NBC - WILLIAMS TURNS UP IN BAGHDAD

Although it denied as "utter nonsense" speculation that it was motivated by a desire to boost its ratings, NBC has sent Brian Williams to Baghdad, making him the first network anchor to report from that strife-torn country since ABC anchor Bob Woodruff was critically injured there in January 2006. On his blog, The Daily Nightly, Williams said, "The decision to come here was mine. ... The recent change in the tempo of the violence and the decision to send more U.S. troops were both major factors in my decision" to go to Iraq. NBC said that months of security planning had taken place before the trip and added that a retired Army general, Wayne Downing, would be traveling with him.

05/03/2007