Only Some Terrorist Takedowns Are Unifying

As he began his reliably liberal “Reliable Sources” newsletter on Aug. 1, CNN host Brian Stelter brought everyone’s attention to the inspiring way CBS host John Dickerson wrapped up the broadcast of President Joe Biden’s speech touting the takedown of al-Qaida terrorist chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.

CBS offered a live shot of lower Manhattan. Stelter touted, “One World Trade Center in the center of the frame, sparkling in the golden hour of daylight.” Dickerson announced, “All those that plotted the attack are either dead or captured. One World Trade stands as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. A reminder of the resilience of New York City and the American people.” The camera operator pulled back to show the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

Isn’t that a nice, patriotic moment for Americans who remember the horror of 9/11? Stelter also promoted this tableau on Twitter. The headline of Stelter’s Aug. 1 newsletter was a Biden quote: “Justice has been delivered.”

This was not how Stelter responded when former President Donald Trump took out Iranian terrorist mastermind Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a man who killed many Americans in Iraq. On Jan. 2, 2020, Stelter’s headline was “War footing,” and his first words were these: “Many Americans are swiping their phones on, turning on the TV, and asking what the hell is happening in the Middle East. They are hearing terrifying assessments of the situation and wondering who and what to believe.”

Stelter tweeted out his sermon on the Jan. 5, 2020, episode of “Reliable Sources”: “Don’t be fooled by the propagandists who want us to wear blinders. It is patriotic to ask for evidence. To question official accounts. To wonder if the public is being manipulated into a wider war. It is patriotic to hold our leaders accountable.”

It’s patriotic to celebrate a win for Biden as a win for all of us. But two years ago, it was patriotic to suggest any celebration was equivalent to being fooled by propagandists, and volunteering to wear blinders.

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