Couric, representing NBC (and French interests):
"We (at NBC) all hope and pray that Saddam escaped harm, and hopefully fled to Syria."
Posted on 12/15/2003 4:42:43 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
Katie Couric didn't disappoint. As soon as the news of Saddam's capture broke yesterday, a number of FReepers began speculating as to how Couric would react to the "bad" news this morning.
I for one hypothesized that Katie would be wearing black, and sure enough, she was!
Couric interviewed Gen. Ricardo Sanchez. His troops captured Saddam, and Sanchez spoke with him personally on two occasions.
Throughout the interview, Katie maintained that grim, lock-jawed expression reserved for bad news and unpleasant interactions. Unless I'm mistaken, she never congratulated the general.
She quickly threw in Sanchez's face the response from Saddam when asked if he had WMD: "No of course not, the US dreamed them up to have a reason to go to war with us. We didn't allow inspections only because we didn't want them to go into presidential areas and intrude on our privacy."
Next, Katie wanted to paint a gloomy picture as to how Saddam's capture wouldn't improve the situation on the ground:
"Clearly, Saddam was in no position to orchestrate anything. Militarily, how much of the enemies' capabilities have really been degraded by this capture?"
"Isn't Saddam's capture basically just symbolic?"
Sanchez said that it was more than symbolic, and that although there would still be violence, this was a major step.
Couric wouldn't give up on her notion that Saddam's capture, if anything, makes things WORSE in Iraq.
"Soem are worried that this will actually incite more violence from members of the insurgency - Al Qaida, Islamic Jihadists. Couldn't it create a climate of more violence against US troops?"
Next, Katie sought to emphasize that the US has still failed to capture a more important fugitive.
Q: "Ibrahim Al-Duri is considered the real mastermind. How critical is his capture?"
Sanchez said that they would aggressively be seeking him and other HVTs (high value targets). The general concluded by very politely thanking Katie for her support!
Matt Lauer was much more balanced. He began by congratulating Gen. Odierno. and when Gen. Odierno concluded by saying "God Bless America," Lauer smiled pleasantly and said "nice way to end the interview."
Katie then interviewed Tim Russert. Russert observed that in his comments yesterday, Pres. Bush was quite measured. He wanted to avoid a repeat of the "Mission Accomplished" triumphalism.
Asked a worried Couric, "In political terms for Pres. Bush, is this a big boost, is it long-lasting?"
Russert: in the short term it is. If the economy is strong and Iraq is secure, he coasts to victory. Otherwise it could be tight.
Katie: "Everything seems to be so unpredictable [at least she hopes it is]. But when it comes to candidates particularly Dean, how does this affect him?
Russert: "Lieberman's statement about Dean, that if Dean were president Saddam would still be in power, was very aggressive. The issue will now really be engaged. Lieberman will carry the argument."
Finally, Katie wanted to portray the US as something of an international pariah, and to echo the official Dem line that the Saddam capture creates the opportunity for more internationlization:
Couric: "I think it's fair to say that the world view of the US not particularly favorable. Will the US use the capture of Saddam as an opportunity for more internationalization of the effort in Iraq?"
Russert: "This is a rare opportunity for a new beginning. Pres. Bush needs to be magnanimous."
Even after the General explained how Saddam's capture affected him and other Gulf War vets, Katie asked questions that made it seem as if she hadn't even been listening 30 seconds earlier, as if she simply had to get in her nasty editorial soundbites.
Katie is so over...and remember, doubly depressed today because Diane Sawyer got the big interview with President Bush, which I think will be televised tonight? (Not for sure if it's tonight or later.)
Back to Katie: Did she or Matt comment on the patriotic, biased, emotional outburst of the Iraqi reporters?
Couric, representing NBC (and French interests):
"We (at NBC) all hope and pray that Saddam escaped harm, and hopefully fled to Syria."
She did the same thing the morning after Gore lost.
Katie Couric in Mourning. Wearing Funeral Clothes This Morning
LOL! Not 1 in 1000 people here knows who Al-Duri is but just about every schoolkid has heard of Saddam. This is like saying that Hitler was unimportant because Baldur Von Schirach was the real mastermind of the Third Reich.
Yes, and did you get a load of Russert's lame interview, fawning of Hillary last Sunday? I thought he was going to ask to be her VP!
Timmy is going down (on) hill (Hill) fast, or maybe he was there all the time!
Here's my personal take on this.
Saddam operated as the God-subject of a cult of personality. This really is a case where if you "cut off the head, the snake will die". Without the subject of the cult's reverence to rally behind, there's really nothing left for the dead-enders to do but try to escape to Syria, stand down and try to blend in to the population (and the population knows who they are), or to join forces with the foreign fighters allied with Al Qeada.
I think we can expect a quick end to the "resistance", except for the foreigners. And I have great hopes that the liberated Iraquis will now deal with them.
Ths is a beginning of the new day for Iraq.
I always figured Couric to be more the unicycle type (with colonsocope built into the seat) myself. But if she wants to ride a rich kid's toy around the NBC studios, who am I to say no?
I heard on the radio this am that The Italian Leader said "We have captured the WMD" (saddam). Funny but true in many ways.
Don't worry. Once we get Al-Duri, Katie will be claiming the Five of Hearts is the real mastermind, and asking why we don't have him in custody.
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