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."

[deport]

What full story? This is an AP report but doesn't even have the quotes in it. The full story will be the transcript of the entire interview so that it can be judged upon its content.......

Supposedly WSJ may have the transcript but I don't have a subscription......

[Howlin]

Well, an article then........LOL.

For those who missed it on TV.

[ChadGore]

EMAIL MSNBC *and* National Geographic about
Peter Arnett, Baath Party Member HERE: ngsforum@nationalgeographic.com;newsdesk@nationalgeographic.com; comments@natgeochannel.com;viewerservices@msnbc.com

[Prince Charles]

This is Arnett's version of "shock and awe." Leftist reporters like him don't give a frog's fat arse about this country -- they're only over there to snap pix of children with their flesh on fire so thay can win the Pulitzer. Sickening.

[Howlin]

He sure proved it today.

[2nd amendment mama]

Already posted here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/880212/posts

[Dustbunny]

Just emailed National Geographic. I am tired of creeps like him.

Re: Peter Arnett

I subscribed to National Geographic for over 30 years. I do not subscribe to magazines that have a political view. Yours had a political leaning during the Clinton Administration, so I stopped subscribing. This year I gave you another chance.

What a mistake, especially after watching the clip of Peter Arnett in Baghdad. I cannot tell you how angry I am. Is he retarded or just a stupid jerk that gets big bucks for being anti-American. His political views do not set well, you can be sure I will not renew at the end of this year.

[CedarDave]

Have been watching this while in bed with the flu. The interview so pissed me off that I came over to the computer to see if a thread on this had been posted. It apparently came over the wires earlier today, but the tape is just now being shown. Even the Rat interviewed by Fox (Sherman of CA) said it was absurd, but added it is possible Arnett had been threatened to make the statement. Of course, that could be the case, and I have no doubt that Arnett will claim that he was threatened when he does come out and faces the furor his remarks caused.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Arnett is a Traitor !

[deport]

How's the statement go?........

I'm deeply saddened at this interview by Peter.....

[browardchad]

Any chance he had a gun to his head during this "interview"? I wouldn't put it past the Iraqi regime to put this out as propaganda.

Fox had takes from the interview on just a short while ago -- Arnett did not look in the least stressed. John Gibson also reported that Arnett credited himself with bolstering the anti-war movement in the U.S. through his reports.

Nothing out of character here.

[RightWingMama]

Thanks for the ping.
I'm so upset I'm literally sick to my stomach!

[kcvl]

National Geographic email...


bfallon@ngs.org

[OldFriend]

Pitiful louse doing a monica on his Iraqi friends.

[Timesink]

Even the Rat interviewed by Fox (Sherman of CA) said it was absurd, but added it is possible Arnett had been threatened to make the statement. Of course, that could be the case...

Just remember: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

[blondee123]

FULL Story about Peter (Benedict) Arnett! PING LIST>

[Timesink]

Even the Rat interviewed by Fox (Sherman of CA) said it was absurd, but added it is possible Arnett had been threatened to make the statement. Of course, that could be the case...

Just remember: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

[off-roader]

Quoteon: Peter Arnett is emplyed by the National Geographic Magazine to report from Bagdhad.

Any of you subscribe ? Could we start a FREEP on that organization ? :Quoteoff

I hope that no good conservative subscribes to that rag. It is by far one of the most biased, eco-kook media organizations of today. And, there is no wonder that their far left views on the environment align with the desire to employ a traitor and abettor to the enemy.

[tlekas]

Also contact GE which ownes NBC. I left a message at http://www.ge.com There is a contact link.

[Inspectorette]

It'll be interesting to see him try to squirm himself out of this. Maybe he could volunteer to be a suicide bomber and take out Saddam - that way he could redeem himself.