March 21, 2003 ABC, Caught Unprepared, Apologizes to Its AffiliatesBy BILL CARTER n the opening night of the war, when every other television news organization enjoyed substantial ratings gains, ABC News had a disastrous evening. The network issued a profuse apology yesterday to dozens of its affiliated stations for leaving them with a black screen and without news coverage at a crucial moment on Wednesday night — the beginning of their local newscasts. Earlier it had trailed its competitors in reporting the first attacks on Baghdad, and its main anchor, Peter Jennings, was out of place when the news...