Sunday
Sep202009
UPDATED Iran: The Extended NBC TV Interview with President Ahmadinejad
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 19:41
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[Earlier commentaries and videos follow the extended 53-minute interview.]
I have been highly critical of the way NBC publicised and rolled out the earlier versions of this interview (see videos below), first in a "teaser" clip and then in the 6 1/2-minute extract featured on last week's NBC Evening News. The extended version has finally gone out on MSNBC today. To be fair, I'll refrain from further analysis until I've had a chance to give this full consideration.
The full interview went out on NBC's evening news last night. The lead question-and-answer was, "Did You Steal This Election?", the advance clip that we posted below with our less-than-impressed analysis. To be fair to interviewer Ann Curry, she did follow this with a carefully-phrased challenge as to whether Ahmadinejad's forces had rigged the vote. And, of course, the President held the line with his insistence on brave Iranian people recognising his legitimacy by supporting him.
Curry then jumped to the death of Neda Agha Soltan ("What were your emotions when you saw this video?"). The President handled this easily, promising to investigate a suspicous death. Curry then finally got to current issues of detentions, abuses, and torture, to which Ahmadinejad expressed his regret that some people had been killed but far more security forces had been slain. And that was it: Curry then jumped to the nuclear issue and US-Iran talks.
In short? Curry's claim that the President "made news on several fronts" is blather, as she generally referred to a few basic (if important) symbols of past months inside Iran. She showed no knowledge of what is happening in Iran this week, leaving the President free to walk away unscathed. Indeed, he walked away boosted by the legitimacy granted to him by a major US television network more interested in headline ratings than in an appreciation of the complexity and significance of what is happening in the Islamic Republic.
NBC has just posted the first extract from Ann Curry's interview with President Ahmadinejad. Here's their hard-hitting, headline question: "Did you steal the election?"
Pow, what a journalistic coup! Of course, the President was completely flummoxed and said, "Yes. Yes, I did."
OK, not really. Instead he trotted out the line --- familiar to all readers of Enduring America --- that these were the fairest elections in the history of the world, with 85 percent turnout, and other so-called "democracies" should recognise the superior superior system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
But here's what burns me beyond the ineptitude. Curry's framing of the question of legitimacy is put not in the challenges from the Green movement and those marching on Qods Day but through the Speaker of the Parliament, Ali Larijani.
We'll wait for the rest of the interview but it looks like NBC has given Ahmadinejad and the regime far more legitimacy than they have received from other governments, let alone many of the Iranian people.
The American television network NBC previewed its "exclusive" interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about 1220 GMT. The interview is being conducted this afternoon, presumably to be aired tonight. Meanwhile, NBC has talked to the families of the three Americans detained when they crossed the border into Iran.
Already, however, this is in danger of being a travesty. After patting itself enthusiastically on the back for getting the interview, NBC frames these as the issues "at a critical moment": 1) Iran's nuclear programme and negotiations with the US; 2) Ahmadinejad's appearance at the United Nations; 3) the three US "hitchhikers".
No reference to Qods Day. No reference to Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Supreme Leader, and Friday Prayers. No reference to the Green opposition at all apart from the fleeting note of "crackdown on election protestors".
If I'm wrong when the interview is aired, I will say that with relief. For now, this looks like a perfect storm of Ahmadinejad's manoeuvring and the ineptitude of the US mainstream media.
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
[Earlier commentaries and videos follow the extended 53-minute interview.]
I have been highly critical of the way NBC publicised and rolled out the earlier versions of this interview (see videos below), first in a "teaser" clip and then in the 6 1/2-minute extract featured on last week's NBC Evening News. The extended version has finally gone out on MSNBC today. To be fair, I'll refrain from further analysis until I've had a chance to give this full consideration.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
The full interview went out on NBC's evening news last night. The lead question-and-answer was, "Did You Steal This Election?", the advance clip that we posted below with our less-than-impressed analysis. To be fair to interviewer Ann Curry, she did follow this with a carefully-phrased challenge as to whether Ahmadinejad's forces had rigged the vote. And, of course, the President held the line with his insistence on brave Iranian people recognising his legitimacy by supporting him.
Curry then jumped to the death of Neda Agha Soltan ("What were your emotions when you saw this video?"). The President handled this easily, promising to investigate a suspicous death. Curry then finally got to current issues of detentions, abuses, and torture, to which Ahmadinejad expressed his regret that some people had been killed but far more security forces had been slain. And that was it: Curry then jumped to the nuclear issue and US-Iran talks.
In short? Curry's claim that the President "made news on several fronts" is blather, as she generally referred to a few basic (if important) symbols of past months inside Iran. She showed no knowledge of what is happening in Iran this week, leaving the President free to walk away unscathed. Indeed, he walked away boosted by the legitimacy granted to him by a major US television network more interested in headline ratings than in an appreciation of the complexity and significance of what is happening in the Islamic Republic.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
NBC has just posted the first extract from Ann Curry's interview with President Ahmadinejad. Here's their hard-hitting, headline question: "Did you steal the election?"
Pow, what a journalistic coup! Of course, the President was completely flummoxed and said, "Yes. Yes, I did."
OK, not really. Instead he trotted out the line --- familiar to all readers of Enduring America --- that these were the fairest elections in the history of the world, with 85 percent turnout, and other so-called "democracies" should recognise the superior superior system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
But here's what burns me beyond the ineptitude. Curry's framing of the question of legitimacy is put not in the challenges from the Green movement and those marching on Qods Day but through the Speaker of the Parliament, Ali Larijani.
We'll wait for the rest of the interview but it looks like NBC has given Ahmadinejad and the regime far more legitimacy than they have received from other governments, let alone many of the Iranian people.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
The American television network NBC previewed its "exclusive" interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about 1220 GMT. The interview is being conducted this afternoon, presumably to be aired tonight. Meanwhile, NBC has talked to the families of the three Americans detained when they crossed the border into Iran.
