Path To 9/11 Writer Complains Of ABC’s Decision To Block His DVD, Compares Network To Stalin
Path To 9/11 Writer Complains Of ABC’s Decision To Block His DVD, Compares Network To Stalin
Cyrus Nowrasteh, the avowed conservative activist who wrote the screenplay for ABC’s infamous docudrama The Path To 9/11, complains today in the Wall Street Journal that his fictional drama is being censored. On the one-year anniversary of the release of his film, Nowrasteh writes:
Left-leaning pundits, politicos and bloggers waxed hysterical about its supposed inaccuracies and anti-Clinton bias, though the vast majority of them had not seen it.
It wasn’t just the left, Cyrus. Conservatives protested almost as vociferously, calling his portrayal of 9/11 “defamatory,” “unacceptable,” and “strewn with a lot of problems.”
Nowrasteh repeatedly claimed his film was based on the 9/11 Commission report, but numerous members of 9/11 Commission spoke up to indicate that the docudrama did not reflect their findings. Counterterrorism analysts Richard Clarke and Roger Cressey, both of whom served in the Clinton and Bush administrations, said that key scenes in the film had no basis in reality.
Now Cyrus is trying to revise history. He complains that ABC’s decision not to release the DVD version of Path to 9/11 is censorship worthy of Stalin:
This passive self-censorship is just as effective as anything Joseph Stalin or Big Brother could impose. The result is the same: the curbing of free speech and creative expression, and the suppression of a viewpoint that may be an inconvenient truth for some politicians.
The real inconvenient truth for Nowrasteh is the fact that his film was never about objectivity. Much of the public first learned about the movie when Rush Limbaugh began talking about it. Limbaugh said, “The film really zeros in on the shortcomings of the Clinton administration in doing anything about militant Islamofascism or terrorism during its administration. It cites failures of Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright and Sandy Burglar.”
Nowrasteh later was forced to concede that his fictional drama was “not a documentary.” He even acknowledged that key scenes in the report were dramatized. “Accidents occur,” he explained.
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Wrong. Harvey Keitel said there were fights on the set because the actors themselves knew it was a bunch of crap.
Just because Cyrus Nowrasteh needs to hide in a fantasy world doesn't mean the rest of America is dumb enough to join him.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:20 am.
But Michael Moore's films are O.K.?
September 11th, 2007 at 11:20 amthats the free market, no one wants to see his piece o' shit.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:21 amBut Michael Moore’s films are O.K.?
Comment by Jake D. — September 11, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Meaningless comment. Off-topic.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:21 ami'd hit it.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:22 amBut Michael Moore’s films are O.K.?
Actually, they're blockbusters. Fahrenheit 9/11 took in $119,114,517.
Aside from "Path to 9/11" and "Red Dawn," the bushtards have jack.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:24 am.
I saw this today. Funny, how this was the most pertinent thing they could schedule for their editorial page on 9/11. Nothing about the sacrifice or the heroism. Just Nowrasteh moaning because his fictionalized account isn't being put out there to make money.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:25 amDon't forget Kiefer Sutherland on "24".
September 11th, 2007 at 11:25 amI think the difference between Michael Moore and Nowrasteh is that while Moore tries to source all the allegations and claims that he makes (even if you don't agree with the source, at least he tries),, Nowrasteh just makes stuff up to suit his agenda.
While I don't agree that Nowarteh should be 'censored', I do strongly believe that his material should be called what it is, fiction.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:27 amJust because Cyrus Nowrasteh needs to hide in a fantasy world doesn’t mean the rest of America is dumb enough to join him.
saddle up, jake....
September 11th, 2007 at 11:28 amMaybe ABC decided not to air the film, because it is inaccurate. Didn't several stations refuse to air "Fahrenheit 9/11?
September 11th, 2007 at 11:28 amIf Nowrasteh had made an honest-to-goodness documentary with evidence to back up the points he made, fine. If "Path To 9/11" was presented as a work of fiction, fine. But what Nowrasteh did was put together a work of fiction and present it as truth.
Censoring truth and replacing it with lies is Stalinism. Censoring lies packaged as truth isn't.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:31 amThis isn't even censorship. If it was Stalin, Nowesh would be dead, and the film destroyed. He can still sell the film on Amazon, or whatever rightwing hate sites, he likes.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:33 amLesson for ABC and other major networks: Do not collaborate with kneejerk, radical right wing extremists...you'll only get burned by them. They are societies lowest class of people. Bedwetters, liars, foot stompers (toe tappers?), tantrum throwers. We all know right wingers very well here at TP, so Cyrus' behavior is no surprise to us.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:33 amMaybe ABC decided not to air the film, because it is inaccurate. Didn’t several stations refuse to air “Fahrenheit 9/11?
