While Tuesday's NBC Nightly News commendably devoted a story to mourning in the Fort Bragg community after the loss of nine 82nd Airborne soldiers in Iraq, a loss to the division anchor Brian Williams described as “the largest since June of 1969,” reporter Bob Faw pivoted from sadness over the deaths to how “even here, where support for the war has been unswerving, the latest round of casualties raised new doubts about the American military presence in Iraq.” Faw included the views of those in the Fayetteville, North Carolina community who praised the soldiers and still support the war, but stressed, based on a few anecdotal quotes from people on the street, how “on this day, publicly, the voices of dissent grew louder and angrier -- even here.” Viewers then heard a woman declare: “It's senseless. All they're doing is going over there and dying for nothing, absolutely nothing.”
The MRC's Brad Wilmouth corrected the closed-captioning against the video for the April 24 NBC Nightly News story:
Brian Williams: "And now for the 82nd Airborne, this latest loss was the largest since June of 1969, back when 12 men from that division were killed in Vietnam. NBC's Bob Faw reports on this tough day for the Fort Bragg community."Bob Faw: "At the home of the legendary 82nd Airborne, paratroopers often first to be sent into harm's way, where they're taught sacrifice is necessary. Today all this base and a community nearby could do was come together in sadness and resolve."
Major Tom Earnhardt, Fort Bragg: "We're in mourning here, but now it's time for us to rally around our families and, you know, squeeze each other tight and get through this."
Faw: "Here they learned how to deal with death, 106 soldiers from this division killed in combat since 9/11, and will deal with it again, says the wife of a military chaplain now serving with the 82nd in Iraq."
Kara Honbarger, wife of military chaplain: "-and using more resolve to say let's get it cleaned out, let's get it taken care of over there."
Faw: "But on this day, even here, where support for the war has been unswerving, the latest round of casualties raised new doubts about the American military presence in Iraq."
Man, at an outside location: "You got to do what you have to do, but we're losing too many men. That's my opinion."
Woman, outside: "Send them home, send them home, pull them all out."
Faw: "And for everyone here who argues 'stay the course'-"
Second Man, outside: "I'm sorry to hear about it, and sorry for the families, but happy that we have those kind of people to serve our country."
Faw: "-on this day, publicly, the voices of dissent grew louder and angrier -- even here."
Second woman, outside: "It's senseless. All they're doing is going over there and dying for nothing, absolutely nothing."
Faw: "Next month, memorial services are scheduled at this base where they brace themselves for days like today, but never really can. Bob Faw, NBC News, Fayetteville, North Carolina."
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
We fight the wars, so that we
April 24, 2007 - 20:57 ET by SpockWe fight the wars, so that we might have peace.
They fight the peace, so that we might have wars.
Gen. G. S. Patton said...&quo
April 24, 2007 - 21:21 ET by rbosqueGen. G. S. Patton said...
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
At best, this is "some
April 24, 2007 - 21:46 ET by EdhenryAt best, this is "some say" urinalism. A few quotes (noticeably better ones from the strong supporters), then take one whiney quote and give your opinion/position on the "groundswell"
This is so transparent, it is actually instructive.
Katie over/under: 30 days?
"Some say" over 3
April 24, 2007 - 23:05 ET by jmad627"Some say" over 30 days, unfortunatly, but then again I never watch perky.
Somebody let this guy walk
April 24, 2007 - 21:58 ET by Right2thePointSomebody let this guy walk into a military bar down there and mutter what he said on TV.
I know many who would foot the bill for whichever blood transfusions his network insurance didn't cover just for the cost of admission to get to watch.
Faw, get a grip and a life, m
April 24, 2007 - 22:04 ET by JABFaw, get a grip and a life, my son my be over in Iraq within the year. I simply do not need you and your ilk slamming the U.S. and undermining their efforts.
Grow a fuzzy pair and back my son for doing what you refuse to do while he is defending your right to do it!
"Too bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
Anyone seen NBC's "ratings" l
April 24, 2007 - 22:12 ET by Del DolemonteAnyone seen NBC's "ratings" lately? They're in the sewer.
an informed source close to h
April 24, 2007 - 23:12 ET byan informed source close to human resources tells me a deal is in the works with Ed Norton
Unswerving is right, you quis
April 24, 2007 - 23:09 ET by jdhawkUnswerving is right, you quisling. You've got to know that NBC used their affliates and stringers to scour the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville, North Carolina countryside to try to find someone, anyone, that would utter a negative comment.
Meanwhile, just the opposite is happening in and around Fayetteville. Folks there are hardening their resolve expecting that this one is going to take as long or longer than Vietnam did. And, with chuckleheads like Fay and Reid in the Senate around, it may turn out much like that "conflict" did. Of course, instead of the toothless Vietnamese to deal with in the aftermath we will have to deal with Islamofacists blowing up our cities.
By the way, Fay, what is that you trying to find with your hands down there - your cajones? Twit.
