The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.
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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If you saw today's Pentagon briefing, then you know it was a feisty one, with a notable exchange between our own Jim Miklaszewski and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld [video link]. We'll talk about that tonight and cover the substance of the briefing as well. We'll also air a special piece on the troops tonight from Richard Engel, who has spent some intense time with them of late while embedded with U.S. forces.
In other news: the President signed the "border fence" bill today -- we'll talk about what that means, or doesn't. We'll look at the fire tragedy in California, as we mourn the loss of those three firefighters in their vehicle. We will look at the odd and almost accidental discovery of a melanoma breakthrough, and we'll change gears and look at a development in monitoring your teenager's driving habits. And allow me to add, from one parent to others: my wife and I have found that praying helps.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF WARD 57
We are back in New York after originating the broadcast from Ohio last night, and after making one overnight stop along the way. I just flew in from Washington, where we spent the morning at Walter Reed, which is always an emotional, magical, difficult, challenging and inspirational experience. The men and women of Ward 57, those I met today who had lost one, two or three limbs, are some of the best people I've ever encountered, anywhere. So are the Vietnam, Korean and Gulf War vets who, similarly injured, walk among them as peers and friends. So are the doctors who receive their inspiration through working with such motivated veterans. It is a life-changing experience, and I wish I could bring everyone I know to Ward 57. While I imagine it's not the place for everyone, nor is it for the faint of heart, I've now visited enough to enjoy a certain comfort level there. I stand in awe of all of them. I don't think there was a soldier in that ward today whose first wish isn't to return to the fight.The segments we shot today will air at a later date. We'll give you a heads up in this space as to when.
From such an inspiring place, it was off to its diametric opposite: Reagan National Airport. Because I was flying the New York Shuttle one-way and hadn't flown in from New York, and because I purchased my ticket as a walk-up customer (part of the whole idea of the shuttle is that flights leave every half hour, so you fly on whatever flight you make), I found myself with a boarding pass bearing the dreaded three X's, meaning, as the TSA agent put it, I had been "selected for enhanced security," a distinction I positively live for. At National, that means time alone in a glass bullpen, where passengers wait until someone comes to open the door and escort you to the area where they inspect your body, clothing and belongings. What struck me as funny was that my inspector at first entered my bullpen enclave just for a social visit (before it was my turn for full inspection) -- she removed her rubber glove and said, "I just want to shake your hand!" -- explaining that she was a big fan of NBC Nightly News. However much she liked my work, those three X's meant the following: by the thinking of our current system of airline security, there was still a chance, according to a profiling model, that of all the passengers who passed by while I stood in that bullpen, I might have chosen today to take down a commercial airliner, and take my own life in the process. Those three X's meant, of course, she also had to do her job, which she did very well. While I'm more than happy to submit to searches (it happens constantly, as I am often flying last-minute or one-way routes or both), and while I'll go out of my way to do my part to make sure our skies are safe, is everyone convinced this is the best model? Just asking. I made the flight by seven minutes, said hello to my old friend and fellow shuttle passenger Joe Klein of TIME magazine, settled into my seat and went back to thinking of the great Americans I'd just met in Ward 57.
And a special note: Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post wrote a terrific profile in this morning's edition of a co-worker we are very proud of around here: Richard Engel. It deserves the few minutes it will take to read, and Richard deserves our thanks, respect and appreciation every day.
It's good to be back home. We hope you can join us for our Thursday night broadcast.
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We have deposed the Sunni Butcher of Bagdad to install the Shite butcher of Bagdad. We have upset the balance of power between the moderate and secular to the Jihadist and religious fanatic Shia so the Hezbollah can have free reign over the middle east. If we wanted to have the middle east as one giant terrorist base what mor could we have done.
Donald Klinestiver (Sent Oct 28, 2006 11:05:30 AM)
Read the "terrific profile". Wish there is no more war/conflicts and that Richard would get a personal/normal life soon.
Swetha (Sent Oct 27, 2006 8:00:45 AM)
Lee Steele,
Well said!!
Barbara, Tullahoma, TN (Sent Oct 26, 2006 11:16:35 PM)
I hope that NBC is planning on paying the costs associated with changing that teen's PIN number, since the last image of it wasn't blacked out! :)
Amy, New York, NY (Sent Oct 26, 2006 10:43:21 PM)
Too bad Eisenhower isn't around to toss Rumsfeld and the rest of these armchair warriors out of the Pentagon. Eisenhower knew a thing or two about war, and he would have had no truck with schemers hatching wars of choice.
