Reporting on Iran’s Nukes

Analysis:

As with many news pieces on US foreign policy, the voices presented in the story are that of a government or military spokesperson. No Iranian voices are heard n the story, nor are any independent or international voices heard. Also, the statements made by the government spokesperson are not subjected to any critical scrutiny. Nor is any information given as to what the Iranian pronouncement that it has enriched uranium actually means. According to an article by scholar Juan Cole, the president of Iran announced that his country had enriched uranium to 3.5 percent, using a bank of 180 centrifuges. Cole notes that in order to build a nuclear weapon, uranium has to be enriched to 80%, far more than what Iran has achieved to date. Estimates vary widely amongst experts as to how long it will take Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. None of these expert voices are presented in the story, rather, the newsreader states simply that Iran has taken “an important step for building an Atomic bomb”, a statement that implies that Iranian nuclear weapons are imminent.

Story:

WXMI Newsreader- …Condoleezza Rice asked the international community to help Iran stay in line. It comes after Iran’s president announced that they have enriched uranium, an important step for building an atomic bomb. Iran has been ordered more than once to stop experimenting. Rice says it’s clear they are not listening.

Condi Rice – I do think that the security council will need to take into consideration this move by Iran and that it will be time when it reconvenes on this case for strong steps to make certain that we maintain the credibility of the international community on this issue.

Newsreader – Iran says that their program is peaceful and for civilian power.