A new chapter has been added to the long and colorful history of major media promotion of false, government-serving narratives. Last week, a melodramatic report aired on CNN by reporter Clarissa Ward, showcasing a CNN crew supposedly rescuing a victim of the Assad regime from a Damascus dungeon. However, after mounting skepticism and questions on social media and alternative news sites, including here at ZeroHedge, CNN now admits that the “rescued” man was actually a regime intelligence officer who had committed crimes against civilians.
The man identified himself as Adel Ghurbai, claiming to be from Homs, but Verify-Sy, a Syrian fact-checking site, revealed that he was actually Salama Mohammad Salama, also known as “Abu Hamza,” a notorious first lieutenant in Syrian Air Force Intelligence. Reports indicate that he was involved in theft, extortion, and coercion of residents into becoming informants, as well as detaining and torturing young men in the city without cause or on fabricated charges.
CNN’s follow-up article, written by Tim Lister and Eyad Kourdi, acknowledged the network’s deception but stopped short of taking full responsibility for the failure. Ward, who was eager to portray herself as a hero, ended up aiding an apparent regime criminal in his escape.
The original report by Clarissa Ward seemed overly dramatic to many viewers. The man in the cell appeared clean, well-dressed, and well-fed, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the rescue. Ward’s theatrical gestures and dialogue further cast doubt on the credibility of the report.
It’s possible that Ward was deceived by her prison tour guides, who exploited her sympathy for the regime-change campaign. Her history of advocating for regime change in Syria and emotional involvement in the conflict further undermined her credibility.
Ward’s humiliation was exacerbated by her lack of objectivity and history of advocacy for US intervention in Syria. This incident is not the first time she has been criticized for exaggerated performances on camera.
Following CNN’s confirmation of the man’s real identity, Ward faced backlash from critics questioning her journalistic integrity and the network’s credibility. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of promoting false narratives and the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity.