Tonight, the fog of truth to "The Nth Degree." The truth about Saddam Hussein's capture seems to get murkier by the day. Some news outlets, citing unnamed sources, say Saddam may have spat on a U.S. soldier who promptly replied with either a fist or a rifle butt. Now, that's different from the initial version, in which Saddam gave up saying, "I'm willing to negotiate," to which a U.S. soldier replied, "President Bush sends his regards."
Now there's even another report in some papers overseas that says Saddam had already been captured by Kurds and was really only handed over to the U.S.
So why the lack of clarity? Well, this certainly is not the first time. Remember Jessica Lynch? Early reports made her out to be a mini-Rambo, shooting Iraqis left and right. But you could argue those reports came out of the fog of war.
But according to President Bush, major combat operations have ended. So isn't it about time somebody flipped on the de-fogger of truth for the windshield of war? We don't need cute stories and made- up made for TV heroes. Reality will do just fine, thanks. Fog of war? How about a low-pressure system of truth, rolling in just about now. At least then you wouldn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
That wraps up the show tonight. Thanks for watching. "PAULA ZAHN NOW" is next.
As you say, Anderson keeps it real - and he presents a pretty decent gameshow in his spare time..!
Seriously, news coverage in the UK needs someone like Mr Cooper to present a daily news programme. Someone who is a trained hack, but is not afraid to deviate from the autocue and deliver his/her own personal view on the news (within the limit of reasoned debate, of course) or ask questions about the people in the news in a ironic or satirical way - and when interviewing picks up on questions that have not been answered or ask questions that could result in the interviewee walking out, which would then be turned back to make that person look stupid.
Most news aware people in the age bracket 20+ are so media aware these days that they know when they are being told something straight off the goverment press release, so getting someone to read the news in a style 'with one eyebrow rasied' when needed, would be a breath of fresh air...
..And in my mind the only person who could kick a show like this off? Paddy O'Connell on BBC Three.
Yeah his show is great. I was also a fan of the MOLE. But he started as a serious journalist. Everynight at the end of his news broadcast he does those "Nth Degree" segments. He always happens to sum of the days events that most people are thinking. Sometimes that are funny and cute. Sometimes they are extremely poignant and sombre. Thats what makes him quite appealing because he's not just a stuffed shirt but a human. Plus he brings celebrities down to planet earth. He's a great journalist. He presented a programme on Journalists that were killed over the past year on the TR!O network.
Tonight's flying Air Force One to "The Nth Degree."
Air Force One's secret flight to Baghdad last week included a thrilling moment of suspense, when it seemed the mission could be compromised if a British Airways pilot blew the plane's cover. Here's how the White House first told the story. A British Airways pilot radioed "Did I just see Air Force One?" Air Force One replied, "Gulfstream 5," a smaller aircraft. The pilot seemed to sense he was in on a secret and replied simply, "Oh." Later, the White House said Air Force One had merely overheard a conversation between a pilot and the tower, diluting the aura of suspense and excitement the story had given to the president's trip.
So what really happened? Well, "AC 360" has located a fictional black box that recorded still another version that never happened. The tape may shed some light on things. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PILOT: I dare say, did I just see Air Force One?
AIR FORCE ONE: Negative. No president here. Over.
PILOT: You look like Air Force One. Come back.
AIR FORCE ONE: Concorde.
PILOT: You are not.
AIR FORCE ONE: UFO? Over.
PILOT: How can you be unidentified if you've identified yourself?
AIR FORCE ONE: Gulfstream 5?
PILOT: Oi, I don't bloody care! But if you're trying to keep it secret, you've got Air Force One in big bleeding letters on the side, now, don't you?
PILOT: Oh. Roger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: That, of course, is a made-up version, but just tonight CNN has learned that the White House has changed the story again, saying the incident did not involve a British Airways pilot, but a pilot who may have had a British accent.
So to sum up, the current official version, something happened involving a plane.
Thanks for watching tonight. "PAULA ZAHN NOW" is next.