Miniter's Notebook

Before the war, Iraqi journalists attended the annual conferences in Atlanta, Turner said.

"We made friends with the Iraqi television people like we've made friends with everybody in the room," he said, pointing to the crowd.

In 1990, as war clouds gathered, "We had the position where we were liked over there and we were also known as being fair, and the Iraqis kind of chose us—if there was going to be anybody broadcasting out of there."

Turner also credited former CNN chief news executive Eason Jordan for
ensuring the network had the technical capability to broadcast from
Baghdad when no one else could.

"Basically, by making friends all over the world, which included the Iraqi television people and (Deputy Prime Minister) Tariq Aziz—the secretary of information or whatever he was—we got access that others didn't, and when the war started, we were broadcasting and nobody else was.

"You know, by being nice, sometimes it works out real well. On the other hand, being nice to Gerry Levin didn't."

Turner was referring to the Time Warner chief executive who signed off on the merger with AOL in 2001. Levin has since left the company.

"I'd rather put myself in the Iraqis' hands than in some Americans'," Turner said.