Media Analyst: CBS's Wallace Played Softball in Interview With Iran's Leader
by Chad Groening
August 16, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A conservative media watchdog organization says while the recently televised interview of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by CBS's Mike Wallace was not as embarrassing as Dan Rather's 2003 talk with Saddam Hussein, it was clear Wallace was kissing up to the Iranian strongman. The Media Research Center's Rich Noyes admits that the veteran 60 Minutes host did ask Ahmadinejad a few tough questions about Hezbollah's violence, his Holocaust denial, and his statements about wanting to wipe Israel off the map. And Noyes says Wallace actually upset Ahmadinejad when the newsman responded to the Iranian president's claim that Israel was using American-made weapons to kill Lebanese civilians.
"Wallace tried to interrupt him and talk about the Iranian-manufactured and supplied weapons that Hezbollah was using to kill Israeli civilians -- sort of put the shoe on the other foot -- and it made Ahmadinejad fairly angry," the media analyst recalls. "He asked Wallace at one point whether he was a journalist or a Zionist."
However, Noyes points out that, at other times during the interview, Wallace seemed almost flattering of his guest. "When the Iranian president's aide sent him a note saying he needed to adjust his coat," the MRC spokesman notes, "Wallace said, 'Oh, no, you look fine. You look your best.' And at another point, he said there was nothing he would rather do than sit and interview the president of Iran."
However, Wallace steered clear of some topics Noyes feels should have been addressed during the interview. "I would have asked about the reports, at least, that this Iranian president has an Armageddon desire," the media expert says, referring to reports that Ahmadinejad "somehow thinks it's his role to help hasten the end of the world."
Noyes suspects Iran's president of believing that the end of the world would bring about the appearance of "the 12th Imam," a figure in Muslim ideology who is believed by Shi'as and Sunnis to be the forthcoming ultimate savior of mankind. If it is true that Ahmadinejad adheres to this myth, the MRC spokesman asserts, "that would be a pretty scary and pretty noteworthy thing for a guy who is trying to acquire nuclear weapons."
Overall, Mike Wallace's interview of Ahmadinejad was a mixed bag, Noyes suggests. "I would say he hit all the hard topics," the media analyst says, "but he also had these moments where he was sort of a softy."
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
