This is, on a different level, indicative of the snowballing of militaristic jingoism that came right after 9/11 and hasn't stopped. The reality is that it does not matter that he has ties to defense contractors. People who watch NBC don't care; they probably, for the most part, don't understand precisely what that entails. Nor would they understand that top positions at the Pentagon are occupied by former heads of intel/defense/security contractors, and that former DoD honchos likewise go the opposite route. It's an incestuous little system that's skirted around the public's perception for decades, and thus has become "entrenched" as the article put it. I'm a pessimist by nature, so I don't see any way out of it.

The Pentagon (and likewise NBC) would be hard-pressed to find a high-ranking retired official who hasn't engaged or does not have current ties to contractors, and that would leave them high and dry (which, of course, it should.)

None of that matters to Johnny-NBC-Viewer, who sees those "shiny medals" you talk about and assumes all the things that NBC and the DoD shallowly want him to assume. What he represents -- what this whole case, this whole circumstance represents -- is the chance for a very public debate over the complex to begin.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16119.html

Gregory to host 'Meet the Press'
By MIKE ALLEN | 12/2/08 6:58 AM EST

NBC News plans to name David Gregory as moderator of “Meet the Press,” infusing one of television’s most prized franchises with a sharp edge leavened by a youthful style and versatility, according to network executives.

Gregory, 38, celebrated his 30th birthday – complete with cake – aboard George W. Bush’s presidential campaign plane, the assignment that solidified his stature as a network rising star. Enjoying a gravitas boost from his prematurely salt-and-pepper mane and friendships with Tom Brokaw and other of the legendary figures of NBC News, Gregory quickly became one of the biggest network stars of his generation.

The plan to anoint Gregory is not final but will be as soon as today, the executives said. NBC spokespeople refused to comment, saying the network would make the announcement.

The decision was made by Jeff Zucker, president and chief executive officer of NBC Universal, and Steve Capus, president of NBC News.

As NBC’s chief White House correspondent, Gregory has been a dogged – occasionally prickly – questioner of both the president and his press secretaries. The perceived tension benefited both sides, and Gregory maintained productive relations with senior officials.

Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Gregory would be "an excellent choice": "No one was a tougher, more aggressive questioner in the briefing room than David Gregory. But when it came time to go on the air, he was always nothing but fair." [...]

- - Mike Allen - - Politico.com

* * * * *

Glenn Greenwald, one day before Tim Russert died:

http://salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/06/12/journalism

Thursday June 12, 2008

Longtime reporter: "Bloggers have taught me a lesson" about dependency on sources

Dwight Jaynes is a long-time sports columnist in Portland, Oregon [...]

[...] It's hard to imagine a more vivid illustration of the disease which Janyes describes than this little vignette:

NBC's David Gregory dancing with Karl Rove at the Radio-Television Correspondents' Association Dinner, March of 2007:

[The "Rappin' Rove" clip to which Glenn originally linked is no longer available, so I substituted the following clip:]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLvfbNBucEM

David Gregory, five months later, gently and deferentially interviewing his dance partner on Meet the Press after Rove announced his resignation:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rWEzZMcKWN4

David Gregory, along with The Politico's Mike Allen, expressing deep shock and righteous anger that anyone could possibly think that the media was "too deferential" or acted as "complicit enablers" to the Bush administration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNg4Gh2xYjg

- - Glenn Greenwald, June 12, 2008

~

Ignore ex-convicts like maotsetung.

Ugh. O Slippery white mayo lips gibbers.

OY! What jabbing! Idiocy. Meet the Press.

I like the pop-corn ideas: Orville H. Larson?

He'd be as amusing as a Sunday stray feline.

Ay, and citizens need giggling "New" anchors.

Call cabbie. Go film lewd media members @ Y.

The YMCA song comes to mind. Play You-Tube?

Listen to Al Green:`How to Mend a Broken Heart?

The DVD TV Sunday Comedy Crew can shower @ Y.

