Visiting Iraq, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams learned from Army officers that Iraqis want U.S. forces to remain in their country, from NBC News Baghdad reporter Richard Engel that Al-Sadr's insurgents have stepped down and are counting on pressure from anti-war opponents to provide them with victory, and from retired General and NBC News military analyst Wayne Downey that U.S. troops are proud of their mission. Traveling with Lieutenant General Ray Odierno for stories on his Monday newscast, Williams ran a clip of Army Colonel John Charlton proclaiming that Iraqis “do not want us to leave” and a soundbite from Army Lt. Colonel Charles Ferry who asserted: "The people here are very glad to see us.” Williams marveled: "You just said, 'They don't want us to leave.' That's the tenth time today I've heard that. I've got to go back to the States and do a newscast that every night has another politician or 12 of them saying, 'We have got to get out of that godforsaken place.'"
To explain the decrease violence in Baghdad, Engel noted how “the militia decided they fought the U.S. two-and-a-half years ago, didn't have a lot of success. They decided this time they're going to wait it out, see if political pressure in the U.S. can help them win this time." Downey related how “every soldier that I ran across today I asked him: 'How do you feel about what's going on,” and “without exception -- this was spontaneous, especially when you start talking to PFCs and Spec 4s, they're going to tell you the truth, no party line. Very proud of what they're doing. Very, very dedicated.”
During his first story on his trip, as aired on the March 5 NBC Nightly News, Williams related:
“This is what the General heard today about how warmly the locals now view the Americans.”U.S. Army Colonel John Charlton: "They do not want us to leave. They want to see the police come through.”
U. S. Army Lt. Colonel Charles Ferry: “The people here are very glad to see us. They are very hesitant still because they're not sure if we're going to stay. They want us to stay.”
Voice of Odierno?: “That's the issue.”
Ferry: “That's the whole deal. If we stay down here and to keep beating down the insurgents."
Brian Williams, to one or more of the officers: “You just said, 'They don't want us to leave.' That's the tenth time today I've heard that. I've got to go back to the States and do a newscast that every night has another politician or 12 of them saying, 'We have got to get out of that godforsaken place.'”
Odierno: "They can talk about policy, okay, and that's what they have to do back there. My mission right now is to provide protection for the Iraqi people so this government can grow."
The MSNBC.com online version of the Williams story.
At the end of his newscast, Williams stood at an outside location with Engel and Downey, as he noted how they felt safe enough to remove their bullet-proof vests. Engel explained the decrease in violence from Al-Sadr's insurgents in Sadr City:
“Some say they are just waiting to see how long the U.S. will stay and how long this surge will continue. It was obvious, the U.S. announced the surge, they said where the U.S. troops were going and the militia decided they fought the U.S. two-and-a-half years ago, didn't have a lot of success. They decided this time they're going to wait it out, see if political pressure in the U.S. can help them win this time.”
Brian Williams: “And General, you and I heard sentiments we don't often hear today, the U.S. commanders quoting the Iraqis: 'please don't leave us.' And a lot of the U.S. fighters there today said they didn't want to leave this fight, they are dedicated to it.”
Retired General Wayne Downing: “Brian, every single one of them, I ran into a lot of officers and NCOs that I served with -- every soldier that I ran across today I asked him: 'How do you feel about what's going on, what do you know about what is going on back in the states?' And without exception -- this was spontaneous, especially when you start talking to PFCs and Spec 4s, they're going to tell you the truth, no party line. Very proud of what they're doing. Very, very dedicated. Many of these guys, Brian, are back here on their second and third tours. These are one-year tours. Extremely well trained and very professional.”
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
You have got to be kidding me
March 5, 2007 - 21:49 ET by bigtimerYou have got to be kidding me!
This is really NBC reporting this?!
Either they want their ratings up...or Brian Williams demanded to have this report told as the truth...just the facts Jack!
Jury still is out on Engel for me, seems he is reporting the truth too... for once, from the bits and pieces I have heard and read.
Brent Baker...thank you, you just made my night!
God Bless Our Military! Thank You All!
I want to believe
March 5, 2007 - 21:57 ET by pearlI want to believe.
Victory may not only be possible, but it may actually be reported.
V for Victory
Hey, its like a invert-Vietna
March 5, 2007 - 22:03 ET by AtheistRepublicanHey, its like a invert-Vietnam scenario!Initial opposition horribly strong, after surge (invert-Tet) media slowly turns (invert-Cronkite) around to support it. A boy can dream can't he?
EDIT: I didn't keep my terms consistent, so I consistentsized them.
Is this really real?
March 5, 2007 - 22:13 ET by bigtimerThis reporting is really almost unreal isn't it?
I'm not dreaming this am I?
Wonder if Williams is going to still have a job....lol!
You can't just gain credibi
March 5, 2007 - 22:18 ET by FairlightYou can't just gain credibility overnight. This is like Keith Olbermann telling his viewer that President Bush must be respected. America has voted and NBC is a national disgrace.
Fl... Believe me... I do not
March 5, 2007 - 22:31 ET by bigtimerFl...
Believe me... I do not for one second think that NBC is going to change it's spots one iota...not any time soon that is.
You never know though....
Hope springs eternal...(except with the leftist msn...that is...lol!)
Btw...Didn't NBC just have some kind of a shake-up with a big-wig..a new boss or something?Just curious, not all that important to me at the moment, just seems like I heard something somewhere...
