CHICAGO—Whenever Ronald Thomas hears about news reporters embedded with American soldiers inthe Operation Freedom Iraq war hekeeps hearing the words "in bedwith."

"I'm sure it's just my bad hearing, but sometimes, when I see TedKoppel, I keep thinking he's in bedwith the soldiers, then I get nauseasbecause that's not a good visualimage," said Mr. Thomas. "Now Iwouldn't mind being "embedded"with Katie Couric or one of themlady reporters on NBC here in Chicago. But Ted Koppel. Man, them poor soldiers. I really feel for them. I hope they come home."