Comment by Krazny — September 11, 2007 @ 11:28 am
ABC did air the piece, to tepid acclaim. Seeing what a righ-hand turn ABC has taken over the last 5 yrs or so, I'd suspect the real reason they didn't release it as a DVD was economical. The top brass might have been afraid they wouldn't even recover their release and marketing costs.
If you were poor Cyrus, would you go around crying, "My movie sucked so bad that they wouldn't even bother to release it on the home entertainment market", or would you run around crying, "Censorship!!"?
September 11th, 2007 at 11:33 amCensorship under Stalin would have ended with Nowrasteh executed, along with the entire cast of the movie. The movie itself would have been destroyed and any surviving families sent to gulags. Please keep whining though, America is tired of it.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:34 amHe really shouldn't be trying to argue censorship. Of course, The First Amendment only bars state action.
Also, lies are not Constitutionally protected anyway. “There is no constitutional value in false statements of fact.†-- U.S. Supreme Court (Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 1974).
September 11th, 2007 at 11:35 am[...] or would you run around crying, “Censorship!!�
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity —@ 11:33 am
good point...
September 11th, 2007 at 11:44 amany bets that this tantrum will drum up enough "support"
that abc will change it's minds and release it after all?
help! help! a lousy filmmaker is being oppressed.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:48 amBusiness decisions do not equal censorship. I am sure Cyrus could pay to produce the DVD and sell it if he wanted. He's really just crying that ABC won't fund the project.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:53 amUnder this ridiculous assumption anyone could make a movie, send it to a distributor and if the distributor refused to sell they can write an op/ed in the WSJ about how they are being censored.
Cyrus Nowrasteh:
"This passive self-censorship is just as effective as anything Joseph Stalin or Big Brother could impose."
OK, Cyrus, Stalin we know a lot about, but who's this Big Brother you refer to?
September 11th, 2007 at 11:56 amWe don't seem to know a lot about him, can you tell us more?
Not that we would believe you or anything....
Bush Comic:
Bush Screens The Path to 9/11 for his friends
September 11th, 2007 at 11:57 amSee it here
Caption:
"Never trust a man with an upper lip like mine."
(Thank god my eyebrows don't meet in the middle)
September 11th, 2007 at 12:01 pm"... any bets that this tantrum will drum up enough “support†that abc will change it’s minds and release it after all?"
Comment by katy — September 11, 2007 @ 11:44 am
If ABC's afraid of losing money, the company's afraid of losing money. I can easily see nitwits like Drudge, Hannity, and Limberger picking this up and running w/ it. They can use it as an excuse to bash "the libruls", even though ABC has a decidely righwing air about these days.
I suppose if the stink got strong enough, ABC might feel obliged after all to release this "controversial film the lefties tried to suppress". Shucks, folks, for all we know, this could be a deliberate marketing ploy designed just to put ABC and Nowasteh in just that position.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:02 pmWow. Ya talk about yer double standards!!
Cyrus, do us all a favor - shut the fleck up, ya moron. "Wah, wah, wah! They won't sell my movie!!!"
Of course, it *couldn't* be because it's a lousy piece of crap, now, could it...?
September 11th, 2007 at 12:03 pm"Accidents occur": The Repug admission of guilt.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:14 pmAND, these scum-sucking pieces of shit _almost_ managed to get it aired in PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOMS around 'MeriKKKa .
September 11th, 2007 at 12:17 pmDon't forget that it came down to the wire and was pulled out of the schools-
"Islamo-"- facism? I think not-
For actual information, see the 2005 PBS documentary
September 11th, 2007 at 12:22 pm"Road to 9/11" playing tonight, Tuesday the 11th.
interesting story, barfly... a "little" too long tho...
September 11th, 2007 at 12:26 pmpost that link, please!
.
#12- MissMolly- Excellent point. That has been the basis of right-wing propaganda strategy for several years now. They take what they themselves are, then accuse their opponents of the same. Some of the best examples are Bush/Cheney/Rove attacking the combat service of decorated vets (McCain, Kerry, etc.) while, in reality, it's their own service record which very suspect or non-existent.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:34 pmThe Clintons should have sued. It was inflammatory and libelous. He's lucky they didn't haul his butt into court.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:38 pmA REQUEST
i was talking to a middle-road brother (with a dem wife) about how close this country is to becoming a dictatorship and i could tell he was mostly being polite and humoring me...
i would like to send a link to the proof of what i'm talking about...
i have seen some youtubes and other copy, all great, but i want something that can capture and hold a busy executive mind...
something succinct and gripping...
any ideas? please, and thank you!
