It's an unmitigated disaster for Brian Williams and NBC News.
The revelation that the NBC anchor had lied on air about being in a helicopter that was shot down during the Iraq War is devastating. It's hard to see how Williams gets past this, and how he survives as the face of NBC News. An anchor's number one requirement is that he or she has credibility. If we don't believe what an anchor tells us, what's the point? It's disturbing that Williams has told many different versions of this story over the years. In some he was in a helicopter that was shot down. In some he was in one near the chopper that was hit. This from a man whose word should be gospel to us? And Williams hardly has helped himself with his tortured explanations about what has gone so terribly wrong.
USA TODAYNBC's Brian Williams recants Iraq claim
After veterans writing on Facebook challenged his tale, which he told on air most recently last Friday, Williams responded on the social media site that he had indeed been in the helicopter behind the one that was hit. He continued: "I think the continued viewing of the video showing us inspecting the impact area — and the fog of memory over 12 years — made me conflate the two, and I apologize."
What? He's confused about whether he was in an aircraft that was shot down? I'm pretty sure that's something you would remember, fog of memory or no fog of memory.
After veterans writing on Facebook challenged his tale, which he told on air most recently last Friday, Williams responded on the social media site that he had indeed been in the helicopter behind the one that was hit. He continued: "I think the continued viewing of the video showing us inspecting the impact area — and the fog of memory over 12 years — made me conflate the two, and I apologize."
What? He's confused about whether he was in an aircraft that was shot down? I'm pretty sure that's something you would remember, fog of memory or no fog of memory.