Some of my veteran friends actually stuck up for Brian Williams in the beginning, and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt myself. We even wrote about it on this site, then it became too much and the weak Williams foundation collapsed in on itself in a heap of rubble.
It’s one thing to embellish for the sake of story telling, but to flat-out lie about serious events in what appears to be a narcissist-fueled campaign of self-indulgence, when you are a trusted news correspondent is unacceptable, and a career ending activity.
“Now, people might be hearing about SEAL Team 6. I happen to have the great honor of flying into Baghdad with them at the start of the war.” -Brian Williams, May 3, 2011, on Nightly News
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
Some of my veteran friends actually stuck up for Brian Williams in the beginning, and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt myself. We even wrote about it on this site, then it became too much and the weak Williams foundation collapsed in on itself in a heap of rubble.
It’s one thing to embellish for the sake of story telling, but to flat-out lie about serious events in what appears to be a narcissist-fueled campaign of self-indulgence, when you are a trusted news correspondent is unacceptable, and a career ending activity.
“Now, people might be hearing about SEAL Team 6. I happen to have the great honor of flying into Baghdad with them at the start of the war.” -Brian Williams, May 3, 2011, on Nightly News
Yesterday, SOFREP spoke anonymously with a former DEVGRU operator who had been with the unit since 2003. He confirmed that SEAL Team 6 was not in Iraq at the start of the invasion in March. Members from the command didn’t enter Iraq until April. It was the assaulters of DEVGRU who successfully rescued captured US Army soldier Jessica Lynch on April 1st, 2003.
The same operator also spoke to me about Williams’ claim that he was given a piece of the stealth helicopter from the UBL mission.
“It’s tactically unsound to waste time taking pieces off the downed helo during that mission. That helicopter was also part of a Special Access Program, so I’m one hundred percent certain that the professionals at DEVGRU are not going to risk imprisonment to give Brian Williams a souvenir.” -Former DEVGRU Operator
The sad thing is that Brian Williams has tarnished not just his reputation, but an entire news network and investigative news unit. He’s also lost the trust of millions of Americans, and no amount of money can buy that back.
(Featured Image Courtesy: NJ.com)
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.