Coming to NBC: "To Catch a Cheney"

I have a plan to get NBC out of last place in the ratings. I'm promising blockbuster audience and international buzz. As a once disgruntled ex-employee, I now just want to be positive and help NBC, which needs all the free advice it can get.

Here's my idea: A series of NBC News primetime specials featuring spectacular ambushes of big-time criminals lured into what they expect to be pleasurable surroundings. But, with hidden cameras whirring, the startled villain is dramatically confronted with the evidence of his massive crimes as millions of viewers look on in scorn and righteous amusement.

If it sounds familiar, it's because NBC News has scored huge ratings with its "To Catch a Predator" sleaze-fest - in which potential sex offenders by the bushel were lured via the Internet to what they thought would be sex with kids and instead got caught by NBC cameras and cops in hiding.

But my proposal doesn't involve sex abusers. I'm talking about men who've launched illegal war, mass murder, torture, dictatorship. And they're household names.

Before you laugh off my proposal for "To Catch a War Criminal," check out last week's New York Times report by Brian Stelter: "On Trail of War Criminals, NBC News Is Criticized."

NBC is already at work -- "To Catch a Predator"-style -- on a two-bit version of my idea, and not surprisingly, they may be screwing it up. For over a year, a camera crew has been on the trail of alleged war criminals; in December, an NBC producer confronted a Maryland foreign language professor who NBC sources accuse of war crimes in Rwanda.

But there are problems - as often happens when you leave the "news" to NBC. Human Rights Watch questions the evidence against the professor, who's been seeking asylum in the U.S. A journalistic ethicist questions NBC's close relations with Rwanda's government.

So here's my advice: Go big. Go after superstars and only well-documented, slam-dunk cases of war crimes.

Coming to NBC next week: "To Catch a Cheney." Next month: "To Catch a Kissinger."

How do you lure such big names to an NBC News lair for their ambush interview? You simply invite them.

Given the soft treatment they've received over the years, they'll come running quicker than a Net perv to Lolita. Trust me: the element of surprise is on NBC's side -- since these uber-officials are confident their crimes will remain eternally off-limits.

To lure Dick Cheney from his undisclosed location, NBC's "To Catch a War Criminal" producers could pretend to be booking "Meet the Press." Cheney has been as comfy on that show as Alec Baldwin on "Saturday Night Live." It came out under oath in the Scooter Libby trial that Vice President Cheney's office viewed "Meet the Press" as "our best format," a program in which Cheney could "control the message." Putting him on that show, testified his communications chief, "was a tactic we used often."

It was on "Meet the Press" after 9/11 that Cheney warned: "We have to work the dark side, if you will. We're going to spend time in the shadows."

So Mr. Dark Side shows up at NBC studios expecting another puff job, and instead is confronted on camera with witnesses, documents, victims of his various war crimes. It's riveting television and real journalism as his violations of the Geneva Conventions of War in matters of torture and kidnapping are detailed.

The program climaxes big-time with Cheney cross-examined about Iraq and his lead role in committing the ultimate war crime (as described by the Nuremberg tribunal): launching an unprovoked attack upon another country.

And what about Henry Kissinger? His participation in crimes of war, murder, mayhem and military coups is neatly packaged in Eugene Zarecki's 80-minute documentary (award-winner at Amnesty International Film Festival): "The Trials of Henry Kissinger."

Think he's too old to spring into NBC's trap? Actually, the spry 85-year-old still appears frequently on NBC channels -- assured that his criminal past will never come up.

Invite him. Kissinger will come.

And he's not old news. Just as there's no statute of limitations on murder, there's none for Kissinger's crimes. Remember that military dictator Augusto Pinochet, who ended democracy in Chile thanks to Kissinger's crucial help, was arrested in England for international crimes many years after leaving office.

Besides ratings, my "Catch a Major War Criminal" idea delivers something else for NBC: It's fairly cheap to produce. The New York Times reports that NBC News has spent a year chasing down foreign war criminals and "possible perpetrators of human rights abuses in several countries." Going after big-name U.S. war criminals is quicker and more cost-effective -- with so many documents, archives and witnesses in or around D.C.

In truth, there's one main reason my proposal will never launch on NBC: It's the longstanding nationalistic, ethnocentric (even racist) bias in our country that blocks serious scrutiny of "our" criminals.

