Brian Williams was not shot down in Iraq

[SpcGuts]

So Brian Williams has recanted his recount of being shot down while traveling on a Chinook in Iraq back in 2003. Due to the "fog of memory" he "managed to switch aircraft."

Personally, I don't think a person can have trouble "remembering" if they were on a helicopter that was forced to land after getting hit by 2 RPGs and small arms fire.

Is an apology enough?

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/nbc-s...otest-1.327792

[Garnier Fructis]

He apologized on national TV, not with obscure press release stuff that most people pull. If that's not enough, what else would you want him to do?

[LilSaihah]

Maybe he hit his head on an RPG.

[SpcGuts]

He apologized on national TV, not with obscure press release stuff that most people pull. If that's not enough, what else would you want him to do?

I just don't know if I believe that he mis-remembered the events. It feels more like he simply lied. As a reporter, I'm not sure that an apology would be sufficient for lying.

[Saladbar]

He needs to resign. I don't care about him one way or the other, but you would think the network would want a host that viewers felt they can trust. I don't see how viewers could trust him at this point. Funny how he only apologizes when a story comes out questioning his truthfulness.

[Independent voter]

I'm cynical about his rebuttal to the accusations because getting shot down in Iraq would be a plus for his ratings. He was motivated to say he was shot down for financial reasons, it helped his job.

[theostrichsays]

I can't say I'm overly bothered by it in general.
Given the number of soldiers who blatantly lie about their combat experience(s), I've met over the years, some reporter lying about doesn't bother me.

To each their own though, I can't blame people for being offended by it.

[Fexus]

I think it's pretty clear that he lied. If I were in charge of the network, I'd probably can him in an attempt to maintain credibility. That being said, I don't really give a shit because I don't tune into network news.

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

Is an apology enough?

No! He needs to be fired and put in jail for 30 years and hung from his balls!

Seriously people? If shit like this would be going on in Finland, concerning a TV anchor, nobody would give a shit. "Oh no, he lied!" So. What.

[Darksoldierr]

No! He needs to be fired and put in jail for 30 years and hung from his balls!

Seriously people? If shit like this would be going on in Finland, concerning a TV anchor, nobody would give a shit. "Oh no, he lied!" So. What.

'Murica is an entirely different world

[Fexus]

No! He needs to be fired and put in jail for 30 years and hung from his balls!

Seriously people? If shit like this would be going on in Finland, concerning a TV anchor, nobody would give a shit. "Oh no, he lied!" So. What.

Well if he fancies himself a journalist, this is pretty damning. I certainly don't think any action should be taken other than career punishments. It is likely that the network is the true culprit, however, so punishing him might be misguided.

[Tokru]

Who is this and why is it important?

[Flutterguy]

He only owned up to it because soldiers that were there called him out. He's only sorry because he got caught. Hell, he repeated the story only a week ago, I think. lol

They won't fire him, but his credibility is damaged.

[Reeve]

He apologized on national TV, not with obscure press release stuff that most people pull. If that's not enough, what else would you want him to do?

Maybe not equivocate about the apology by claiming that in the fog of war he couldn't remember that he wasn't actually shot down?

[Spectral]

If I were to give him the benefit of the doubt, it'd be that human memory is notoriously terrible. Remembering something that happened to other people as being something that happened to you isn't especially rare. Since I generally like to approach things as a Bayesian, I keep that possibility open... but there's another possibility that I think is more likely, given my general impression of the media - he's a lying liar that lies.

[lockedout]

He only owned up to it because soldiers that were there called him out. He's only sorry because he got caught. Hell, he repeated the story only a week ago, I think. lol

They were calling it Stolen Valor. It's not but damn close.

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of.

- - - Updated - - -

Maybe not equivocate about the apology by claiming that in the fog of war he couldn't remember that he wasn't actually shot down?

His chopper was only an hour behind the one that was shot down, surely this is a common mistake.

[Tomservo]

One time I was on a plane with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper and....oh wait, now that I think about it, I was just riding bumper cars.

[Vyxn]

He apologized on national TV, not with obscure press release stuff that most people pull. If that's not enough, what else would you want him to do?

with a lie like that and continue for year repeating that same lie is an indication of an habitual liar you lose all creditability and trust and you need those traits to be a conceded a good news caster
but who im a kidding you still think Obama is creditable and deserves trust

[Garnier Fructis]

with a lie like that and continue for year repeating that same lie is an indication of an habitual liar you lose all creditability and trust and you need those traits to be a conceded a good news caster
but who im a kidding you still think Obama is creditable and deserves trust

You didn't even answer the question in the quote. In fact, this reply would have made just as much sense had you not quoted me. Also, I haven't considered Obama trustworthy ever since I caught wind of TPP. But thanks for assuming.