CNN reports there is “widespread shock and disbelief” at NBC over the lies and explanation by NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams over his now infamous military helicopter ride in Iraq in 2003.

“An NBC News spokeswoman said Thursday that the network stood by Williams’ apology and had nothing further to say.

“But others within the news division, granted anonymity to speak freely about the situation, said there was widespread shock and disbelief about Williams’ foggy-memory explanation. One correspondent called it “unreal.””

CNN also reported NBC war correspondents and producers are “particularly perturbed” with Williams and question whether he will be able to keep his position at NBC.

“”I don’t know how you manage to begin to clean up from this, or if you even can,” said one longtime employee. “He’s in for a hell of a ride.””

CNN spoke to the pilot of the helicopter NBC News star Brian Williams was riding in that Williams falsely claimed was hit by an RPG and forced down while flying over enemy territory in Iraq in the early days of the 2003 U.S. liberation of Iraq from the terrorist regime of Saddam Hussein.

The pilot confirms parts of Williams’ oft-told tale but shoots down the more outlandish claims by Williams about the incident.

The pilot, Rich Krell, told CNN his helicopter was in formation behind the chopper that was hit by an RPG. He said all three choppers were hit with small arms fire but that the temporary metal bridges they were ferrying attached below the helicopters took the brunt of the bullets.

Krell and Williams’ helicopter was not forced down by the enemy fire. Kress stated he completed his mission of delivering the bridge part and met up with the other two choppers about forty-five minutes later.

He says he’s known about William’s false telling of the story for years, but didn’t complain as he put it down to the exaggeration of “combat stories”.

“…Williams was in the back of Krell’s aircraft along with three other NBC staffers. Krell referred to his Chinook as the “second bird” in the formation. The “first bird,” right in front of the “second bird,” was struck by the RPG.

“Due to his seat in the back, Williams was most likely unable to witness the RPG attack, Krell said.

“All three of the helicopters were hit by small arms fire, Krell said, supporting Williams’ past claims about that.

“”The bridge expansions we were hauling took most of the hits,” Krell said.

“The three Chinooks took evasive maneuvers. Krell’s helicopter dropped off its payload, then met up with the other two about 45 minutes later. That may explain why the other crew members told Stars and Stripes that Williams arrived in the area later.

“Krell said of Williams, “Yeah, he messed up some things and said some things he shouldn’t have. I [first] heard it a few years ago. … Actually one of my flight engineers said, ‘Did you hear him say that? Wasn’t he on our bird?'”

“Krell didn’t seem overly bothered by Williams’ revisionist history — he chalked it up to wartime theatrics. “After a while, with combat stories, you just go ‘Whatever,'” he said.”

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Sarah Palin

It's said that a man's word can affect the course of history. Certainly a man with a microphone can. Mainstream media lies. Without accountability their power can influence national debate, shift momentum, and destroy a person's good name. All affecting history.

When one of their own repeats a lie for 12 years but is excused with the help of the media's herd mentality, tragic distrust and despondency blankets our land. The veil is torn, however, with the revelation of exaggerated, self-centered falsehoods like NBC's perpetual lie that belittled our soldiers and their truly courageous missions. The face of that network’s news lied about combat experiences in Iraq and then with false humility accepted the title of "war hero" while the press ignores, disrespects, and often destroys the good name of our true war heroes. To me, that's like soiling sacred ground.

NBC’s Brian Williams recants Iraq story after soldiers protest

Brian Williams admits that his story of coming under fire while in Iraq was false

After having his lies exposed by troops who were there, this news anchor's recent acknowledgement of "mistakenly" repeating his grandiose story for more than a decade makes this sad tale even worse because even in his explanation he is deceiving.

Brian Williams Misleads Viewers in His Apology for Misleading Viewers

Brian Williams equated himself with our honorable vets and troops in combat boots with a made-up story of his courage and victorious return to the make-up chair strolling in his Bruno Maglis back to read his TelePrompTer's twisted scripts, and we were forced to swallow it all. That was then. This is now, when we can thank God for new unconventional media that scatters the deceiving herd that would do this to America.

An enlightened public grows more confident everyday knowing we do not have to settle for mainstream garbage insulting our intelligence as it's sold as "news". The American public deserves so much better and it's encouraging to see so many rise up and demand better. It's why we've turned off the old, we turn on the new, and we’ll never look back.

Leftist media and their minions in politics tried for too long to fundamentally transform America with their shared assumption we would fall in line and bend our backs as they rode us with reins to control our individual sovereignty. America said enough is enough and we strengthened our spine so we could fight for freedom, sometimes requiring battles against our own leaders. Remember Hillary Clinton, always seeking the title of Commander in Chief, using a harrowing account of coming under enemy fire in Iraq?

Sharyl Attkisson: Brian Williams Not Alone; Hillary Clinton Lied About Being Shot At In Bosnia

Of course it didn't happen. But a protecting press excused her with sympathetic descriptions of an exhausting schedule – evidently a schedule having more negative impact than that of her equally busy male competitors, because it was blamed for her dramatic lapse in recalling a near-death war zone experience that was really all made up. It goes without asking, would the press have done the same with others we can think of, had she or he "mistakenly" claimed taking on such danger in their drive to win an election?

Taking the Williams and Clinton examples, it also goes without asking, if they lie about things like this, what and who else do they lie about?

Be encouraged though, America! The demise of old media is a result of us saying, "No more." It shows you what you can accomplish as a free and exceptional nation! We demand truth in reporting by shifting a market away from those refusing to give it. We demand adherence to our Constitution by taking back our government from those refusing to do it. We demand the fundamental restoration of America by refusing to bend to anyone dangerously transforming it.

Thank you for that! And thank the Lord for blessing us with the wisdom and wherewithal to get this done.

- Sarah Palin

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