CNN Reporter Claims Taliban ‘Seems Friendly’ as They Chant ‘Death to America'
'They're just chanting death to America'
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A burka-wearing CNN reporter claimed during a report that violent terrorist group the Taliban "seem friendly" as the jihadists chanted "death to America" behind her.
Reporter Clarissa Ward was later told to move because she's a woman.
WATCH:
CNN REPORTER ON TALIBAN: "They're just chanting 'death to America,' but they seem friendly at the same time."
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) August 16, 2021
The same reporter then says the Taliban have a "welcoming spirit" as they wave rifles in the air.
Yes, this is a real clip. pic.twitter.com/VdXWplr8V2
Ward wore a black shawl wrapped tightly around her head due to demands from the Islamists.
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She was surrounded by fighters following news the Afghan capital had fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
"They're just chanting death to America, but they seem friendly at the same time," she said.
Senator Ted Cruz blasted Ward's report, tweeting:
"Is there an enemy of America for whom CNN WON’T cheerlead? (In mandatory burkas, no less)."
Is there an enemy of America for whom @CNN WON’T cheerlead?
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 16, 2021
(In mandatory burkas, no less.) https://t.co/9O6pe8yROM
But Ward's colleagues commended her exceptional bravery for reporting in a dangerous situation.
Former New York Times Opinion Editor Bari Weiss blasted Cruz's tweet, writing it was an "appalling statement about a reporter showing real courage.
"Of a piece with so many glib takes trying to turn the Afghanistan catastrophe into parochial culture war issue."
"This is about the decline of American power, influence, and will," she wrote.
"Not press bias."
Appalling statement about a reporter showing real courage. Of a piece with so many glib takes trying to turn the Afghanistan catastrophe into parochial culture war issue. This is about the decline of American power, influence and will. Not press bias. https://t.co/5Ikg716Oxq
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) August 16, 2021
Later in Ward's segment, she added:
"As soon as we leave our compound, it's clear who is now in charge."
"Taliban fighters have flooded the Capitol, smiling and victorious - they took the city of 6 million people in a matter of hours."
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She later reported people were approaching them for photos chanting "death to America."
Ward later said: "They just told me to stand to the side because I'm a woman."
On Friday, a senior Biden official admitted they were “powerless” to protect young girls and women in Afghanistan from the Taliban.
Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Molly Montgomery posted on Twitter:
“Woke up with a heavy heart, thinking about all the Afghan women and girls I worked with during my time in Kabul."
“They were the beneficiaries of many of the gains we made, and now they stand to lose everything."
