnbc.msn...
OK
January 10, 2008 - 15:13 ET by mytwocentsOK - I like to b$itch slap that Smithy guy.
I love the liberal
January 10, 2008 - 15:19 ET by KillgraveI love the liberal catch-22.
If we show restraint and not blow those knats out of the water, then the incident never happend and we are pulling a "hoax".
If we do give them the torpedo, then it would be all over the news, 24/7, of the western "imperialists" who murdered the poor, oppressed people who were only out on a fishing trip to feed their starving babies.
The irony is so thick. These morons get to push their lies because patriots throughout the ages sacrificed and died for their freedom. The first amendment is an inherent right, but to abuse it like this is the lowest form of contempt.
Speaking of Iran, I thought the NIE said everything was ok
January 10, 2008 - 15:28 ET by mastersofdeceitI keep reading (from some) the latest NIE is a settled consensus on Iran. You know it's all good, nothing to worry about, they stopped their illegal program a few years ago blah blah. Then why is useless IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei going to Iran this weekend? Oh wait..
"..ongoing talks aimed at resolving ambiguities over the contested Iranian nuclear programme, the ISNA news agency reported Wednesday."
"The uranium contamination represents the latest chapter to be opened in the talks."
"Despite four years of investigation, the IAEA has never been able to confirm if the drive is peaceful."
http://www.iranian.w...
Despite the NIE
January 10, 2008 - 16:20 ET by DyneBush and the neocons are looking for an excuse to attack Iran. Don't think this is mere coincidence that something of this "magnitude" happened right before El Presidente's visit to the Middle East.
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." -Matthew 7:20
But I thought because of the NIE(edit)
January 11, 2008 - 02:22 ET by mastersofdeceitWe could all sleep easier.
http://www.iranian.w...
Also I've been fear mongered (not sucessfully btw) on "we're going to attack Iran" for about 3 years now.
And I didn't know IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei is a neocon.
Here is the original article link for the moonbat I referenced above. I've never heard of Sheldon Richman (caution: moonbat flinging poo)
Any proof????
January 10, 2008 - 16:33 ET by BDAny proof????
Dyne, we have plenty of
January 10, 2008 - 17:17 ET by bassndudeDyne, we have plenty of excuse to attack Iran if we wanted to. Their meddling in Iraq is more than enough excuse. Not to mention their forces making incursions into Iraq, and them sending in advisors and help for AQ. What more excuse do we need?
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Are you serious?!
January 10, 2008 - 20:41 ET by UndercoverConservativeOr could it possibly be that the most dangerous theocracy in modern history might actually be the ones trying to start something before the President of the only nation willing to stand against them arrives?
Oh wait, no one *ever* is the aggressor but America. And George Bush faked that whole Iranian hostage thing too.
This is what happens when you worry about evolution vs. creationism in schools but don't focus on that when it comes to facts vs. anecdotes and "interpretations" in history class, the "interpretations" are what is being taught instead of recorded, researched truth.
And the....
January 11, 2008 - 02:28 ET by Sua Sponte 75drivebys begin......Adjust the tinfoil hat and tell us then, did we coordinate with the Iranians on this?
"You're a clown." Sua Sponte 4:19
WKRP?
January 10, 2008 - 15:37 ET by ammo johnHarry's the Les Nessman of CBS. He also has that weasel look when he talks.
Here is the Iranian video
January 10, 2008 - 15:39 ET by drillanwrHere is the Iranian video released today:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8f6_1199959765
Now, couple things:
1) This is only one radio transmission and camera view, obviously "edited" from ONE of their speed boats.
2) They're in little more than really fast fishing/skiing boats with NO advanced naval technology onboard. What the hell did they think they were doing?
3) I think they were prowling around looking to catch some of our people in smaller craft trolling around the waters and take them like they did the Brits.
4) Seems Iran has a major problem measuring where their waters end and international waters begin.
5) I'm with our resident "squidies" on this ... Ask the guys on the ships ... or shut up, Smith.
what they were doing...
January 10, 2008 - 20:45 ET by UndercoverConservative1) trying to draw fire in a suicide attempt at starting a shooting war.
2) probing for the feasability of a USS Cole-style attack.
3) Doing the most blatant, outrageous, arrogant things possible and watching just how far America's traitorous media will go to defend the Iranians and make this America's fault.
Surprised the @sshats weren't waterskiing with C4 jackets on to really flip America the bird.
I thought the boxes the
January 10, 2008 - 15:49 ET by stratmanI thought the boxes the Iranians dropped in the water were belated Christmas gifts - Member's Only jackets from Ahmadinnerjacket.
(sarc off/)
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Heh-heh-heh!!!!!!!!!!
January 10, 2008 - 16:06 ET by drillanwrHeh-heh-heh!!!!!!!!!!
