NBC News to remove its television crew from Baghdad

AP | 3/17/03

[kattracks]

NEW YORK (AP) -- NBC News, concerned that a war with Iraq could be imminent, plans to immediately remove its six-member television crew from Baghdad, a network spokeswoman said.

The decision was prompted by recent comments from the Bush administration indicating that a military conflict could begin within days, the spokeswoman, Allison Gollust, told The New York Times in Monday editions.

The administration has advised journalists to leave Baghdad, but NBC would be the first major television network to remove its staff voluntarily from the Iraqi capital.

The Fox News Channel was expelled from the city last month by the Iraqi government.

NBC would likely still be able to get coverage from Baghdad from Peter Arnett, the former CNN correspondent who now reports for MSNBC, NBC's sister cable network.

An NBC spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

[Timesink]

PANSIES!!

[EternalVigilance]

This will not be the same as the Gulf War Part I.

Any Westerner who remains in Bahgdad borders on suicidal, IMO.

[Sunnyvale CA Eng.]

You just know that all of these media whores are secretly keeping people there to get that opening round footage - or bribing locals to do it. It would also be possible to leave cameras with transmitters hidden at good vantage points. There is no way they will miss getting footage of the bombing of Baghdad if it occurs.

[TexKat]

ping

[runningbear]

Thanks TK, reading stuff, happening on St Patty's Day... Luck of the Irish?

[aristeides]

Any Westerner who remains in Bahgdad borders on suicidal, IMO.

But if you're a journalist, doesn't that mean that you have great prospects of career advancement, if you do survive?

[Semper Paratus]

The Al-Rashid Hotel may not be so lucky this time.

[EternalVigilance]

But if you're a journalist, doesn't that mean that you have great prospects of career advancement, if you do survive?

Well, you make your choices, and either live or die with the consequences.

But they have been warned. Now the responsibility rests solely on themselves.

[blondee123]

Thanks for the ping TK, looks like a huge exodus from Baghdad by many others too! Guess we'll be up late from now on!

[TexKat]

You can say that again.

[mhking]

Everybody outta the pool!

This also points to getting word that we're probably gonna take out the Al Rashid Hotel this time around...

[cynicom]

I wish they would stay.

[Marie Antoinette]

The Fox News Channel was expelled from the city last month by the Iraqi government.

I think this is intriguing just from a mediabias angle. NBC is allowed to stay, but fair and balanced is not?

[Jackie-O]

Hi Tex, thanks for all of the pings, I've been gone for a few days.
What's happening with your son?

[TexKat]

Thanks for asking Jackie, it is just about time for him to get up, matter of fact I'm going to give him 10 more minutes I think he is oversleeping this morning. Anyhow, I think they should be leaving out this week. He should know something today. All his gear and supplies were packed and taken to the base last week, they are just waiting for a go date. I know he is tired of me asking him every evening if they have heard anything.

I figured you were gone or the ES thread got to you and you were resting a bit. Good to hear from you.

Have you heard from your brother, is he enroute? Was he going to Kuwait or do you know yet?

[Petronski]

Everybody outta the pool!

Yes, the adult swim is about to begin.

[ravinson]

NBC would likely still be able to get coverage from Baghdad from Peter Arnett, the former CNN correspondent who now reports for MSNBC, NBC's sister cable network.

Saddam's chief propagandist is once again thrust into the spotlight, and soon will be reporting from dozens more of Saddam's smoldering "baby formula factories".

[Jhensy]

Speaking of NBC, we have the Today Show on in the background, and I say to my wife, "Uh oh, Katie's got her 'Dubya face' on."

I turn up the volume, and sure enough, the grim one is introducing a piece about what type of wartime president Bush will be. And who are the two fair and balanced experts she brings in? Bob Woodward and Doris Kearns Goodwin.

I won't go into how slanted and scornful of Bush Katie's questioning was, but I will point out that Doris has clearly had some eyework done during her little 'hiatus'.

[Jackie-O]

Yeah, we had some nice weather for a change so I was doing yard work and trying to find some time for a social life. Needed to get out with some grown-ups for a change. (24-7 kids gets to me sometimes!)
I was getting a little worn out on the Laci threads, or should I say frustrated for th lack of news... good or otherwise.
Talked to my brother last week. He usually doesn't say anything too much...most of the work he does is classified.
He just keeps saying "soon.."
Praying for your son, our troops and their families!!