Of all the broadcast network coverage Monday evening and Tuesday morning of ISIS terrorists beheading twenty-one Christians in Libya, only one reference was made on NBC's Today to President Obama's failed policy in Libya providing an opening to the Islamic extremists.
On the morning show Tuesday, correspondent Andrea Mitchell explained: "Libya, a failed state, further destabilized after the U.S.-led overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi four years ago, has become a hot bed of terrorism....Critics say that the Obama administration has abandoned Libya to the militants, making some question whether even this attack on the Tripoli beach will shock the conscience of the west."
That was the only time Obama's name was mentioned during the NBC, ABC, and CBS coverage of the latest brutal attack by ISIS.
None of the networks made any mention of a new CNN/ORC poll that came out Monday afternoon showing 57% of Americans disapproved of the President's handling of the ISIS threat. In addition, 54% disapproved of Obama's handling of terrorism in general and 58% believed the U.S. fight against ISIS was not going well.
While not mentioning Obama directly on Monday's NBC Nightly News, Mitchell briefly recapped the downward spiral in Libya:
The threat has been growing rapidly. Three weeks ago, ISIS attacked a Tripoli hotel, killing ten, including an American contractor. Last summer, the U.S. evacuated the American embassy and militants quickly took over the ambassador's residence. And of course the 2012 Benghazi attack, killing four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. A rapid descent from the supposed NATO victory after deposing Moammar Gaddafi in 2011.
On ABC's World News Tonight, anchor David Muir posed the question: "... is ISIS expanding their reach?" He turned to correspondent Brian Ross for a report on "how quickly that reach is growing."
Ross declared: "Increasingly, what was first seen by the U.S. as a ragtag collection of thugs, is evolving into a governing body....By making a move into Libya, ISIS is now that much closer to Europe, just across the Mediterranean, claiming it is now on its way to Rome..."
On Tuesday's Good Morning America, correspondent Martha Raddatz warned: "The U.S. is concentrating on Iraq and Syria militarily. But especially in Syria the U.S. plan will take years and years to show any results, if it ever does....But the influence of ISIS is spreading beyond Syria and Iraq and the U.S. really...is struggling to find a way to stop it."
Introducing a report on Monday's CBS Evening News, anchor Scott Pelley proclaimed: "Overseas today, another country has been pulled into the war with ISIS. Egypt attacked targets in Libya linked to the Islamic extremist group that already holds part of Syria and Iraq."
Correspondent Alex Ortiz noted: "If the video is confirmed, this will be the first time that ISIS has killed foreigners outside Syria and Iraq, and it raises concerns that ISIS may be forging new links to militias in Libya."
How long will it take for ABC and CBS to connect the growth of ISIS in Libya to Obama's foreign policy failures?
Here is a full transcript of Mitchell's February 17 report on Today:
7:11 AM ET
CARSON DALY: Meantime, there are growing calls to expand the fight against ISIS in the wake of the brutal murders of twenty-one Egyptian Christians. Andrea Mitchell is NBC’s chief foreign affairs correspondent. Andrea, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: ISIS At Europe’s Doorstep?; Egypt Strikes Quickly After ISIS Beheadings]
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good morning, Carson. Egyptian forces bombed targets in Libya again overnight after the terror group beheaded twenty-one Coptic Christians on a beach in Libya. A brutal attack that brought a rebuke from Pope Francis himself.
On ISIS’s latest beachhead in north Africa, the terror group paraded twenty-one prisoners, all Coptic Christians from Egypt, then beheaded them. “We will conquer Rome, by Allah’s permission,” the ISIS executioner threatened. This savage attack escalates the ISIS war into Europe's backyard. From the shores of Tripoli, Libya is a former Italian colony, just across the Mediterranean from Italy.
And it earned a rebuke from Rome's most famous resident. “Their only words were, ‘Jesus, help me,’” Pope Francis said of the ISIS victims. “The martyrs belong to all Christians.” Italy has called for NATO troops to join the fight against ISIS.
But one Arab country, Libya’s neighbor, Egypt, didn't wait to be asked. “Revenge is Coming,” read this Cairo newspaper headline. And it did. U.S.-made Egyptian F-16s took off before dawn Monday and took out ISIS targets in Libya.
NABIL ELARABY [ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL]: It is incumbent upon all governments, particularly in the region, to work together and to ensure that such vile acts will never be repeated.
MITCHELL: Libya, a failed state, further destabilized after the U.S.-led overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi four years ago, has become a hot bed of terrorism. U.S. officials have warned that ISIS is filling the vacuum.
NICK RASMUSSEN [U.S. NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER DIRECTOR]: ISIL has also looked to take advantage of the chaos in Libya.
MITCHELL: The question now, where is ISIS headed next?
GRAEME WOOD [THE ATLANTIC CONTRIBUTING EDITOR]: The goal of ISIS is to conquer the world. They want to have everyone in the world become a Sunni Muslim of the sort that they profess. And if that doesn't work out, then they would be happy to kill or enslave most of the population of planet Earth.
MITCHELL: Critics say that the Obama administration has abandoned Libya to the militants, making some question whether even this attack on the Tripoli beach will shock the conscience of the west. Carson, Savannah.
DALY: Alright, Andrea Mitchell, thank you.