That bias allows "objective" journalism to refer matter-of-factly to "Saddam's torture rooms," but not "George Bush's torture rooms"; to "mass murder" of Kosovars and Rwandans, but not "mass murder" of Guatemalans or Salvadorans or Vietnamese caused by U.S. officials; to "terrorism" from homemade bombs and IEDs, but not the far more lethal terror against civilians from advanced, aerial bombardment.

War criminals tend to have funny names, dark skin and wear foreign garb. They can't be powerful Americans in tailored suits.

This giant illusion is fostered by major U.S. news media that are allergic to discussing deadly U.S. interventions in the context of Nuremberg principles, Geneva Conventions protecting prisoners of war and noncombatants, and the United Nations Charter, especially articles 41 and 42 on the initiation of armed force. These international laws and treaties are the law of our land -- as clear as laws against murder.

So NBC News will traipse the globe in search of Rwandans -- while Dick and Henry sleep like babies tonight. And then appear tomorrow on U.S. television offering their exalted opinions on international affairs.

Maybe NBC should stick to catching sex offenders. Any pretense that they want to seriously track down war criminals is a farce.

Jeff Cohen is an inactive lawyer and the director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College. In 2002, he was a producer and pundit at MSNBC (overseen by NBC News). His latest book is Cable News Confidential: My Misadventures in Corporate Media.

Comments

[Larry Hirsch]

Is NBC's apparent capitulation to the right wing actually to help boost ratings? After all, the last three "experts" The Today Show has had on to comment on the Obama stimulus plan have been Newt Gingrich, Meg Whitman, and lastly Karl Rove. None of these can be expected to give an unbiased assessment of the President's plan. It is part of a pattern that has established itself the last few months and has outraged me.

[Rogan]

The right-wing corporation that owns NBC largely dictates and/or controls the message. It's just that simple. At EVERY network.

[lovable]

after the first show people in the repub party would not go near a nbc interview again. !!! it can only be done once.

[Romeover]

Good point, lovable. I do think that you underestimate the insatiable desire of politicians for media exposure.

[Rogan]

Honestly? They'd have to do it the way it's done in Norman Spinrad's novel Bug Jack Barron. You starts attacking Cheney live, showing five minutes at a time of detailed-hard hitting documentary exposure. In between detailing and proving his crimes, you come back to the host every few minutes, who then makes attempts on camera, to find Cheney. As in: you SEE Cheney's office rebuff the phone calls... etc. Like Michael Moore chasing Roger, but more intense and focused. Like in the novel, the two parallel narratives become compelling television, without requiring the involvement of the target.

[fishgirl26]

watch and learn.....­.if outed I really doubt this administration would stand by the policies. I would love to watch them squirm just as I did the Dr. who was a sex predator.

[magen]

Wow!!!!!!!!!

That's a gazillion dollar idea right there.....­......

It shouldn't be just war criminals though....­..the last 8 years have given us a whole slew of big time criminals to convict.

I think if you included accosting the banking CEO's you'd get even more ratings...­......

Anybody out there want ratings...­..........­...???????­????????? Which translates to money.....­?????

Hello.....­..........­..........­...???????­????

[TJCole]

Maybe a reality show The Cheneys' is worth considerin­g...

[cpscscs]

I can't wait. Picture Cheney and Stone Phillips sitting on stools at the kitchen table. The first time Cheney spouts one of his lies, Stoney comes out with his patented, "Oh really....­.!", the sarcasm hanging in the air.

[TJCole]

NBC is run by the Bilderberg Group lock stock and barrel, it is not MSNBC by any means which at least allows us the illusion of an opposition media outlet...a­s appeasemen­t...or an opiate so to speak for those who actually have half a concept of what has really been going on in America for the last 8 and in reality 28 years as you know well Jeff but it's always good to see you here at Huffington post and any other outlet for your important experienced perspective Jeff...

Meet the Press should be known as Meet the Oppressors­..!

See what I mean...?

TJ..

[UltraClassic]

You pretty much covered all the bases but I think you forgot to mention that Jena Bush attempted to buy an margarita at a bar and grill before she was 21. Don't forget that she is spoiled unlike the Obama children.

[jcorrington]

I think its a great idea Jeff! I would be an avid watcher.

[WmC]

Me too. And can I serve as an intern in "softening them up" for their interviews? I would promise not to exceed any of the guidelines set down by John Yuu.