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

[Kip Lange]

but added, "I said over the weekend what we all know about the war."

Right. Like we all know how his reporting has made the poll numbers showing support of the war go...down...no...wait...they're up. So rather, he said over the weekend what every anti-war idiot *thinks* they know about the war. A nice hodgepodge of lies, propaganda, and outright horses***t. And, of course, we all know there was a "pause", because Tommy Franks has personally given each American citizen a signed copy of the war plan. Riiighhttt.

A mea culpa doesn't get him out of this. No way.

[samtheman]

I just watched the video. Not much of an apology. The only issue he really talked about what "the firestorm in the US" over his remarks. He did not apologize for giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

[thinden]

Arnett was also the on-air reporter of a 1998 CNN report that accused U.S. 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 later left the network.

sounds like arnett would be a perfect fit to resurface as press secretary for the Hillary '04 campaign.

[nutmeg]

bump

[Disgusted in Texas]

The "mistake" would be letting him back in to the US.Since his loyalty is to Iraq's current dictators,he should be treated as one.

[N. Theknow]

NBC's embedded reporter Peter Arnett has just been fired and NBC's war coverage has been stalled in the face of strong resistance by the opposition. Obviously the war coverage planners did not take this development into consideration when formulating their coverage and expected the competition to surrender to their overwhelming coverage and on-air superiority.

Their plan can be deemed an outright failure as it is now hopelessly engaged in a quagmire of negative opinion.

[Kip Lange]

Anti war and anti Bush sentiments may have induced management to play the tape,

MAY have?!?! :-) Everybody knows Arnett's a proven liar, as has been pointed out in the thread already.

but common sense should have told them that while America is not going to be swayed by Peter Arnett

Oh, man, now you totally lost me. You're accusing liberals of having common sense. :-)

[Kip Lange]

The other reporters left Baghdad for safety concerns. How was it that Arnett felt no such concern? Sounds embedded to me!

Well, then, that embedded unit should have gotten some immediate "softening".

[Kevin Curry]

I just watched the video. Not much of an apology. The only issue he really talked about what "the firestorm in the US" over his remarks.

Yet he insists public opinion in the US is turning against the war effort. He doesn't see the disconnect.

[8mmMauser]

You are right on.

After all, he has his pals there and I do hope he stays right there with his cronies, reporting to whomever will listen as the building he is on burns and the country frees up. That way, he can follow his bosses to their reward, too. Wonderful solution for all.

I am not a "firing squad" type exactly. I hope if he tries to cross into our country, being a naturalized citizen and all, we slap him with charges of treason. 'Bout time.

[BostonCajun]

I guess that's why he was named PETER

[BostonCajun]

I guess that's why he was named PETER

[samtheman]

Traitors never see the disconnect between their actions and the people they are betraying.

[Kip Lange]

Their plan can be deemed an outright failure as it is now hopelessly engaged in a quagmire of negative opinion.

Bwahahahahaha, great post. And might I add that since their plan is now obviously an outright failure, they should promptly pack up all their equipment, go off the air, and all return home to Iraq. :p

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The "story" became Peter Arnett. I just quit watching.

[TommyDale]

I hope NBC cancelled the "return" half of his airline ticket.

[Dont Mention the War]

Since the Admin Moderator not only chopped off the article without cause (MSNBC articles that are not of Newsweek or WashPost material are NOT part of the LAT/WP settlement), but he also didn't even bother adding the standard link at the bottom of an excerpt, I guess I have to do it manually):

NBC, MSNBC terminate Arnett

[tdadams]

In my opinion Arnett's statement that the war plan had failed wasn't his worst offense. Two things struck me as far worse.

Reading the transcript, I was left with the impression that he was offering advice to the Iraqis about how to weaken the American resolve.

He also seemed to imply that Bush had no real concern about killing Iraqi civilians, but only had to minimize them so as not to incur the wrath of the media.

[Kip Lange]

I am not a "firing squad" type exactly. I hope if he tries to cross into our country, being a naturalized citizen and all, we slap him with charges of treason. 'Bout time.

Oh, don't get me wrong, was being half-facetious. This guy has to face consequences. Seems America got hazy about the whole "actions have consequences" thing after ol' Bill told us it was okay to lie under oath, as long as we knew that there were multiple definitons of "is". I thoroughly share your disgust. I'm just saying the Iraqi officials could and would do things to Arnett that US officials never would, and if he truly thinks Iraq has the moral high ground in this thing, he should WANT to live under that regime.

I also still hold that proper punishment would be coating him in gravy and locking him in a room with a very hungry Michael Moore. :-)

On a serious note, again, I agree, this guy has got to face real consequences of his actions -- actions that may have put US military (and possibly civilian, even) lives at risk by emboldening Iraqi irregulars. A mea culpa doesn't cut it on this one, NO WAY. What the consequences are, I will leave up to someone with a cooler and wiser head than mine, cuz my gut instinct would be to lock the guy up in stocks and let everybody urinate on him in public -- *then* the firing squad.