Yep. One needs to
January 10, 2008 - 16:44 ET by stratmanYep.
One needs to remember that Iran is a couple of years behind on current American slang for things that are 'good'. The actual translation of what the Iranian said was
News update: Iranians ginned-up video. I hear it's in contention for this month's winner of Hezbollah's Funniest Home Video.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
So Harry Smith interviews a
January 10, 2008 - 16:04 ET by JerSo Harry Smith interviews a national security expert about a video/audio tape of hostile speedboats near U.S Naval vessels, and asks him to comment on the absence of wind noise in the audio and how that may relate to Iranian claims of a hoax. Based on such "evidence" of liberal journalistic treachery, inferences are drawn which apparently place Smith in collusion with Iranian terrorists. Amazing!
Jer
This can't be a fake
January 10, 2008 - 16:04 ET by oregon_jiimIf it were a fake by the US the bad guys wouldn't have gotten away to tell their side of the story. You would be watching footage of those boats getting blown to smithereens. If we wanted to play the role of victim only we would have blown something up on one of our own ships and claimed that the Iranians fired a missile at us.
No this is not a fake story. My best guess is that the Iranians misidentified the US warships as merchant vessels and were on their way to commit an act of piracy. When they got closer they realised who they were dealing with, crapped their pants and got the hell out of there.
"an endorsement of communism is an endorsement of slavery"
now that makes sense
January 10, 2008 - 21:08 ET by UndercoverConservativethough is it still "piracy" if you're doing it at the behest of your government? Do they have letters of marque?:)
Plus this explains even better why they'd carry a recorded threat message in English to broadcast at their intended victims. Prepared long ago and used many times, so you don't need anyone with any skils or brains. Just brutal violent thugs.
Heh, if that is the case and any piracy charges can be linked to these boats...boats the Iranians have all out *admitted* were theirs...MSM would have to work extra hard to spin the Pirate/Terrorist President out of that sticky situation.
Maybe everything you two are saying ...
January 10, 2008 - 22:56 ET by drillanwror weren't these guys supposedly Iranian Guard ... and They often times act pretty much on their own, much at the disappointment of the Iranian Government (or so I've heard).
So, if they took it upon themselves to act like foolish thungs with so much misplaced bravado ... and were probing to see what it would take to pull off another USS Cole (one little boat wouldn't be good ... a swarm like these guys had would do some damage, while some of them were shot up by our guys ... but not all would be done away with, so atleast one or more would make it close enough to one or more of our ships)
Anyhow, if this is the case, I could see Iran saying, "Oh ... um, No! No! We didn't do anything wrong ... Yeah, it was the war-mongering Americans, MSM ... Not us peace loving Iranians".
I was a squid for 10 years,
January 10, 2008 - 16:11 ET by BruzillaI was a squid for 10 years, although I was flying most of the time. I also worked as a contractor for the Coast Guard and spent a lot of time on small patrol boats. Based on what I heard on the tapes, I would be willing to bet the farm that the audio from the Iranians did not originate on the fast boats. Having been on larger boats than these, with covered engines that are much quieter than the engines on these boats, I know the background noise levels that should be present and they aren't there. You can plainly here background discussions when our guy is talking, but no engine or wind noise from the Iranians. Also, the local ambient noise going to the talker's ears is much higher than what's getting to the mike, and there's a natural tendency to shout or talk more forcefully when broadcasting in a noisy environment, and this guy's voice doesn't show that.
Does that mean that the tapes are fake? Absolutely not! My guess is that the communications were occuring on the international Guard frequency (I think it's in the neighborhood of 156 and some change MHz). This frequency is used for bridge to bridge communications, and anyone with a transceiver tuned to that frequency can broadcast. My guess would be that whoever was controlling those boats, either from a larger vessel or shore station, was monitoring the response from the US vessels on Guard and that was who made the Iranian broadcasts.
These boats were lightly armed, but the point of the exercise was likely not to draw our fire but to see how we responded to their provocation. How many times did we try to warn them off, what words did we use, what radars did we radiate, etc. That's valuable intel to an enemy and I'm guessing that's what they were up to. What I would like to know is if the poor schmucks who were in the boats had any idea that their boss was actively trying to bait the US Navy into shooting at them.
Thanks for some very
January 10, 2008 - 16:57 ET by KillgraveThanks for some very interesting insight. Do they call these schmucks "cannon fodder" in the Navy? You have to admire a entity so ruthless that they would gleefully offer their men up as chum.
Killgrave
January 10, 2008 - 17:13 ET by drillanwrAsh: You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? Perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.
Lambert: You admire it.
Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor... unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.
The Ayatollahs will sacrifice anyone they please.
January 11, 2008 - 01:53 ET by CTKillgrave, They used their own children to clear Iraqi mine fields during the Iran/Iraq war.
