In a news brief on Monday’s CBS "Early Show" correspondent Lara Logan reported on recent violence in Baghdad as a result of militia forces of Muqtada al Sadr: "The streets of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad have become a bloody battleground...This eyewitness describing the fighting on his street says 'one person was killed, and a child was also killed there. Everything got burned up. Everything was destroyed.’"
Logan followed that hyperbolic account by declaring: "The human cost was difficult to measure as the wounded continued to fill hospital beds and the number of dead kept rising." The "Early Show" seized on Iraq violence in a similar way in February, when despite the obvious success of the troop surge, correspondent Mark Strassman declared: "Mayhem and misery are back in Baghdad."
As Logan concluded her report, she made sure to mention how this violence would cause problems for General David Petraeus’s upcoming report to Congress: "This latest spike in violence coming at a very awkward time for the U.S. government. As America's top officials, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due to testify before Congress tomorrow."
Here is the full transcript of the news brief:
7:09AM SEGMENT:
RUSS MITCHELL: Iraq's prime minister has issued an ultimatum to the followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al Sadr. It comes after a week of heavy fighting in the area of Baghdad they control, which is known as Sadr City. CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan is in Baghdad. Lara, good morning to you.
LARA LOGAN: Good morning, Russ. Well, in the last two days alone, five U.S. soldiers have been killed in fighting against Shiite militants in and around Baghdad, particularly, as you mentioned, in Sadr City, the Baghdad stronghold of Sadr's Medhi Army militia. The streets of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad have become a bloody battleground. U.S. and Iraqi forces battling militias backed by Iran. Like the Medhi Army of Muqtada al Sadr, the anti-American cleric. Civilians are paying a heavy price. This eyewitness describing the fighting on his street says 'one person was killed, and a child was also killed there. Everything got burned up. Everything was destroyed.' The human cost was difficult to measure as the wounded continued to fill hospital beds and the number of dead kept rising. Iraq's politicians tried to isolate Sadr's followers, calling this weekend for militias to be disbanded but making no mention of the many militias attached to almost every party in this government. Any action against the Medhi Army will likely bring more violence, and the government's ultimatum comes at a sensitive time. Sadr has called for a million man march on Wednesday, to mark the fifth anniversary of the day Baghdad fell to U.S. troops. There was more fighting in the southern city of Basra as well. This latest spike in violence coming at a very awkward time for the U.S. government. As America's top officials, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due to testify before Congress tomorrow. Russ.
MITCHELL: Lara Logan in Baghdad, thank you.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.





















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Funny how she let's us know
April 7, 2008 - 13:27 ET by BlazerFunny how she let's us know that 5 U.S. soldier's are killed but not an estimate on how many of Mookie's fighter's were. I'll just take her saying that the hospital bed's being full, everything being burnt up or destroyed and the number of dead continuing to rise as great new's, because most likely it is.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
LARA lOGAN? VH-1 ACE REPORTER?
April 7, 2008 - 14:00 ET by SgthulkaGood God, CBS has got to be kidding.
A little reportette with a background of "in-depth" VH-1 experience is now their Baghdad ace?I guess that all that experience that comes from introducing pre-recorded pieces on ancient rock stars is what it takes to be the Iraq source for a major news network.
And they wonder why viewers have them in last place.
Her Other Journalistic "Qualification":
April 7, 2008 - 14:15 ET by Del DolemonteMs. Logan before that was a British Page 3 swimsuit model. Heady news-gathering training, that.
She would never have been hired by C-BS News back when real newsmen were running the shop.
Pics RRAM Tough!
April 7, 2008 - 16:03 ET by stratmanPics
RRAM Tough!
More like wolf bait!!
April 7, 2008 - 16:05 ET by bassndudeMore like wolf bait!! :-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
This woman should not be
April 7, 2008 - 13:30 ET by NewsbusterbrownThis woman should not be allowed to be on television. Regardless of what silliness she spouts, when I gaze into those dreamy eyes... :-)
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
It's amazing how they keep
April 7, 2008 - 13:39 ET by rbosqueIt's amazing how they keep track of those deaths but they just won't report on the number of innocent Americans killed by illegals here in the US. The 4000 mark went by last year.
Civilians are paying a
April 7, 2008 - 13:56 ET by Free ThinkerCivilians are paying a heavy price. This eyewitness describing the fighting on his street says 'one person was killed, and a child was also killed there. Everything got burned up. Everything was destroyed.' The human cost was difficult to measure as the wounded continued to fill hospital beds and the number of dead kept rising.
When I see a story like this I have to wonder how anyone could suggest we just leave and let Islamofascist terrorists continue to destroy and kill. This little spike in violence should be a wake up call to politicians in Washington that things have gotten better but, our enemy will stop at nothing to try and change the results of freedom, even if it means the deaths of innocent people.
suddenly there's news to report from Iraq
April 7, 2008 - 14:11 ET by wizardjrAfter months and months of silence on Iraq we get days of "news". Why? Well, Americans are dying, the city is in flames, millions of civilians are dead or dying, etc., etc., etc. All is lost. We must cut and run in order to "Support the troops."
If this doesn't spotlight the leftist agenda of the old media, nothing else would do.
Lara Logan and
April 7, 2008 - 14:47 ET by TeddyMichael Ware.
Fraternal hyperbole twins in the MSM's fight against victory in Iraq.
CBS, Played By Terrorists
April 7, 2008 - 15:09 ET by deerjerkydaveLogan: "This latest spike in violence coming at a very awkward time for the U.S. government. As America's top officials, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due to testify before Congress tomorrow."
Let's play connect the dots Ms. Logan. I know it's difficult given your career choice, but stay with me on this. 1. The terrorists like to attack just prior to any event of significance that brings attention to the war on terror in Iraq. 2. General Patraeus is about to testify before Congress.
The fact that you called this an "awkward time" means that you are playing right into the hands of the terrorists. Or worse, you are doing their bidding.
And I wonder, why should I watch a traitorous network like CBS? Their hatred for George W. Bush is so bad that they would rather side with the terrorists than the President.
I am wondering just who her
April 7, 2008 - 15:49 ET by bassndudeI am wondering just who her "eyewitness" was. Was it one of the mailita? Perhaps Sadr himself? I distrust reports from these reporters on the ground, in the mist of a battle, with their hair done up, nice dress, no flak jacket or head cover. I know how they are. Get a reporter within 50 miles of gunfire, and they dive for cover till they get geared up, and feel protected. Then they wont come outside.....
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
OH Please
April 7, 2008 - 21:30 ET by GoodieCourage,,,,,she is reporting from Barcelona. The sounds scare her...
What a pathetic excuse for a News outlet.
r
April 8, 2008 - 18:14 ET by sanrioscenarioI think TMZ's coverage of the hearings has done a lot to improve the public's opinion of the Iraq War, see? http://www.236.com/n...