‘Nightline’ heads to Baghdad

“Nightline’s” Terry Moran gathered a dozen Iraqis for a town hall-style meeting Thursday at a makeshift studio in Baghdad, where they spoke of their hopes, fears and aspirations.

Yet there was none of the strong anti-American comment often heard in Iraq: Those expected to express such sentiments never showed up for the taping in the heavily fortified Green Zone.

“Nightline” spokeswoman Emily Lenzner said every effort was made to ensure that critics and supporters of the U.S. presence in Iraq were represented, but some of those invited declined to attend.

Some refused to enter the Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy and Iraq’s government offices and -- to many Iraqis -- a symbol of foreign occupation. Others could not reach the venue because of a security alert.

She said “Nightline” scheduled separate interviews with Iraqis opposed to the U.S. presence and planned to incorporate them into the broadcast. It airs on ABC tonight, two days after President Bush’s spirited defense of his war strategy.