Arnett fired

033103 | NBC

[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.

[valleygal]

Otta, I'm just logging on and haven't seen this. Our local talk radio just said that not only was Arnett fired but that FOX fired Geraldo Rivera!!

Has anyone else heard this?

My dh and I watched FOX late last night and he was drawing in the sand everything that was going on in theatre over there. We were very surprised and wondered why he was giveing SO much info. I wonder if that's why he may have gotten canned, if he did.

[Not A Snowbird]

"Couldn't happen better to a f*cked up bottom sucking, pond scum low life loser..."

Don't mince words... what do you REALLY think? LOL!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

By praising Iraqi resistance and saying that the war plan was failing, Arnett was actually encouraging stiffer resistance and fueling the resolve of the homicide bomber/terrorists.

You should have heard ABC Radio News on the top-of-the-hour radio broadcasts all yesterday. They were doing the exact same thing.

[valleygal]

Thanks Spunky for the info re: Geraldo. I just found your post. Did they fire him or just take him to Kuwait?

He was giving ALOT of info on the late broadcast last night.
Doesn't he realize the enemy watches?

[Matchett-PI]

"Peter Arnett's "Baghdad Diary" still up on MSNBC's webpage as of this posting."

Is this photo in his diary?:

Peter Arnett and Osama bin Laden

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

Thanks, dep, for the reality check-I know you are right. My reaction to some of the stuff Matt highlights is no doubt shared by many who never heard of F.R. Few who saw the Madona coverage on Drudge would have been impressed. Same for Arnett.

[Otta B Sleepin]

It's true that Arnett was fired by NBC, MSNBC, and National Geographic.

I hadn't heard anything about Geraldo, but if he was giving out information that would help the enemy, then he should at least be dis-embedded. I don't know about firing him, though, as I don't think he would ever intentionally give away dangerous info. He might have an over-inflated ego, but I wouldn't put him in the same class as Arnett.

[Howlin]

similar words have been mouthed by Jennings and all the rest.

Then consider this a shot fired over their bow.

[P.O.E.]

Don't gloat. Don't gloat. Don't gloat.

Trying.....to.....hold....it....in......

Pressure.....too....much.....

BWAAAAHHAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[Otta B Sleepin]

You should have heard ABC Radio News on the top-of-the-hour radio broadcasts all yesterday. They were doing the exact same thing.

Hey, I'm all for getting rid of them, too! But at least they weren't talking directly to the Iraqi people.

Still, the lopsided media coverage of anti-war sentiment in America has got to be negatively impacting the official Iraqi interpretation of the overall situation.

[VRWC_minion]

I usually agree with your posts.

From time to time. I can have trouble reconciling two beliefs I hold strongly too. In this case its a belief in the freedom of the press and the belief in loyalty to our government. They can often be at odds with each other especially in times of war.

This Arnett thing clearly provided a "bright line" division for virtually everyone concerned but I need to see where the line really is and where it should be. So far by debating it and acting as somewhat of a devils advocate I can accept the issue that his giving the interview itself and not necessarily what he said was and should have been seen as crossing the line.

I also see that repeating our own doubts and concerns could be considered giving aid and comfort but on that point I am finding difficulty because in fact its true, many do have these concerns and these conmcerns are widely reported in advance of his interview.

i have also learned that treason requires intent to do us harm and I don't think Arnett meant to cause any damage to us but that is merely my gut.

Finally, I am somewhat shocked that most freepers seem so ready to jump on the band wagon of choosing against freedom of the press in such a knee jerk way just because it conforms with our beliefs especially when the suppresion of news supporting our posistions on other things is something we encounter too often.

[Redbob]

Indicted by his own words:
"He said the Iraqis allowed him to stay in Baghdad because they respect him and 'see me as a fellow warrior.'"

Article III, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution...

[VRWC_minion]

Then consider this a shot fired over their bow.

I wish the chose a gunner with a lousy aim.

[Pitchfork]

Hate to break it to you but in WWII our troops did intentionally bomb women and children as part of a campaign to weaken the German and Japanese citizenry's will to fight. See Dresden and Hiroshima for the most extreme examples.

What is different about this war is that the US has explicitly said it would not target civilians. This is a revoultion (or more accurately a counter-revolution) in warfare that takes us back to a pre-Clauswitzian, pre-Machiavellian ethic that is much more in tune with St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

[Spunky]

"Did they fire him or just take him to Kuwait?"

The Army kicked him out of their camp and took him back to Kuwait.

It will be up to FOX NEWS to fire him but so far to my knowledge they haven't even mentioned that he was booted out.

A lot of people thought Geraldo had changed, but a leapord doesn't change his spots.

[Timesink]

I HOPE that all the public furor is what caused them to quickly rethink yesterday's statement of "professional courtesy" interview. What I really wonder is this: were there back channel discussions between the administration and the networks saying you'll never ask another question in a press conference unless you dump Arnett.

The nutcases on DUh are alleging things far more sinister than mere "back channel discussions" on the Administration's part, which for me is more than enough reason to believe that NBC's decision was entirely based on public furor.

[nicmarlo]

Hate to break it to you but in WWII our troops did intentionally bomb women and children as part of a campaign to weaken the German and Japanese citizenry's will to fight. See Dresden and Hiroshima for the most extreme examples.

This is true; however, in this case, we are specifically attempting not to conquer Iraq....only destroy its evil leaders.

[Hazzardgate]

SEPERATED AT BIRTH?

Arnett & The Toxic Avenger

[Jaded]

Definetly.

[AIBC]

How about Rangel?