On Tuesday, CBS This Morning introduced its coverage of the ongoing U.S. nuclear negotiations with Iran by promoting President Obama blaming the rise of ISIS on the Bush administration as well as his condemnation of the Republican letter to the leadership of Iran.
Substitute host Jeff Glor began by touting how “[i]n an interview with Vice News, President Obama appears to blame rise of ISIS also known as ISIL on the Bush administration…. The president also says he is “embarrassed” for the 47 Republican senators who signed a letter to Iran. He says it is ‘not how we do business.’”
The network then turned to reporter Margaret Brennan, who has filed several reports on the nuclear negotiations from Switzerland, to provide a one-sided report on the U.S./Iran talks:
[T]he aim here in Switzerland is to find a way to stop Iran's nuclear program without resorting to U.S. military strikes. If these talks fail it could tip off an atomic arms race in the already volatile Middle East. So far no one is promising a break through. This week U.S. diplomats wanted to focus on the substance of a possible nuclear deal but they were sidetracked twice in two days when Iran confronted them about a letter from 47 Republican senators who threatened to spike any deal after President Obama leaves office.
While Brennan and Glor were quick to hype President Obama blasting the GOP letter to Iran, the network failed to provide any actual soundbites from Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) who authored the letter. Instead, Brennan turned to Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment to argue that the current nuclear talks were the only realistic solution for the two countries:
You have two countries here who deeply distrust one another and there are no guarantees that even if a deal is signed that both sides are going to adhere to it but when you look at the alternatives none of them are very good.
On Monday’s CBS This Morning, Brennan offered up a similar report on the negotiations by equating Republicans with Iranians as being “hardliners” for opposing any nuclear deal. The CBS reporter also labeled the GOP letter as “controversial” but she did not use such language during Tuesday’s broadcast.
See relevant transcript below.
CBS This Morning
March 17, 2015
JEFF GLOR: This morning advanced weapons from Iran are reportedly flowing into Iraq for the fight against ISIS. The New York Times says Iran is training and equipping militias to use rockets and missiles. In an interview with Vice News, President Obama appears to blame rise of ISIS also known as ISIL on the Bush administration.
BARACK OBAMA: ISIL is a direct outgrowth of Al Qaeda in Iraq that grew out of our invasion which is an example of unintended consequences which is why we should generally aim before we shoot.
GLOR: The president also says he is “embarrassed” for the 47 Republican senators who signed a letter to Iran. He says it is “not how we do business.”
GAYLE KING: And this morning that letter has become an issue in the negotiations to curb Iran's nuclear program. Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Iranian counterpart in Switzerland. Margaret Brennan is in Lausanne where a senior U.S. official likens the talks to a roller coaster. Margaret good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Indeed. Well, the aim here in Switzerland is to find a way to stop Iran's nuclear program without resorting to U.S. military strikes. If these talks fail it could tip off an atomic arms race in the already volatile Middle East.
So far no one is promising a break through. This week U.S. diplomats wanted to focus on the substance of a possible nuclear deal but they were sidetracked twice in two days when Iran confronted them about a letter from 47 Republican senators who threatened to spike any deal after President Obama leaves office.
DARYL KIMBALL: This has made Secretary of State John Kerry's job harder, not easier and it does give Iranians an excuse if they decide to back out of this negotiation.
BRENNAN: The episode illustrates the challenge for both countries, crafting a deal that goes far enough to silence respected critics back home. Iran has already conceded to limits on nuclear technology while the U.S. agreed to negotiate with the world's top sponsor of terrorism. Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment is an expert on Iran.
KARIM SADJADPOUR: You have two countries here who deeply distrust one another and there are no guarantees that even if a deal is signed that both sides are going to adhere to it but when you look at the alternatives none of them are very good.
BRENNAN: The U.S. is demanding that inspectors get unfettered access to Iran's five nuclear plants and the Parchin military base where weapons testing has been suspected. So far the answer is no. On the issue of sanctions, Iran wants them lifted immediately as they choke their economy. The U.S. prefers to do it gradually. Sadjadpour said Iran may have to give in.
SADJADPOUR: Iran certainly needs a major economic boost and the only way to get that is by signing the deal.
BRENNAN: In fact, there has been movement in the past 24 hours. Charlie, a senior U.S. official involved in these negotiations told me that they made progress on sharpening some of the very technical details on limiting Iran's nuclear development.
CHARLIE ROSE: Margaret Brennan in Switzerland thanks.