Already, however, this is in danger of being a travesty. After patting itself enthusiastically on the back for getting the interview, NBC frames these as the issues "at a critical moment": 1) Iran's nuclear programme and negotiations with the US; 2) Ahmadinejad's appearance at the United Nations; 3) the three US "hitchhikers".
No reference to Qods Day. No reference to Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Supreme Leader, and Friday Prayers. No reference to the Green opposition at all apart from the fleeting note of "crackdown on election protestors".
If I'm wrong when the interview is aired, I will say that with relief. For now, this looks like a perfect storm of Ahmadinejad's manoeuvring and the ineptitude of the US mainstream media.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Reader Comments (17)
[...] The NBC TV Interview with President Ahmadinejad Iran: The NBC TV Interview with President Ahmadinejad Posted by: Scott Lucas in Journalism & Media, Middle East & Iran Enduring America The [...]
Did he get the questions in advance? He doesn't answer the question but responds to the claim that Larijani had expressed an opinion (did he? I have not heard about it).
Fahad,
I have no doubt that NBC had to submit the questions well in advance of the interview.
S.
"NBC has given Ahmadinejad and the regime far more legitimacy than they have received from other governments, let alone many of the Iranian people.
For now, this looks like a perfect storm of Ahmadinejad’s maneuvering and the ineptitude of the US mainstream media."
Scott,
Unfortunately it seems that Obama administration has chosen to deal with A.N's government and thus needs to legitimize it .
Most American mainstream medias like NBC are government tools. They lead the public opinion and prepare the grounds for government's actions .
You may call Ann Curry's interview "inept" , but I think it has been meticulously and purposefully conducted.
Engaging in a normalized diplomatic relationship with A.N's weakened government may bring US short term profit , but on the long run this policy is a total failure for everyone.
Will superpowers ever learn ?????
UUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM yes Ann you caught me I stole the elections! Why did Ann Curry have to call him Mr President OK she may have had to but why did the anchor in the studio also call him President Ahmadinejad? I know all teh international legal stuff but what about integrity, human decency and respect for all those who have died, are in detention, have been tortured raped ....
assal - You want straight talk, stick to social media. Official media are an industry so don't expect moral consistency from them.
Ahmadinejad=Liar
احمدی نژاد=دروغگو
Did I get it completely wrong? In the video you had posted last night Curry explicitly mentioned Ali Larijani who had allegedly (when?) questioned the results of the election. Now she refers to 'inside and outside Iran.' I suppose it makes a difference. Did anybody else notice? The video has been severely manipulated, I suppose.
As regards the interview itself: useless, stupid. One should not interview a dictator in his own country. Interview him in New York.
Fahad - I thought Ann Curry did a great job of letting Ahmadinejad self-expose. This was his home turf, yet he didn't deny that he stole the election. Same goes for the nuke question. He couldn't bring himself to say No, we don't plan to weaponize.
AHMADINEJAD IS A NASTY ANIMAL, THIRSTY FOR POWER AND BLOOD. I HOPE FREEDOM FOR IRAN WIHOUT ANY MULLAH WITH OUT RELIGIOUS DICTATORS.
احمدی نژاد حیوان کثیفی است تشنه خون و قدرت. با آرزوی ایران آزاد بدون آخوند و بدون دیکتاتوری مذهبی.
Thanks NBC for the interviews. If we want to be a bit fair we can see that Ahmadinezhad has a very unique place in the hearts of Low Cast people in Iran who have no access to Internet to rise their voices through out the world. Sure Ahmadabad has many opponents as every other presidents but the reason for which this riot didn't turn to a revolution was because of those Low Cast people who are in majority in Iran and support President Ahmadinezhad due to providing plenty of services to them.
Thanks a lot once again for posting these videos...
Well done Ann , the path for the Islamic regime is rapidly coming to a dead end.
The world is sick and tired of Islamic deceptions and lies . people are killed .tortured , raped by the Islamic security forces in Iran , and this bastard is
saing that is was done by US and Israeli agents .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trita-parsi/why-washington-should-wel_b_283371.html
An interesting analysis both focused on international agenda with IRI (and
A.N.'s government) AND on inner politics in the country... It helps to put in
perspective the multilayered "situation with Iran" (as US commentators say)
-as well as the joined performance ('inept' i agree) of AN and Ms Curry through
NBC good offices...
I never see Ms. Amanpoor show the kind of respect to this criminal as Ms. Cury did.. The American Journalist need to do more home work, when they meet with these criminals.> This is like raising your hand and say Hi Hitler.. This criminal deserves no interview. He should be put in the same jails that he rapes the innocent children.. Shame on anyone that makes peace with this government.
احمدي نژاد دروغگو نيست
كساني كه به قانون تن نميدن دروغگو هستند كساني كه قبل از انتخابات از قانون دم ميزدند ولي بعد انتخابات قانون رو هيچ شمردند
Ahmadinejad is not a liar
Ahmadinejad is not a liar
Ahmadinejad is not a liar
Ahmadinejad is not a liar
Ahmadinejad is not a liar
Thank you NBC I watch the all interview it opened my eyes Mr Ahmadinejad is the true man he change my mind .Thank you again. whaiting for more.
It's pathetic that NBC would choose a mamby pamby like Ann Curry to do this interview; it's like sending a lamb to fight a lion. Her "sincere" gaze and softly put question: "did you steal the election?" made me nauseous. They should keep her for assignments like interviewing Octo mom, the little boy who rescued the kitten from the treetop, and other stories that are more her pace. Personally, I would have liked to see Michael Savage interview him. One crazy up against another. That would be entertaining.