What if we missed him? According to this morning's Today, that would be "a huge blow to America's image abroad."
Well then, what if we got him? That's not so good either: "Even if Al-Zawahari was killed, America's relations with a key ally have paid a price" says Today.
See what I mean?
Today chose to lead its show with images of angry anti-US protests in Pakistan, as Matt Lauer spoke of a "boiling point."
And just in case anyone missed the message, NBC reporter Jim Maceda, in Pakistan, played a brief clip in which the former head of Pakistani intelligence declared:
"I like the CIA; we work together. But I daresay they are a huge failure and they have to be responsible for it."
So let's summarize:
- Huge blow to the US if we missed Zawahiri.
- We pay a price with a key ally even if we got him.
- And, oh yeah, we have to be responsible for our 'huge failure.'
Got it.
BONUS COVERAGE
Also in the first half-hour, Ann Curry conducted an adoring interview with Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the newly-elected President of Liberia. Ann spoke with open envy of the fact that Liberia had beaten the US to the punch when it came to electing a woman president. Don't worry, Ann - you'll have your chance to campaign for Hillary before long.
Later came a segment on a radical fad in eco-tourism - visits to the still-radioactive area surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Ukraine. The American woman tour guide, who has made 19 visits to the area, solemnly declared that "humans are more dangerous to nature than radioactivity."
