--- [ IMPORTANT READS ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9) # This Just In: Corporate Media’s Syria Coverage was ‘Atrocious’ MEDIA WATCH--Independent journalist Jeremy Scahill on Sunday [offered scathing criticism ](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jeremy-scahill-slams-fareed-zakaria-on-cnn-if-he-could-have-sex-with-that-missile-strike-he-would/)of corporate media's [coverage](http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/disgust-corporate-media-and-dc-politicians-gush-over-trumps-new-war) of the cruise missile strike President Donald Trump [ordered](http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/without-proof-or-cause-or-consent-impetuous-trump-bombs-syria) last week on Syria. Speaking on *CNN*'s "Reliable Sources" to host Brian Stelter, *The Intercept* co-founder and *Dirty Wars* author took particular aim at that network's Fareed Zakaria and *MSNBC*'s Brian Williams. "The media coverage has been atrocious, particularly—and this is across the board on every network—particularly when the strike is happening. It's like they're in awe of the cruise missiles," Scahill said. Indeed, media critics pounced on the comments by Zakaria—who called it Trump's "big moment"—and Williams—who [called](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/07/brian-williams-beautiful-strikes_n_15860854.html) the strikes "beautiful" —[as examples of](http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/08/essential-pundit-take-trump-became-president-bombing-syria) the "classic pundit attitude toward presidential violence." Referring to Zakaria, Scahill said "if that guy could have sex with this cruise missile attack, I think he would do it." And Brian Williams, he said, "seemed to be in true love with the cruise missile strike, in a despicable way invoking Leonard Cohen's name." Pressed by Stelter if Zakaria's comments were taken out of context, Scahill said, "Fareed Zakaria was also a major cheerleader for the Iraq War." Scahill also criticized corporate media for elevating the voices of retired military who may now be personally profiting from continued U.S. warfare. "*CNN* needs to needs to immediate withdraw all retired generals and colonels from its airways," Scahill said. "I think that the American people deserve to know what was the private sector record of these individuals when it came to the weapons industry or profiting in the private sector off of the proliferation of U.S. wars that happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and elsewhere. There is not the kind of transparency that is required of a truly democratic press when you're not revealing the extent to which these people have benefited in the private sector from these wars," he said. ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2017/15029q.png)He also noted that "the United States has been engaged militarily in Syria for several years now, both in the form of Special Operations forces and, increasingly, conventional 'boots on the ground,' but also just scorched-earth bombing, particularly since Trump took office." Former *CBS News* anchor Dan Rather also weighed in the issue of media coverage of the strikes, [writing](https://www.facebook.com/theDanRather/posts/10158474112235716) on his personal Facebook page: "The role of the press is to ask hard questions." "The number of members of the press who have lauded the actions last night as 'presidential' is concerning. War must never be considered a public relations operation. It is not a way for an Administration to gain a narrative. It is a step into a dangerous unknown and its full impact is impossible to predict, especially in the immediate wake of the first strike," he wrote. *(Andrea Germanos writes for [Common Dreams](http://commondreams.org) … where this perspective was first posted.)* -cw Written by Andrea Germanos. ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2017/15029p.png) April 10 2017 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) [Comments](#disqus_thread) MEDIA WATCH--Independent journalist Jeremy Scahill on Sunday [offered scathing criticism ](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jeremy-scahill-slams-fareed-zakaria-on-cnn-if-he-could-have-sex-with-that-missile-strike-he-would/)of corporate media's [coverage](http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/disgust-corporate-media-and-dc-politicians-gush-over-trumps-new-war) of the cruise missile strike President Donald Trump [ordered](http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/without-proof-or-cause-or-consent-impetuous-trump-bombs-syria) last week on Syria. Speaking on *CNN*'s "Reliable Sources" to host Brian Stelter, *The Intercept* co-founder and *Dirty Wars* author took particular aim at that network's Fareed Zakaria and *MSNBC*'s Brian Williams. "The media coverage has been atrocious, particularly—and this is across the board on every network—particularly when the strike is happening. It's like they're in awe of the cruise missiles," Scahill said. Indeed, media critics pounced on the comments by Zakaria—who called it Trump's "big moment"—and Williams—who [called](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/07/brian-williams-beautiful-strikes_n_15860854.html) the strikes "beautiful" —[as examples of](http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/08/essential-pundit-take-trump-became-president-bombing-syria) the "classic pundit attitude toward presidential violence." Referring to Zakaria, Scahill said "if that guy could have sex with this cruise missile attack, I think he would do it." And Brian Williams, he said, "seemed to be in true love with the cruise missile strike, in a despicable way invoking Leonard Cohen's name." Pressed by Stelter if Zakaria's comments were taken out of context, Scahill said, "Fareed Zakaria was also a major cheerleader for the Iraq War." Scahill also criticized corporate media for elevating the voices of retired military who may now be personally profiting from continued U.S. warfare. "*CNN* needs to needs to immediate withdraw all retired generals and colonels from its airways," Scahill said. "I think that the American people deserve to know what was the private sector record of these individuals when it came to the weapons industry or profiting in the private sector off of the proliferation of U.S. wars that happened in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and elsewhere. There is not the kind of transparency that is required of a truly democratic press when you're not revealing the extent to which these people have benefited in the private sector from these wars," he said. ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2017/15029q.png)He also noted that "the United States has been engaged militarily in Syria for several years now, both in the form of Special Operations forces and, increasingly, conventional 'boots on the ground,' but also just scorched-earth bombing, particularly since Trump took office." Former *CBS News* anchor Dan Rather also weighed in the issue of media coverage of the strikes, [writing](https://www.facebook.com/theDanRather/posts/10158474112235716) on his personal Facebook page: "The role of the press is to ask hard questions." "The number of members of the press who have lauded the actions last night as 'presidential' is concerning. War must never be considered a public relations operation. It is not a way for an Administration to gain a narrative. It is a step into a dangerous unknown and its full impact is impossible to predict, especially in the immediate wake of the first strike," he wrote. *(Andrea Germanos writes for [Common Dreams](http://commondreams.org) … where this perspective was first posted.)* -cw [![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays First Name [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) ### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) ### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) ### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) ### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu… --- ## [ IMPORTANT READS ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/064m3.jpeg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33192:should-unsafe-property-conditions-lead-to-injury-claims&catid=9)### [Should Unsafe Property Conditions Lead to Injury Claims?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33192:should-unsafe-property-conditions-lead-to-injury-claims&catid=9) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/061q.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33155:how-electrical-hazards-put-workers-at-risk&catid=9)### [How Electrical Hazards Put Workers at Risk](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33155:how-electrical-hazards-put-workers-at-risk&catid=9) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/058i.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33091:metro-doesnt-have-a-transit-problem-it-has-a-leadership-problem&catid=9)### [Metro Doesn't Have a Transit Problem—It Has a Leadership Problem](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33091:metro-doesnt-have-a-transit-problem-it-has-a-leadership-problem&catid=9) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060o.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33139:wrongful-death-claims-after-a-serious-accident-and-what-families-need-to-know&catid=9)### [Wrongful Death Claims After a Serious Accident and What Families Need to Know](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33139:wrongful-death-claims-after-a-serious-accident-and-what-families-need-to-know&catid=9) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/059s.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33123:the-real-downsides-of-heat-pump-water-heaters-nobody-mentions&catid=9)### [The Real Downsides of Heat Pump Water Heaters Nobody Mentions](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33123:the-real-downsides-of-heat-pump-water-heaters-nobody-mentions&catid=9)