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Arnett fired
033103 | NBC

Posted on 03/31/2003 4:18:35 AM PST by dep

"It was wrong for Mr. Arnett to grant an interview with Iraqi state television," said NBC in a statement. NBC, MSNBC, and National Geographic have all fired him.

Arnett on live, apoligizing to "NBC, MSNBC, National Geographic, and the American people." He then goes on to say that all he said in the interview was "what we all know.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 4thdixiechick; aidandcomfort; antiamerican; axissally; benedictarnett; imgumbydamnit; iraq; iraqifreedom; janefondaissingle; lordhawhaw; mattlauer; msnbc; nationalgeographic; nbc; nicecombover; peterarenot; peterarnett; peterassnet; peteredout; proctologistspride; propaganda; prosaddam; todayshow; tokiorose; traitor; treason; unamerican; war
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To: GGpaX4DumpedTea
I'm going to have to paraphrase until I can find a link via Drudge, but he basically compared the Bush Presidency to the mid-1930's of Germany and said that a "neo-totalitarian" regime was taking hold in America. Rather should join Arnett in Baghdad with the rest of the human shields.

V


161 posted on 03/31/2003 5:31:50 AM PST by Beck_isright (Scotch: a drink the Iraqis fear. Long live the Black Watch!)
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To: All
official statement is here.

it says:

March 31 — NBC and MSNBC on Monday said they had terminated their relationship with Peter Arnett after the journalist told state-run Iraqi TV that the U.S.-led coalition’s initial war plan had failed and that reports from Baghdad about civilian casualties had helped antiwar protesters undermine the Bush administration’s strategy.
“IT WAS wrong for Mr. Arnett to grant an interview to state controlled Iraqi TV — especially at a time of war — and it was wrong for him to discuss his personal observations and opinions in that interview,” NBC News President Neal Shapiro said in a statement. “Therefore, Peter Arnett will no longer be reporting for NBC News and MSNBC.”
Arnett, who won a Pulitzer Prize reporting in Vietnam for The Associated Press, appeared on NBC’s “Today” show Monday to apologize for his statements. (MSNBC.com is an NBC News-Microsoft joint venture)

INTERVIEW CONTENT In the interview, Arnett said his Iraqi friends had told him that there was a growing sense of nationalism and resistance to what the United States and Britain were doing.
He said the United States was reappraising the battlefield and delaying the war, maybe for a week, “and rewriting the war plan. The first war plan has failed because of Iraqi resistance. Now they are trying to write another war plan.”
“Clearly, the American war plans misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces,” Arnett said during the interview, which was broadcast by Iraq’s satellite television station and monitored by The AP in Egypt.
Arnett said it was clear that there was growing opposition to the war within the United States and a growing challenge to President Bush.
“Our reports about civilian casualties here, about the resistance of the Iraqi forces, are going back to the United States,” he said. “It helps those who oppose the war when you challenge the policy to develop their arguments.”
The interview was broadcast in English and translated by a green military uniform-wearing Iraqi anchor. NBC said Arnett gave the interview when asked shortly after he attended an Iraqi government briefing.
The interview quickly made Arnett a target of the war’s supporters.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said on Fox News Channel that she found the interview “nauseating” and accused Arnett of “kowtowing to what clearly is the enemy in this way.”
NBC initially backed Arnett’s interview. “His impromptu interview with Iraqi TV was done as a professional courtesy and was similar to other interviews he has done with media outlets from around the world,” NBC News spokeswoman Allison Gollust said. “His remarks were analytical in nature and were not intended to be anything more. His outstanding reporting on the war speaks for itself.”

162 posted on 03/31/2003 5:32:01 AM PST by dep
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To: chance33_98
"The freaks over at that other site are all crying like babies!"

Now you've done it! I try to stay away from that other place, but I just can't resist watching them wallow in the misery created by their own deranged ideology. I will have to go check it out. Of course, I'm sure this just furthur convinces them that the left-wing media has a conservative bias and that FReepers are the anti-Christ.

163 posted on 03/31/2003 5:33:21 AM PST by sweetliberty ("To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.")
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To: TLBSHOW
...we have a brand new shredder that you can try out.

It would have to be a big one. Perhaps the Binford Atlas 5000. I'd be willing to bet his fat head wouldn't fit through the hopper on any normal size unit.

164 posted on 03/31/2003 5:33:53 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (®)
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To: VRWC_minion
Can your rephrase your question, this time in English so I could have a chance of answering?

If you are asking "what did Arnett do that Jennings has not", I would reply that Peter Jennings more than deserves the boot, but even he has not openly stated that his purpose is to undermine our efforts.

