Politics
‘Completely Destroyed’: CNN Forced To Backtrack On Initial ‘Fake News’ Iran Report
The cleanup is underway at CNN, where days of withering criticism over its coverage of the U.S. bombing of Iran appears to have had its intended effect.
Network analysts are now backtracking on claims made in a bombshell report from earlier this week, which cited a U.S. intelligence assessment that the bombs had little effect on stymying Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Brett McGurk, a CNN global affairs analyst and former diplomat, went so far as to assert that President Trump’s planned operation “worked flawlessly.”
“These massive [bombs], with significant computer software engineering, went directly down to those three ventilated shafts specifically as designed,” he told two CNN anchors on Thursday.
“It worked. It seems it worked flawlessly.”
McGurk also stated that he was briefed on the current phase of assessing the bombing, which is exploring if everything went as planned.
“The answer now is yes,” he added.
“We’re now in the phase of level three, collecting all sources of intelligence information, and then putting that together with nuclear experts to determine if they have these pieces and parts here, could [Iran] constitute them?”
Doing so would “provide a comprehensive assessment of where we are,” McGurk concluded.
“I think from what I’ve seen, the 20,000 centrifuges… they are all completely destroyed. I am very confident those centrifuges are gone. The Israelis destroyed the centrifuge manufacturing production facilities that we know of.”
WATCH:
McGurk’s comments stand in stark contrast with CNN’s earlier reporting on a leaked preliminary assessment by U.S. intelligence that the bombing may have only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a number of months. White House officials say that the FBI and U.S. Justice Department are currently probing the source of the leak.
In response, President Trump has denounced the network’s reporters, including Kaitlan Collins, while other correspondents have been caught in the crossfire.
During a Pentagon briefing on Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth entertained a question from Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin before admonishing her for allegedly cozying up to some of her “deep state” sources. Griffin had taken earlier heat from Tucker Carlson, her former colleague, whose guest claimed that Griffin enjoys her own office inside the Pentagon.
Trump has also pointed to Israeli intelligence concluding that Iran’s nuclear program was set back by at least two years, and on Thursday, he was bolstered by a statement from CIA Director John Ratcliffe that Iran’s nuclear program had been “severely damaged” by the attack.
The agency is working with Israeli partners and confidential sources to further assess the long-term consequences on Iran’s nuclear program, Ratcliffe explained.
“CIA continues to collect additional reliably sourced information to keep appropriate decision-makers and oversight bodies fully informed. When possible, we will also provide updates and information to the American public, given the national importance of this matter and in every attempt to provide transparency,” he added.
