Communist News Network Memo Leaked!
The internet is abuzz with the news of a leaked internal memo from CNN, the network with which this writer shares a city. The memo is intended to "guide" (dictate) the reporting of the end of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's reign of power. I present to you now that memo.
From: Flexner, Allison
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:46 AM
To: CNN Superdesk
Cc: Neill, Morgan; Darlington, Shasta
Subject: Castro guidance
Some points on Castro - for adding to our anchor reads/reporting:
Please say in our reporting that Castro stepped down in a letter he wrote to Granma (the communist party daily), as opposed to in a letter attributed to Fidel Castro. We have no reason to doubt he wrote his resignation letter, he has penned numerous articles over the past year and a half.
Please note Fidel did bring social reforms to Cuba - namely free education and universal health care, and racial integration. in addition to being criticized for oppressing human rights and freedom of speech.
Also the Cuban government blames a lot of Cuba's economic problems on the US embargo, and while that has caused some difficulties, (far less so than the collapse of the Soviet Union) the bulk of Cuba's economic problems are due to Cuba's failed economic polices. Some analysts would say the US embargo was a benefit to Castro politically - something to blame problems on, by what the Cubans call "the imperialist," meddling in their affairs.
While despised by some, he is seen as a revolutionary hero, especially with leftist in Latin America, for standing up to the United States.
Any questions, please call the international desk.
Some things you should note:
CNN is the only American TV news network with a permanent bureau in Cuba, and among this email's recipients is Morgan Neill, the chief of that bureau, and Shasta Darlington, a CNN Havana correspondent. Or, if you're a Facebook junkie, do a search for an Allison Flexner and check her networks.
Now, you’ll notice how there are no references (in the memo or any CNN broadcasts) to the murder and political incarceration that took place during Castro's rule. You'll also notice the decision not to reference Castro’s mandatory nation-wide AIDS testing, or the Isle of Pines where the cigar sucker quarantined all AIDS-infected Cubans.
Above: Fidel Castro and Che Guevara
have a man-to-man in 1959.
Remarkably, in much the same way there are no homosexuals in Iran, there are no AIDS sufferers in Cuba. Diane Sawyer was right this week when she called him a "dashing revolutionary" -- he certainly brought some "much needed change."
No one in the mainstream media is running this story; It is being buried under Obamamania and Bush’s African vacation. America's media is not a collection of private and objective news outlets, but rather a neighborhood of conglomerates with colliding interests and loyalty to any nation but their own.
"Despised by some?" Fidel Castro was as tyrannically evil as any dictator in history. The Castro-Che regime murdered more people during their first three years in power than Hitler and the SS did in their first six, and the percentage of Cuba’s population imprisoned by Castro was larger than the percentage of Soviet citizens incarcerated and sent to labor camps under Joseph Stalin. A revolutionary hero, or a brutal tyrant?
In the government-media complex, it doesn’t matter; their only concern is protecting their interests -- interests which apparently have nothing to do with accurate reporting and everything to do with manipulating the American people. Why would they ever want to associate Leftist policies with violence and oppression?
Can you imagine the media frenzy that would erupt if the following FOX News memo was leaked when George Bush left office?
Sent: January 20th, 2009 7:46 AM
Subject: Bush guidance
Some points on Bush stepping down - for adding to our anchor reads/reporting:
Please say in our reporting that Bush stepped down because "his work was done." We have no reason to believe his presidency has produced an open-ended array of exacerbated problems threatening our security and prosperity.
Please note that Bush did bring social reforms to America, including improving "natural disaster relief" programs, increasing supplies of "printed money," and enlightening America with the knowledge that Islam means "peace."
Also, Americans blame a lot of Iraq's problems on an initial lack of strategic planning, and while that has caused some difficulties, the bulk of Iraq's military hurdles are due to a lack of domestic "support for the mission."
While despised by some, he is seen as a champion of democracy, especially among people in the Middle East, for standing up to "tyranny and evil in our lifetime."
Any questions, please call Rupert.
If you live in Atlanta, the next time you see Ted Turner strolling about in front of those giant, glowing, red letters...join me in asking him what they stand for.
