Brian Williams in his own words
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Sent!Posted!USAToday 4:34 p.m. EST February 5, 2015
USA TODAY media columnists weigh in on the ever-changing story of Brian Williams aboard a military helicopter in 2003 that has recently gotten him in some hot water. The 'NBC Nightly News' anchor apologized to veterans this week. VPC
Video TranscriptAutomatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
00:00 I'm not sure. That if I had been shot down 00:03 in a helicopter I would not be able to remember that. 00:08 I made a mistake in recalling the events of twelve years 00:12 ago I wanna apologize I set I was traveling in an 00:15 aircraft that was hit by RPG fire. I was instead in 00:19 a follow wing aircraft. We all landed after the ground fire 00:24 incidents spent two harrowing nights in a sandstorm. In the Iraq 00:28 desert. This was a bungled attempt by me to thank one 00:33 special veteran and by extension. Our brave military men and women 00:37 veterans everywhere those who have served while I did not. I 00:40 hope they know they have my greatest respect and also now 00:44 my apology. I think her as Brian's credibility he's had a 00:47 pretty good record. Being a stand up journalist and so this 00:52 is it's definitely a blemish on his record remains to be 00:55 seen whether. This affects his career. And BC is not saying 01:00 anything currently is. And and he's apologized of course but I 01:05 think some people believe that the apology. Actually. And me things 01:09 had it worse because he he seem to minimize the importance 01:13 it's a strange situation because he eases the fog of memory 01:17 let him too thin to me three member of the fact 01:20 that he wasn't in that. Helicopter that was shot that he's 01:23 talked about this in different ways over the years. Early shortly 01:26 after it happened. He seemed to remember correctly. Suddenly without knowing 01:31 why we learned we've been ordered to land in the desert 01:34 on the ground we learned the chinook ahead of us was 01:37 almost blown out of the sky and then began. Sort of 01:42 changing. Changing his tune later in blog posts and then. I'm 01:47 David Letterman show in 2013. Two of our four helicopters were 01:51 hit by ground fire including the one I was in credibility 01:55 is so key. And his explanations. That have even deepened his 01:59 problems I think I think this will melt but he has 02:02 a lot of veterans that are very upset with them. Which 02:05 is a reason this story came out. And and I I 02:09 think this will be very difficult for him to ride out. 02:13 It's interesting because he more than other news anchors has tried 02:16 to display his. Comedian society goes on on The Daily Show 02:20 and Jimmy Fallon and and and sort of jokes around. Not 02:24 pres so pop. I don't know that that will directly affect. 02:31 Is. What his culpability for this kind of incident but I 02:35 think he's maybe more broadly known to. Two viewers than just 02:39 as a news anchor and and to what degree that influences 02:42 reaction to this I don't know.
After an outcry from veterans, Brian Williams was forced to make public apology during his evening news cast wednesday night. The veterans were upset with Williams' version of an event that occurred during the early days the Iraqi war. The story, that Williams had been in a helicopter that came under attack during a mission to deliver bridge parts, has seemingly changed over the years. Watch for yourself as Williams, in his own words, describes the events on different occasions.
The original report
"On the ground we learn the Chinook ahead of us was almost blown out of the sky."
2013 Appearance on David Letterman
"Two of our four helicopters were hit, by ground fire, including the one I was in."
Williams repeated the story on air Feb 2, 2015
"When the helicopter we were traveling in was forced down after being hit by an RPG."
The apology
"I was instead in a following aircraft"
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