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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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News from the north continues to dominate our broadcast... specifically today's revelation from an attorney having to do with the alleged plans these would-be terrorists in Canada had cooked up: storming Parliament, beheading the Prime Minister, and so on. All week I've been thinking of my friend Peter Mansbridge, anchor of The National (CBC's superb flagship evening newscast) and how this story must be resonating there. We continue to cover it aggressively as well, and will again on tonight's broadcast. All Americans have a substantial investment in this story. As CNN very effectively illustrated today by stopping at an "honor system" checkpoint along a remote U.S./Canada border crossing -- moving from one nation to another is effortless and invisible in places.
Pete Williams will double-team on Canada. Andrea Mitchell will contribute on Iran. David Gregory will take on the immigration piece of the story.
KING RICHARD
Richard Engel tonight is reprising a story we first aired on May 26, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. (Click to re-read or re-watch.) The story was so good (and the television audience on that evening is usually far from robust for understandable reasons) we have decided to repeat it tonight, along with Richard's comments about what he found at an orphanage in Iraq. Last night, Richard filed a superb piece of work, about the "new normal" in Iraq. During his on-camera appearance in the piece, he was not wearing his usual level-5 body armor... and a bunch of us who spend our days worrying about his safety gently chided him for it. The truth is: I know exactly where he shot the piece... along a relatively protected stretch of river. While small arms fire can be heard in the background, the danger of a live-fire situation in that location is minimal. Richard politely pointed out that had he been the only one of the five men on the fishing dock wearing body armor, it would have looked strange at best... and at worst, would have spooked the fishermen, who likely would not have agreed to an interview. Richard is as brave as they come, and yet is not an excessive risk-taker. He knows Iraq better than anyone I know... speaks the language... and has proven over the years that he can smell coming danger. While we do worry about him incessantly (and we even worry about the idea of him appearing on television from there sans body armor), I trust him on what was a judgment call. I think it may be harder for those of us who have reported from Iraq... we are left to sit in New York and worry, with ample knowledge of the danger. For a slice of daily life, please read Jim Maceda's great post on our sister blog, Blogging Baghdad. The reason for our concern for our colleagues and friends is obvious: too many people whom I admire are recovering from grievous wounds suffered while trying to report the news from Iraq. When Richard told me he "understands and appreciates my concern," I get it. He's saying: "Trust me on this one." Please watch for his report tonight.
We hope you can join us.
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Baby boomers give back
Brian, thank you for asking those "tough questions". You should have your mouth washed with Moms strongest laundry soap.I think that some of the listening audience meant that President Bush would have to come up with "tough answers" that were both honest and meaningful, On the other hand we both have to keep up the good fight, we surely will not keep this country the land of the free if we do not continue to agree to disagree.
(Sent Aug 31, 2006 8:19:59 PM)
....about the orphaned children. Thank you so much for airing that story again. How lucky we are to live in this country where children can freely play outside, without having to worry about stray bullets---usually. For those who want to help children here at home, there are thousands of our own children, right here in "the system", not an orphanage, waiting for a home and a mom and dad of their own. True, it's not war that has torn up their lives, but broken hearts and loneliness are the same, no matter what country they live in. Thank you also to Richard for not being afraid to hug those children who are just starving for the touch of another human being. Keep up the great work Brian and Richard.
Carolyn Shockey Hansen, Hoffman Estates, IL (Sent Jun 7, 2006 4:13:21 PM)
Brian,
OK. We get it! Our borders are fragile and have been for a very long time. Now for the real news. Protecting our borders from Canadians that are going to destroy their own Governmental institutions has more to say about Canadians than American citizens. Why must we encourage such hyperbole in reporting the news? When you "report" and make statements like "All Americans have a substantial investment in this story" you are re-inforcing the threat level mentality created after 9/11 from our Homeland Security crowd.
Do you really think terrorists would have a problem getting into our Country if they wanted to? Perception of sending National Guard troops to protect or free up the border patrols to actually protect our Southern borders only takes care of 0.01% of the problem. Although I enjoy some of Nightly News pieces, we get enough of this focus on terrorism from so many other fronts and frankly none of it impacts the majority of Americans to the affect that you folks seem to think. You are beginning to sound like Chicken Little.
Please, Please, Please "Report The News" and leave the OP-ED out of the genre.
Leo - Madison, WI (Sent Jun 7, 2006 8:47:16 AM)
Dear Brian and David,
How about just once giving equal time to the other side of the illegal "immigration" story -- i.e., those who are opposed! And to the woman in Queens who said that the immigrants have "given their labor to this country": they've also taken from this country--alot. Educational and medical benefits, for starters. Enough of the sob stories and spin. If you aren't here legally, leave.
(Sent Jun 6, 2006 9:56:05 PM)
Living in a border state, where we have more Canadian neighbors (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) than American (New Hampshire), it makes me sad to see the northern border become a target, much like the southern border. (I also have family that live in Quebec & Ontario.) Going to visit has never been a problem; drivers' licenses have been enough. Terrorists are going to make visiting family much more difficult and that makes me angry. Angry enough to be pleased that they have been foiled, once again.
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Jun 6, 2006 9:42:47 PM)
Dear Brian,
Thank you always for your network's delivery of the truth.
I am a first generation Japanese, and introducing the reality check to the Japanese bloggers, since they seem not to have the precise information about what's going on U.S.
I usually get information from your news, MSNBC.com, and Newsweek. So I'm pretty much NBC-colored person.
Since I really admire the repoters "over there," I frequently read your blog and "Blogging Bughdad" as well.
Please send Aloha to Richard Engel, Jim Maceda, Tom Aspel, Preston Mendenhall, and many other hard-working staff. They are our heroes as all you—true journalists—are.
ysbee, Honolulu, HI (Sent Jun 6, 2006 8:35:44 PM)
How and when did the debate become an immigration debate? This debate needs to be returned to what it's suppose to be; an illegal, illegal, illegal immigration debate. If we don't respect our own laws, how can we expect others to respect them. We cannot allow illegal immigration. There are legal ways of entering this country. And I am an immigrant American.
Robert, Detroit, Michigan (Sent Jun 6, 2006 7:36:07 PM)
I do not know how the terrorists feel at all. Any one or any group trying to buy 3 tons of material to construct a huge bomb just across a "friendly" border to the US is not a laughing matter. BTW, I wonder how many phone calls from Canada to the US has been made that we surely should know about. Anybody feel like laughing now?
Don (Sent Jun 6, 2006 6:29:42 PM)
Hey I know how these terrorists feel: there are many days that I'd like to storm Parliament and behead the Prime Minister. Heck some days I'd even like to blow up the US and I live here, he he (nervous laughter)!
Regarding the story on the orphanage and the other goings on in Iraq I often wonder if this is why Saddam ruled this country with such an "iron fist". Just look at what they do to each other when there's no one in power or control!
Anyway, just my two cents for the day.
Trish, Baltimore (Sent Jun 6, 2006 4:59:53 PM)
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