September 11, 2009 4:32 PM

CNN Defends Reporting Coast Guard Story

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
The Media
(AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
CNN has responded to critics of its decision this morning to report that the Coast Guard had fired 10 rounds at a suspicious boat in the Potomac River.

It later became clear that CNN had based the report on a radio transmission of a training exercise, and that no shots had ever been fired.

CNN said in its statement that staffers had been monitoring law enforcement activity when it heard a Coast Guard transmission that a boat had breached a security zone on the Potomac, near the Pentagon.

The network said the staffers contacted a Coast Guard spokeswoman, who "said she was unaware of any activity taking place on the Potomac River."

"After hearing a further radio transmission about 10 rounds being expended, and after reviewing video of rapid movement by Coast Guard vessels as the President's motorcade crossed the Memorial Bridge, CNN reported the story," the network said. "Simultaneously, during a second phone call, the Coast Guard spokeswoman informed us that its National Command Center and other command posts knew nothing about any activity in the area."

CNN went on to say that not reporting the story would have been "irresponsible."

"Given the circumstances, it would have been irresponsible not to report on what we were hearing and seeing," the statement said. "As with any breaking news story, information is often fluid and CNN updated the story with the official explanation from the Coast Guard as soon as it was provided."

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs this morning took a shot at CNN's decision to report the story, saying, "before reporting things, checking would be good."

The network also provided a transcript of the radio transmission that it heard. Check it out below:
:24 you're approaching a coast guard security zone

:50 you're in a coast guard security zone

1:50 If you don't stop your vessel you will be fired upon. stop your vessel immediately

2:00 If you don't slow down and stop your vessel, and leave our zone you will be fired upon.

2:18 still in the zone, still in the zone

2:25 someone saying: bang, bang, bang

2:35 we have expended ten rounds, the vessel is operating at stern. we're going to reassess the situation.

3:20 this is the coast guard, have everyone go to the stern, place your engine in neutral

3:35 _____ out of play, _____ out of play, break scenario, break scenario, break


Special Section: September 11, 2001 - Eight Years Later

Add a Comment See all 36 Comments
by brucearnold September 27, 2009 9:21 PM EDT
On 9/11/01, the all-powerful bankers behind New World Order globalization unleashed their oil and money hungry military-industrial dogs of war to orchestrate the fall of 3 (not 2) WTC towers--the third, not struck by a plane, housing 3 floors of damning SEC records. On that day, we lost 3000 lives (with 1000s more to follow) plus 4 commercial airliners (with all on board) ... and stood by helplessly as something (not wide enough to be a 757) bored a hole in the side of the Pentagon. Yet even today, two elections and a new administration later, our Big Brother government expects us to believe that all of that masterfully-plotted and perfectly-timed destruction was accomplished by 15 Saudis and 4 of their cousins using nothing more than box cutters and big balls. If you believe that, or if you believe we have been told anything close to the Truth about 9/11, then I ask you to Google "911 truth" and "911 peak oil", and objectively evaluate what you find at websites like AE911Truth.org.
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by plasmatron-2009 September 12, 2009 6:51 PM EDT
CNN blames the Coast Guard on this and says it would be irresponsible not to report the event. But CNN went well beyond reporting the event. CNN could easily have said an event of unknown significance was occurring, could have aired the audio they captured from their scanner and said "we don't know anything more than this". They also could have said they contacted the Coast Guard, which had no further information on the event at this time.

But, instead of reporting what it could confirm to be true, CNN went further and said shots were fired and they saw the Coast Guard challenge a boat.

It's all part of trying to get the story first, instead of trying to get the most accurate story first. Didn't we all learn to get the facts straight before reporting when we were in journalism school?

Who's to blame for the hysteria that resulted? CNN. Definitely not the Coast Guard. Here's an example: Let's say the Revolutionary War is over. People are still afraid of the British. Winter is colder than usual, so I decide to sew myself a beautiful warm coat. My favorite color is red. I walk downtown. Someone sees me and screams, "The redcoats are coming!" And chaos and fear sweeps the town.