I'll be so happy when we have a real President again, instead of the current Wizard of Oz show - with Karl Rove behind the curtain.
Jack, Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Oct 26, 2006 9:11:30 PM)
didn't think I could become a bigger admirer of Mr Engel's. what a fascinating feature on him. a well reported report. wish the same could be sad of your housing analysis on tonight's news. it made no sense.
(Sent Oct 26, 2006 8:48:07 PM)
The fire and firefighter deaths in CA are tragic. I wish someone with NBC investigated this question during that segment: Where the hell is the DC-10?! Still tied up in approval red tape??!! That firefighting tool is incredible -- it should be there fighting that fire, likely lessening the threat to those very brave firefighters!
Marty - Parker, Colorado (Sent Oct 26, 2006 8:39:31 PM)
Brian for year the White House has said we don't torture. I read this and couldn't believe it but it's true.
Vice President Dick Cheney has confirmed that U.S. interrogators subjected captured senior al Qaeda suspects to a controversial interrogation technique called ''water-boarding,'' which creates a sensation of drowning.
Yes we do torture and Cheney who never served in the military with 5 deferments thinks it's great. What whould Cheney or Bush know about combat as they never went to war when needed. Yes Rummy did teach on US soil but never combat. No wonder this invasion is messed up look at the leaders. I pray the new Administration can correct this mistake before any of our soldiers are kidnapped and tortured with the Bush torture bill.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Oct 26, 2006 7:18:10 PM)
Brian I've followed the news and the Press Conferences and wondered what our troops think of the following by Tony Snow/White House so I emailed it to my daughter in Afghan and my nephew in Iraq.
Snow: With Black Candidates, ‘There Is Always An Attempt…To Attribute Something To The Race Card’ »
As both have asked me to send care package with enough for their fellow soldiers I didn't think color made a difference. The answers I got back made me proud that the troops know everything about this Bush Administration and some blanked out the bad words because I'm the mother of a soldier. So to all those that just follow the Bush team with seperating races don't worry they are as one and don't think like the White House.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Oct 26, 2006 6:54:04 PM)
Whoa what a treat for me - I finally got NBC on my new TV antenna! (yup I'm still very old school :) A pleasure to see NBC News again, even though I've been enjoying (ahem) Katie on the channel next door. I always enjoy your newscasts, Brian. Thank you for keeping up the good work. The article on Mr. Engel was also well written.
Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Oct 26, 2006 6:44:45 PM)
"Mick" and all the psuedo intellectuals can't make these sweeping comments without someone bringing them back to earth from their lofty perches. NBC needs to report the news and quit making it.
Don, USA (Sent Oct 26, 2006 6:43:27 PM)
Bush should really keep his mouth shut. NBC edited most of the stupid response Bush shouted at David Gregory, but I caught that Bush had to slide the point to "democrats benchmarks mean cut and run" when asked "how was this new?" Bush is an idiot who should never have been installed in the WH, and it's a staggering disgrace that Congress gives him power of habeas corpus. I wouldn't trust him to park my car. I hated Reagan's politics, but I always felt I could have dinner with him. GHW Bush I could show respect to for 5 minutes - GWB - I have nothing but a patriot's contempt for him. Some day we'll have to decide if GWB was more of a national disgrace or a national tragedy.
Lee Steele (Sent Oct 26, 2006 6:04:42 PM)
Brian, you have said:
"In an era of instant media criticism, he [Richard Engel] calls balls and strikes in the middle of a war zone. He is completely unbothered by any Web site that may have problems with his reporting while he's over in Iraq dodging bullets....He is the most agenda-less person I've met in our business, I think, in the past 20 years."
If that is really the case Brian, you need to meet more people in your business who are not liberals or pacifists, as Richard Engel has admitted openly.
And you can't be naive enough to believe that pacifists don't have an agenda, are you?
Here is what Richard says:
"I think war should be illegal...I'm basically a pacifist."
Not exactly someone who you can trust around American troops, is he?
Think About it Brian Williams (Sent Oct 26, 2006 4:59:04 PM)
Yesterday it was David being almost yelled at by W that the infamous benchmarks were workable, today it was Rummy fuming at Mick about the same topic. and they wonder why we the public are skeptical of the supposed leadership in this country and Irag's ability to do anything that will enable us to bring our troops back where they belong???? Give me a break. Good job guys, keep asking those tough questions. we still haven't gotten answers.
(Sent Oct 26, 2006 4:55:40 PM)
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