The drive by media was at
January 10, 2008 - 17:00 ET by jdhawkThe drive by media was at the ready to believe John F'n Kerry that he won several Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, and had made a December 1968 incursion via Swift Boat into Cambodia all in the space of about three months, but NOT the U.S. Navy's account of an Iranian speed boat incursion.
And, the drive by media wonders why they are losing reader and viewership . . .
...and despised.
January 10, 2008 - 17:06 ET by bigtimer...and despised.
Anybody elese wondering if
January 10, 2008 - 17:19 ET by drillanwrAnybody elese wondering if Rosie has been in contact with Iran/Amydidherdad and is talking/walking them through this?
Just a thought ...
Note to Harry Smith
January 10, 2008 - 17:21 ET by landshark"USS Cole: Google it!"
</Rosie impression>
Spooky, landshark
January 10, 2008 - 17:27 ET by MassConservI can see the rolls of fat.
And so close to dinner too. gaak
The English set the Tone....Kidnap and no problem
January 10, 2008 - 17:29 ET by JayTeeUnfortunately, the English let an Iranian Boat event happen, and let it go without a Fight. This set the Tone for the Next one.
I guess unless we have Americans Kidnapped, The MSM isn't believing it.
Are those "Fast boats" fast enough to outrun a 50 Caliber ? ?
obviously
January 10, 2008 - 17:51 ET by zoro7957.........Harry's tin foil hat is in need of calibrating........
Harry Smith is a horse's A**
January 10, 2008 - 18:44 ET by MikeHuGosh - The BBC could use someone to replace Andrew Gilligan. Harry Smith seems a natural to me!
http://article.natio...
(alternate universe, Dec. 1944: "Harry Smith reporting for CBS radio, and we're talking to Col. H.O. Kinnard in Bastogne with the 101st Airborne Division. Now Colonel Kinnard, how likely is it really that General McAuliffe would be so impertinent to respond to a valid German offer of cease fire, by replying with the vulgar, "Nuts"? Couldn't that send the wrong message? And why are American forces so willing to sacrifice innocent Belgian civilian lives in needless bloodshed, when it seems much more prudent to pull our troops out of Bastogne and the Ardennes. The senior command says that Bastogne is critical to the war effort, but how much can we really trust this posistion given all the associated loss of life?" --- --- Sorry, this is Douglas Edwards at CBS back in New York - we seem to have unfortuately lost the audio signal from our correspondent in Belgium...)
let's see cbs rolls dan rather out with some fake documents
January 10, 2008 - 18:47 ET by lunaticcringeradioso i'm sure cbs is the authority on what is fake right.
lunaticcringeradio
Rather
January 10, 2008 - 19:44 ET by ThisnThatFrankly, I'd almost rather have Rather, than to suffer Harry's blather.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
The laughs just keep on coming
January 10, 2008 - 20:38 ET by pocomocoCBS’ “authenticity” has been questioned for years. Now, they are engaged in yet another ‘manufactured’ news story.
Today, the teleprompter-readers are trying to outdo one another as they sink deeper into Bush Derangement Syndrome resulting in their reportage becoming increasing laughable each day.
I hear the Comedy Channel may soon have a new lineup:
CBS News Comedy Channel
NBC News Comedy Channel
ABC News Comedy Channel
CNN News Comedy Channel
MSNBC News Comedy Channel
Bruzilla made some good points below...
January 11, 2008 - 00:49 ET by m4ster chiefRetired Navy guy here, stationed on six different ships...been on a lot of navigation bridges and in a lot of pilothouses. I haven't seen the video, but I can 99% guarantee what was happening was...the commanding officer "had the deck and conn," which means he was in command rather than a junior officer. The ship was undoubtedly at "General Quarters," or battle stations. In this situation the CO communicates with the various battle stations via a "phone talker," a younger petty officer (or two or three) who relays commands from him, and relays messages to him. The CO was on the bridge wing, his eyes fixed on the targets; the phone talker tells him, "Captain, radio [communications room] reports they are receiving traffic from the boats." The CO, wanting the information instantly and in real time, says, "Put it on the speakers." Then all radio transmissions would be heard clearly on the bridge wing...and that is probably where the video recorder picked them up. I have no opinion on the origin of the transmissions, no sounds of wind, etc. I also know this...my commanding officers in the Navy were some of the most honorable men I have ever met or worked with. I would take their word over any journalist, any politician, even the president. If this ship says that's what happened...THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED!
Sunrise at sea; a breeze across the deck, salty spray tickles the face, the aroma of fresh coffee, stack gas, and haze-gray paint is in the air. Another Navy day aboard ship as a Navy Chief...the perfect life!
Traitors
January 11, 2008 - 01:25 ET by Army Bratare traitors. You can call them what you want. But they are what they are.
Happy Trails...