Former CNN reporter says U.S. war planners ignored Iraqi resistance

AP WorldStream via COMTEX ^ | 3-30-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

CAIRO, Egypt, Mar 30, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A former CNN journalist told state-run Iraqi TV that U.S. war planners had misjudged Iraq's determination to stand up to the American-led coalition's invasion force.

"Clearly, the American war plans misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces," Peter Arnett said during the interview aired Sunday by Iraq's satellite television station and monitored by The Associated Press in Egypt.

Arnett, who won a Pulitzer Prize reporting in Vietnam for The Associated Press, garnered much of his prominence from covering the 1991 Gulf War in Baghdad. He is now reporting from the Iraqi capital for NBC.

During his prerecorded Baghdad studio interview, which was translated by a green military uniform-wearing Iraqi anchor, Arnett said the Bush administration had ignored his and other reports about "the determination of the Iraqi armed forces and the government willingness to fight for their country."

It was not immediately clear when the interview was conducted.

Arnett was the on-air reporter of the 1998 CNN report that accused American forces of using sarin gas on a Laotian village in 1970 to kill U.S. defectors. Two CNN employees were sacked and Arnett was reprimanded over the report, which the station later retracted. Arnett ultimately left the network.

Arnett established close contacts with Iraqi government officials during his several visits to Iraq, but was unable to reflect anti-government sentiments through private interviews with Iraqis without the presence of Information Ministry minders.

President George Bush, the current U.S. leader's father, accused Arnett of being a "traitor" over what he considered were pro-Iraqi reports during the 1991 conflict.

"Whenever I gave a report (in 1991) of civilian casualties or civilian installations destroyed and casualties created, the Pentagon and Bush administration got very angry and called me traitor," he said on Iraqi Television.

Of the current conflict, Arnett also said the current U.S. invasion plan had failed and that American military strategists are now "trying to write another war plan."

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Pathetic.

[smith288]

After this is over, take him to prison for treason. A reporter reports, Arnett is giving comfort to Iraqi leadership

[ThreePuttinDude]

Now I remember who Scott Ritter reminded me of....

[laz17]

"Whenever I gave a report (in 1991) of civilian casualties or civilian installations destroyed and casualties created, the Pentagon and Bush administration got very angry and called me traitor,"

Because that's what you are, you POS.

[SolutionsOnly]

Giving the Iraqis false hope is only going to cost more Iraqi lives - that's blood on Arnett's hands in my mind.

It's pretty hopeless when you're even too anti-American for CNN.

As always, one must consider the source...

[angkor]

What a tool he is.

[MEG33]

Arnett was the voice of Baghdad in GW1.

[happygrl]

Peter Arnett is emplyed by the National Geographic Magazine to report from Bagdhad.

Any of you subscribe ? Could we start a FREEP on that organization ?

[cgbg]

Arnett is only allowed in Baghdad because he is a proven Quisling.

He is only allowed to speak what his Iraqi censors allow him to say.

So, for AP to run such a story is a journalistic abomination and can serve no other purpose than to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

[DugwayDuke]

"Arnett also said the current U.S. invasion plan had failed and that American military strategists are now "trying to write another war plan."

Arnett is on distribution for CENTCOM war plans?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...During his prerecorded Baghdad studio interview, which was translated by a green military uniform-wearing Iraqi anchor...

Any chance he had a gun to his head during this "interview"? I wouldn't put it past the Iraqi regime to put this out as propaganda.

[mewzilla]

Three guesses why Arnett's been allowed to stay. And just more proof of how low CNN has sunk.

[stevem]

Doesn't this guy have a reputation for making up stories as he goes along? Seems to me I remember something about a sarin gas story and Vietnam and the US military and the reason why he is a "former" CNN reporter.

Oh, wait, this story covered that. Just shows you have to take everything this clown says with a grain of salt.

[LS]

I say it's time to create a new word for people who give false hope to terrorists and their allies: an "arnett" or a "ritter."

Use it in a sentence: "If not for the efforts of a few ritters, Baghdad might have fallen without a fight in 2003. As it was, a few arnetts caused many civilian casualties that probably should not have happened."

[bart99]

""Clearly, the American war plans misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces," Peter Arnett said"

---

CLEARLY, Mr. Arnett should have an opportunity to interview General Franks. *chuckling*

I think the work "clearly" should be dropped from the vocabulary of all journalists - maybe they wouldn't sound like idiots.

[Use It Or Lose It]

Peter Arnett is emplyed by the National Geographic Magazine to report from Bagdhad.

PMSNBC and NBC carry his reports. I've just written to both and suggest everyone do the same. This slug deserves a rectal probing by a MOAB.

[Just mythoughts]

Considering what the Washington Post article says about the same thing, and MSNBC Brian Williams (who hates Rummy and the President) had a ret. Col. Jacobs on who with smugness described all the errors made by Rummy, must be a script.

Since all the newies are singing from the same songbook maybe this is another of the leftist orchestrated efforts to sow seeds of doubt. Could the newly Senator on the ARmed Services Committee be behind this new verse.

[Jhensy]

Sadly, like Time/Life, National Geographic has now completely succumbed to the loony left. The Grosvenors (and the Luces) are spinning in their graves.

[YOMO]

"Clearly, the American war plans misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces," Peter Arnett said......
...........................................................

PINKO PETE is at it again. At least now he has a job with National Geographic chasing half naked women around the jungles when he is not writing propaganda.

[VoteHarryBrowne2000]

"A former CNN journalist ... Peter Arnett ..."

