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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Because Gen. Ray Odierno is a 3-star, the No. 2 man in charge of this massive U.S. presence here in Iraq, he travels with a lot of security -- alongside him in the air and on the ground -- wherever he goes. When we learned that he was heading out today to inspect two U.S. outposts (to make up for a trip that weather canceled last week), we thought it represented the safest possible opportunity for us to get off to a fast start in our coverage and cover a lot of ground OUTSIDE the city limits of Baghdad.
You'll see the trip on tonight's broadcast. We met a lot of enormously capable commanders today -- which is almost always the case -- and they are hugely enthusiastic about the gains they've made in their specific slice of this conflict. It is very clear, in ways we will point out tonight, that the strategy here has undergone a profound change. Richard Engel also went out with U.S. forces today, to Sadr City -- and what he found meshes in many ways with what I saw to the West of here.
One of the more impressive scenes of the day took place in Hit, when the sergeant in charge of the tactical mission we went on briefed the fire teams that were going on the patrol. He ran down the list of streets we'd be using and/or crossing, a classic laundry list of military-given names: Star, Aspen, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry, Plantain (see a theme here?), Mavericks, Bronze. He mentioned that while our planned route was believed to be clear of "all known IEDs" (and I couldn't help but think: it's those UNKNOWN IEDs that we have to worry about...), he went on to warn us that two IEDs that had been discovered "near the corner of Eucalyptus and Peach" and would be detonated, perhaps while we were in downtown Hit, and that we shouldn't be alarmed if and when we heard the explosions. The sergeant, radio call sign "Able Tac One," went on to methodically brief us on the unit's rules of engagement and the response protocol to either direct fire or IED explosion. He told all drivers to "get up on the net" in such an instance (report it on the radio to all other Humvee patrols), and to "push through" any firing or explosion. In the case of sniper fire, our unit was ordered to "identify the source and return fire." Simple as that.
Right now we are in a tent in a fairly serious (even for this region, and I've seen its best) wind storm, which by nature is rapidly deteriorating into a sandstorm. We may have some pretty sporty conditions for our live broadcast tonight. We just now are able to use a working computer, and we have one "hard" phone line to share. Cell service is very spotty -- it is Iraq, after all. Tonight we'll set aside some time to talk about our day -- and the story we collectively reported -- with Richard and with retired Gen. Wayne Downing, who is on this trip with us. He had some interesting opinions of his own about what we saw on both stops today.
Photo caption: Brian and Gen. Wayne Downing. Photo by NBC's Jeff Riggins.
BACK AT THE OFFICE
One bit of family business: Nightly News has a new executive producer. I'm thrilled that Alex Wallace, who was until today our vice president, has agreed to run our shop. Alex is a great journalist, a great leader -- and happens to be great company in the trenches. My favorite story about her is that she applied to the London bureaus of all three television networks on the day she graduated from college. The problem came when her ship came in: She received offers from both CBS and NBC. What to do? How to choose? She accepted both. A day shift at one, a night shift at the other. That's what I tell people about Alex. She's a terrific broadcast executive who is married to a great guy (an educator in New York) and has two kids. If you're a loyal viewer of Nightly News, you've actually seen her before, though you may not realize it. On that day New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle crashed his single-engine plane into a New York high-rise, Alex was en route to her children's school, and provided a valuable eyewitness report to one of our camera crews -- all about what she saw. She held a number of big jobs at CBS News before we managed to steal her away, and while a number of her front-office responsibilities will continue in this job, we are all thrilled that Alex was able to take the position John Reiss once held. We are a very close bunch, and today's announcement keeps it that way. I wanted very badly to be there for today's staff meeting in New York, but I think Alex of all people understands.
I will try to gather up some details for a later stand-alone posting from here. Something interesting happens every minute. Would that there were enough time in the day to relay it all.
Read more from Brian Williams 2007, Brian Williams in Iraq
Meanwhile back in the Baghdad bureau
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Let me see...high-ranking career military officers are telling you that things are going great? Perhaps they would rather take a lesson from their supreme commander and blatantly lie to you.
Are they still putting pro-US propaganda into the newspapers there?
Have these generals, like the wounded veterans, been given orders to only say positive things?
I think, you are wasting your time, but it's always fun to figure out what they WANT us to think...and compare that to reality.
Sean, Torrington CT (Sent Mar 5, 2007 7:40:20 PM)
"From the Front" was an exceptional story that was broadcast tonight!! We are very proud and honored to have these soldiers be able to speak the truth and for it to reach all Americans here in the States. We are blessed to have these fine men and women help a country find their freedom. Our hearts and prayers goes to them and their families during their tour of duty.
Bill and Holly Watts
Mt.Pleasant, SC
Bill and Holly Watts Mt. Pleasant, SC (Sent Mar 5, 2007 7:24:50 PM)
Brian,
Thanks for reporting the truth. Wear the vest even in the "Safe" places. You and your team will be in my prayers.
