{"article":{"id":44646,"heading":"CNN terminates relationship with Arnett","author":"Sisyphus","created":"2003-04-01 14:40:28","modified":"2003-04-03 22:16:17","last_modified":"Fri, 04 Apr 2003 06:16:17","article":"

CNN has reportedly severed their ties with NBC reporter Peter Arnett for recent statements that the initial US war plan had been a failure. The first duty of a journalist should be to report the truth, but that apparently does not work well at CNN. CNN had previously fired Arnett for his role in the CNN report on Operation Tailwind. The Tailwind story involved US covert actions in Laos that used nerve agents on US soldiers who had deserted. This story also resulted in the firing of April Oliver and Jack Smith, who had co-produced the story.<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"CNN has reportedly severed their ties with NBC reporter Peter Arnett for recent statements that the initial US war plan had been a failure. ","numcomment":25,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/04\/44646.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":44654,"heading":"arnett firing","article":"this is TOTAL bullshit! they fired one of the few people who was telling the truth. i guess all we'll hear after this is that war is good, we're "obviously" winning the war and all the dead iraqi's were killed by themselves or other iraqi's (which we all know is only true of the u.s.\/u.k. forces that constantly obliterate each other by "friendly fire").\r\n\r\ntoday, truth died.","author":"eeyore","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 18:24:16","modified":"2003-04-01 18:24:16","fileurl":""},{"id":44658,"heading":"Cancel your Subscription","article":"One of the few things an individual can do is vote with your money. I think corporations take immediate reaction to avoid any negative controversy. If we can show that his firing will generate more immedate negative reaction through subscription cancellations than his comments did, they may think twice in the future. I'm sure a survey of National Geographic subscribers would be decidedly pro peace. If everyone who was outraged by this cancelled, it would cause a significant sales blip. \r\n\r\nI have subscribed to National Geographic for many years - but no longer. Cancellation was easy - see info below and they refund any amount due. It can be done toll free and you don't need your account number (they can look you up with zip and last name). Please suggest that others do the same both now and in the future. \r\n\r\nNational Geographic \r\nMembership and Subscription Services \r\nIf you have a question about your subscription or membership, or if you \r\nwould like to e-mail us, visit the membership service section. \r\n\r\nOr you can call (+1 800 647 5463) \r\nToll free from U.S., Canada \r\n8 a.m.-midnight ET, Mon.-Fri. \r\n8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, Sat. \r\n\r\nFOR A FREE CATALOG CALL: +1 800 447 0647 \r\n\r\nSpecial device for the hearing-impaired (TDD) \r\n+1 800 548 9797 ","author":"Anon","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 18:33:24","modified":"2003-04-01 18:33:24","fileurl":""},{"id":44692,"heading":"Otto","article":"What does cancelling NG have to do with CNN\/NBC's firing of Peter Arnett. Is NG owned by CNN or NBC?","author":"Cancelling NG?","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 19:16:57","modified":"2003-04-01 19:16:57","fileurl":""},{"id":44696,"heading":"TY","article":">this is TOTAL bullshit! they fired one of the few people who was telling the truth. \r\n\r\nThe truth!?!\r\n\r\nThank you for being alive. As long as there's people like you I never have to worry whether P.T. Barnum was right.","author":"PTB","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 19:20:06","modified":"2003-04-01 19:20:06","fileurl":""},{"id":44697,"heading":"National Geographic","article":"National Geographic also severed their ties with Peter Arnett.","author":"Christy","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 19:20:31","modified":"2003-04-01 19:20:31","fileurl":""},{"id":44711,"heading":"Retribution on Media Personalities","article":"...for telling the truth is swift and certain. This, as I am sure was intended, has sent a stern warning to anyone who breaks with the "approved truth". Not that there was much danger of Dan Blather, Peter Lemming, or Tom Brokejaw telling the truth.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 19:32:00","modified":"2003-04-01 19:32:00","fileurl":""},{"id":44726,"heading":"It's a time if War- he's a traitor","article":"He gave comfort and encouragement to the enemy. Any fool would know it's treason to do that in wartime. They hanged lord Haw Haw you know. ","author":"Bernard","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 19:48:10","modified":"2003-04-01 19:48:10","fileurl":""},{"id":44733,"heading":"Adios Arnett","article":"They got rid of Arnett because he lied. The military has NOT had to completely rescript the battle plan, there is NOT a hugh uprising in the US which is causing the people of our country to rethink its position, the Iraqi military is NOT an fighting force which puts up fierce resistance and is overpowering the US military, or any of the other bullshit he said. It's wishful thinking on the part of Diogenes and others here whose desire is that there be utter failure on behalf of the US military. But our military is adapting to what is being presented and they are moving at their own timetable much to the chagrin of those who hate America. ","author":"PA","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 19:57:04","modified":"2003-04-01 19:57:04","fileurl":""},{"id":44760,"heading":"Oh I see,","article":"...it is all clear now.\r\n\r\nThe British rejecting American tactics was a tactical blunder.\r\n\r\nand \r\n\r\nThe bullets being fired by Iraqi Partisans are all imaginary.\r\n\r\nand\r\n\r\nAll of the Crashed Helicopters were shot down by "Friendly Fire".