U.S. Reporters Cheered the Zarqawi News? Obviously Not

June 8th, 2006 8:45 AM

Early AP dispatches from the press conference Nouri al-Maliki held this morning to announce the death of Zarqawi said these words were "drawing loud applause from reporters" there.

That didn't sound typical, and NBC's Richard Engel was more precise on Today this morning: "Spontaneous joy from Iraqi reporters gathered in Baghdad/>/>'s fortified Green Zone." American reporters don't cheer American victories. They suggest this won't mean much in the long run.

NBC's Special Report around the president's remarks included analysis from Tim Russert -- in reality and in tone, the Democratic response. Russert threw several pitchers of cold water on the good news, saying people should remember the euphoria after capturing Saddam Hussein, and things didn't change much.