Somebody had to tell Geraldo that information. Knowing that, and knowing him, do you suppose they told him the correct information? He's relaying what he was told, which may or may not be correct. Either way, it's what they wanted (or didn't care) everyone else to hear.
The world is meant to see the "faltering advance on Baghdad" in Mesopotamia.
The world is not meant to see anything else.
So far, so good.