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."

[SolutionsOnly]

"Any chance he had a gun to his head during this "interview"? "

Peter Arnett doesn't need a gun to his head to propagandize against America! He's quite happy to do it voluntarily.

[MEG33]

I like who is in charge at the Pentagon and in the field. The out of the loop retireds,press,commentators,polititions are but noise,chirping crickets that annoy.

[thinking]

Former CNN reporter...ha ha, imagine listing that on your CV

[lonestar]

What did Arnett not know and when did he not know it?

[happygrl]

Ouch !

[wayoverontheright]

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."

There simply is no precedent for the one-sidedness of this war. It is obvious that defeat is a drop-dead certainty.

So we should just cut our losses and go home.

[slate]

We need to start a list of how many stories different reporters write that are wrong. Reporters that are shown to have a high rate of WRONG stories will lose credibility.

[Just mythoughts]

Brian Williams hates Rummy as much as any person I have seen yet.

The morning after the first bombs fell in Baghdad, Brian is the commentator who compared it to Dresden, and said that Rummy was about to "SWAGGER" out for the upcoming press conference.

I was so livid I sent an e-mail, to MSNBC, however they do not have Brian Williams' e-mail available on their WEB site.

Petie is in welcomed company with Brian Williams.

[AgThorn]

So is he reporting for NBC as well as CNBC, MSNBC?

If so, so much for MSNBC on my watch list - conservative network my "arss"!!!

[ThreePuttinDude]

I've just removed my National Geographic bookmark.
Damn, I liked [past tense] that Website...8^(

[ThreePuttinDude]

So is he reporting for NBC as well as CNBC, MSNBC?


One and the same

[cardinal4]

This is the same guy who aired the tailwind story. He is an America Hater. At least CNN had the sense to fire him after that, and trust the BBC to pick him up.

[Terry Mross]

Oh how I wish an "errant" bomb would hit his motel. Otherwise, he should be arrested when given the chance. He is supposed to be interviewing Iraqis. Not the other way around. And I'd bet he asked to be interviewed. I can't believe the Iraqis would be smart enough to use him. Unless there WAS a gun pointed at his head.

[cardinal4]

No, I agree with you, he probably requested to be interviewed. Ill bet his hatred for America is only exceeded by his vanity.

[scouse]

He is now reporting from the Iraqi capital for NBC.

Actually he is reporting for a subsidary of NBC; Namely: National Geographic.

[chainsaw]

Regardless of the reason for the pause of our troops in Iraq, I see this as something much better than the media envisions. This gives our troops a chance to rest and relax. A chance to "get fat" (as explained on TV, resupply with food, water, ammunition, and repair equipment) while the RG are still being bombarded. Our troops, being almost to Baghdad, limits the area the RG can spread out into.

This break in the action, also allows our forces to the north to coalesce with the Kurds that are fighting on our side. Thanks to Turkey it's giving us a chance to build up our forces in the north too.

In 1991 it took 30 days of bombing so soften up the enemy. But then Saddam had not salted his troops with RG henchmen that would shoot them if they didn't fight.

So in my opinion this pause is very benificial for our troops in Iraq. That former CNN journalist can go pound sand you know where.

[delacoert]

Peter Arnett doesn't need a gun to his head to propagandize against America! He's quite happy to do it voluntarily.

Arnett to Iraqi's, "Oh, you don't have to hold that gun to my head, let me do it." (Don't nobody move of the reporter get's it.)

[rolling_stone]

I would not weep if old Peter happened to choke on his baby milk.

[ALS]

[rogers21774]

Why anyone would continue to employ Arnett in any journalistic capacity is beyond me.