Brian Williams Criticized For Calling Images Of US Missile Launch Against Syria 'Beautiful'
NEW YORK (AP) - Brian Williams is facing online criticism for waxing poetic about what he called "beautiful pictures" of U.S. missiles launching during an attack on a Syrian air base.
Video released by the military shows Tomahawk missiles targeted for a Syrian airfield launching from the decks of U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday.
During his MSNBC program, "The 11th Hour," late Thursday night, Williams said the "beautiful pictures at night" tempted him to quote a line from a Leonard Cohen song: "I am guided by the beauty of our weapons." He went on to call the images "beautiful pictures of fearsome armaments."
Williams was quickly mocked and criticized on Twitter for the remarks, with some users suggesting they were insensitive to the realities of war.
Brian Williams calls DOD video of missile strikes "beautiful", unironically quotes Leonard Cohen, "Im guided by the beauty of our weapons"
— Adam H. Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) April 7, 2017
"Brian Williams" "These beautiful missiles. What did they hit?"...Hopefully not beautiful innocent people.
— Leonard Roldan (@leonard_roldan) April 7, 2017
MSNBC didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.