Couric Skeptical Iraq Can Ever Defend Itself, Suggests Civil War 'Matter of Time'

Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

March 6, 2006

Give Katie Couric a Best Supporting Actress in the MSM production of "Doom & Gloom: the Iraq Story." Interviewing NBC military analyst Gen. Wayne Downing on this morning's Today Show, Couric was skeptical that Iraqi forces would ever be able to defend the country, saw a "vicious cycle" there, and darkly surmised that civil war was only "a matter of time."

Couric noted reports that U.S. and British troops will pull out of Iraq by the spring of 2007, then stated: "The U.S. military denies those reports saying there is no time-table and U.S. troops will withdraw when the Iraqi forces can secure and defend that country."

Continued a skeptical Katie: "Having said that, will [the ability of Iraq to defend itself] ever happen, given the slow pace of this transfer of military authority to Iraqi forces?"

When Downing gave something of an equivocal answer, Katie returned to the charge. Dubiousness dripping, she asked "let me get to the heart of the question again: will Iraqi forces actually be capable of securing and defending that country, ever?"

Downey: "They probably will but we're in a vicious cycle" in which the destabilization of the country by violence makes it difficult to form a government and establish the military and the police, the very entities required to end the violence.

Katie drove home the message: "It's a vicious cycle?"

Downing: "It is."

Couric acknowledged Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace's statements over the weekend to the effect that Iraq is not on the verge of civil war, and the report by NBC's Mike Boettcher than in the past few days the attacks have decreased.

Couric was undeterred: "For now possibly it has been averted but," eagerness rising in her voice, "do you think it's a matter of time that Iraq will break out into an all-out civil war?"

Downing acknowledged the possibility of civil war but not "until we have a substantial reduction of coalition and U.S. forces." He saw it as a possible step on the path to Iraq becoming a new nation, similar to the process from 1776 to the end of our own Civil War.

For Katie and her MSM brethren, hope of disaster springs eternal.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show/NewsBusters ping.

[tsmith130]

Bless you! Do you shower before or after you watch this show? Don't forget your Prilosec!

[Fintan]

 

I have an idea: Let's send Katie over there to straighten things out.

[Mo1]

Couric noted reports that U.S. and British troops will pull out of Iraq by the spring of 2007, then stated: "The U.S. military denies those reports saying there is no time-table and U.S. troops will withdraw when the Iraqi forces can secure and defend that country."

Why is Katie trying to put a time table on Iraq??

BTW .. has Katie ever been in Iraq?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Just to be on the safe side, I take my Prilosec in the shower ;-)

[impatient]

Amusing to watch two liberals whip themselves into a frenzy. They say the most interesting things when one makes an outrageous statement and the other agrees and ups the antie. This back-and-forth goes until one says something truly stupid.

It's a vicious cycle.

[impatient]

Amusing to watch two liberals whip themselves into a frenzy. They say the most interesting things when one makes an outrageous statement and the other agrees and ups the antie. This back-and-forth goes until one says something truly stupid.

It's a vicious cycle.

[poobear]

"Just to be on the safe side, I take my Prilosec in the shower ;-)"

LOL!

I nearly asked my physician for a prescription just to READ your reports. Hats off to you GLGB!

[AmericaUnite]

No reports of the recent round-up of about 1000 terrorists near Rahmahdi?

[Thom Pain]

Katie Couric: war correspondent.

I'm sorry, I just can't stop laughing.

[johnny7]

Katie the Kat.

[TommyDale]

It's just a matter of time before NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, etc. begin smuggling weapons into Iraq to help start a civil war.

[Cagey]

The absolute best part of the Today Show this morning was the video of the cheerleader being carried off the basketball court on a stretcher still doing her cheers. What a hoot!

And, Couric was longing for her own cheerleading days.

[AmericaUnited]

So "Bubbles for Brains" is trying to voice an authoritative opinion on something other than how many Twinkies are considered fattening?

[Allegra]

BTW .. has Katie ever been in Iraq?

Gosh, I've certainly never seen her around here. She must get her information from much better sources...you know, like the New York Times and the the Washington Post.

We people over here who are pretty sure there isn't going to be a civil war...we just don't know anything, do we?

Katie has spoken. The civil war must be on. (I don't really need to put a sarcasm tag here, do I? ;-) )

[sgtbono2002]

You can save a lot of time if you want. Just go to the DNC website and read their latest. Then you dont need to watch Katie spout it.LOL

[Lee'sGhost]

"Having said that, will [the ability of Iraq to defend itself] ever happen, given the slow pace of this transfer of military authority to Iraqi forces?"

Good grief! If Iraq ever does gain the ability to defend itself it will be BECAUSE the transfer took place slowly and correctly. Yeah, Katie, let's do it quickly and sloppily and guarantee that it will fail.

I mean, so the lack of logic from these people is just astounding.

[VOYAGER]

"Give Katie Couric a Best Supporting Actress in the MSM production of "Doom & Gloom: the Iraq Story."

Katie's so little amount of faith would be very debilitating for someone who was looking for a bright spot in the MSM's daily reporting.

Katie and MSM were made for each other.

"Oh woe is me gloom, doom and misery am everywhere an da trumpet sounds withina my soul and I ain't got long to stay hyar".

[Nextrush]

There she goes again. I think the BBC channel was better than that reporting claims that the Iraqis are torturing prisoners in their jails from some "human rights" group, also known as "Karl Marx groupies" in my book. I mean to say I could handle the BBC reporting better than Katie's trash talk this morning. Maybe they should change the name of the show to the "Trash Talk Bush Show" or Trash Talk Today."