Only ABC Marks One Year Anniversary of the Successful Surge in Iraq

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(from the NewsBusters.org post):
If the surge in Iraq did not work, you can be sure the networks would all use its one-year anniversary to highlight its failure, but on Thursday night [Feb. 14] only ABC’s World News, of the three broadcast network evening newscasts, marked the anniversary. With “Surge Success”on screen, anchor Charles Gibson noted “it was one year ago today that the surge began in Iraq — the troop buildup ordered by the President when so many of his critics were calling for a draw down of troops. 30,000 additional troops started arriving a year ago.” From Iraq, Clarissa Ward began over matching video:

If you’re looking for one measure of the impact of the surge, look at General David Petraeus, walking through a Baghdad neighborhood with no body armor and no helmet. It’s one year since the beginning of what’s known here as “Operation Fardh al-Qanoon.” According to the U.S. military, violence is down 60 percent. One key to the success, reconciliation.

Ward proceeded to outline how residents of one Baghdad neighborhood “who had fled have flooded back in droves. “There is work,” this mechanic told me. “Shops have reopened.” But the Iraqi government has yet to capitalize on the relative peace. The hope is that the passing of the budget this week will spur the Iraqi government to act.”

Ward concluded with how Petraeus is “normally very guarded in his assessment of the surge,” but “now expresses cautious optimism.” Petraeus asserted: “I have to tell you that having been here for a number of years, this is very encouraging, actually. This is potentially a big moment.”

Thursday’s CBS Evening News didn’t have time for Iraq, but did make room for a five-minute long taped Katie Couric interview with Michelle Obama and the NBC Nightly News skipped the anniversary, but did end with a story on two-year old girl brought from Iraq (by Marines via a Tennessee church pastor) to Vanderbilt Hospital for a life-saving operation.

Go to NewsBusters.com for the original posting.