ABC News spent another morning sympathizing with our enemies on Monday’s Good Morning America. This time, it was correspondent Martha Raddatz’s turn to be awestruck by the anti-American protests in Iran over the U.S. drone strike-kill of terrorist General Qasem Soleimani, last week. Instead of praising the death of a man who has ordered the murder and torture of countless American soldiers, Raddatz sided with the Iranians, by touting the “mourning” over their “revered” military leader while worrying they would now seek “revenge” on the United States.
The ABC team set the stage, with co-anchors Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos warning of the “crisis growing in Iran” and the “fallout spreading” over the U.S. military strike that killed Soleimani.
Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz then dove in with her over-the-top sympathy piece for people who hate our country. She marveled at the anti-American protests, calling them a “powerful combination of grief and anger,” while hyping the “mourners” “paying tribute” to a “revered” American-killer:
I have been in the midst of anti-America protests in Iran before, but nothing like this. A powerful combination of grief and anger with shouts of ‘death to America’ echoing through the streets around us. This morning, mourners filling the streets of Iran's capital of Tehran for the funeral of general Soleimani killed by that U.S. drone strike last week. Aerial images capturing the sea of Iranians packing the streets to pay tribute to a man revered by many here.
From the streets of Tehran, Raddatz spoke with protesters chanting ‘death to America’ and burning our flag, while taking shots at President Trump. Raddatz couldn’t find the words to be critical of their response; instead, she seemed to sympathize:
“Soleimani's image everywhere. The impact of his death profound. The crowds are massive and emotional. There are many tears here,…” she gushed.
After warning about Iran’s threats of “revenge,” she continued hyping the “emotional” response to the terrorist’s death:
"Inside the funeral service, the emotion just as powerful. The supreme leader of Iran weeping and praying over a coffin draped in the Iraqi flag. This is the largest funeral in Iran since the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989," Raddatz stated.
Immediately following this, ABC continued trashing Trump in a report touting Democrats upset by the air strike against Soleimani. Anchor George Stephanopoulos complained Trump was “lashing out” at Democrats by “taunting” Congress with a “threat” against Iran if they retaliated.
Another sympathetic report followed in the 8 AM hour of GMA.
Read the transcript from the 7:00AM EST report, below:
Good Morning America
1/6/2020
7:03:13am-7:06:26AM EST
MARTHA RADDATZ: Good morning, Robin. I have been in the midst of anti-America protests in Iran before, but nothing like this. A powerful combination of grief and anger with shouts of ‘death to America’ echoing through the streets around us. This morning, mourners filling the streets of Iran's capital of Tehran for the funeral of general Soleimani killed by that U.S. drone strike last week. Aerial images capturing the sea of Iranians packing the streets to pay tribute to a man revered by many here.
IRANIAN: Trump made a big mistake. He killed our hero.
RADDATZ: Soleimani's image everywhere. The impact of his death profound. The crowds are massive and emotional. There are many tears here, many signs with Soleimani's picture on them, but the message is also very clear. These people want revenge.
IRANIAN: Are you human or not?
RADDATZ: As we made our way through the streets of Tehran, people surrounding us, shouting death to America.
IRANIAN: We will have very hard revenge of Mr. Trump.
RADDATZ: Inside the funeral service, the emotion just as powerful. The supreme leader of Iran weeping and praying over a coffin draped in the Iraqi flag. This is the largest funeral in Iran since the death of the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989.
Today, calls for jihad. Members of the Iranian parliament also chanting ‘death to America’ and a red flag symbolizing a declaration of war, raised above an Iranian mosque on Saturday. Soleimani's replacement as head of the Quds force calling for revenge. The leader of Iranian-backed Hezbollah saying American soldiers and officers will be going home in coffins. And Soleimani's own daughter making a televised plea with Hezbollah to take revenge for the blood of her father. This morning, the Iranian government announcing they're suspending commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal, abandoning limits on enriching uranium, and stockpiling nuclear fuel. This as Iraq has now voted to expel all American troops and submitting a complaint against the U.S. for violation of sovereignty to the United Nations. Just six months ago when we were here, some people were critical of their leaders because of the effect of American sanctions, but today for now at least, they are united against America, Robin.
ROBIN ROBERTS: As you know, we're already sending an additional 4,500 troops to the region. You kind of alluded to it earlier when you started your piece in saying you have never had this sense being there in Iran before like this, what's going on there on the ground.
RADDATZ: Well, exactly. I don't think people here want an all-out war, but they do want revenge for the death of Soleimani, but the next move is all up to Iran, robin.
ROBIN ROBERTS: Okay, Martha. Thank you.