EB, NC, CT. (Sent Mar 5, 2007 7:13:33 PM)
Brian:
I had switched ABC nightly news because I felt you were taking the usual NBC lead and reporting news against President Bush. Tonights news report was perfect. You were in the field and learning and reporting the real situation... which is different reporting reports from Rockefeller Center.
A local congressman, Patrick J.Murphy, campaigned on the uselessness we are doing in Iraq. He just took a trip to Iraq and of course came back and said .today, our servicemen are depressed, moral is low and they want to come home. Your report tonight was much different.
Thanks for giving us an enlightened report.... perhaps you just missed one major story point... that President Bush is doing the right program for Iraq.
Ted Amick
1270 Farm Road
Berwyn, PA 19312
610-993-8174
boac@msn.com
Ted Amick, Berwyn, Pa (Sent Mar 5, 2007 7:12:21 PM)
Safe journey Brian, give our best to the men and women over there - thanks!
Mario, Boulder, CO (Sent Mar 5, 2007 7:11:48 PM)
Thank you, Thank you. Brian Williams for airing a show that tells the American people that the people are glad to see the troops are in Iraq. My son is in the Airforce and he has been telling me for years that the people are so happy to see the troops helping them. Neva Collins
Neva Collins, Elsmere, ky (Sent Mar 5, 2007 7:06:51 PM)
Great story from Hit and Sadr City. Your report in Anbar province shows all the challenges the coalition is facing in Iraq. I expect Richard Engel's story in Sadr City will please Laura Bush since it provides a little bit of good news.
Phil, New York City (Sent Mar 5, 2007 6:56:12 PM)
I wouldn't want US goverment to leave if they were handing out bags of money in my neighborhood. Our cities here are crumbling.
Let's fix the US before we take care of everyone else.
j bERT (Sent Mar 5, 2007 6:38:45 PM)
Brian, be safe, you are the best, I make sure I watch you every evening, you are so unbiased.
JIM MODES, PALM SPRINGS,CA (Sent Mar 5, 2007 6:36:52 PM)
Brian, appreciate your efforts to go to Iraq and report on the story from there.
Could you say a word or two about the new oil revenue sharing agreement recently approved by the "sovereign" Iraqi government? I've only heard the US press talk about how this would share the wealth between the various Iraqi factions. Much of the foreign press is reporting that this agreement is a bonanza for foreign (including US) oil companies as they will be in control of production and will reap enormous profits. I'd like to hear the whole story.
Jack, Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Mar 5, 2007 6:34:42 PM)
Brian, stay safe in Iraq. I commend you on your reporting. I look forward to your return to the U.S.
J.B. Jackson, Ms (Sent Mar 5, 2007 6:24:29 PM)
Just give us the complete story good and the bad Brian
John Thompson Titusville Fl (Sent Mar 5, 2007 6:01:48 PM)
Thanks for your report Brian. With my nephew headed to Iraq next week to train Iraqi forces, any good news concerning the "surge" is very welcome. I have serious doubts about the ultimate outcome, but I do hope the Iraqis can step up and keep this from becoming more of a mess then it already is. You, your people, and all our troops are in my prayers. Stay safe!
Ron, OKC, OK (Sent Mar 5, 2007 5:44:20 PM)
I think that by far, Brian Williams is the best newscaster. I appreciate his honesty and his effort to report the news without any bias.
Brian Durst, Seattle, Washington (Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:56:21 PM)
Why do people assume that the General's enthusiastic view is not what is actually going on? It would be nice to actually have a report on the good that is in fact going on. It would be nice to have NBC not succumb to the pressure to only report the bad, rather than reporting the good. Just because it is good or enthusiastic -- does not mean it is not the truth.
(Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:55:35 PM)
Why does everyone always assume newscasters are not "doing their jobs" unless they report from "our" point of view?
(Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:23:37 PM)
I agree, are we going to hear the truth or hear what the generals say is the truth. Don't let us down.
(Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:18:16 PM)
Brian -
You are smart to be very aware of those IEDs - particularly after Newsweeks' cover last week I am very aware of that's how 'our Marissa' lost her legs - and two others in the Humvee lost their lives.
Hearings today at Walter Reed with some tough questions for the Brass. I am so proud of Dana Priest and Ann Hull for their work on this issue. Also Dana is now available on MSNBC during the day to comment as the hearings progress. I just hope these women win a barrel of awards.
In Selma, Hillary displayed a strange Southern Drawl, while Barack seemed comfortably at home with everyone and everything - knows all the words to the hymns, too.
Did you know that Rudy has been estranged from his children since that third marriage?
Keep safe and keep writing -
Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT (Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:14:49 PM)
First, our best wishes to the new producer as well.
Second, KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. Just saying. :-)
If you're allowed, could you ask how are the troops over there taking the news over here regarding post-Iraq medical care?
(Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:13:58 PM)
Be Safe Brian. Your newscast is number one with me
Lawrence S. Berkowitz (Sent Mar 5, 2007 4:09:27 PM)
My question is: Are you going to report the General's " enthusiastic" view of gains or are you going to investigate and report what is actually going on?
And why is nbc in Bagdad while few other reporters are or permitted to be.
(Sent Mar 5, 2007 3:44:21 PM)
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