Karzai and Bush Photo Op

Analysis:

This story is framed as a meeting between the US President and Afghani President Karzai to “iron out problems.” The story does mention the issue of prisoner abuse at US military bases, but provides no context to the “accusations.” According to Human Rights Watch the prisoner abuses at US bases in Afghan pre-date those at Abu Ghraib.

What is omitted from this story was the real reason for Afghan President Karzai’s visit to the White House, to sign a long term deal with the Bush administration to keep US military bases there. Another major issue not discussed in this news article is over the fact that Afghanistan has become the world leader in Heroin production since the US invasion and defeat of the Taliban in 2001-2002.

Story:

WZZM 13 News reader – President Bush is trying to iron out problems with Afghanistan’s leader, Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited the White House today. He and President Bush discussed accusations of prisoner abuse at an American base in Afghanistan. Karzai says he blames the people responsible for the abuses, but not their country.

Afghan President – These things happen everywhere. As we are sad, we recognize that the American people, kind as they are to Afghanistan, have nothing to do with that.

WZZM 13 News reader – In an earlier appearance this weekend Karzai said he wanted the Americans who miss treated prisoners to be brought to justice.

Total time – 38 seconds