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Baghdad cheered and Iraq's army went on parade for the first time since Saddam Hussein was its commander in chief. All three networks sent a correspondent to cover the official transfer of military authority from the United States to Iraq in its cities and towns. GIs are no longer combat troops; they are now advisors and trainers. Iraq was Story of the Day even though it did not qualify as the lead item on any of the three newscasts. That honor fell neither to Michael Jackson nor to Al Franken--but to Extra Strength Tylenol. An FDA panel, worried about liver damage, recommended a reduction in the daily dosage of acetaminophen.

CBS' Lara Logan filed from the very parade ground where the dictator Saddam used to fire his rifle into the air to show off his military prowess. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki decided not to stand on that same balcony and the marching bands and rolling tanks avoided "the famous Cross Swords Monument, so visible in parades of old. It is a symbol of Iraq's victory over Iran during the last war, now unpopular with this country's pro-Iranian government."

Did Iraq really win that war? I remember stalemate.

NBC's Tom Aspell showed us overnight celebrations in Baghdad as the United States ended its occupation: "Fireworks instead of bombs, music instead of gunfire, Iraqis were overjoyed." ABC's David Kerley pointed out that GIs have been "packing up and pulling down blast walls for months." The US military will "no longer act unilaterally--no raids, no combat operations--unless Iraqi troops are with them or the Iraqis approve." Yet the Iraqi military, Kerley noted, still lacks Medevac and intelligence capabilities. And the nation is not at peace: bombs have killed almost 300 over the past two weeks.

ABC's Bob Woodruff updated us on the "bizarre" human interest story of a military police sergeant who was stabbed in the head on a Baghdad street almost two years ago. He reminded us of the X-ray of a blade plunged into Dan Powers' temple, implanted all the way past his nose. Woodruff was happy to tell us that Powers' rehab is complete. He is even parachuting again with his unit. Next stop: war in Afghanistan.


Andrew Tyndall 7/2/09 3:07:40 pm

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