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We made an important announcement at NBC News today. Rather than cutting back our international coverage, as has been the norm in the news business for far too long, we invested in arguably the most important corner of the world. NBC News has established a bureau in Beirut, Lebanon, and our highly-regarded correspondent Richard Engel will be the bureau chief. We announced this on a day when Ted Koppel lobbed a grenade of sorts in the direction of the network news divisions, complaining that international coverage had no place in network news. While that may be the case in some of the shops Mr. Koppel is familiar with, it is not the case at NBC News. Our track record speaks for itself and the viewers have responded favorably by making this network the leading news division in America. It is a network, by the way, that has placed enormous emphasis on covering the world. There has been no one better at covering the complexity of the Iraq situation than Richard Engel. He's lived in that region for more than 10 years now. He's fluent in Arabic and he understands the people, the cultures, the politics and the customs of that complex region better than most. He now takes that considerable experience to a new headquarters in Beirut.
I have to admit, when we first started thinking of Beirut as a base of operations, it brought back images of Beirut during more difficult times -- the kidnapping of the likes of Terry Anderson and others, and the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut. But now, in 2006, Beirut is a new place and our operation will be strategically located to cover the Middle East, Arabic issues and the Islamic world. When you combine Richard Engel's new operation with the extraordinarily talented Martin Fletcher and crew in Tel Aviv, and the talented journalists in our Baghdad bureau, you see a commitment to journalistic excellence in a vitally important part of the world.
Opening an office is not enough and we intend to follow through with a commitment to cover this region aggressively, fairly and with open eyes. It's a fascinating part of the world, and the news that comes out of there will dominate the headlines for most of our lifetimes. For those reasons and so many more, I'm thrilled to be able to announce the establishment of the Beirut bureau. It's a good day for NBC News and a good day for journalism.
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Beirut, here I come
This is great news and we thank you. We need to know as much as possible about what is truely happening in the rest of the world. We look forward to what Richard, Martin and the other journalists have in store for us. Thanks again.
Michelle, Austin, Texas (Sent May 23, 2006 2:36:10 PM)
When you talk about covering, "the Middle East, Arabic issues and the Islamic world," please don't forget Israel. That nation is the political center of that region, and two out of your three areas of coverage ignore it altogether.
Tim
10,579 days
Tim McGhee, Alexandria, VA (Sent May 23, 2006 7:14:14 AM)
What a treat! In the era of closing foreign bureaus, this is outstanding news.
Thank you to whoever put this plan into motion. Hopefully this will help other networks start placing more bureaus.
Jonathan Simmons (Sent May 23, 2006 12:08:49 AM)
I'm very pleased that you have made Richard Engel the head of your news bureau in Beirut, Lebanon. Richard's reporting always is interesting, informative. I look forward every day to his blogs and regular reporting.
marian saour, dubuque, iowa (Sent May 22, 2006 10:30:47 PM)
Mr. Capus,
This is good news. In which other foreign cities does NBC News operate a bureau?
(Sent May 22, 2006 9:35:49 PM)
Am I they only one wondering why we have absolutly no coverage at all from South America, must be the language barrier because it is certanly not accessiblity, millions upon millions of hopefull souls and with the amount of tonnage of commerce daily coming from the south why isnt there any print or video. Vacume? Black hole? Complacent self absobtion? Guess the killer bees didnt have the ratings, or do they?
Gloria E. Miami (Sent May 22, 2006 7:46:28 PM)
Its so refereshing and encouraging to see,finally, some heads up, on the ball decision making. It is also reassuring to know you have taken Richard from the lions den, although Lebanon is not completly safe it is much safer for your crew. Good call Steve. Keep em coming.
Ann New Cannan CT (Sent May 22, 2006 6:56:29 PM)
NBC News Beruit
An excellent decision. Network news has been turning into "Network" (Sybil the Soothsayer, etc.) for FAR TOO LONG.
Enough with dumbing down the American public - there's a whole world out there, and what happens in it affects us, regardless of how our so-called leaders behave and would have us think. Give American's the facts - they'll make the right choice. Feed them a steady stream of BS - you get Iraq.
("Welcome us as liberators." "Mushroom cloud over Houston." "Days and weeks rather than months and years." "WMD." "Mobile chemical weapons labs!")
All BS, all spoon fed to the American public by YOU.
Lee Steele, Mountain View, CA (Sent May 22, 2006 6:14:23 PM)
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