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In closing

37 comments on In closing

In closing
: Koppel’s closing words last night, thanks to Lost Remote.

Again, I take Koppel at his word that he is not trying to make a political statement.

But he cannot just ignore the history and meaning of the device he used; it is political. Whatever his intention, the act is political and a closing statement (especially a closing statement, rather than an introduction) doesn’t change that.

: To put this another way: The device presents those listed as victims. That is how the device has been used in print with the dead in Vietnam, from AIDS, from urban crime, 9/11 and other acts of terrorism, and so on. Victims.

And where there are victims, there is a wrong done to them — by man or nature.

But these are not victims. They are soldiers who went to do a job and did so valiently. But that is not how I saw them presented last night on Nightline. I did not see a tribute. I saw victims. And that is the problem I have with using that device now.

: UPDATE:” Jay Rosen says, of course, Koppel was making a political statement — and so what?

I agree with that… except.

Koppel says he wasn’t making a political statement. That’s what’s dishonest about it. He was making a political statement and that would be OK if he’d level with us about it.

He’s trying to be “political” and “objective” at the same time and that doesn’t work. It’s an on-off switch and he’s trying to put the switch in the middle. And it’s arcing.

37 responses to “In closing”

  1. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    I understand and respect your distinctio between tribute & victims. You’re right, last night’s show leaned much more to the latter category. Yet, many of these fallen soldiers were victims. Many were not “career” soldiers and merely joined the army to help pay for an education or earn job-skills. Many were reservists, who never conceived of spending 12 months in the Iraq desert being shot at by terrorists. You can be a hero and die with valor, and be a victim at the same time.

  2. old maltese Avatar
    old maltese

    Ted Koppel: ‘I oppose the notion that to be at war is to forfeit the right to question, criticize, or debate our leaders’ policies. Or, for that matter, the policies of those who would like to become our leaders.’
    Who in heaven’s name has said otherwise? This is like Senator Kerry saying that the Republican Attack Machine (copyright) is attacking his patriotism.

  3. Walter Wallis Avatar
    Walter Wallis

    Reservists should realize just as regulars do that the only reason they are there is to do a job if and when. Back in Gulf War 1, all these mommies who suddenly discovered families that needed them made me sick. That said, it is difficult to be a soldier and not know what soldiers are for.
    Ted can yell that his purpose was not political, but his actions belie that. You do not honor fallen soldiers by implying their deaths were for ignoble reasons, the cause and the death are inseperable. The converse is also true, that you dishonor soldiers by sending them into ignoble situations.
    Fuck Ted Kopecks and Nightswine.

  4. anon Avatar
    anon

    I watched it and found it strangely moving. The names, the photos, a farewell parade before the nation. The families should be proud of this company.
    I can’t imagine anybody objecting to what the show actually was.

  5. Ebb Tide Avatar
    Ebb Tide

    Both sides got a lot of publicity, have any of you guys watched Nightline in years? I have to admit I eagerly TiVo-ed the show he did with Salam Pax, but that is the extent of my Nightline viewing in 10 years.
    Critics of Koppel say it was all a stunt on his part to get attention, and it worked. He had no intention of “honoring” anyone, because to honor the Fallen would be to show the work they did and put their deaths in context…. to show otherwise is to tacitly say their deaths were in vain.
    (That’s how I see it.)
    Critics of Sinclair say they should have aired the Nightline, and then *also* done their half hour tribute IN ADDITION to Koppel, by doing that it would be in contrast (and context) to what Nightline provided.
    But both sides got a lot of publicity and afterall it is only tv people! Both sides won in my opinion.

  6. Joe Maller Avatar
    Joe Maller

    “I am opposed to sustaining the illusion that war can be waged by the sacrifice of the few without burdening the rest of us in any way.”

    I completely agree with that. The war is a burden, even for those of us trying to go about the normal everyday business of life. I can not ever forget my debt to those in service.

    “I oppose the notion that to be at war is to forfeit the right to question, criticize, or debate our leaders

  7. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    I am glad that we have had this “tribute”…
    Does that mean that the war is over?
    Does Koppel/ABC mean that no more will fall?
    Or does it simply mean that the April Sweeps have succeeded and now they can plan the October Sweeps… TV is a poor medium for perspective. It is a wonderful medium for conveying emotions.
    Koppel should retire. The Iranian hostages have been released.

