Lost In Translation

Yes, CNN, there is a difference between "nuclear energy" and "nuclear weapons."

You'd think CNN would hire a certified, experienced simultaneous translator to cover Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's news conference, wouldn't you?

Iran bans CNN journalists after presidential misquote

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran on Monday banned CNN journalists from working in the country after the broadcaster misquoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Iran wanted nuclear weapons, the ISNA students news agency said.

CNN's simultaneous translation of Ahmadinejad's lengthy news conference on Saturday included the phrase "the use of nuclear weapons is Iran's right."

In fact, what the Iranian president said was that "Iran has the right to nuclear energy," the official IRNA news agency reported. CNN later clarified in an apology on Sunday night.

See, Iran? CNN later clarified in an apology on Sunday night.

What a crock! I'm sure CNN will soon be able to report on Iran's nuclear energy program, but for now the "translation mistake" will keep CNN's Christiane Amanpour from reporting the facts inside Iran right now.

One of those things that makes you go hmmmmm, isn't it?

File this under: You simply can't make this stuff up, can you?


This just in! CNN can return to Iran today. And it only took 4 days for them to figure out how to apologize effectively. Sounds like the Bush administration's diplomacy level, doesn't it?