September 11th, 2007 at 12:43 pm...
“Accidents occurâ€
Indeed, Cyrus, and that is why "Depends" are the adult diapers of choice for cranky, incontinent GOOPers everywhere!
September 11th, 2007 at 12:45 pmHey Mr. Stupidity. It is on topic. Mike Moore puts out total garbage lies and you lemmings kiss his ass. He was even given an award for a "Documentary". A film proven to be total bullsh!t. Why not censor and ban his a$$? Oh that's right, the left wants free speech for the left and to censor and ban the right.
Ban Cyrus Nowrasteh from talking along with Rush and Sean but everyone should listen to Moore, Frakin, Garafolo and Penn. The looney left think loose change is on the right track and that Clintons make good presidents.
ROTFL, can you say losers? ROTFL
September 11th, 2007 at 12:48 pmThis passive self-censorship is just as effective as anything Joseph Stalin or Big Brother could impose."
Cyrus Nowrasteh, Alexander Solzhenitshyn, soulm8s 4 evah...
September 11th, 2007 at 12:53 pmThe comparisons to Stalin are absurd and juvenile. Almost as bad as those claiming Bush is worse than Hitler...
September 11th, 2007 at 12:56 pmAhhh, to be an Internet Troll (tm) .................
If they had more money they could pay a Mistress to humiliate them, maybe dress them up like a little girl and make them lick her boots, some maybe some plastic man-meat, play a la bildo-dildo o'liely.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:58 pmBut, nope, they haunt li-berry and live in trailer parks and feel compelled to spew their inane drivel to those who frankly couldn't care less about their irrelevant opinions, getting serial-flamed day by day.
Why don't these masochists just move on, maybe get pissed on literally instead of figuratively, maybe hang out in a Mens' room somewhere like their Heroes, snorting meth and buying male whores, realizing their true potential.
Comment by Happy Guy — September 11, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
You make a couple of accusations without backup. "Mike Moore puts out total garbage lies" and "A film proven to be total bullsh!t" do not sell your point of view to anyone unless you can provide some specific examples.
Just because Michael Moore's presentation of the world doesn't jibe with your narrow view doesn't make him a liar. To "censor and ban his a$$", we need more to go on than your empty accusations of lies.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:58 pmFreedom of speech doesn't guarantee you a right to film distribution. He had the right to make the film, but he doesn't have the right to demand that it be distributed.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:02 pmLet's file it under "National Security" and ask this asshat why he hates Amurika. After all it worked for the other side for the last few years.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:02 pmlet's ask Stalin if the check cleared.
how many times is mainstream media going to give carte blance to people who like to shout from the rooftops how much they suck?
September 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pmWho is this guy, anyway? And how did such a 'nobody' get enough influence together to find the money to produce this piece? His argument is like the flat Earther who demands a platform for 'his' opinion even though everyone else in the room knows the earth is not flat.
And, if this guy knew his history and understood Stalin as we Russians do, he would know that Stalin would not obstruct the airing of this program. He wouldn't bother. He would simply have you killed and every bit of information that alluded to you and your existence, including your relatives, would disappear.
Why is this Persian so persistent in promulgating this absolute mockery of history and the truth?
September 11th, 2007 at 1:20 pmFrom a former investigative journalist and author of one of the books Nowrasteh"based" his piece of propaganda on
http://www.peterlance.com/Peter%20Lance/ABC%27s%20Twisted%20Path%20to%20911.html
September 11th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Sounds like what Corporations have done with AM radio...
September 11th, 2007 at 1:26 pmHey, Happy Guy, don't know if you heard, but all the buttheads who claimed Moore was making up facts, turned up to be making up the facts about Moore making up the facts.
Which means Moore wasn't making up the facts.
hence, "documentary." Acclaim. Awards. And the animosity of extremely stupid people. As well as yours...I suppose.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:28 pmDamnit happyguy!, you're clueless repub impression made me spill tea over my keyboard!
