Time Editor Rick Stengel Justifies Controversial Afghanistan Cover to Katie Couric

video

by Nisha Chittal | 4:06 pm, August 2nd, 2010

» 8 comments

In Katie Couric’s web series, @KatieCouric, the CBS anchor today interviewed TIME magazine Managing Editor Rick Stengel about his decision to run the controversial photo of a woman brutalized by the Taliban on its cover, with the headline “What Happens if We Leave Afghanistan.”

Criticism of the cover has centered around the headline, which many feel is misleading and “emotionally manipulative“, since it uses an emotionally powerful image to imply that the US has the power to stop such tragedies, and an obligation to stay in Afghanistan. The incident in question happened well after the US was in Afghanistan, they remind us, and besides, the US has repeatedly said they are not in Afghanistan for humanitarian reasons.

In her interview, Couric asks Stengel about the headline and what he really meant to convey:

KATIE COURIC: It’s interesting. There’s no question mark, “What happens if we leave Afghanistan.” What– was that intentional?

RICK STENGEL: Well, I– I never– I– I mean, I– you know, I– I think question– I think we answer questions. I don’t think we ask them. And– you know, to me, this is a story about, again, no. Is– is this what is going to happen to every woman in Afghanistan, you know, if the U.S. leaves?

But– but the story has a strong point of view saying, in fact, the role of women has been enhanced. It has been modernized. You know– you know– girls are going to school. Women are in parliament. Women are on television. Their lives have changed in different parts of– of Afghanistan.

And– and so I wanted people to be confronted with the idea that there are consequences of us leaving. Consequences on humanitarian grounds, consequences that people will understand and relate to particularly women can relate to. So I wanted this to be a factor in the conversation going forward. You can make the decision and say, “You know what, we can leave and– and– and women will be damaged.” But I wanted people be to cognizant of that.

Full video is embedded below:

Afghanistan, bibi aisha, cbs, Katie Couric, Rick Stengel, Time

notsofast

Yes, Katie, when the Taliban takes over, all things will be forgotten, right?

“emotionally manipulative“,

Like when that pitiful Democrat related the apocryphal story of one of her constituents started wearing her recently deceased sister’s dentures? Like that? That compares to having your ears and nose cut -off because ya didn’t want to be beaten by your husband again?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Zimmerman/10028160 Kevin Zimmerman

His argument comes off as hollow, an empty argument to justify a shock value cover image. The counterargument of course to “bad things will happen when America leaves” is “bad things happen when America is there.” Why put a picture of a noseless woman on the cover? Why not go all the way and show the civilian corpses killed in drone attacks? And besides, even hypothetically considering that the value provided to Afghanistan from our involvement is higher than the cost, that puts us back into the World’s police force, Team America. We’ve been down the road of nation building and democracy evangelization before, it never really turns out that well.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

He has to defend that cover? Why? The Taliban cut the girl’s ears and nose off – no anaesthetic – left her to die on the ground. Defend it? Hell, Time should get a Pulitzer for it. And Afghanistan is the area the Republicans would have us leave, the Party of No become the Party of Pacifism and no balls. Hell with nation building, how about just killing the Taliban for the fun of it?
Azarkhan

“And Afghanistan is the area the Republicans would have us leave” Bill Adkins

Bill, I know you are stupid, but even you aren’t that stupid to believe that. Or have I misjudged you?
More Liberty

What I find amazing is thatthese women live in apartied like conditions, if not worse, yet the world could careless because the culture oppressing them is non European/american. Where are the calls for boycotts of Saudi Arabia? Maybe is the ” white-devil” was oppressing them than people would care.Its sad and I fell sorry for these individuals.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

Azarkhan said:
“And Afghanistan is the area the Republicans would have us leave” Bill Adkins Bill, I know you are stupid, but even you aren’t that stupid to believe that. Or have I misjudged you?

The Republican Party proved itself to be not military geniuses but military idiots. That you missed that 2001-2009 says I have not misjudged you and that you are not just acting stupid.
ortom

Bill Adkins said:
He has to defend that cover? Why? The Taliban cut the girl’s ears and nose off – no anaesthetic – left her to die on the ground. Defend it?….

What at issue isn’t the image, it’s the HEADLINE, which is pure BS, since that’s what happened when the US was IN Afghanistan.

Taken together, of course it is emotionally manipulative. Or should I say, an attempt at emotional manipulation, since those with the power of intellect aren’t swayed by such twaddle. Those who let themselves be ruled by emotion are unfortunately enslaved by the pathetic propaganda.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Pink/1213577118 Tony Pink

“The incident in question happened well after the US was in Afghanistan, they remind us, and besides, the US has repeatedly said they are not in Afghanistan for humanitarian reasons.”

The entire controversy summed up in one sentence. Time is propaganda.