Blogs React to ABC Anchor Bob Woodruff's Serious Injury in Baghdad
Published January 29, 2006
Just a few weeks ago, Bob Woodruff was named, along with Elizabeth Vargas, as co-anchor of the ABC Evening News, replacing the late Peter Jennings.
Now he is recovering from surgery for head injuries suffered in Baghdad as the result of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED):
World News Tonight co-anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt are both out of surgery and in stable condition following surgery at a U.S. military hospital in Iraq. The two and an Iraqi soldier were seriously injured when their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device in Iraq today."We take this as good news, but the next few days will be critical," ABC News President David Westin said in a statement.
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Woodruff and Vogt underwent surgery at the U.S. military hospital in Balad. Both men suffered head injuries. Woodruff sustained shrapnel wounds and Vogt was hit by shrapnel in the head and suffered a broken shoulder.
Woodruff, Vogt and their four-man team were traveling in a convoy with Iraqi security forces in Taji, Iraq. They had been embedded with the 4th Infantry Division and were in a mechanized vehicle on a combined operation with Iraqi Army and Coalition forces when the explosive went off. The explosion was followed by small arms fire.
Poynter.org has background on both men, as well as the chilling statement that 61 journalists have died in Iraq. Michelle Malkin reports on other people injured by IEDs this week.
The news brought out reactions to the war, for and against:
Redstate: "It is so right to stop the terrorists who do these things."
Daily Kos: "Yeah, shit is still FUBAR in Iraq."
Some bloggers took the news to heart:
titusonenine: "I ask your prayers for Doug and Bob and their families. If you think this doesn't hit home, think again. I grew up with Bob's wife Lee . . . ."
Newsbusters: "The tone does not sound good. It would be a good day for prayers. "
Brothers Judd: "Mr. Woodruff is a friend from Colgate University and an especially decent guy.
Some think the risk is worth it:
Bigpaulyb: "But like our military, or our astronauts, [journalists] are important parts of understanding the world we live in."
Oddly enough, some of the more widely read blogs, such as Instapundit and Washington Monthly were silent on the news this morning.
- Blogs React to ABC Anchor Bob Woodruff's Serious Injury in Baghdad
- Published: January 29, 2006
- Type: News
- Section: Politics
- Writer: Justene Adamec
- Justene Adamec's BC Writer page
- Justene Adamec's personal site
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Comments
oops. Nevermind about that last sentence, I was thinking of Bob Woodward.
The last blog you quoted was particularly interesting. It's expected to see an outpouring of sympathy, but "Bigpaulyb" does make an interesting point. Do you think Woodruff regrets having been in Iraq? I'm sure he wishes he hadn't been injured, but I'm willing to bet he's still glad he was there.




I wish him the best. He does have a way of becoming the story, doesn't he?