May 17th, 2002

“I know the right question, but do you know what? This is not exactly the right time to ask it”, Dan Rather said


One of the important dates after September 11 is May 17th, 2002. We talked about the role of the media on September 11 and the blackout.

Dan Rather is the star news anchor for the US television network CBS. Such a confession is astonishing, Rather is almost as famous in the US as the president. He speaks in the BBC News night about the role of the press in the country’s social time.


Dan Rather said that the American patriotism has been that journalists censure themselves, they didn´t ask questions for don´t hurt the people:“I know the right question, but do you know what? This is not exactly the right time to ask it”, Dan Rather said. The national mood has limited the freedom of American journalists; many journalists didn’t ask questions about American intelligence service, George W. Bush and the Iraqi war.

Dan Rather also talked about George W. Bush and how the White House blocked the information about the Iraqi war, with even more suspicion after September 11. In the moment of the attack was normal, but months after it didn´t stop.

“The White House was to blame for its failure to provide appropriate information about the war”, Rather said. “There has never been an American war, small or large, in which access has been as limited as this one”.

The veteran CBS declared that the Bush´s administration won´t have the American press could access information to protect those who were behind the war. In addition, Rather spoke of the American people , "the people have consented to this".

“It’s unpatriotic not to stand up, look them in the eye, and ask the questions they don’t want to hear-they being those who have the responsibility, the ultimate responsibility-of sending or sons and daughter, our husbands, wives, our blood, to face death”.


These were some amazing statements about the government, the Iraqi War and the American people. Many media spoke after Dan Rather´s statements and opened a debate.

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In the middle of information blackout, the American press and in general the American people observe the May 22, 2001 other news.

President George W.Bush said on a trip to Berlin that he doesn´t support the establishment of a special commission investigating September 11 to investigate how the Bush administration treated the terrorists warning as of the report "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.":

George W.Bush said the matter should be dealt with by congressional intelligence committees. Bush gives a reason to make these statements. Inquiry September 11 should be made only by Congress, because it can reveal sensitive information, sources and intelligence methods:“Therefore”, he said, “the congressional investigation is "the best place" to probe the events leading up to the terrorist attacks”. “I have great confidence in our FBI and CIA”, said the President in Berlin.

The press has a commitment of investigating and finding the truth, but the American press not easy. Since September 11 will be repeated news to count the news blackout from the White House and censorship of journalists. Even today there are many reports about the attack that we are accesible to the press.

"Patriotism is to stop journalists asking difficult questions"

 Leyre Hernández