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Peter Jennings: “We now are receiving reports from
small French village of St. Mere Eglise, where we understand Allied paratroopers began to drop last night. The news from there is dire. Scores of U.S. paratroopers have accidentally landed in town square and are being slaughtered by German soldiers before Americans can free themselves from their parachutes. Now we go to Katie Couric for a preview of this morning’s ‘Today Show.’ I’m not sure why we’re going to Katie Couric, since she works for NBC, but such is fog of war. Katie?”
Katie Couric: “Thank you, Peter. This morning on ‘Today’ we will ask question that is on every American’s mind: Is Operation Overlord first Allied failure against Adolf Hitler? For that answer, we turn to NBC’s chief military analyst, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey. What is your take, General?”
Gen. Barry McCaffrey: “Paratroopers are missing their targets. Landing craft are arriving late. And now we are getting estimates that as many as 14,000 French civilians will die in this brutal, fruitless attack upon European continent. What can I say? If Operation Overlord was to have any chance at all against these formidable German defenses, everything had to go perfectly. Instead, everything has gone haywire. The Roosevelt Administration must accept that this mission has failed, that we cannot possibly mount another operation of this magnitude, and that we must consider suing for peace with Hitler. This morning, Katie, I truly fear for America.”
Katie Couric: “Speaking of fear, don’t miss tonight’s breathtaking episode of ‘Fear Factor’. Share thrills as that ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ James Cagney attempts to tap dance blindfolded atop a 70-foot flagpole while Hollywood starlet Tallulah Bankhead confronts her loathing of clothing. That’s all tonight. …”
Copyright 2003 by W.O. Cawley Jr.
Rusty Cawley is a 20-year veteran journalist who serves as a news strategist for private enterprises in the United States. To comment on this article, write him at rustycawley@prrainmaker.com or visit his Web site at www.rustycawley.com.