  8. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    I am glad that we have had this “tribute”…
    Does that mean that the war is over?
    Does Koppel/ABC mean that no more will fall?
    Or does it simply mean that the April Sweeps have succeeded and now they can plan the October Sweeps… TV is a poor medium for perspective. It is a wonderful medium for conveying emotions.
    Koppel should retire. The Iranian hostages have been released.

  9. justin @ RSR Avatar
    justin @ RSR

    Your are stop on… hter other issues I have with “The Fallen”: timing and medium
    see here

  10. Steve Smith Avatar
    Steve Smith

    The men and women who have died in Iraq are every bit as much “victims” as anyone who was killed in Vietnam or died from AIDS. The fact that they were volunteers does not change the fact that they gave their lives for an unnecessary war, planned by men who had never fought on a battlefield and who arrogantly ignored even the most basic precepts of planning for the post-Saddam phase of the war. Soldiers have to believe that what they are fighting for is just. Civilians do not have to be caught in the same cycle of self-deception.

  11. Syl Avatar
    Syl

    If Koppel truly wanted to honor the fallen soldiers he would have included those who died in Afghanistan.
    Pfeh.

  12. Syl Avatar
    Syl

    Steve Smith you are a liar. It is only your _opinion_ that Iraq was an unnecessary war. You complain of Chickenhawks, yet what experience do you have that gives you the authority to decide what is in our national interest and what is not.
    You’re simply an armchair opiner.

  13. Buxx Avatar
    Buxx

    Syl – there’s no value added to this discussion by calling Steve Smith a liar. Yes, it is his opinion, but that doesn’t make him a liar. Be reasonable – be civil.

  14. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Check out Jay Rosen’s comments: “Of course Ted Koppel Was Making a Political Statment. So What?”

  15. Syl Avatar
    Syl

    Buxx..I’m sure you’re right. But sometimes, frankly, I don’t care. Condescension isn’t useful either.

  16. jakob Avatar
    jakob

    I did see soldiers who went to do a job and did so valiently. You say you saw victims. Or maybe you are just grasping for a reason to oppose a program that you fear may erode support for this war.
    A “journalist” who doesn’t want people to see the facts. For shame!

  17. Trump Avatar
    Trump

    Koppel is a lying sack of sh*t, as he has repeatedly made statements opposing the war.
    As for thoe who think it’s fine that he wanted to make a political statement: no, it’s not fine. It is NOT THE PLACE OF THE NEWS MEDIA TO BE MAKING POLITICAL STATEMENTS.
    Disgusting

  18. Trump Avatar
    Trump

    “I am opposed to sustaining the illusion that war can be waged by the sacrifice of the few without burdening the rest of us in any way.”
    So what the hell does Koppel want? Does he want us to start rationing like we did in WW2? Who the hell is he to be pushing some agenda that we’re not “being burdend” enough. And who the hell is he to decide that how much of a burden we should have?
    WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO HERE TED?
    3,000 fricking people died in the opening battle of this war…I saw it up too damn close. I carry the knowledge of that around with me every day and it su*ks. Is THAT enough of a burden for a pampered cocktail party intellectual like Ted Koppel?

  19. Tilli (Mojave Desert) Avatar
    Tilli (Mojave Desert)

    The reading of the names is not any more political than the listing of the names on the Vietnam War Memorial.

  20. Ivana Avatar
    Ivana

    Trump said: NOT THE PLACE OF THE NEWS MEDIA TO BE MAKING POLITICAL STATEMENTS.
    Let us know when you return from your fantasy.

  21. SaveFarris Avatar
    SaveFarris

    Syl,
    that’s exactly what rubs me the wrong way about this thing. Ted is saying “You folks out in the country have no idea about the sacrifice these troops are making so I need to rub it in your face until you KNOW!!!”
    Sorry Ted, those of us in the real world already know about the human cost. And we don’t need your self-aggrandizing stunts to remind us either. This isn’t anti-war so much as media elitism rearing it’s ugly head yet again.

  22. confused Avatar
    confused

    What “device” are you talking about? Maybe I’m dense. You mean the fact that he made closing comments? I’m confused.

  23. John Dunshee Avatar
    John Dunshee

    In 1968, after seeing the coverage of the Tet Offensive, Walter Cronkite said on the air “I thought we were winning this?” and thereafter the tone of his coverage became anti-war. Many point to his statement as the turning point of the war. Although Tet was a military victory for the Americans, it was painted as a defeat by the media. In fact, General Giap recently thanked those who protested the Vietnam War for making their victory possible.
    I think that Koppel was trying for a Cronkite moment here. He is hoping to tip the balance toward retreat despite the facts on the ground. It is too soon to tell, but he has plenty of help in the “mainstream” media.
    The April sweeps scheduling sure helped.

