AMY GOODMAN: Unfortunately in this country I have to disagree with you Charlie respectfully on the issue of NBC, CBS, and ABC — they have provided a very serious disservice to the people of this country when it comes to a true debate around war. Most people are opposed to war yet the vast majority of guests across the board on the networks are for war. They’re a parade of retired generals and -

CHARLIE ROSE: You can make that argument and look at it. That’s not the point I was taking. The point I was making is it’s not dictated by with whoever the corporate ownership is. I promise you that — they are not dictating. They are not saying we want you to have more generals who are in favor of the war than you have generals who are in opposition to the war; that’s just not the way it works.

AMY GOODMAN: They don’t have to say that. They hire the people who will do just that.

CHARLIE ROSE: The argument I have with respect is Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, and Dan Rather — a whole range of people — are journalists who have paid their dues and they are very competent journalists (etc. etc. snip)

AMY GOODMAN: I could only say that during the Persian Gulf War what we saw on NBC and CBS, NBC owned by General Electric–at the time CBS was owned by Westinghouse — two of the major nuclear weapons manufacturers in the world — I don’t think it was any accident that what we saw on TV was a military hardware show.

... (some more back and forth)

CHARLIE ROSE: You are suggesting that because they choose the people. I'm just saying that this is a debate for another time which I’m happy to have them come and talk about that.

AMY GOODMAN: Let me quote Dan Rather himself on BBC — he says he thinks he would be necklaced. He thinks that he cannot simply speak out and ask the kinds of questions that should be asked. That’s quoting Dan Rather.

CHARLIE ROSE: (hemming and hawing and more hemming and hawing)