Haroon Aswat? Never Heard of Him!
Reported by Melanie - July 28, 2005
Today (July 28, 2005), on Dayside w/Linda Vester, guest host Mike Jerrick broke into programming with yet another Fox News Alert. This alert was about the recent arrest of a suspect in Zambia, Haroon Aswat, thought to be the "mastermind" of the July 7 bombings in London. Jerrick interviewed Steve Emerson, a Fox News "terrorism analyst," and asked him what he knew of Aswat.
MJ: "This may be the mastermind himself, how much information do you have on this Haroon?"
SE: "I don't know how much he really is linked to Al Qaeda, but in the end it doesn't matter because there are many like him that will take his place."
Comment: Emerson didn't have much information regarding this suspected terrorist, and no one on the show mentioned anything about his background.
According to the Seattle Times, Aswat is not unknown in the United States. In 1999, Aswat tried and failed to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon, and in early 2002, lived in a mosque in Seattle. In 2002, authorities sought a federal indictment against Aswat, but for unknown reasons, John Ashcroft's Justice Department blocked it. Aswat was allowed to go free. While others he was involved with were indicted (Aswat was even named a co-conspirator), no charges were brought against him.
Fox interrupted today with a Fox News Alert that Aswat is now considered the "mastermind" of the July 7 bombings, yet Fox chose to hide the glaring inefficiencies of the Bush administration, and its failure to go after this suspected terrorist, who allegedly is now involved in the murder of 56 people.
Fox chose to ignore the failings of the Bush administration, allowing its viewers to continue to believe that Bush is "keeping us safe".
Reported by Janie.