From: Flexner, Allison
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:46 AM
To: CNN Superdesk
Cc: Neill, Morgan; Darlington, Shasta
Subject: Castro guidance
Some points on Castro - for adding to our anchor reads/reporting:
Please say in our reporting that Castro stepped down in a letter he wrote to Granma (the communist party daily), as opposed to in a letter attributed to Fidel Castro. We have no reason to doubt he wrote his resignation letter, he has penned numerous articles over the past year and a half.
Please note Fidel did bring social reforms to Cuba - namely free education and universal health care, and racial integration. in addition to being criticized for oppressing human rights and freedom of speech.
Also the Cuban government blames a lot of Cuba's economic problems on the US embargo, and while that has caused some difficulties, (far less so than the collapse of the Soviet Union) the bulk of Cuba's economic problems are due to Cuba's failed economic polices. Some analysts would say the US embargo was a benefit to Castro politically - something to blame problems on, by what the Cubans call "the imperialist," meddling in their affairs.
While despised by some, he is seen as a revolutionary hero, especially with leftist in Latin America, for standing up to the United States.
Any questions, please call the international desk.
Some things you should note:
CNN is the only American TV news network with a permanent bureau in Cuba, and among this email's recipients is Morgan Neill, the chief of that bureau, and Shasta Darlington, a CNN Havana correspondent. Or, if you're a Facebook junkie, do a search for an Allison Flexner and check her networks.
Now, you’ll notice how there are no references (in the memo or any CNN broadcasts) to the murder and political incarceration that took place during Castro's rule. You'll also notice the decision not to reference Castro’s mandatory nation-wide AIDS testing, or the Isle of Pines where the cigar sucker quarantined all AIDS-infected Cubans.
Above: Fidel Castro and Che Guevarahave a man-to-man in 1959.
Remarkably, in much the same way there are no homosexuals in Iran, there are no AIDS sufferers in Cuba. Diane Sawyer was right this week when she called him a "dashing revolutionary" -- he certainly brought some "much needed change."
No one in the mainstream media is running this story; It is being buried under Obamamania and Bush’s African vacation. America's media is not a collection of private and objective news outlets, but rather a neighborhood of conglomerates with colliding interests and loyalty to any nation but their own.
"Despised by some?" Fidel Castro was as tyrannically evil as any dictator in history. The Castro-Che regime murdered more people during their first three years in power than Hitler and the SS did in their first six, and the percentage of Cuba’s population imprisoned by Castro was larger than the percentage of Soviet citizens incarcerated and sent to labor camps under Joseph Stalin. A revolutionary hero, or a brutal tyrant?
In the government-media complex, it doesn’t matter; their only concern is protecting their interests -- interests which apparently have nothing to do with accurate reporting and everything to do with manipulating the American people. Why would they ever want to associate Leftist policies with violence and oppression?
Can you imagine the media frenzy that would erupt if the following FOX News memo was leaked when George Bush left office?
Sent: January 20th, 2009 7:46 AM
Subject: Bush guidance
Some points on Bush stepping down - for adding to our anchor reads/reporting:
Please say in our reporting that Bush stepped down because "his work was done." We have no reason to believe his presidency has produced an open-ended array of exacerbated problems threatening our security and prosperity.
Please note that Bush did bring social reforms to America, including improving "natural disaster relief" programs, increasing supplies of "printed money," and enlightening America with the knowledge that Islam means "peace."
Also, Americans blame a lot of Iraq's problems on an initial lack of strategic planning, and while that has caused some difficulties, the bulk of Iraq's military hurdles are due to a lack of domestic "support for the mission."
While despised by some, he is seen as a champion of democracy, especially among people in the Middle East, for standing up to "tyranny and evil in our lifetime."
Any questions, please call Rupert.
If you live in Atlanta, the next time you see Ted Turner strolling about in front of those giant, glowing, red letters...join me in asking him what they stand for.
Labels: Media
Thursday, February 21, 2008
I don't see what Allison or CNN has to gain by glossing over Castro's faults. In fact, I think this was a great memo. The job of the news is not to inform people of things they already know. And everyone knows Castro is a piece of shit. But you're right, it was politically incorrect and they should have said some negative shit just to remind people. This was kind of like highlighting the "good things Hitler did" (except that Hitler didn't do as much good). Still, though, the fact that she mentioned that Castro benefited from the US embargo politically leads me to believe that this was not motivated by "special interests" but by the desire to expand on lesser-known elements of Castro's reign.
By the way, Allison's networks are CNN and Turner Broadcasting. Did they include something else earlier? top