(Moving this post up) ...so last night, Nightline's Jake Tapper takes up the president's challenge from his Tuesday news conference in which Bush says the media is being used by "the terr'rists," and decides to look for a "good news" story in Iraq. Tapper decides to focus on Iraqi TV -- specifically, comedies in production onthe streets of Baghdad -- he even finds "the Iraqi Danny DeVito." Great, right? Well, it was great, until the head of the Iraqi television station -- the guy who set up Tapper and crew's interviews and visit to the set of Iraqi DeVito's new show -- gets assassinated during the ongoing sectarian violence. Good news in Iraq? File it under "hard to find..."
Sidebar: BTW what's up with Laura Ingraham's hair? She looks like the Fonz... and apparently she thinks Matt and Katie should string up a fetching mobile "Today Show" set and start broadcasting from Fallujah. Said Laura:
Well here, here’s what I think David. I think with all the resources of networks like NBC. The Today show spends all this money to send people to the Olympics, which is great, it was great programming. All this money for Where In The World Is Matt Lauer? Bring the Today show to Iraq. Bring the Today show to Tal Afar. Do the show from the 4th ID at Camp Victory and then when you talk to those soldiers on the ground, when you go out with the Iraqi military, when you talk to the villagers, when you see the children, then I want NBC to report on only the IEDs, only the killings, only, only the reprisals. ...
A timorous Gregory replied: "And you think Iraq is safe enough [to do what Laura proposed]?" Ingraham: "Yes. I was not on the hotel balcony. I was out with the U.S. military. It can be done in any part of the country." Laura attempted to continue, but Gregory cut her off: "I get the anti-network point." ...
David Gregory "timorous?" I think you actually have to be on drugs to see this particular reporter that way...More on the dustup (plus video) from Crooks and Liars, and a word on Reagan, Bush I, and the virture of changing ones mind, courtesy of Josh Marshall at TPM.
... Somebody ought to direct Ms. Ingraham to the Condi Rice State Department. Here's what they think of the "safe," new Iraq:
... The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq, which remains very dangerous. Remnants of the former Ba’ath regime, transnational terrorists, criminal elements and numerous insurgent groups remain active. Attacks against military and civilian targets throughout Iraq continue, including in the International (or “Green”) Zone. Targets include convoys en-route to venues, hotels, restaurants, police stations, checkpoints, foreign diplomatic missions, international organizations and other locations with expatriate personnel. These attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries of American citizens, including those doing humanitarian work. In addition, there have been planned and random killings, as well as extortions and kidnappings. U.S. citizens have been kidnapped and several were subsequently murdered by terrorists in Iraq. U.S. citizens and other foreigners continue to be targeted by insurgent groups and opportunistic criminals for kidnapping and murder. Military operations continue. There are daily attacks against Multinational Forces - Iraq (MNF-I), Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi Police throughout the country.
There is credible information that terrorists are targeting civil aviation. Civilian and military aircraft arriving in and departing from Baghdad International Airport and flying to other major cities in Iraq have been subjected to small arms and missiles. Civilian aircraft do not generally possess systems, such as those found on military aircraft, capable of defeating man-portable, surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS). Anyone choosing to utilize civilian aircraft to enter or depart or travel within Iraq should be aware of this potential threat, as well as the extremely high risk to road transportation described below. Official U.S. Government (USG) personnel are strongly encouraged to use U.S. military or other USG aircraft entering and departing Iraq due to concerns about security of civilian aircraft servicing Iraq. ...
...yeah, sounds like just the place for a campy, Katie cooking segment...
Update: NewsBusters defends Laura and says NBC is still muy negativo... And I suppose Laura would prefer to see the MSM doing stellar, award-worthy journalism like this:
The mess hall experience--two meals already--has been a blast. Of course the security situation here is still terrible. The continuing terrorist threat is obvious by the number of cement barricades and checkpoints, the practical limits on where we can go ...
Hang on! I thought you could go, and string up a show, from anywhyere in Iraq and be perfectly safe ... a bit of a contradiction there, old girl... But please to continue:
... and the security sweeps even inside military bases. The asymetrical warfare being waged by the Islamo-fascists continues to be a difficult challenge.
The good news is that training of Iraqi forces continues apace and more of the security operations are being turned over to them every month. I will meet some of these brave men on Monday. I wish every American could see even the small part of the operation here that I've seen so far. They'd be more proud of our military and more grateful to be Americans. ...
Day two...
... You wouldn't know it by reading the New York Times, but IED attacks are actually down since December. I headed over to the Iraqi side of the base, where I saw the Iraqi troops being trained, with interpreters on site, of course. The men-about 30 of them-were friendly and seemed dedicated. They also risk their lives just by being part of the new Iraqi security forces-so most didn't want their pictures taken. Their American counterparts seem genuinely fond of these men-and not happy that the whole story is not being told by the "major media." More of the battlefield control is being turned over to the Iraqis later in the spring. "When the Iraqis see one of their own on top of a tank, they seem really proud," said one of the military trainers. "We need that to be the norm, as quickly as possible," commented one of the smart young majors riding with us. After checking out the the 4thID Aviation Brigade's helicopter fleet, chatting with the pilots (all of whom are poised and impressive), and seeing the Air Force's digital weather center, I was driven back to the air field for the Blackhawk flight back to Baghdad.
That's right Laura R. Murrow, show 'em how it's done.
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"[T]he practice of arbitrary imprisonments, have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.' Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 84, August, 1788
