CNN’s Bob Franken Slip-up: Democrats Eager to Undermine United States?

It may surprise conservatives, but CNN reporter Bob Franken alleged on Thursday’s "American Morning" that Democrats are eager to label Iraq a civil war in order to undercut U.S. support for remaining in the country. Considering the cable network’s cheerleading for the Democratic Party in the recently completed midterm elections, this plainspoken statement must have been unintentional. Franken’s comment came in the midst of an otherwise typical CNN report. The segment highlighted how all respectable individuals and organizations call the conflict a civil war, so why can’t President Bush? Remarking on the popularity of the civil war terminology, Franken offered an explanation for the Democrats embrace of the phrase:

Bob Franken: "But many experts say that designating this a civil war will undermine U.S. support even more, which might explain why so many Democrats are jumping on the bandwagon."

Democratic Senator Jack Reed: "I think for months now there's been a low-level civil war going on in Iraq."

At the beginning of the piece, co-host Soledad O’Brien introduced Franken by referencing an earlier interview with Bill Clinton. According to the CNN reporter, this was the final word:

Soledad O’Brien: "We'll have more of my interview with the former resident later in the hour. Also, of course, tomorrow we're talking about World AIDS Day. The President has a big announcement that he's making in New Delhi. First, American Morning’s Bob Franken is in Washington, D.C. with a little bit more on that war of words. Bob, good morning."

Bob Franken: "So, there you have it. Former President Bill Clinton saying, yeah, it's a civil war to him. So was the former Secretary of State Colin Powell. And after all, NBC News did officially declare it one, the ‘L.A. Times’ and other news organizations. But there are others who say this whole conversation is really just a distraction. With so many dying every week in the Iraq conflict, the question to many Americans may not be what to call it, but what is the name matter?"

Perhaps someone should advise Mr. Franken, citing President Clinton as the definitive expert is fine, but questioning the motives of Democrats, even unintentionally, simply isn’t done at CNN.

A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:04am on November 30, follows:

Soledad O’Brien: "President Bush said this morning that breaking Iraq into different ethnic areas would only lead to an increase in sectarian violence. The administration has been refusing to call that ongoing violence a civil war. Had an exclusive interview this morning with former President Bill Clinton. We were talking about World AIDS Day, and I asked him if he thought Iraq was in civil war."

Bill Clinton: There are more and more people who think they can get what they want by shooting, or throwing up these roadside bombs, rather than engaging in politics. And when that happens, others pick up arms in defense, and it just gets worse and worse and worse. That's the normal definition of a civil war."

O’Brien: "We'll have more of my interview with the former resident later in the hour. Also, of course, tomorrow we're talking about World AIDS Day. The President has a big announcement that he's making in New Delhi. First, American Morning’s Bob Franken is in Washington, D.C., with a little bit more on that war of words. Bob, good morning."

Bob Franken: "So, there you have it. Former President Bill Clinton saying, yeah, it's a civil war to him. So was the former Secretary of State Colin Powell. And after all, NBC News did officially declare it one, the ‘L.A. Times’ and other news organizations. But there are others who say this whole conversation is really just a distraction. With so many dying every week in the Iraq conflict, the question to many Americans may not be what to call it, but what is the name matter?"

Michael O’Hanlon: "They don't care that much about what terms we use, because frankly, they know it's a mess."

Franken: "But many experts say that designating this a civil war will undermine U.S. support even more, which might explain why so many Democrats are jumping on the bandwagon."

Jack Reed: "I think for months now there's been a low-level civil war going on in Iraq."

Franken: "Don't try to ask the President."

Bush: "There's all kinds of speculation about what may be, or not, happening."

Franken: "The definition of a civil war depends on who's defining it. Merriam Webster says, it's 'a war between opposing groups of citizens in the same country.' But another reference specifies that each must have a 'functioning government, have identifiable regular armed forces.' Which is reason enough for a top U.S. general to say it's not."

Peter Pace: "The Iraq government does not call it a civil war. Two, the Iraq government is functioning. Three, the Iraq security forces are responsive to the Iraqi government."

Franken: "But no less a gray eminence than Henry Kissinger thinks it is a civil war, with bleak hopes for the United States."

Henry Kissinger: "If you mean by clear military victory, an Iraqi government that can be established, and whose influence runs across the whole country, that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control, in a time period that the political process of the democracy will support, I don't believe that it's possible."

Franken: "So, what you have is a lot of people who, frankly, exasperated, say that this is much too serious a situation for so many people, as one person put it, to be dancing on the head of a pin."