An anonymous Drudge reader reported the following
"I happened to be scanning my satellite dish when I came across Dan Rather reporting live on an attack on Baghdad. I work in the financial business, and immediately called numerous friends in the financial business and told them The War had started.What makes this all the more credible is that the report suggested the attack would take place the following Wednesday, February 25. A quick look at the sky that night showed it was the first of three moonless nights, giving US forces around 13 hours of near total darkness to attack.They checked all other networks - they were reporting nothing about this event. I watched for about 15 minutes as CBS 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.
That, then, is Matt Drudge's report. Personally, I'm inclined to believe that such a broadcast was made, as it would concur with standard practice in the BBC and other organisations. Whether CBS knew from military sources that an attack was imminent, or whether they just took a pot shot guess, I'm not going to call. My War Pendulum for Friday and the days before shows around a 65% chance of military attacks in the next 20 days, and a professional organisation like CBS would logically want to make the best plans for such an event.
As it turned out, of course, the war failed to start at all, following a successful intervention by Kofi Annan. But, the question remains an interesting one.
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