  24. Ga-ne-sha Avatar
    Ga-ne-sha

    First, the spelling is valiant, not valient. Second, if you sign up to be a soldier, that is what you signed up for. Duh.
    Third, the cause for the deaths is terrorism, and anyone who appeases them. Duh, Duh.
    Fourth, Koppel wishes to follow in the footsteps of Walter Cronkite, and Andy Rooney. Duh, Duh, Duh.
    Fifth, the path Koppel follows is devoid of any meaning whatsoever. Duh, Duh, Duh, Duh.
    Sixth, the dead soldiers died for us, our right to be as the Universe has created us, free-thinking entities who want to understand, not to be impeded by sadomasochists, and their close compatriots, Liberals, such as Koppel. Duh.

  25. lk Avatar
    lk

    Everybody has a thought on the thoughts lying beneath Ted’s mop of hair. Where’s a good mind-reader when you need one? “I think he is thinking” is the lead-in to something I do not want to read.

  26. Terry Avatar
    Terry

    Koppel says,
    “Our goal tonight was to elevate the fallen above the politics and the daily journalism; to let their names and faces remind us of what has always been true – when the American people fully understand …”
    How does saying their names and showing us their faces make us, or help us to begin to understand, never mind “fully understand”?
    Listing a bunch of heart attack victims make anybody more understanding of heart attacks?
    No.
    Ditto with crime victims or any other disease.
    Second what exactly is so tragic? Their death?
    EVERYBODY DIES. Two, they VOLUNTEERED KNOWING FULL WELL THE DANGERS.
    Of those who died, its a good guess that more died doing what they wanted to do, as a percentage, that is greater, probably far greater, then you would find in any other professions or walks of life.
    1. “The reading tonight of those 721 names was neither intended to provoke opposition to the war, nor was it meant as an endorsement. Some of you doubt that. You are convinced that I am opposed to the war. I

  27. Not American Avatar
    Not American

    What is wrong with you Americans…why are you so afraid of seeing the consequences when your foreign policy adventures fail? Why do you object to displaying the names and images of your fallen soldiers? Is it because most of the soldiers are young and from ‘poor’ backgrounds? At least Nightline showed how many white upper class American sons and duaghters were among the fallen (hint – not many). Why is this issue more important than the fact that your soldiers are torturing Iraqi prisoners? That they seem to have no training in their human rights obligations under the Geneva Conventions? The political leaders YOU elected decided to pursue this illegal ill-conceived war. The least you can do is acknowledge the loss of the families of those fallen soldiers.

  28. AST Avatar
    AST

    Not,
    It’s a good thing you told us you’re not one of us. We’d never have guessed otherwise. You sound like you watch a lot of Al Jazeera. That would explain why you think in propagandese.

  29. Ptolemy Avatar
    Ptolemy

    Well, Not American (pity for you), you on the outside have never understood us so why worry about it now? Every report of death hurts and we do now about all the deaths. We don’t need Koppel (the Canadian) to tell us about it. We are fighting two wars in here. The one against terrorism and the one against entrenched leftists in our media who would gladly sacrifice all our dreams to fulfill their long awaited One-World Socialist Utopia when the despicable rednecks of the south and west will be eliminated and the “real people” will be in charge as they deserve to be. As that hasn’t happened yet I undestand your Euro-Canadian bitterness and hope you will enjoy that pain for long time to come.

  30. Steve Rhodes Avatar
    Steve Rhodes

    Ummm, the people writing in propagandese are the ones who say anyone critical must be watching Al Jazeera (you should watch the Control Room) and think that Koppel is against the war when he said he doesn’t oppose it.
    This is a guy who is friends with Henry Kissinger and even had his name floated as a possible secretary of state in a Republican administration.
    I didn’t see the soldiers as victims. I’m sorry many of you saw it that way.

  31. Steel Magnolia Avatar
    Steel Magnolia

    Not American —
    I don’t know about you, but I found out about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners on our nightly news, so no, I wouldn’t say we’re especially averse to acknowledging consequences. Nor we will permit such transgressions to be ignored.
    You seem to have misunderstood the objections which some of us have voiced. We have always been willing to put names and faces to our dead. The idea that someone might do so — or even appear to be doing so — for commercial or partisan purposes is what we find offensive.
    I for one resent the condescension — whether it comes from newscasters or our ubiquitous critics — of those who think we need reminding that war has a human face. The slain are our families, our friends and neighbors, not some hypothetical underclass which we blythely send off to die in our stead without bothering to count the cost.