Our reports about civilian casualties here, about the resistance of the Iraqi forces, are going back to the United States. It helps those who oppose the war when you challenge the policy to develop their arguments.
Throw on top of it his history of subversive propaganda (the Baby Milk factory spin, the Sarin gas lie, etc) and it is clear that Arnett is a fifth column bastard who should be instant market-death to any western media outlet that hires him.
165 posted on 03/31/2003 5:34:58 AM PST by William McKinley (You're so vain, you probably think this tagline's about you)
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Comment #166 Removed by Moderator

To: VRWC_minion
This is not a case of censorship at all. I'm glad Arnett said what he said and I encourage all the anti-Americans who feel the same way he does to speak out so that we can know who they are as well.

As a subscriber to National Geographic, I exercised my right to free speech by telling them in no uncertain terms that I would cancel my 15-year subscription if they kept Arnett on their staff. As for NBC and MSNBC, I couldn't care less because I don't watch that garbage anyhow.

167 posted on 03/31/2003 5:35:10 AM PST by SamAdams76 (California wine beats French wine in blind taste tests. Boycott French wine.)
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To: VRWC_minion
"< flame suit=on> This is a lynching and we should not be a part of it. I don't think Arnett should be fired. Censoring is not what our country is founded on and similar words have been mouthed by Jennings and all the rest."

Censoring? Since when is protecting your economic interests (in this case NBC's) censoring? Not to mention the fact this was not done in the USA like Jennings the quisling does; this was done in a nation where we are at war. The rules are different when my friends are dying. Lose the flame suit and don the moron suit for that statement.

V


168 posted on 03/31/2003 5:35:59 AM PST by Beck_isright (Scotch: a drink the Iraqis fear. Long live the Black Watch!)
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To: Falcon4.0
Actually, the Constitutional definition of Treason is:

levying war against them (the United States) or in adhering to their enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

So giving Aid and Comfort is a function of adhering to the enemies of the United States. Adhere means: to give support or maintain loyalty.

169 posted on 03/31/2003 5:36:03 AM PST by savedbygrace
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To: Latina_Abogada
The Enemy Within (the media reporters)

http://www.anncoulter.org/
170 posted on 03/31/2003 5:36:52 AM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: sweetliberty
Jesse had best keep his head down. Iraq is only the opening salvo of this war.

V


171 posted on 03/31/2003 5:37:08 AM PST by Beck_isright (Scotch: a drink the Iraqis fear. Long live the Black Watch!)
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To: M. Thatcher
If his comments aren't treason

Technically, they are not. But my issue is how is what he said any different that what all the analysits have been saying or getting others to say in the past weeks. All I hear is how Rumsfield lost the war already, how we were losing because of our casulties how we misjudged the Iraq resolve. Quite frankly, Arnett could be simply reading from the NBC or NYT headlines for the day.

172 posted on 03/31/2003 5:37:10 AM PST by VRWC_minion (Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and most are right)
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To: chance33_98
From "over there"....

"Fantastic opportunity for Al-Jazeera If Peter Arnett joins them. Could turn the reporting of the war on its head as the English speaking viewers could get another perspective from this great Arab TV service and would be a boost for this independent Arab TV service.

Also it would give CNN a right kick in the right place.

Can anyone get this message out to them immediately."

UNBELIEVABLE!

173 posted on 03/31/2003 5:37:55 AM PST by sweetliberty ("To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.")
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To: syriacus
It looks like Arnet has joined the Fedayeen suicide brigade. He definately blew himself up on television.
174 posted on 03/31/2003 5:37:56 AM PST by Rockiesrider
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Comment #175 Removed by Moderator

To: William McKinley
It helps those who oppose the war when you challenge the policy to develop their arguments.

That is a true statement. How does repeating the truth amount to a reason to be fired ? Jennings on the other hand makes up lies in the form of questions.

176 posted on 03/31/2003 5:39:01 AM PST by VRWC_minion (Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and most are right)
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To: sweetliberty
. I will have to go check it out. Of course, I'm sure this just furthur convinces them that the left-wing media has a conservative bias and that FReepers are the anti-Christ.

They want FOX replaced by Al Jazeera -actual words.......
"I Want My Al-Jazeera"
Please oh please replace Fox News with Al-Jazeera.

177 posted on 03/31/2003 5:39:03 AM PST by concerned about politics (Anti-American protestors are inbread liberal Notsosmartso's.)
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To: All

Video of Arnett's Today Show interview this morning


178 posted on 03/31/2003 5:39:52 AM PST by Dont Mention the War
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Comment #179 Removed by Moderator

To: VRWC_minion
Arnett could be simply reading from the ... NYT headlines for the day.

Not Safire's snap judgements from today! 13 snap judgements

180 posted on 03/31/2003 5:40:11 AM PST by risk (Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?)
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