Just a quick clarification: H
March 5, 2007 - 23:19 ET by balboaJust a quick clarification: How has America voted that NBC is a national disgrace?
The analogy would be "
March 6, 2007 - 12:19 ET by Tim the EnchanterThe analogy would be "vote with your feet", or in this case, "vote with your remote". Hey- that rhymes! I wonder if I can copyright that?
Bal- in case you haven't been following the threads for the past few days, NBC has lost A LOT of viewers. For the networks, that's the poll that counts.
Both sides?
March 5, 2007 - 22:26 ET by nkviking75Give NBC for letting this much through. It's more than we usually get from the MSM. But will they rationalize it away or factor it into their coverage? I'd love to see Williams or Russert confront, say, Murtha with this footage and make him respond. Or better yet, put him on with a couple of our soldiers on the satellite from Iraq.
Oh man viking!Great idea's!!!
March 5, 2007 - 22:37 ET by bigtimerOh man viking!
Great idea's!!!
Wonder if we can force them too....hmmmm.....
Seriously, those are some of the best idea's after this report, that anyone who had some cajones would do in the msn...if they really want us to win.
Iraq has 20 "states"
March 5, 2007 - 23:15 ET by upcountrywaterIraq has 20 "states" and 16 of them are basically peaceful, only the 4 around the green zone, are troublesome, well until now. I have enjoyed viewing video clips of Iraq for years. What I notice is that the people are getting cleaner the streets and buildings are getting cleaner,( more running water) .more and more cars, even heavy traffic. Iraq is becoming a country again, a FREE country at last !
The success of this war effort is knocking on the green zone door. The MSM is forced to tell the truth finally!
UP, my thoughts exactly. This
March 6, 2007 - 11:11 ET by Chicago RepublicanUP, my thoughts exactly. This has been the most frustrating thing in politics for me for some time. Its the single reason I began calling the MSM the Useful Idiots. I've been posting links for sometime about the good news in Iraq that never gets reported and have been on a soap box for sometime about how the only way we can possibly lose in Iraq is if the Media just continues to be a tool for the opposition.
**************
Support the Spread of Open Society and Capitalism around the World. Do it for the Children.
Is This a Set Up?
March 5, 2007 - 23:25 ET by GBAI am always suspicious when the MSM actually reports something positive like this. Are they just setting it up so they can report bad news later and say how fast/far things have fallen? What's really sad, no matter what their intentions, is that the positive news comes as such a surprise to them. Perhaps they should stop listening to the politicians about what is going on in Iraq--or anywhere else for that matter.
Lets not forget the roof top
March 5, 2007 - 23:36 ET by upcountrywaterLets not forget the roof top interview with the Iraq minister of information.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,83385,00.html
Just maybe the MSM is not this bad, maybe. Handwriting on the wall?
So, NBC has finally discovere
March 6, 2007 - 10:42 ET by mattmSo, NBC has finally discovered what we non-journalist bloggers, chatters and pontificators have been saying for 3 1/2 years: The enemy is counting on the anti-war left to pressure the U.S. into leaving...
The debate is over. The anti-war Left is proven wrong. And the Liberal media has a choice to make, either start telling the truth, or continue to propagandize for the enemy.
NBC: Iraqis Want U.S. to Stay
March 6, 2007 - 10:44 ET by Chicago RepublicanNBC: Iraqis Want U.S. to Stay and Insurgents Counting on Help from War Opponents
NO! Seriously?????? WOW! I had NO idea.
**************
Support the Spread of Open Society and Capitalism around the World. Do it for the Children.
The obviously funny thing is,
March 6, 2007 - 11:05 ET by Chicago RepublicanThe obviously funny thing is, the Useful Idiots are reporting this like its news.
"Wow, hey America, this just in.... the Jihadists are hoping that the Anti-war movement in the West will help their cause. More as we get it."
"Ethel, I'm so glad we have NBC to keep us up on these things."
**************
Support the Spread of Open Society and Capitalism around the World. Do it for the Children.
This just in....Another "Inco
March 6, 2007 - 11:05 ET by MassConservativeThis just in....Another "Inconvenient Truth" and this time we are not talking about Al Gore and his incredible Global Warming Hypocrisy.
Ratings Week? Brian have enou
March 6, 2007 - 11:23 ET by FastEdRatings Week? Brian have enough in a pensioin? Weapons trained at his head off-camera? A one-shot at being "non-biased"?
There has to be something else behind this!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
So Brian Williams only looks
March 6, 2007 - 11:32 ET by JayTeeSo Brian Williams only looks for 12 politicians that want us to pull out of Iraq ? ? He is some Journalist!!.....he only looks for interviews to support his view...now he is in the middle of 100,000 + American Soldiers, and he can't find the 12 politicians....all he can find is the TRUTH as Iraq knows it, and it's a lot different from the Truth as the Liberal Media reports it.
At Times like these, it becomes more than just a Moral Obligation to express ones opinion, it becomes a Pleasure.
All throughout this conflic
March 6, 2007 - 12:28 ET by Tim the EnchanterAll throughout this conflict the networks have been trying to flex their muscles and pull another Vietnam on us. This time, we're wise to their tactics. Traitorous SOBs!
However, I'm still curious as to their genuine motive. Is their opposition just "in your face (we're doing this because we can)" stuff, is it outright treason due to hatred of the USA, or is it true revulsion at the idea of war? I would lean more toward a combination of 1 and 2, leaning in the direction of 2.
Bull shit, real is hear!!!
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