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Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.
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Brian is en route to Torino, Italy this evening... and will be anchoring the broadcast from there tomorrow night. So while he travels, I'll substitute in the chair tonight.
We will begin in Washington where there were fireworks on Capitol Hill with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales making the case for the Bush administration's domestic spying program. Gonzales denied that the President broke any laws with the warrantless wiretaps... and called the program "necessary" and an "early warning system" against terrorist attacks. But there were tough questions from both Democrats and Republicans... with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., suggesting a special federal court review the program's legality. Chip Reid will have the highlights for us tonight.
Other major news out of Washington... jury selection began today for Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person in the U.S. ever charged in connection with the 9/11 hijackings... and Moussaoui's behavior seemed to mimic Saddam Hussein. He was led out of the courtroom several times for disruptions, interrupting the court to state "I'm al-Qaida" and calling the courtroom a circus. The judge has set a timetable of about a month to seat a jury, with prosecutors acknowledging how hard it will be to find impartial people who can put emotions aside. Pete Williams will have all the details.
Also... Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell with new developments on the administration's effort to stop Iran's nuclear program, White House Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell with details on the Bush budget for 2007. Hope to see you tonight.
Read more from Campbell Brown
Inside the Moussaoui courtroom
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Yes, innocent people are certainly getting killed. Thousands of them worked in two New York city buildings and the Pentagon. We can't afford to pretend that catchy rhetoric about preserving our freedoms and taking a risk with our bodily safety is helping our future more than hurting it.
Jim in Tempe, Arizona (Sent Feb 9, 2006 6:37:08 PM)
Another response to Jim. It's a shame that people like yourself don't seem to understand that freedom is what makes America great and THE desirable place to live. Even W talks about defending freedom. Only in the Orwellian world of the neocons do we have to give up freedom to save it. Perhaps Americans should buck up, take a risk with their bodily safety, and save their cherished freedom.
Randall in Leesburg, Virginia (Sent Feb 7, 2006 9:12:51 PM)
Regarding Jim's earlier posting: curious George isn't protecting you or me. He can't even put a dent in the tons of dope flooding into the country. How's he going to stop really real bad guys from bringing in anything they want? He can't.
Curious George is just giving away money your kids haven't even made yet to his fat buddies. Worst of all, innocent people are getting killed in the process.
Richard Smith, Dallas, Texas (Sent Feb 7, 2006 2:57:26 PM)
Why don't people understand that since 9/11 (and even prior to) the world is a different place and the old rules about spying, the borders....don't and shouldn't apply? How about condemning those who are killing the innocent and burning down embassies because of a cartoon instead of those working to protect our country and our citizens.
Jim in Tempe, Arizona (Sent Feb 7, 2006 11:56:01 AM)
Often it seems that, when Brian Williams is away from the anchor's chair, the quality of news judgment at NBC Nightly News goes downhill. Last night was a case in point.
Regarding post-Katrina coverage, the $18 billion for hurricane relief was briefly mentioned in the report on Bush's budget. This is not enough coverage. NBC should have aired a full report which emphasized Louisiana's urgent need for more than a mere $18 billion.
There were two more stories out of Louisiana last night, both of which ran on Fox News' nightly newscast but were ignored by NBC Nightly News. First, for the first time in 125 years, her state legislature met outside of Baton Rouge--in a special hurricane recovery session convened in New Orleans' Convention Center made infamous by the aftermath of Katrina.
Second, the Times-Picayune has published notices announcing plans to demolish unlivable homes after seven working days--a move which has sparked a good deal of controversy. NBC should have aired a full report on this because each home represents the life of a family, or at least an individual, forever turned upside down by Katrina. It upsets me and makes me almost physically ill to see the plight of these people being ignored.
As long as New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast look as if the storm had hit yesterday, NBC's job is to keep the spotlight on this area. There should be at least one full "The Long Road Back" report every evening--more, if events warrant. Please show that NBC cares about what's going on there.
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Feb 7, 2006 7:52:23 AM)
Campbell: I just wanted to say what a wonderful job you and the rest of the NBC correspondents are doing covering the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. I truly admire you all. The media focus will help keep our region in the minds of those who may have already forgotten.
I am working to become a journalist and help tell the stories of those working so hard to rebuild after such destruction and heartache. Hopefully we will see you soon back in Louisiana.
From one Louisiana girl to another, thanks!
Michelle, New Orleans, Louisiana (Sent Feb 6, 2006 8:05:19 PM)
I will save my message for the present administration for the 2006 elections. Any other message can fall on deaf ears or disappear in time. Actions have always spoken louder than words. I hope everyone that reads this is as tired of this administration as I am. God Bless America. (Vote for Change even though it is not a presidential election). This way your voice will be heard.
Ed Colson,Victoria,Tx (Sent Feb 6, 2006 7:34:01 PM)
As Americans now have no constitution or rights President Bush can do what ever he wants because he is the law. Now friends don't even have to take the oath and lie at will. Next Abramoff,DeLay and Libby can walk because our new dictator said its ok for them do criminal acts. We have a H Bomb for those other countries that disagree with Bush. Americans can go to jail as Cindy had to do. Americans have lost America to an axis of evil right here on American soil.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Feb 6, 2006 7:33:52 PM)
The attorney general seems to be saying "We didn't break the law because we say we didn't." It just doesn't wash.We have laws in this country that we all must abide by. In fact, we have thousands of laws. When the president violates the law, it is no different than the meth lab down the street. Imagine the meth head saying "I didn't break the law because I don't believe in that one." It just doesn't wash.
Dale Edwards Ringgold, Ga. (Sent Feb 6, 2006 7:28:50 PM)
You would think with all the "necessary" spying, George would have known Hammas (a group he says ARE the terrorists) was going to win a big public election.
George didn't know what the "terrorists" were up to (in public, no less) because he was too busy spying on you and me!
Richard Smith, Dallas, Texas (Sent Feb 6, 2006 6:21:51 PM)
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