Oh.. you we're serious? Doesn't matter, funny all the same.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:40 pmNever trust anyone with so few vowels in their name.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:45 pmSo, is Larry Elder a "butthead" or not, because Mr. Elder has NOT been making up stuff -- Moore does not make documentaries any more than Cyrus Nowrasteh did:
http://www.larryelder.com/michael.html
September 11th, 2007 at 1:59 pmThis is stupid it is total propaganda and is marked as such. As for as those that haven't seen it and make comments so what. The plot war already revealed and they refuse to witness the crime being committed. As far as ABC holding it's release maybe because many who was outraged decieded to take action. And that they went to the source to express their outrage. you think that maybe most people refuse to be lied to any more.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:06 pmSour grapes. That Stalinist network paid Zoolander plenty of money for that fairytale. Greedy b*stard.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:09 pmthis punk Nowrasteh is crying because his piece of shit isn't making any money. michael moore's films all advertise themselves. big difference. what Nowrasteh is whining about is that none of the right wing media Whores will force it down peoples thoats because even they know THE POPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH IF THIS that's what you get when you make deals with repugs,,,, they are gutless chickenshits who only look out for themselves the minute the heat is on they bail like rats from a sinking larry craig ship of fools hey Nowrasteh, ask Harvey Keitel what he thinks of your piece of shit chickenshit!!!
September 11th, 2007 at 2:13 pmHey Mr. Stupidity. It is on topic.
Comment by Happy Guy — September 11, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
My goodness! What an irrational, confused human being. No point in debating w/ this one. He, or she, doesn't know up from down.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:17 pmCareful, folks. The trolls are dragging this off-topic. This isn't about the veracity of Michael Moore's films. It really isn't about the truthfulness of Nowrasteh's film. It's about Cyrus' "claims" of censorship, which don't hold up too well when you look at them closer.
Donna let the wee li'l trollies hoodwink ya, laddies!
September 11th, 2007 at 2:20 pmbottom line - if we hadn't "waxed hysterical" the things he's crying about now would have probably aired on t.v. while still bathed in the amber glow of "true story"
dragging things off topic is what trolls are FOR. that's why they make the big bucks.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:31 pmI'm sorry, I didn't see your movie because it had the worst actress on the planet eath....Patricia "look at me" Heaton.
Not to mention the fact that the topic is a bit dated and very biased.
jack jett
September 11th, 2007 at 2:51 pmMore evidence of the liberals being illiberal. Democrats aren't in favor of freedom of speech, especially when it points out their own cowardice and treason.
Had an interesting conversation with a liberal yesterday, who was "predicting" a day when all the older people today are dead, and a new generation would emerge that "would not allow a place in our society for people who think as that previous generation does".
First of all, today's older people are those who elected Dems since the '40's, and have steadily died off, allowing Reps to emerge in power (last election being only a temporary setback attributed to flacid Hastert and Frist).
Secondly, the statement from a "liberal" that they will not "allow a place in society" for anyone who believes differently from them is actually a fascist, which is why we are now seeing the MSM hammering nutrooters for bullying, harassing, "outing" and undermining the freedoms of those who believe differently from them.
I then tried to explain how this statement was fascist, by referring to Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it (http://ask.yahoo.com/20030331.html)" and stating that although I disagree with a Klansman, I would never undermine their ability to earn a living, etc.
This, of course, is lost on a liberal, who believes any commie-fascist tactic is OK in the name of the religion of liberalsim. Funny how you can see the fascism in Islmo-fascism, or in the Crusades, but not your own religion. This individual wanted judicial activism to create rights, when they keep voting for individuals for Congress that won't legislate for those rights.
I am able to tolerate those with beliefs different from my own, but anyone, who insists on using commie-fascist tactics to force their beliefs on individuals, organizations, businesses, industries or the whole society, will continue to receive a pounding from me.
September 11th, 2007 at 3:01 pm... but anyone, who insists on using commie-fascist tactics to force their beliefs on individuals, organizations, businesses...
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 11, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
"Commie-fascist tactics"??? WTF are you talking about? The only thing you ever pound is yer own...
September 11th, 2007 at 3:34 pmwill continue to receive a pounding from me.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 11, 2007 @ 3:01 pm\
do they get a reach around with that pounding?
September 11th, 2007 at 3:50 pm#58,
Commie-fascist tactics are those employed by Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, etc., to passively or actively seize wealth and power from those who have created it to use towards their own ends. Not allowing those with a different viewpoint a "place in society" is the goal of such tactics.
Lazy libs will hurl slanders at individuals like racist, sexist, homophobe, etc., to undermine an individual's "place in society" - there is no other such goal other than to silence someone, when that language is used.
What libs don't understand, is that when they take wealth and power from those who know how to create it, then they kill the golden goose - just look at Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Even China had to change course and allow free market economics develop their military industrial complex.
September 11th, 2007 at 3:59 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — September 11, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Just endless, vague generalizations, Jason... "libs"... "Commie-fascist"...???
Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler? WTF??? (Psst... Bush's OWN grandfather was so involved w/ the Nazis he had his assets confiscated as punishment...)
Let's face it, dude, yer livin' in a fantasy world of your own construction. Quick, slip into a phone booth, and come dancin' out in yer tights and cape! Yer a SUPER HERO!
