The journalists at CBS just couldn’t help themselves with the flowery language for dead terrorist Qasem Soleimani. This Morning reporter Holly Williams described the man who ordered the killing of U.S. military members as a “revered,” “inspiring” “military genius.” She blandly understated, “For America, though, General Soleimani was a problem.”
Williams began: “There are fears that the killing of Soleimani, a revered figure in Iran and some other places in the Middle East, could see simmering tensions between the U.S. and Iran turn explosive.”
After quickly noting that Soleimani “was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members,” she got back to highlighting Middle Eastern praise: “But even many of Soleimani's enemies admitted he was a military genius. He spearheaded Iran's involvement in a Syrian civil war hoping to shore up the Syrian regime's grip on power.”
Williams warned:
By killing Qasem Soleimani, the U.S. has stripped Iran of an inspirational military leader. It's also further inflamed dangerously high tensions. Iran has already vowed to take, quote, “harsh revenge.”
Earlier in the show, reporter David Martin continued the equivication: “Seen as a terrorist in the U.S., Soleimani was respected in Iran and tried to reshape its influence in the region.” Martin fretted, “The drone strike eliminated a key enemy, but it could also put Americans throughout the Middle East at greater risk.”
It was former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell who offered the description most Americans would agree with:
Qasem Soleimani was an evil genius. He had a lot of American blood on his hands. He was the mastermind behind Iranian-maligned behavior in the region. The world is a better place without him.
The Washington Post referred to Soleimani as Iran’s “most revered military leader.” CNN described his death as a “murder.”
Transcripts of the Holly Williams segment and partial transcript of earlier CBS reports are below. Click “expand” to read more:
CBS This Morning
1/3/20
7:04DAVID MARTIN: This opens a dangerous new chapter in the long-running confrontation between the U.S. And Iran. The drone strike eliminated a key enemy, but it could also put Americans throughout the Middle East at greater risk.
...
MARTIN: Seen as a terrorist in the U.S., Soleimani was respected in Iran and tried to reshape its influence in the region.
7:11
MICHAEL MORELL (Former CIA Deputy Director) : Qasem Soleimani was an evil genius. He had a lot of American blood on his hands. He was the mastermind behind Iranian-maligned behavior in the region. The world is a better place without him.
8:03
JERICKA DUNCAN: Holly Williams has reported extensively throughout the Middle East. She joins us from Erbil Iraq. What does the death of Soleimani mean for the tensions between the U.S. And Iran, and in the region as a whole?
HOLLY WILLIAMS: The Pentagon says its drone strike targeting Major General Qasem Soleimani was aimed at deterring future attacks by Iran. It's part of President Trump's so-called maximum pressure campaign against the Iranians. But there are fears that the killing of Soleimani, a revered figure in Iran and some other places in the Middle East, could see simmering tensions between the U.S. And Iran turn explosive. The loss of Qasem Soleimani is a heavy blow to Iran. He was a war hero, the commander of Iran's feared Quds force responsible for secretive foreign operations. He wasn't will known in the United States, but he was one of the most powerful figures in the Middle East. Sometimes even touted as a possible future leader of Iran. For America, though, General Soleimani was a problem. In April last year, the U.S. Designated the Quds force a foreign terrorist organization.
SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO: We are sending a clear signal, a clear message to Iran's leaders, including Qasem Soleimani and his band of thugs, that the United States is bringing all pressure to bear to stop the regime's outlaw behavior.
WILLIAMS: The Pentagon says Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and also approved the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad this week. But even many of Soleimani's enemies admitted he was a military genius. He spearheaded Iran's involvement in a Syrian civil war hoping to shore up the Syrian regime's grip on power. And in Iraq, ironically, he and his forces were on the same side as the U.S., fighting against ISIS. By killing Qasem Soleimani, the U.S. has stripped Iran of an inspirational military leader. It's also further inflamed dangerously high tensions. Iran has already vowed to take, quote, “harsh revenge.” Holly Williams, CBS News, Erbil, Iraq.