I was listening to Savage t
April 24, 2007 - 23:20 ET by jmad627I was listening to Savage tonight, and he was railing that these and many others, soldiers, & marines, were getting killed because of our restrictive rules of engagement. According to Savage, there is an increase in courts martial cases about said rules of engagement, although I don't recall reading, or hearing of any of them. If this is true, why isn't the MSM reporting on them to bash Bush over the head with needless casualties. This is just the ammo, I believe, the MSM and the antiwar crowd would use to make the case for withdrawing. Yet nary a peep. I wonder what the hell is going on, as the morale of the troops would erode drastically, with these goings on, as well as, the 3-months expansion of their tour of duty.
why isn't the MSM reporting
April 25, 2007 - 05:31 ET by motherbeltwhy isn't the MSM reporting on them to bash Bush over the head with needless casualties.- jmad627
Because the casualties serve their purpose. During the Viet Nam war, the same thing went on...our guys fighting with one hand tied behind their back, LBJ picking bombing targets, etc. Not being allowed to win. THe MSM didn't complain about restrictive rules of engagement then, and they won't now.
I'm not saying they are glad to see "needless casualties"....I would never say that about any human being. I am saying that instead of railing against them, they are using them as examples of why we need to withdraw. They would rather get out than fix the (RoE) problem.
I Call Bull**it
April 25, 2007 - 03:09 ET by Sua Sponte 75Wonder if all the negative quoted individuals were also upset at the distinguished Breck Girl blowing taxpayer dollars on $400 haircuts and milking his wifes cancer for political gains.
This has not raised "new doubts" in the community by any standard and is essentially a blatent lie. The citizens of the Bragg community not only know why we are here, but unlike the msm, also understand it.
Rest in Peace Brothers of the Silk
"You're either part of the solution or part of the problem"
What ever the reasons for inv
April 25, 2007 - 09:50 ET by ahusserWhat ever the reasons for invading Iraq, whether good or not so good reasons, we are there now. Thousands of Iraqui's lives are in our hands. I am a Vietnam Vet I remember what happened to the South Vietnamese when we totally abandoned them to their fate. Many thousands died at the communists hands many more died fleeing the country in boats, thousands more were imprisoned and "re-educated". The power vacuum in the region led to the slaughter of over 1 million Cambodians. That slaughter there did not cease until the North Vietnamese Communists invaded Cambodia. We need to honor our committments until such time the Iraqi government is strong enough to stand alone. Our honor will cost some of our young men's lives. I am sorry for that. We have obligated ourselves to this country. The liberals always run away and then ignore the bloodbath which will follow.
"A mind is a terrible thing." - A comic I forgot the name of.
It's obvious that Faw underst
April 25, 2007 - 11:08 ET by GalvanicIt's obvious that Faw understands little about the military, military families, and military communities. My guess is he hasn't bothered to educate himself on the subjects.
I am, personally, sick and ti
April 25, 2007 - 12:12 ET by BeowulfI am, personally, sick and tired of this. I am a 22-year veteran. I have deployed to the desert three times. My family and I spent over two decades willingly sacrificing, enduring seperation, facing hardship, suffering low pay, and uprooting numerous times, all for idiots like this to be able to disparage us with his every breath.
This moron, Bob Faw, while at Ft Bragg, with the opportunity to interview those directly affected and PERSONALLY sacrificing for this war, decides instead to solicit the views of people in the community, focusing on the negative opinions. This is the main reason for the "waning" public support for the war. If half a dozen people with negative opinions are presented as the prevailing opinion, many others fall in line. And from there, the effect cascades. Yet, the MSM totally ignores the opinion of those who truly know what's happening there and what THEY are willing to do to see it through. On the few ocassions when actual troops were asked THEIR opinions, their support is virtually unswerving.
And at the same time, the Democratic "leadership", while making public statements and policy decisions concerning what is happening in Iraq, can't even be bothered to attend briefings from the military commander who is on the scene. Yet good ole' Harry Reid and his cronies come out with pronouncements that the war is lost, that we are not making any progress, etc. HOW THE HELL DOES HE KNOW? When was the last time he was on the ground in Iraq? These politicians who are blatantly using our troops for political gain and rhetoric and who are willing to sacrifice our security and that of our children on the altar of their quest for power, their goal of deciding the nation's social philosophy regardless of the wishes of those governed, have got to go. These "journalists" who mislead and lie to promote themselves and their philosophies need to be held accountable by both the public and their own profession.
We are, by far, the most powerful and free nation on the planet. With just a little bit of cohesion and resolve we could easily eliminate any threat to our way of life. It's time for "The People" to take our country back from the minority. It's time to bring true DEMOCRACY back to this nation, which is:
FREE AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE: the free and equal right of every person to participate in a system of government, often practiced by electing representatives of the people by the people,
And bring true DEMOCRATIC government back:
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM: a system of government based on the principle of majority decision-making. (The key word here is majority).
The Closed Mind Builds Strong Barriers
nbc cowards
April 25, 2007 - 15:13 ET by m1xramIf you're going to do a propaganda piece, be a man, stand up and say what you feel. Why does Faw have to get a crying woman to speak for NBC? Are they that cowardly?
He's like the two faced Democrats that won't vote against the war funding or vote to pull the troops. They argue for these things but refuse to stand on their own principles. It's too embarrassing.
m1xram
Is it just me or does Faw app
April 25, 2007 - 21:13 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveIs it just me or does Faw appear to be bottomless in this photo? At first glance it looked like he had lost his pants just as the camera began rolling.
"Yeah, right! Who's the only one here that knows illegal ninja moves from the government?!" --Napoleon Dynamite