September 11th, 2007 at 4:10 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — September 11, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
I truly believe you had that conversation with an unnamed liberal yesterday, Jason. I truly do. It doesn't sound like an awfully contrived story someone would make up to prove a half-assed point, at all. I'll bet interesting, ironic conversations like that with liberals happen to you all the time. It must be tough being you, what with all these so-called liberals around who don't actually espouse liberal philosophies having conversations with you that you just have to tell us allllll about, even though we're not the liberals having those conversations with you, and might not even necessarily agree with those very-true things those silly misguided liberals say.
Thank you, Jason. You know, just for being you.
September 11th, 2007 at 4:11 pm#60 - "Lazy libs will hurl slanders at individuals like racist, sexist, homophobe, etc., to undermine an individual’s “place in society†- there is no other such goal other than to silence someone, when that language is used." Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 11, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
So, when it's the lazy cons that hurl "commie" and "pinko" at liberals, you feel the exact same way about them, right?
Or do you hold a double-standard when it's the con's hurling invective at libs?
September 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pmJason M. Hendler:
September 11th, 2007 at 4:24 pmThis Think Progress--not Think Regression or Think Spin.
This is...
September 11th, 2007 at 4:52 pmWhat libs don’t understand, is that when they take wealth and power from those who know how to create it, then they kill the golden goose - just look at Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Even China had to change course and allow free market economics develop their military industrial complex.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 11, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Essentially what it comes down too, is Hendler much like Whinny Aphrodite is an elitist. They believe that a small group of the powerful wealthy should run the nation not the proletariat. Sorry Jason the Fuedal system is dead. Long live democracy.
September 11th, 2007 at 4:53 pmpath to 9-11 was never advertised or promoted as a documentary. But LeftTards - as always - reject facts for their beliefs.
September 11th, 2007 at 8:20 pmhttp://abc.go.com/specials/pathto911.html
The miniseries will take viewers behind closed doors at the CIA, the FBI and the White House and into the world of Richard Clarke, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney, Sandy Berger and CIA Director George Tenet, among others. Viewers will follow the international manhunt for elusive bomber Ramzi Yousef (Nabile Elouahabi, Eastenders) and meet several key players in the 9/11 saga, including: John O'Neill, the career FBI agent who spent years zealously chasing bin Laden; then-ABC newsman John Miller (portrayed by Barclay Hope, Stargate SG-1), who interviewed bin Laden; Emad Salem and other key Muslim informants who aided the U.S.; and Ahmed Shah Massoud, commander of the Northern Alliance, a crucial American ally and the person bin Laden feared most.
The 9/11 Commission Report instantly became a national bestseller when it was published in July 2004. Writer Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Day Reagan Was Shot) uses this historic document as the basis for a powerful story with action as gripping and far reaching as the source material itself. Shot in Toronto, Morocco, New York and Washington, DC, actors portray the famous and infamous, along with the formerly anonymous and often heroic people thrust onto history's stage. Beginning with the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and ending on the morning of 9/11, path to 9-11 was never advertised or promoted as a documentary. But LeftTards - as always - reject facts for their beliefs.
Comment by paul wellstoned — September 11, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
the miniseries draws on detailed information from the Report and other sources to take viewers on an unforgettable journey through the events that presaged that fateful day -- to understand what went right and wrong, and what can be learned from this crucial eight-year period.
Former ABC News anchor John Miller, now the FBI's Assistant Director of Public Affairs, was also a consultant on the project. His book, The Cell, co-authored with Michael Stone, was optioned by ABC for use in the teleplay. In addition, The Relentless Pursuit by Samuel Katz was also optioned.
Hmmm... PR blurb right from ABC's website. Don't see any disclaimers in thre about whether it's fact or ficton. Sure seems like it's trying to pretend it's factual.
Guess Rightards can't read too well.
Oh Paul? Seems like yer casing organic damage when ya keep hittin' yerself in the head w/ rocks. I suggest ya quit.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:12 pm6... Aside from “Path to 9/11″ and “Red Dawn,†the bushtards have jack.
.
Comment by Grand Moff Texan — September 11, 2007 @ 11:24 am
-----
Don't forget "Red Scorpion!"
Their black-buster pro-apartheid, propaganda piece. Very significant
September 11th, 2007 at 9:13 pmCyrus Nowrasteh:“This passive self-censorship is just as effective as anything Joseph Stalin or Big Brother could impose.â€
Which is why Nowrasteh was so prominent in sticking up for Norman Finkestein at DePaul, right?
September 12th, 2007 at 8:50 am