\r\n\r\nand \r\n\r\nThe "Pause" in the U.S. advance was planned in advance.\r\n\r\nand \r\n\r\nThe Generals at the Pentagon are really not upset over Rumsfeld's incompetent Generaling.\r\n\r\nand\r\n\r\nThe Tooth Fairy Really exists. Really.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 20:36:36","modified":"2003-04-01 20:36:36","fileurl":""},{"id":44763,"heading":"DIOGENES:","article":"I love you!!! Your replies are so great!!","author":"Sammie","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 20:38:28","modified":"2003-04-01 20:38:28","fileurl":""},{"id":44766,"heading":"Dieu et mon droit","article":"What I said was true. If you can't handle it, it's not my problem.\r\n\r\nYou claim to be ex-military. Surely you are familiar that battle plans never go exactly as they are mapped out. Or are you familiar with that? You might not have risen above an E-1, so I don't know your mental capacity other than that you are a leftist and by virtue of that your inability to reason two inches past your ass is a reality you must deal with on your own.\r\n\r\nOverall the plan is proceding nicely. You want to state for me a case where a military of this proportion has moved this far this quickly?? The military planners since the beginning of time would be amazed at what we've accomplished in just 10 days. The US will be victorious. I know this upsets you because you want the US to be obliterated from the face of the Earth, but tough-o-rama, you'll just have to cry alone or with your leftist buddies cause we're moving forward and ignoring your pleas for us to listen to you and people like you, cause its you and people like you who are the fools that get us into these messes. Ours is a world ruled by the aggressive use of force, always has been, always will be.","author":"PA","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 20:46:00","modified":"2003-04-01 20:46:00","fileurl":""},{"id":44770,"heading":"Diogenes","article":">I love you!!! Your replies are so great!!\r\n\r\nI agree. My 3 year old just loves your replys. Of course, she can understand them because they are written in a manner that is below her reading level.","author":"Kylie","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 20:51:27","modified":"2003-04-01 20:51:27","fileurl":""},{"id":44782,"heading":"Benedict Arnett","article":"Peter Arnett's career has been on a downward arc for some time now. He was a Baghdad correspondent for CNN during its Gulf War heyday, but his credibility suffered as a result of his notorious "baby milk factory" report. In 1998 CNN "reprimanded" Arnett for his involvement in a report that falsely accused American forces of using sarin, a poison gas, to kill "U.S. defectors" in a Laotian village in 1970. Soon after, he and CNN parted ways.\r\n\r\nThis time around, Arnett has been in Baghdad as a reporter for the struggling MSNBC cable network, but now he finds himself out of work. The network gave him the ax today after he gave an "interview" to Iraqi television. CNN has the transcript. What incredible bullshit he was spewing:\r\n__\r\nTranscript of Arnett's treasonous bullshit:\r\n\r\n\r\nIt is clear that within the United States there is growing challenge to President Bush about the conduct of the war and also opposition to the war. So 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.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\r\n\r\nClearly this is a city that is disciplined, the population is responsive to the government's requirements of discipline and my Iraqi friends tell me there is a growing sense of nationalism and resistance to what the United States and Britain are doing.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\r\n\r\nNow America is re-appraising the battlefield, delaying the war, maybe a week, and re-writing the war plan. The first war plan has failed because of Iraqi resistance now they are trying to write another war plan. \r\n\r\n","author":"Bush Admirer","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:14:46","modified":"2013-11-10 23:51:57","fileurl":""},{"id":44795,"heading":"Kylie:","article":"Then she can read what Diogenes writes for you...since it is obvious that your thinking is less than the 3-year-old level. \r\n\r\nPlease give my deepest condolances to your child. With a mother like you, she has no chance in this world. Ever consider adoption - she's be better off with someone else? \r\n\r\nHey, ask her if it is OK for a bigger kid to beat up a smaller kid and take things aways by force. She may be able to enlighten you on the subject. \r\n\r\nBTW: Diogenes - YOU ROCK!!!!","author":"Sheesh","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:22:03","modified":"2003-04-01 21:22:03","fileurl":""},{"id":44798,"heading":"Leftist are Fools","article":"Both of your thinking skills are below that of my 3 year old. As for me, I flush shit down the toliet everyday that can out-think you. Leftist are fools. You will rightly be treated as such.","author":"Kylie","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:24:34","modified":"2003-04-01 21:24:34","fileurl":""},{"id":44813,"heading":"Kylie","article":"Way to go, Kylie. Whenever we conservatives don't have an argument, we can ALWAYS resort to juvenile name-calling. It really demonstrates your lack of education. Please, for the sake of humanity, get your tubes tied!","author":"Bush Admirer","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:32:30","modified":"2003-04-01 21:32:30","fileurl":""},{"id":44818,"heading":"PRO CHOICE","article":"Hey, Kylie:\r\n\r\nToo bad you didn't get them tied BEFORE you subjected an innocent child to someone like you.\r\n\r\nYou are a poor excuse for a mother. Don't you know that might does NOT make right? Or is the why you get your child to mind? Poor thing. Why don't you go and beat on her just like the US\/Brit forces are beating on the innocent children of Iraq.