Before I go off to my fourth annual march protesting the madness of the Iraqmire, I picked out some quotes from an article by Norman Solomon you might not have seen.
The quotes are from Fearless Chickenhawk Pundits who, as Solomon observes, bear as much responsibility as our Fearless Chickenhawk Leaders for all of this.
These few quotes are so choice I thought they should be seen in isolation. Let them represent all the unholy bilgewater that passes for commentary, and all the moronic drone that is our media’s substitute for intelligent writing and talk.
Richard Cohen, columnist (still has his job, by the way) Washington Post, Feb. 6, 2003:
“The evidence he [Sec. of State Colin Powell] presented to the United Nations – some of it circumstantial, some of it absolutely bone-chilling in its detail – had to prove to anyone that Iraq not only hasn’t accounted for its weapons of mass destruction but without a doubt still retains them…Only a fool – or possibly a Frenchman – could conclude otherwise.”
—-MORE—
(crossposted at Daily Kos)
Jim Hoagland, Washington Post Feb. 2003:
“Colin Powell did more than present the world with a convincing and detailed X-ray of Iraq’s secret weapons and terrorism programs yesterday. He also exposed the enduring bad faith of several key members of the UN Security Council when it comes to Iraq and its ‘web of lies,’ in Powell’s phrase…To continue to say that the Bush administration has not made its case, you must now believe that Colin Powell lied in the most serious statement he will ever make, or was taken in by manufactured evidence. I don’t believe that. Today, neither should you.”
Christopher Hitchens, TV and print gasbag, Feb 13, 2003:
“Those who are calling for more time in this process should be aware that they are calling for more time for Saddam’s people to complete their humiliation and subversion of the inspectors.”
Chris Matthews, Hardgas, MSNBC April 2003:
“We’re all neo-cons now… “We’re proud of our president. Americans love having a guy as president, a guy who has a little swagger, who’s physical, who’s not a complicated guy like Clinton or even like Dukakis or Mondale, all those guys, McGovern. They want a guy who’s president. Women like a guy who’s president. Check it out. The women like this war. I think we like having a hero as our president. It’s simple.”
Alan Colmes, Hannity & Colmes, FAUX News, April 25, 2003:
“Now that the war in Iraq is all but over, should the people in Hollywood who opposed the president admit they were wrong?”
To which I can only say: Good night, and Good Luck.
Remeber the lesson of 9/11…well I think you found another one. The Press were kissing the W/H’s ass and no one ever asked why in 2001 Condi y Colin said Iraq was not a threat and could not project its power beyond its own border.
In case these pundits have misplaced their original pieces, they will be able to find them easily here and tweak them for Iran!
What is it with Republicans and morons? Reagan was dumber than a fence post and they’ve tried to make him an icon. I just keep shaking my head.
And then:
Whaaaaaaat? A hero? The guy who dodged Vietnam by going into the National Guard and couldn’t even show up for that? The guy who hid underground in Nebraska on 9/11/01 until his PR people dragged him out because it was becoming embarrassing?
I tried to lik to Glen Greenwald but it wouldn’t let me..He too has a good reference to this subject.
I’ve promised my incredible wife Gail that every time I see Chris Matthews’s name in print or hear it on radio or tv that I will take ten deep breaths before I scream CHRIS MATTHEWS IS A FUCKING IDIOT because, as she puts it, that would be an insult to both fucking and to idiots.
But I can’t help it.
CHRIS MATTHEWS IS A FUCKING IDIOT.
Thank you for a great line..fucking and idiots-an insult..I’m going to steal that and use it.
Me too!
that shows what Iraq and maybe the whole Middle East will be like for many, many years.
“Where Do We Get Such Men?”
What is it with this nation? I really don’t get it at all. I mean I went to the same schools as my fellows, I watched the same movies and TV shows yet I can’t seem to get with the program. Believe me I’ve tried. Maybe I’m in the wrong place. Maybe there isn’t a place for me. Who knows. This nation seems to be such a monstrosity. By the way I’m not idealistic and haven’t been for 30 years, but jeez what is the problem with just being good neighbors, or at least leaving people alone!