  32. keiser Avatar
    keiser

    Under the Clinton, Khofi Annan, French war against Iraq….Saddam Hussein was their PARTNER in killing 27,000 Iraqis every month Saddam was in power…that doesn’t even include the two major wars he started.
    Perhaps Ted Koppel will show us the faces and names of the 1.7 Million Iraqis that died due to the ”war of containment”. A war much more deadly, offered no hope and no liberation.

  33. Not American Avatar
    Not American

    Typical sepo reaction to criticism … just so you know I am not European, Canadian nor have a ever watched Al Jeeza. Nor do I seek a “Socialist Utopia”(?). “Leftist media!” you HAVE to be kidding me (all of Murdoch’s newspapers were pro-war – that’s not a coincidence – the US has a systemic right-wing bias in its media).
    You presume to understand me Ptlomey. I don’t presume to understand the ridiculousness of you sepo’s who enshire freedom of speech in your Constitution but criticise someone for broadcasting a simple tribute to fallen soldiers.
    Steel Magnolia, the photos of the tortured Iraqis were covered up for several weaks. American service men and women have a nasty habit of getting out of situations where they behave criminally in other countries. Ask the families of dead British servicemen, dead tourists in Italy(?) and raped Japanese girls. The US military justice system has a clear record of protecting its own. I will believe the punishment of these torturers when I see it.
    keiser – the ‘war of containment’ which you condemn was CREATED primarily by Bush Sr. and many of the current high ranking policy officials which have continued under Bush Jr. Bush Sr. made the decision not to continue to Baghdad after liberating Kuwait. Historically this can be seen as the worst thing done to the Iraqi people. Well apart from abandoning the Kurds…
    Americans are full of paradoxes. Support one undemocratic regime while invading another. Supporting freedom of speech but complaining when people who use it. Impeaching a president for lying about a blow job – not impeaching a president for lying about a national security issue and starting a war. Well you Americans are sure full of something…

  34. Steel Magnolia Avatar
    Steel Magnolia

    Not American —
    Bush Sr. “made the decision not to continue to Baghdad aftyer liberating Kuwait” because he was adhering to the groundrules set by our coalition partners. Historically speaking, those strictures and the stunning malfeasance in the UN administration of the Oil-for-Food program — aside from the depredations of Saddam himself, of course — are the great Iraqi tragedies.
    As for paradoxical foreign polilcy, surely you can’t contend that Americans are unique in that respect — while managing to keep a straight face. I hate to break this to you, but almost everybody has a pretty clear history of protecting their own. Or are you perhaps one of those who actually believe that French resistance to intervention in Iraq was simply a matter of international principle?

  35. Ebb Tide Avatar
    Ebb Tide

    If Ted Koppel and ABC wanted to really do a tribute for the fallen he would have:
    1) Done a primetime one hour special, COMMERCIAL FREE.
    2) advertised the “special” using promos and resources like plugging it on Good Morning America all week. (Sinclair did their advertising for them by pre-empting the show on their 7 ABC stations.)
    3.) A true special would have had something more in it, content, context (as other commenters have written here on Buzzmachine)…. rather than a “cheapie-phone it in” reading of names where each name gets 2 secs of air time. Think about it, the “special” was not that special.
    Had ABC taken out the commercial breaks the show would have fit in the 30 min time slot, this way they ran comemrcials for Mattress Dicounters and the like…. not very special if you ask me… and it ran 40 mins.
    But if all this media attention got some American Citizens to *think* about the fallen, then it has served a useful purpose, but the idea that everyone in America was watching TVLand or something and was not paying attention until Ted Koppel told us to, is something I disagree with and resent. We don’t need Ted Koppel or anyone in the media to condescendingly do a fake tribute to the fallen.

  36. Ptolemy Avatar
    Ptolemy

    Not Canadian or European? I stand corrected. I have just grown accustomed to the nihilistic half of the West throwing out all the sanctimony.
    I fully expect the soldiers to suffer accordingly and agree, that if we were not taking care of all the parasites in Europe and Asia there would not be any soldier scandals to occur. Be careful what you wish for. An isolationist America is not a total impossibility.

  37. Citizen Keith Avatar
    Citizen Keith

    At least you got to see it. Sinclair thought it wasn’t in my interest.