NBC, MSNBC terminate Arnett (Includes video of Today show interview)

MSNBC ^ | March 30, 2003

[Dont Mention the War]

NBC, MSNBC terminate Arnett

NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES

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)
       
Peter Arnett's Baghdad Dairy [sic]

       
INTERVIEW CONTENT

[capt. norm]

C.Y.A time for the "Peacock Network". They got their tail-feathers burned by waiting too long to do this. It'll be damage control time for them for the rest of the week.

I was hoping they would stick with him for a while and get stuck a little deeper.

Perhaps they took a lesson from what happened to the Dixie Chicks.

[cyncooper]

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)

I see the Today Show allowed him on to "apologize". What scum. I won't be tuning in to see it.

[xkaydet65]

The question MSNBC and G.E. should be made to answer is; was it wrong for a journalist to tell the information ministry of Iraq that his reports are increasing the anti war pressure in America? It's not simply a matter of harm done to the American and Allied effort, but did MSNBC consider the fact that such a statement would raise false hopes in the Iraqi leadership that continued "fierce resistance" would lead to their survival. This in turn leading to the futile deaths of thousands of Iraqi military and civilians who need not die. I do not believe this broadcast was live, thus MSNBC had time to consider its impact beyond ratings.Anti war and anti Bush sentiments may have induced management to play the tape, but common sense should have told them that while America is not going to be swayed by Peter Arnett, Iraq might be, and the false hope that America is awash in anti war fever would lead to further conflict and many more dead. DESPICABLE!!!!

[spectre]

Wonder if CNN will consider him "damaged goods"?

sw

[x1stcav]

Yessss!


Little by little, day by day, we are winning.

[TLBSHOW]

Also told him I prayed for Divine swift justice for all of them for allowing such trash to be presented as news.



Then don't say thanks and lets see how much more Divine swift justice is in store for these commie news channels!

BTTT

[freekitty]

Good, and they should try him for treason. They should also try Madonna for treason with that video of hers.

[DoctorMichael]

Snakes don't change their spots.

[Kip Lange]

Unfortunately the damage has already been done. I'm looking for something a bit more than this. I'm not going to jump on the "let's shoot him up with a firing squad" bandwagon, but this guy has got to be made to face some serious consequences for what he did. This is a man conducting what many, myself included, would characterize as treasonable actions -- simply because he's a media whore.

No, I won't jump on the firing squad bandwagon -- I say leave him to the Iraqis he loves so much. And, perhaps, accidentally let a communique slip into Iraqi hands indicating he's a United States spy. I'm sure Mr. Arnett would have no objection to being tried in Iraq. After all, one man's torture chamber is another man's comfortable sauna, right?

Personally, I'd like to barf on him, and then take it from there.

[veronica]

What a stupid man. :)))

[Neets]

YOU are absolutely SPOT on!!!! And Benedict Arnett's apology was no apology for HIS COMMENTS...no back tracking or retraction there....nope, not at all....

[Use It Or Lose It]

Kudos to John Gibson, FOX News Network for bringing the actions of Benedict Arnett to light.

John looked like he was going to burst a blood vessel last night.

As for Arnett, I spit in his general direction and call upon a million scorpions to take up residence in his panties. May he soon discover the joys of a MOAB suppository.

[N. Theknow]

BUMP and everyone should read your post #16.

Take THREE attaboys out of petty cash!

[Neets]

As for Arnett, I spit in his general direction and call upon a million scorpions to take up residence in his panties. May he soon discover the joys of a MOAB suppository.

And don't forget this:

I beat him with my shoe into oblivion!!!!

[stylin19a]

Unfortunatley I don't get Fox...I despise CNN ..So MSNBC is it for me.

MSNBC talking heads are saying the same things on the air to their viewers, that Arnett said on Iraqi TV.

So Arnett didn't get fired for what he said, he got fired for where he said it.

[Just mythoughts]

SMILE! Good advice.

[Fighting Irish]

Great news......now, lets find his coordinates and send a 2000lb farewell gift!

[Dont Mention the War]

MSNBC articles do not need to be excerpted unless they are Newsweek articles or reposts of Washington Post articles! MSNBC articles ARE NOT PART OF THE LAT/WT AGREEMENT.

[Wondervixen]

Well, that clinches it! Carter got his Nobel, Michael Mooron got his Oscar...Just mail Peetahh Ahhnett his next Pulitzer to NBC & they'll forward it along to him.

[Joe Brower]

Ah-nett, you have been terminated.