On Iraq War Anniversary, Couric Leaves U.S. Ambassador on Cutting-Room Floor

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

To mark yesterday's fourth-anniversary of the war in Iraq, CBS News requested an interview with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad. The ambassador took time from a hectic war-time schedule to speak with Katie Couric from Baghdad, and in the course of the interview provided a first-hand view of how the new surge strategy is working.

But when last night's Evening News aired, lo and behold, the interview never ran. It was instead relegated to an obscure corner of Katie's online blog. CBS apparently determined that Ambassador Khalilzad's comments weren't "newsworthy."

Katie & Co. did find time for Bob Woodward [who to my knowledge has never been to Iraq], to opine that the violence in Iraq wouldn't persuade President Bush to change course.

Could it be that Couric and CBS aren't interested in having the American people hear from an authoritative source as to how matters might be improving in Iraq?

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Couric's-Cutting-Room-Floor ping to Today show list.

[dead]

Could it be that Couric and CBS aren't interested in having the American people hear from an authoritative source as to how matters might be improving in Iraq?

Is that a trick question?

A more probing question would be - has the fact that Katie had Sam Donaldson's eyebrows stapled to her forehead helped the ratings any?

[Txsleuth]

CBS ..... 60 Minutes.

enough said.

[Mo1]

Could it be that Couric and CBS aren't interested in having the American people hear from an authoritative source as to how matters might be improving in Iraq?

I'd say that is a safe bet

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Nobody's watching her anyway. Ratings are in the tank.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'd like to think that's so but even in third place many more people watch her than, say, Fox News at the same hour.

[PzLdr]

You left out Walter "Tet" Cronkite, and Dan "The Forger" Rather.

[PzLdr]

There's probably more people watching her cutting room floor.

[ushr435]

Being female myself, it's not that I don't want to get my evening news from a woman... it's more a case of not wanted to get my evening news from any liberal, especially one that looks like the Crypt Keeper!

[popdonnelly]

Khalizad's optimism doesn't fit the CBS script. There's no real news on the evening news. It's been that way for decades. These programs exist to advance the cause of Democrats and to sell hemorrhoid medication. Either way, it's a pain in the ass.

[Mr. Keys]

Well, she may be an idiotic anti-American piece of scum with no audience, but she's still perky.

[Obadiah]

Could it be that Couric and CBS aren't interested in having the American people hear from an authoritative source as to how matters might be improving in Iraq?

A sick rhetorical question, no doubt.

[geezerwheezer]

Poor, poor little "kupcake katie", her numbers continue to freefall, her news show sucks, and she has to work with a new producer now! And now, Viacom's owner,Summer Redstone, is saying the president of cBS is being paid too much and must be paid on the performance of the cBS network. If that happens, poor "kupcakes" will be bounced out on her fat a$$ so quick it will make her colon spin!

[ClaireSolt]

They maqy have largely senior viewers, but that is the group that most reliably votes, so we should not cede the old ladies to Koomrade Katie. She is reporting that one third of vets have psycho social disorders. That definately resonnates with grannies who welcomed men home after WWII and Korea. My mother said that fireworks really bothered men the first 4th of July after WWII. There were lots of problems and divorces then, too.

[rod1]

The Perky One probably didn't even make that decision. Do doubt it was a "Kaplan reporting for duty" salvo.

You can't be the Bob Shrum of news divisions and not show it via mind-boggling bias and ineptitude.

[wayoverontheright]

It is absolutely CRITICAL for the leftist media's survival, for them to succeed in obscuring good news which might emanate from Iraq. The goal all along has been to defeat George Bush, not the enemy we are fighting there.

They WILL NOT concede defeat, the MSM I mean, they will obfuscate, dissemble, and change the language we use in order to "paint" what is already a miraculous success into a defeat for their hated adversary.

[neodad]

The blog probably got more hits than her show had viewers.

[DCPatriot]

Treasonous SOBs...ALL!

IN YOUR FACE BIAS....they don't even try to hide it anymore.

[hschliemann]

CBS News requested an interview with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.

Better she should interview April Glaspie.Remember her?