XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX 10:41:45 PST SAT FEB 21 1998 XXXXX
   
   OUTRAGE CONTINUES OVER CBS WAR GAMES!
   
   This in from a DRUDGE REPORT reader:
   
   Yesterday afternoon I happened to be scanning my satellite dish when I
   came across Dan Rather reporting live on an attack on BAGHDAD. AS I
   work in the financial business I immediately called numerous friends
   in the financial business and told them The WAR had started.
   
   They checked all other networks and they were reporting nothing about
   this event .I watched for about 15 minutes as they went into very
   detailed information about the attack. CBS had excellent 3D graphics
   showing cruise missiles and their routes and targets as well as other
   various attack methods. CBS also showed LIVE footage of attacks on
   BAGHDAD which was quite convincing.
   
   I telephoned CBS in NY and contacted their International News
   department . The woman I spoke to was quite surprised at my story. I
   told her that I was from Canada and she asked me if I was calling from
   the CBC. I explained that I was watching from my home and she sounded
   quite surprised. I told her that I had taped the whole event and that
   I wanted an explanation of what was going on. I gave her my phone
   number and asked if someone could call me and explain what was going
   on. After 10 minutes no one had called me so I called back. I asked
   why no one had called me and she said that high level execs were
   reviewing the matter. She stated that I was only one of two callers
   that had called them, the other residing in New Hampshire.
   
   I gave her my name, address and phone number and suggested someone
   contact me. I also explained that because I had contacted people in
   the financial industry a lot of money could be lost reacting to this
   news never mind the great embarrassment caused. The details of the
   report are to long to explain here so I suggest you get a copy of the
   tape.... The tape ended with Rather saying they had to return to what
   I believe he said what was the GRAMMYS and that they would be back
   with a report later. BY the way the broadcast was available on
   Satellite G4. The so called attack [was? is?] supposed to happen on
   FEB 25...
   
   X X X X X
   
   DAN RATHER: NOT KNOWN HOW MANY CASUALTIES
   
   CBS NEWS hit total embarrassment Friday afternoon when anchor Dan
   Rather, in full pancake makeup, and Pentagon correspondent David
   Martin were caught rehearsing coverage of a U.S. bombing run on Iraq
   -- a rehearsal that was mistakenly beamed to television affiliates via
   satellite!
   
   For 20 minutes, Rather could be seen on the satellite going through
   the motions of a bombing.
   
   According to one viewer who witnessed the spectacle, Rather at one
   point described how it was not known how many casualties were caused
   by the bombings.
   
   "It felt like WAG THE DOG," a senior news producer at a major-market
   affiliate tells the DRUDGE REPORT. "I bet the network is living in
   fear that someone on the receiving end of the transmission had tape
   rolling."
   
   "It looked like a real broadcast of what was going on," Bill McClure,
   master control operator at WTAP-TV in Parkersburg, W.Va., an NBC
   affiliate, told the ASSOCIATED PRESS.
   
   The network wanted to test new graphics and theme music that would be
   used to cover the story, according to CBS NEWS spokeswoman Kerri
   Weitzberg. No word on testing camera angles that would work best
   during February sweeps.
   
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   (c)DRUDGE REPORT 1998
   Not for reproduction without permission of the author