The unfolding disaster in Afghanistan is so bad that, day after day, some prominent mainstream journalists are having trouble parroting the White House’s talking points. Yesterday, Chuck Todd hammered Joe Biden for losing his “competency” card. On Wednesday, reliably liberal Gayle King grilled Biden’s U.N ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on the ridiculousness of trusting the Taliban.
The CBS This Morning co-host sputtered, “I heard a White House spokesperson say the other day, I wrote this down, ‘We've received assurances from the Taliban that we will —’ Those words don't seem to even go together to me when you hear them in a sentence.” An incredulous King demanded, “What stock are you putting in what the Taliban is saying, ‘We have changed’?”
Earlier in the interview, King flatly told the UN ambassador that “preparations weren’t made” for the exit. She demanded answers:
Why weren't preparations made ahead of time? And I know hindsight is 20/20. I get that.... But it does beg the question why preparations weren't made earlier to make sure that this transition went a little bitter -- look at this with the people literally hanging on to the plane. Preparations weren't made.
King closed the segment by warning Thomas-Greenfield: “Well, we're all watching, the world is watching. Let's hope things improve and that this situation works out a little better than what we're seeing so far.”
The CBS co-host is a Democratic donor who vacations with the Obamas. So we can expect her to switch back to Biden protection mode. But the last few days have shown an important fact: Journalists CAN grill Democrats if they try. They just need to try harder — and more often.
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A transcript of the questions can be found below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
8/18/2021
8:19GAYLE KING: As the Taliban consolidates their control of Afghanistan, they are selling themselves as a new more moderate group that will respect women's rights and not retaliate against Afghans who fought against them. But those promises are being met with skepticism, big skepticism, as many Afghans flood Kabul airport trying to board flights leaving the country. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., that's Linda Thomas Greenfield, joins us now to discuss. Good to see you, Madam ambassador. What's your biggest concern right now?
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KING: You know, people are looking at it, and I'm sure you, too, we're haunted by the images that we're seeing. Why weren't preparations made ahead of time? And I know hindsight is 20/20. I get that. Everybody that has no experience with anything has an opinion. But it does beg the question why preparations weren't made earlier to make sure that this transition went a little bitter -- look at this with the people literally hanging on to the plane. Preparations weren't made. Yeah.
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD (U.S. Ambassador to the UN): You know, Gayle, absolutely preparations were made. We did contingency planning, but none of us can appreciate what happens when the end of a civil war takes place and the victor’s enter the city. But we were prepared for this, and we are working around the clock to ensure that people are given support to get out of the country.
KING: I heard a White House spokesperson say the other day, I wrote this down, "We've received assurances from the Taliban that we will — " Those words don't seem to even go together to me when you hear them in a sentence. How — what stock are you putting in what the Taliban is saying, “We have changed. We're encouraging women to join the government, there will be no retaliation against any of the Afghan people who have worked with the U.S.?” How are you viewing that?
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KING: What is the U.N. doing right now to protect girls in particular and women, the women are very afraid, many in hiding.
THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I feel their fear, but the U.N. announced very early that they will remain on the ground, they will continue to support programs for women and girls.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Madam Ambassador, it's Tony Dokoupil. We've seen pictures online of courageous women — good morning to you, thank you for being with us. We've seen pictures of courageous women in Afghanistan protesting the Taliban's takeover. Some at 6:30 in the morning walking to school as though it's just another day and nothing has changed. Obviously both those activities do carry new risks this morning. What would you advise, what does the U.N. Advise to the women in Afghanistan right now? Should they stay inside watch and wait or try to go about their lives?
THOMAS-GREENFIELD: You know, I have to leave that to Afghan women to decide for themselves, but personally I think they need to make every attempt to go on with their lives knowing that we in the international community will be looking to ensure that they are protected.
KING: Are you talking with representatives in the region? Are you in communication with them?
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KING: Well, we're all watching, the world is watching. Let's hope things improve and that this situation works out a little better than what we're seeing so far.