\r\n\r\nOr better yet, why don't you act like a nurturing mother instead of a war monger. Hope your kid knows enough to not grow up to be a jerk like you. ","author":"Willa","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:37:54","modified":"2003-04-01 21:37:54","fileurl":""},{"id":44827,"heading":"BA impersanator","article":"Thank you Bush Admirer impersonator. Since you leftists are unable to create your own thoughts you mimick those of conservatives whose arguments you know are surperior to yours in every way, demonstrating for all of us to clearly see that you are are void of anything substantive of which to add to the human race. Please don't reproduce.","author":"salfoasouhovhn","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:41:47","modified":"2003-04-01 21:41:47","fileurl":""},{"id":44831,"heading":"Next","article":"Hey Leftists!!!\r\n\r\nFirst we're going to rid the world of Saddam.\r\nThen we're going to rid the world of Militant Islamics.\r\nThen we're going to rid the world of YOU!!!!\r\n\r\nIt's up to you to demonstrate that you deserve to live. Unless you do, you will meet the same fate as those Iraqis who are currently getting in our way.\r\n\r\nI look forward to the day..........","author":"anarchist","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:45:30","modified":"2003-04-01 21:45:30","fileurl":""},{"id":44832,"heading":"salfoasouhovhn impersonator","article":"Thank you salfoasouhovhn impersonator. Since you conservatives are unable to create your own thoughts you mimick those of leftists whose arguments you know are surperior to yours in every way, demonstrating for all of us to clearly see that you are are void of anything substantive of which to add to the human race. Please don't reproduce. Also, please learn how to spell "IMPERSONATOR" correctly before making an ass out of yourself.\r\n\r\n","author":"Bush Admirer","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-01 21:46:07","modified":"2003-04-01 21:46:07","fileurl":""},{"id":45062,"heading":"Official truth is not the same as truth","article":"Doesn't your statement that the military is "adapting" contradict your assertion that they have not had to change their battle plan? If the military is "moving at their own timetable," why has the adminstration's statements changed from rhetoric of a quick and decisive victory to a more protracted engagement? As for the assertion that there is not a huge uprising in the US, you apparently only look at the headlines. If you actually take time to read newspaper reports or go and check out the protests, you would find that there are protests in the streets not seen since Vietnam, if even then.\r\n\r\nNone of us want to see the war go badly, as this will only mean more deaths on both sides of battle lines, civilians and soldiers alike. Arnett's statements were not "wishful thinking." The problem is that he crossed the lines from official truths to observed truths. NBC initially voiced support for Arnett, then pulled the plug on him. My guess is that NBC got calls from government officials threatening to pull out of appearances on the network.\r\n\r\nDuring war, it is more important than ever that people get a view from all sides so that they can make fully informed decisions as to whether or not the government is acting correctly. NBC, CNN, and all media who seek to silence the voices on one side become nothing more than propaganda tools for the government. They then cease to be journalists. All journalists and consumers of journalism should make it clear to the media that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are important requirements for true democracy.\r\n\r\n>They got rid of Arnett because he lied. The military has NOT had to completely rescript the battle plan, there is NOT a huge\r\n>uprising in the US which is causing the people of our country to rethink its position, the Iraqi military is NOT an fighting force \r\n>which puts up fierce resistance and is overpowering the US military, or any of the other bullshit he said. It's wishful\r\n>thinking on the part of Diogenes and others here whose desire is that there be utter failure on behalf of the US military. But\r\n>our military is adapting to what is being presented and they are moving at their own timetable much to the chagrin of those\r\n>who hate America.","author":"Sisyphus","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-02 03:06:01","modified":"2003-04-02 03:06:01","fileurl":""},{"id":45268,"heading":""Uprising"--huh? I don't see one","article":"I find it amazing that your truth collides withs the "official truth". I mean all those protests gotta mean something. Then I realized, oh yea, the majority of Americans suppport the war, at least according to Zogby International. Then, in my own little fantasy world, you realized that Arnett gave an interview on --Iraqi government run TV ---(think propoganda). That in itself is enough to fire the guy. I mean, come on, give me one reason to support his vist to Iraqi state-run TV as a credible journalistic enterprise.","author":"stop the bullshit","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-03 09:02:40","modified":"2003-04-03 09:02:40","fileurl":""},{"id":45284,"heading":"Butt Licker?","article":"I hope Arnett is still able to keep servicing the Baghdad boys, they need some personal treatment to sooth their frayed nerves.","author":"RealityCheck","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"image\/gif","created":"2003-04-03 14:22:27","modified":"2005-08-15 01:22:12","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/04\/peter_arnett.gifiysueu.gif","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/04\/peter_arnett.gifiysueu.gif"}},{"id":45507,"heading":"RealityCheck","article":"Way to go. Whenever we conservative trolls don't have anything intelligent to say, we can always resort to posting stupid pictures of people's asses. Great job!","author":"Bush Admirer","parent_id":44646,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-04-03 22:16:17","modified":"2003-04-03 22:16:17","fileurl":""}]}