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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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!
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.
They want FOX replaced by Al Jazeera -actual words.......
"I Want My Al-Jazeera"
Please oh please replace Fox News with Al-Jazeera.
Not Safire's snap judgements from today! 13 snap judgements
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