Confusion on Today: Brokaw Says US Had 'No Allies' in Iraq After Lauer Calls Blair 'War Ally'

http://newsbusters.org/ ^ | December 7, 2006 | Geoffrey Dickens

[lowbridge]

Confusion on Today: Brokaw Says US Had 'No Allies' in Iraq After Lauer Calls Blair 'War Ally'

Posted by Geoffrey Dickens on December 7, 2006 - 14:10.

It seems Matt Lauer and Tom Brokaw can't get their story straight. On this morning's Today show Brokaw falsely stated the U.S. went to war in Iraq without allies but apparently this was news to Matt Lauer as he opened the show identifying British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a "war ally." Appearing live from Pearl Harbor, Brokaw comparing World War II to the current action in Iraq declared: "The irony of course is that we're trying to get out of one war in which we had no allies..." But in the same hour Today host Lauer opened the program this way:

"Good morning the study is finished, now comes the test. President Bush meets this morning with his war ally, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a day after that scathing report from the Iraq Study Group."

Interestingly enough Lauer, who appeared with Brokaw in his segment, didn’t bother to correct the elder sage of NBC News.

The following discussion came after a Brokaw report on veterans commemorating the attack on Pearl Harbor during the 7am half hour of the December 7th, Today show:

Matt Lauer: "Tom I have just about 30 seconds left. The Iraq Study Group, let me just ask you, I mean nine months in the making, so much anticipation, so many high hopes. What did you make of the report that you've seen so far?"

Tom Brokaw: "Well I, I've been talking to them before they got to the final conclusion and they were frustrated. They knew that there were no easy answers. The irony of course is that we're trying to get out of one war in which we had no allies and things have not been going well since an early military victory on the eve of this war which began when it was built on alliances and sacrifices at home so there are great contrasts between those two wars and I think that the 9/11 commission, the commission now that has been studying Iraq does give the President some cover but it in many ways it has taken it out of his hands, politically, despite what he says."

Lauer: "Alright Tom, Tom Brokaw in Pearl Harbor for us this morning."

Later on during her 9am news update, Natalie Morales did Lauer one better as she called Blair a "steadfast ally."

Natalie Morales: "A meeting today between President Bush and his steadfast ally in the Iraq War, British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The White House visit comes a day after the Iraq Study Group issued blunt recommendations on how to move forward in Iraq saying time is running out. Blair who was interviewed by the group is pushing for its recommendations on Iraq to be put into place as early as January."

So for the record Brokaw just got outvoted 2 to 1, on his own network, on the question of whether or not the U.S. has allies in the Iraq war. I wonder if the former NBC Nightly News anchor will issue a retraction any time soon?

[lowbridge]

Tom, you ignorant slut....

[samadams2000]

***Fact Bastardization Alert***

[KingKenrod]

Brokaw meant "without the UN", which underlines the MSM's socialist bias and world view - that if you don't have the UN collective backing you, you are a rogue state, going it alone.

[kylaka]

Tom had unilateral tatooed on his ass so he would be reminded of the DNC talking points every time he removed his head to speak.

[new yorker 77]

NBC News represents the terrorists.

They hope for dead U.S. troops.

[RightWhale]

15 or more countries sent troops or other workers.

[Syncro]

LOL

Don't hold back Lowie...

[Gritty]

No doubt Tom Brokaw really is this stupid, but I really wouldn't know it from personal observation.

I never watch him or his dinosaur program. I would rather watch the grass grow. I would get more facts, and quicker.

[OldFriend]

England, Australia, Italy, Spain before the train bombing, Poland, and I'm sure there are other's I can't remember.

[Neenah]

Hahahahahaha !!!! The best yet !!

[Ole Okie]

To paraphrase Gen Douglas MacArthur: "Old newsmen never die; but hell, they should at least have the grace to fade away."

Tom, Dan, Walter, are you listening?

[lowbridge]

United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Poland, Romania, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Latvia, Albania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Mongoli, Lithuania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Fiji, Hungary, Nicaragua, Spain, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Philippines, Thailand, New Zealand, Tonga, Portugal, Singapore, Norway, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Japan, Italy.

Lets see now if my math is correct, that makes 40 different countries that were part of the coalition that went into Iraq with the United States, of these countries, as of November 25th 2006, the first 23 countries listed STILL HAD SOME TROOPS IN IRAQ.

NOW, this is interesting because up till December 1941, there were only 28 "ALLIED" Nations standing with America against the AXIS powers.


http://newsbusters.org/node/9522

[January24th]

I'm so glad I bookmarked this gem:

http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2004/cyb20040630.asp#1

[OldFriend]

Anyone know how to email this to Brokenjaw?