Wow, sure am glad that these "journalist" know how to fight a war. /sarcasm

[SolutionsOnly]

"Any chance he had a gun to his head during this "interview"? "

Peter Arnett doesn't need a gun to his head to propagandize against America! He's quite happy to do it voluntarily.

[MEG33]

I like who is in charge at the Pentagon and in the field. The out of the loop retireds,press,commentators,polititions are but noise,chirping crickets that annoy.

[thinking]

Former CNN reporter...ha ha, imagine listing that on your CV

[lonestar]

What did Arnett not know and when did he not know it?

[happygrl]

Ouch !

[wayoverontheright]

Of the current conflict, Arnett also said the current U.S. invasion plan had failed and that American military strategists are now "trying to write another war plan."

There simply is no precedent for the one-sidedness of this war. It is obvious that defeat is a drop-dead certainty.

So we should just cut our losses and go home.

[slate]

We need to start a list of how many stories different reporters write that are wrong. Reporters that are shown to have a high rate of WRONG stories will lose credibility.

[Just mythoughts]

Brian Williams hates Rummy as much as any person I have seen yet.

The morning after the first bombs fell in Baghdad, Brian is the commentator who compared it to Dresden, and said that Rummy was about to "SWAGGER" out for the upcoming press conference.

I was so livid I sent an e-mail, to MSNBC, however they do not have Brian Williams' e-mail available on their WEB site.

Petie is in welcomed company with Brian Williams.

[AgThorn]

So is he reporting for NBC as well as CNBC, MSNBC?

If so, so much for MSNBC on my watch list - conservative network my "arss"!!!

[ThreePuttinDude]

I've just removed my National Geographic bookmark.
Damn, I liked [past tense] that Website...8^(

[ThreePuttinDude]

So is he reporting for NBC as well as CNBC, MSNBC?


One and the same

[cardinal4]

This is the same guy who aired the tailwind story. He is an America Hater. At least CNN had the sense to fire him after that, and trust the BBC to pick him up.

[Terry Mross]

Oh how I wish an "errant" bomb would hit his motel. Otherwise, he should be arrested when given the chance. He is supposed to be interviewing Iraqis. Not the other way around. And I'd bet he asked to be interviewed. I can't believe the Iraqis would be smart enough to use him. Unless there WAS a gun pointed at his head.

[cardinal4]

No, I agree with you, he probably requested to be interviewed. Ill bet his hatred for America is only exceeded by his vanity.

[scouse]

He is now reporting from the Iraqi capital for NBC.

Actually he is reporting for a subsidary of NBC; Namely: National Geographic.

[chainsaw]

Regardless of the reason for the pause of our troops in Iraq, I see this as something much better than the media envisions. This gives our troops a chance to rest and relax. A chance to "get fat" (as explained on TV, resupply with food, water, ammunition, and repair equipment) while the RG are still being bombarded. Our troops, being almost to Baghdad, limits the area the RG can spread out into.

This break in the action, also allows our forces to the north to coalesce with the Kurds that are fighting on our side. Thanks to Turkey it's giving us a chance to build up our forces in the north too.

In 1991 it took 30 days of bombing so soften up the enemy. But then Saddam had not salted his troops with RG henchmen that would shoot them if they didn't fight.

So in my opinion this pause is very benificial for our troops in Iraq. That former CNN journalist can go pound sand you know where.

[delacoert]

Peter Arnett doesn't need a gun to his head to propagandize against America! He's quite happy to do it voluntarily.

Arnett to Iraqi's, "Oh, you don't have to hold that gun to my head, let me do it." (Don't nobody move of the reporter get's it.)

[rolling_stone]

I would not weep if old Peter happened to choke on his baby milk.

[ALS]

[rogers21774]

Why anyone would continue to employ Arnett in any journalistic capacity is beyond me.

[b4its2late]

CNN? No news here, only hype, move along.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm?? Maybe that's why he's a FORMER reporter!!

[Timesink]

MSNBC: 201-583-5000

Ask for Neil Shapiro's office or Erik Sorenson's office. (Pick one; if you literally say "Give me Neil OR Erik," they'll know you're calling to complain and will shunt you off to a voicemail dump that gets deleted without being listened to.

[BunnySlippers]

What Fox for the footage on Iraqi TV of Arnett's interview. It is out right shocking! The man should never be allowed to set foot in the United States again.

[BunnySlippers]

Hmmmm?? Maybe that's why he's a FORMER reporter!!

Remember Arnett and a producer at CNN were fired after it was found that one of their stories about the US military killing it's own soldiers during Vietnam was not true.

[alrea]

has he not been fired in the past for basically making up news?

[eleni121]

Could we start a FREEP on that organization ?

My thoughts exactly. I will of course do my letter writing thing to National Geo - which by the way has become more and more politically correct aka leftist propaganda over the years.... But we need more than a few letters. How...when ...?

[gatorbait]

...During his prerecorded Baghdad studio interview, which was translated by a green military uniform-wearing Iraqi anchor...

Any chance he had a gun to his head during this "interview"? I wouldn't put it past the Iraqi regime to put this out as propaganda.


Nope, Pee-tah Ahh-Nett is doing this out of the badness of his non existant soul.He hates the West,the United States in particular.He lied in the Nam, lied in 91, lied about Tailwind and continues gratuitous lying for his boyfriends in the anti-American,anti-civilization press.

[Howlin]

Here is the full story.

Ping list.

LiveFree, put the contacts here, will you?