On Today debut, Vieira wondered whether Democrats have plan for "victory in Iraq without withdrawing," ignoring Marine intelligence report saying "no chance" for victory in parts of Iraq

Summary: In her Today debut, Meredith Vieira claimed that the Democrats have "argued against the Republican position for months now, but they really haven't come up with a plan of their own when it comes to victory in Iraq without withdrawing." But Vieira's assertion appeared to be based on an assumption that is now being called into question by the U.S. military -- that remaining in Iraq indefinitely constitutes a plan for "victory."

On the September 13 broadcast of NBC's Today, in her first broadcast replacing CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, co-host Meredith Vieira asserted that "a lot of people are wondering about the Democrats. They've argued against the Republican position for months now, but they really haven't come up with a plan of their own when it comes to victory in Iraq without withdrawing." But Vieira's assertion appeared to be based on an assumption that is now being called into question by the U.S. military -- that remaining in Iraq indefinitely constitutes a plan for "victory."

Indeed, NBC News itself reported on September 12 that a "top secret report by a Marine Corps intelligence officer" declared that "there's no chance the U.S. military can end insurgent violence in al-Anbar" -- a large section of western Iraq that includes Fallujah. That area of Iraq, the intelligence officer was quoted as saying, has "no viable government institutions or chance for political progress anytime soon." In the article, NBC News Pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski further wrote that "one senior [U.S.] military official t[old] NBC News it would take 50,000-60,000 more U.S. ground forces to secure al-Anbar, and that's not going to happen." Miklaszewski's report concluded:

The top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday there has been some military and economic progress in Anbar, but for the first time, it appears the U.S. military is preparing to concede a large piece of Iraq to the enemy and leave it entirely to the Iraqis to eventually sort it out.

From Vieira's interview with NBC's Meet the Press host Tim Russert on the September 13 broadcast of Today:

VIEIRA: Meanwhile, a lot of people are wondering about the Democrats. They've argued against the Republican position for months now, but they really haven't come up with a plan of their own when it comes to victory in Iraq without withdrawing. Do they need a plan, do you think, heading into these elections?

RUSSERT: That's the magical question. You have put your finger on it. Is it enough to say, "We're against George Bush. 'Stay the course' is not the right policy. We need a new direction"? Will the American people say, "What is that direction?" Sixty percent of the American people now believe the war in Iraq is not worth it. But, they don't want to withdraw immediately. They don't like the war, but they don't want to leave a bigger mess behind. And the Democrats have yet been able to chart a course that gives people saying, "Oh, now, I see where you want to take us." Between now and the election, I do think the Democrats are going to have to be more specific, so the American people say, "Yes, we'll make a change, and you have a viable alternative."

VIERIA: But, boy, that is not a lot of time to come up with a new plan.

RUSSERT: Not at all, and the Democrats are very, very divided. Eighteen Democrats say that we should cut off funding. Some Democrats say we should redeploy. Some say we should withdraw. Some say we should have a phased withdrawal. It's very, very difficult. It's very complicated. You know why? Because it's a mess. Both sides will acknowledge it's a mess.

—R.M.