It's a good idea to sip a L.A. Anchor Steam? Virgin Oil!

Olive Oil. It's good for scabs. Rub crude oil on a media.

Orville H. Larson can pop pop corn for all Salon viewers.

Prime Time TV Showers are as fun as a New Baby Shower.

Huh? O, I just am invited to my daughter and laws shower.

I won't watch naked possums in a shower stall on Meet The Who?

I hope YNW don't take the TV babe-chair. Write @ UT. 'Um naked.

To write the truth is to wake up. Or, to wobble with britches down.

Who wants a VA light blue evening gown to report real news? I'll donate it.

The pilfered VA gown needs a good model anchor. A good sewing seamstress.

Presently, a VA gown has No buttons. A local YMCA has ethics. Sew belly buttons. O so silly.

Found this transcript online: (here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6452480/)

[TRANSCRIPT] - Also devoid of any conflict disclaimers...

There is no doubt that it is a full scale military operation. 15,000 U.S. and Iraqi troop punching through northern and eastern quadrants of the city, reaching the central highway intersection earlier today. Resistance has been sporadic with streets deserted and marines only encountering small bands of insurgents. Thus far 10 U.S. soldiers and marines and two Iraqi government troops have reportedly been killed in the two-day offensive. To try to get a grasp on what we‘re doing in Fallujah, we‘re honored to again be joined by the MSNBC military analyst, retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey. General McCaffrey, good evening.

GEN. BARRY MCCAFFREY, US ARMY (RET): Yeah, hi, Keith. I‘m out in Tacoma, Washington, thanks.

OLBERMANN: Thank you. Let me start with the reporting that the house to house resistance that the U.S. forces were expecting has been less than expected. Is that good news or is that too reminiscent of what didn‘t happen in Baghdad after the invasion itself, when it proved just to be a precursor to insurgency?

MCCAFFREY: Well, the insurgents would be unwise to try to take on marines in house to house fighting. They are backed up by two battalions of the 1st Cavalry and 1st Infantry Division using tanks and mechanized fighting vehicles. We have AC-130 Air Force gunship and precision strikes by naval aircraft. So fighting, they will be destroyed. It is not surprising that so far, they‘re trying to go to ground. We‘re going to end up taking the city. Hopefully it will be the easiest way in two or three days instead of seven to 10 days of hard fighting.

OLBERMANN: This has been billed throughout as a means of increasing the chances of those Iraqi elections that are supposed to occur less than 80 days from now. Is it going to have that effect? Is it going to hinder the insurgents sufficiently?

MCCAFFREY: No. I don‘t think so. I think the reason we have to take down Fallujah, and Ramadi and Samarra and these other places, is because they are acting as a sanctuary for armed attacks by these former regime elements, Ba‘athists. All throughout Baghdad, all throughout the northwestern part of the Iraq. I can‘t imagine the Sunni Muslims are going to agree to a democratic mechanism of government under which they, 20 percent of the population, that dominated Iraq for 50 years, political, economic, military, why would they agree to that? They‘re going to fight and they‘re going to try to regain control of Iraq.

OLBERMANN: Ultimately, General McCaffrey, what will the outcome in Fallujah be? You‘ve already suggested how long it might take. What there its impact be on the big picture there?

MCCAFFREY: Well, a pretty good one. I don‘t think we could have tolerated a continuing erosion of casualties, U.S. and allied. Terrible destructive attacks on the Iraqi police and National Guard and the governmental figures. So a lot of that was coming out of Fallujah and Ramadi. We‘ll go in and kill those people and then hopefully, re-assert control. That‘s the tough part, it seems to me, Keith. Is that I‘m very skeptical about the ability of these National Guard battalion, Iraqi and police units, to actually stay in control of this hotbed of insurgency. It doesn‘t sound like it is likely to happen.

OLBERMANN: General Barry McCaffrey as always, we greatly appreciate your insight and your time tonight, sir.