Who made the biggest mistake? Me, for wearing a red coat? Or the idiot who didn't confirm I was British, and broadcast to the masses that they should run for their lives?
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by wtcmedic-911 September 12, 2009 10:41 AM EDT
isnt it illegal to repeat, record, write what you have heard over an intercepted radio transmission? could swear that was on a amature radio test i took years ago. was also passed when people could intercept cell transmissions on scanners.
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by payasyougo September 12, 2009 10:10 AM EDT
"CNN went on to say that not reporting the story would have been "irresponsible.""
----
And not owning up to a mistake is, well, typical of the liberal base.
Reply to this comment
by bubbadubba September 12, 2009 9:40 AM EDT
Why does the media NEVER admit they are wrong, never.
What idiots, when the Coast Guard said they knew of no activity on the river they meant NO TERRORIST ACTIVITY OR DEFENSE ACTIVITIES.
Is CNN full of idiots?
I would expect this from FOX since they make stuff up and lie all the time but now CNN is going to be like FOX?
Just admit you did something really stupid, CNN.
As for September 9 of each year it is just another day to me. I do not run crying in the streets and making a big deal out of 9-11-01 because that makes the terrorists happy and gives them a "job well done" every single year since it happened.
Get real America and keep your 9-11 thoughts and prayers in your head and hearts where it belongs and quit making terrorists happy and making them plan another attack by making such a huge "celebration of terrorist victory" of it each year.
Reply to this comment
by phintel September 12, 2009 2:09 AM EDT
No harm was done with this error. In fact, it wound up being an unexpected drill for the airport because they shut down everything for about 20 minutes until the "all clear" was sounded. Wouldn't you rather have CNN guess wrong on what appeared to be a possible pursuit, than to guess wrong on a real attack and not do anything? I say, when in doubt, sound the alert. Because CNN is a legitimate news organization with real journalists, they should be given a little slack when events like this occur. They aren't like FOX where they get all the commentators together in the morning and give them "hate speech" talking points for the day so that Beck, Hannity and the rest of the lunatics there can be on the same page.
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by grandpahorsey September 12, 2009 1:05 AM EDT
First of all Coast Guard working channels on the radio are just that. No one has authority to use this channel except the Coast Guard.

Secondly, why in the world would they inform ANYONE about their Operations??perhaps to let the bad guys know exactly where the CG boats are, so the terrorists, drug runners, drunken boaters, & smugglers of illegal alians can go work in a different area and not get caught?

Third, CNN contacted the wrong office. If they knew the area and had the proper contacts they would have gone directly to the Operational Unit (Coast Guard Station) or their Sector Operations Officer. Public Affairs at HQ does not moniter radio traffic, HQ does not moniter radio Traffic. HQ reviews and makes nation-wide policy, they are not an Operational unit.

Fourth, Does an FBI agent contact the Secret Service CIA, ICE, State Police, Sheriff Dept,& City Police and the media when they go arrest somebody for mail theft? NO!

Fact is, CNN listened to radio traffic between Coast Guard boats on a Coast Guard WORKING channel they don?t have authority to use. They over heard communications and rolled with the story before getting any facts, something Cronkite wouldn?t have done. Just goes to show 24×7 news is horrable for this country. No news, hey, just make it up.

CNN owes the Coast Guard and the public an appoligy. And as far as i?m concerned CNN slanted the story real bad, to cover their own @$$.
Reply to this comment
by jimmyc1955 September 11, 2009 10:28 PM EDT
You can call the Coast Guard and ask the question "Has there been a security incident or attempt to injure the president involving the Coast Guard" and the they will, of course say - no.

What was asked on the call isn't repeated here. Did CNN ask if there were possible training exercises or scheduled activities on the Potomac? I suspect they didn't and I suspect they didnt' check with the right authorities with the Coast Guard. Like any large organization, you need to ask the right person.

This is a byproduct of high pressure to not loose a scoop and publish quickly. The local guys you can understand - they don't have the CNN resources. But CNN should have asked the RIGHT folks the Right question.

Face it - CNN screwed up - big time.
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by timdgrim September 11, 2009 9:30 PM EDT
What a paranoid country we live in now. Republican scare tactics have worked so well. Good job.
Reply to this comment
by jsd330 September 11, 2009 9:52 PM EDT
Right the republicans told the Coast Guard to do this today. I wonder what party the C and C is.
by swmack September 11, 2009 7:51 PM EDT
your trigger happy news cast make us trigger happy also.
shouting fire, wolf, and commy without proof can make a hell of a story for wingnuts who are willing will jump to prove you are right
and At what price do you work to keep our trust?
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