Former CNN reporter says U.S. war planners ignored Iraqi resistance

AP WorldStream via COMTEX ^ | 3-30-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

CAIRO, Egypt, Mar 30, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A former CNN journalist told state-run Iraqi TV that U.S. war planners had misjudged Iraq's determination to stand up to the American-led coalition's invasion force.

"Clearly, the American war plans misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces," Peter Arnett said during the interview aired Sunday by Iraq's satellite television station and monitored by The Associated Press in Egypt.

Arnett, who won a Pulitzer Prize reporting in Vietnam for The Associated Press, garnered much of his prominence from covering the 1991 Gulf War in Baghdad. He is now reporting from the Iraqi capital for NBC.

During his prerecorded Baghdad studio interview, which was translated by a green military uniform-wearing Iraqi anchor, Arnett said the Bush administration had ignored his and other reports about "the determination of the Iraqi armed forces and the government willingness to fight for their country."

It was not immediately clear when the interview was conducted.

Arnett was the on-air reporter of the 1998 CNN report that accused American forces of using sarin gas on a Laotian village in 1970 to kill U.S. defectors. Two CNN employees were sacked and Arnett was reprimanded over the report, which the station later retracted. Arnett ultimately left the network.

Arnett established close contacts with Iraqi government officials during his several visits to Iraq, but was unable to reflect anti-government sentiments through private interviews with Iraqis without the presence of Information Ministry minders.

President George Bush, the current U.S. leader's father, accused Arnett of being a "traitor" over what he considered were pro-Iraqi reports during the 1991 conflict.

"Whenever I gave a report (in 1991) of civilian casualties or civilian installations destroyed and casualties created, the Pentagon and Bush administration got very angry and called me traitor," he said on Iraqi Television.

Of the current conflict, Arnett also said the current U.S. invasion plan had failed and that American military strategists are now "trying to write another war plan."

[M Kehoe]

I'm sitting here wondering exactly what the difference in OUR press and theirs is

Depending upon the network, very little.

5.56mm

[pkjeff]

Peter Arnett is a traitor... he credits his reports as encouraging the pro-Iraq effort... sounds like supporting the enemy to me!!

[Carolinamom]

I didn't think it possible, but Arnett's LOW just got even LOWER. There's no way back from THIS one.

[FreeReign]

Peter is a whore.

...and GE is a global whore that does business with the biggest statists of the world.

[StarFan]

There's no way back from THIS one. And foxnews simply won't let this die, thank goodness. Rita Cosby was beside herself and now Gibson is covering it. NBC and GE have some backpeddling to do but me thinks it's too late.

[StarFan]

Foxnews is replaying the interview and will probably continue to do so throughout the night.

[kcvl]

NBC is DEFENDING the JERK!!!

[StarFan]

Why am I not surprised. I'd rather watch Al D'Amato on Foxnews who said Arnett has given comfort to the enemy.

[kcvl]

letters@MSNBC.com

countdown@msnbc.com

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Anybody else I would give the benefit of the doubt to and assume this was done because he was afraid for his life.

This guy clearly hates America and hopes we lose and any report I wouldn't cry a tear ( would actually say hooray) if a cruise missile fell on his head.

[ThomWilkerson]

"Benedict Arnett"

No, Arnett is Iraq's Lord HawHaw.

[cyncooper]

Already posted here

Your link shows a thread posted hours after this one.

What am I missing, by the use of the phrase "Already posted"?

[YaYa123]

My husband is cancelling his NG subscription first thing in the morning, I've emailed MSNBC and sent a scathing message to Arnett's message board at msnbc.com.

NBC's message that Arnett was just extending a professional courtesy to Iraqi television doesn't cut it. NBC, MSNBC, and National Geographic should hear from us until they fire Arnett's ugly ass, and denounce what he said.

[StarFan]

Thanks. I sent my e-mails awhile ago to spare my family the severe mood swing I went through. I do, however, plan to make several calls tomorrow morning.

[OldFriend]

What the heck does professional courtesty mean?

Arnett is neither professional nor courteous.

He's a perfidious traitor to humanity.

[kcvl]

He wanted to stay there pretty bad said one of his "friends" on Fox News. Too bad if he has a gun pointed to his head. It was his choice to stay!!!

Those are all nothing more than excuses. He should have left with the others if he was in danger. He made his choice so I'm not very sympathetic to whatever he is doing.

[razbinn]

God Bless america

[OldFriend]

Jeopardizing the lives of our young soldiers for a chance to stay in Iraq? Sorry, this man will rot in hell for all time. There is no redemption from this treachery.

[ThomWilkerson]

The only way that Iraq's new Lord HawHaw could redeem himself now is for MSNBC to persuade Arnett to blow himself up in Saddam's presence.

CNN is just about to do a story on Arnett. Haven't seen anything on MSNBC yet, but have been switching channels...

[YaYa123]

I'm waiting to see if MSNBC mentions on the air, Arnett's horrific appearance on Iraqi television...not yet that I've seen. But for sure, NBC's tacky little released note of explanation doesn't explain anything! There's no doubt in watching the replay several times, Arnett was not under duress, and wasn't coerced into making the very forceful statements he made against the US military and the President.

Has CNN mentioned this? They've got a history, so CNN might choose not to. GRRRRRRR

American media must not get away without being forced to report this story. Going easy on a colleague simply isn't appropriate when we're talking aiding and abetting our enemy, especially when soldiers are dying.

This COL Jack Jacobs, USArmy retired, MSNBC analyst, is just an ass, a self-serving ass who's cashing in on this war by offering cynical, contrary opinion...but Peter Arnett has crossed the line. I don't know if Arnett is an American citizen, but clearly, he should not be employed by American organizations ever again!