"The first war plan has failed because of Iraqi resistance. Now they are trying to write another war plan. Clearly, the American war planners misjudged the determination of the Iraqi forces."Posted on 04/02/2003 5:46:28 PM PST by Peacerose
03/31/2003
Poetic justice played out today when foreign correspondent Peter Arnett, recently of NBC and National Geographic, managed to hang himself with his own noose - metaphorically speaking. Working from Baghdad, on Sunday, 03/30/03, he gave an interview to Iraqi TV that amounted to a heaping helping of propaganda. Here are some snippets. Judge for yourself:
The above statement is especially egregious because it could only serve to make Iraqi soldiers and citizens believe that they fought harder because Saddam Hussein really might have more than a snowball's chance in Iraq. Thus, Iraqi and American lives are placed in greater danger by his statement.
"I'd like to say from the beginning that the 12 years I've been coming here, I've met unfailing courtesy and cooperation, courtesy from your people and cooperation from the Ministry of Information."
That would be the same Ministry of Information that requires all foreign reporters to work from their offices, the same Ministry of Information that American planes have been bombing to prevent them from continuing to prop up the crumbling dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.
"President Bush says he is concerned about the Iraqi people, but if Iraqi people are dying in numbers, then American policy will be challenged very strongly."
Eleanor Clift, a very liberal political commentator, acknowledged on Hannity & Colmes on Monday night that this is flat out wrong based on poll numbers. But consider how Propaganda Pete believes he is helping the Iraqi cause:
"Our reports about civilian casualties here, about the resistance of the Iraqi forces, are going back to the United States. It helps those who oppose the war when you challenge the policy to develop their arguments."
Another well-known liberal commentator, Alan Colmes, asked, "If his judgement is that clouded, how can he be a reporter?"
After an initial bobble, NBC decided that Peter Arnett would no longer be a reporter - for their network, anyway. NBC spokeswoman Allison Gollust said, "It was wrong for Mr. Arnett to grant an interview to state-controlled Iraqi TV, especially at a time of war. And it was wrong for him to discuss his personal observations and opinions in that interview."
In the opinion of many, that is not all Peter Arnett did wrong. But we should applaud NBC and National Geographic for making the correct decision. Below is the contact information if you wish to thank them.
NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112
MSNBC TV
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, N.J. 07094
In a bizarre twist, the ultra-left, anti-war British tabloid, the Daily Mirror, announced that they had hired Arnett with the sensational headline, "Fired by America for telling the truth". I'm sure he'll fit in nicely at the paper that portrayed Prime Minister Blair with blood on his hands.
In his first article for the Mirror, Arnett writes, "I am still in shock and awe at being fired. I report the truth of what is happening here in Baghdad and will not apologize for it."
Fine! Good riddance!
Read more here:
MRC CyberAlert, 04/01/2003: Arnett Blames “Right-Wing Media” Who Fear His “Truth” Telling
Brent Bozell, 04/02/2003: Peter Arnett, Cretinous Liar
Yahoo! News: Daily Mirror newspaper hires fired journalist Peter Arnett, 03/31/2003
Yahoo! News: NBC Fires Journalist Peter Arnett, 03/31/2003
CNSNews: NBC's Arnett Fired for Anti-American Bias, 03/31/2003
National Geographic Fires Peter Arnett, 03/31/2003
MRC CyberAlert Extra, 03/31/2003: Peter Arnett's Years as Conveyer of Enemy Propaganda
NewsMax: NBC Fires Useful Idiot Peter Arnett, 03/31/2003
NewsMax: Fox Routs, Arnett Razzes, CNN, 03/26/2003
Damn, if he blow's this gig, it's real estate school for sure....
As I mentioned on another thread, Baghdad Pete claims he was fired for "telling the truth, and that is true -- not the truth about the Coalition military plan having failed, of course -- that was a transparent lie.
But Arnett was quite candid about his own efforts to subvert the war effort by assisting the leftist-led peace movement in America. It was that bit of uncharacteristic candor that ended his long career of being mistaken for a professional journalist.
Arnett makes even Alan Colmes look like a rabid American patriot.
What an excellent, excellent site.
Our very own MOAB for the "gatekeepers" in the liberal press.
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