Walter Cronkite and the lead-up to the Iraq War

ThinkProgress

Walter Cronkite had a few things to say about the United States getting involved in a war in Iraq, and the consequences that might follow…

At a Drew University forum, Cronkite said he feared the war would not go smoothly, ripped the “arrogance” of Bush and his administration and wondered whether the new U.S. doctrine of “pre-emptive war” might lead to unintended, dire consequences.

“Every little country in the world that has a border conflict with another little country … they now have a great example from the United States,” Cronkite, 86, said in response to a question from Drew’s president, former Gov. Thomas Kean. […]

While many are confident the United States would easily oust Saddam Hussein, Cronkite said he isn’t so sure. “The military is always more confident than circumstances show they should be,” he said.

Cronkite speculated that the refusal of many traditional allies, such as France, to join the war effort signaled something deeper, and more ominous, than a mere foreign policy disagreement.

“The arrogance of our spokespeople, even the president himself, has been exceptional, and it seems to me they have taken great umbrage at that,” Cronkite said. “We have told them what they must do. It is a pretty dark doctrine.”

Cronkite chided Congress for not looking closely enough at the war and attempting to ascertain a viable estimate of its eventual cost, particularly in light of Bush’s commitment to tax cuts.

“We are going to be in such a fix when this war is over, or before this war is over … our grandchildren’s grandchildren are going to be paying for this war,” Cronkite said.

“I look at our future as, I’m sorry, being very, very dark. Let’s see our cards as we rise to meet the difficulties that lie ahead,” he added, in a play on Bush’s dismissive remarks about France.

But Cronkite, who spent many days and nights on battlefields and in campgrounds with U.S. forces, also spoke of supporting the troops.

“The time has come to put all of our, perhaps distaste, aside, and give our full support to the troops involved. That is the duty we owe our soldiers who had no role in deciding this course of action,” Cronkite said.

We are still in Iraq, and we are in that fix — which will only get worse and worse…

The sad thing is that had Mr Cronkite still been the anchor of CBS News, and he’d said this on the air, he would have been viciously smeared by the frothing at the mouth war-mongerers, and fired without a second thought.

Schuster: “Why did the Bush Administration not Waterboard During the Second Term?

David Schuster asked this question to Democratic Strategist Chris Kofinis and Republican Strategist Ron Christie.

Tortured Thoughts

While watching Countdown tonight, something struck me.   Absorbing all of the new information regarding the torture memos;  reading the unambiguous objections of several JAGs against the torture techniques; hearing Richard Wolffe’s eloquent words – all against the background of the lies, lies, and more lies from the Bush Administration now being contradicted by the flood of information which has come out over the last few days – I finally was hit by the full and terrible realization that our country, my country, which I love for so many reasons, had died.

As I began to weep, varied images and thoughts jostled in my mind

Ari Melber: Rove & Cheney Betting On Another Attack

Ari Melber states, “What you have here is Bush’s aides attacking Barack Obama and Joe Biden on Security, and it is really disgusting.”  “What they have been doing is betting on another attack.” And “you have a Red Cross Report out this week saying that the Bush Administration tortured at Guantanamo.”

Obama’s bailout plans at odds with Bush Administration

Obama knows what needs to be addressed first and that is the economy.  He has surrounded himself with some of the most brightest and the most qualified individuals to advise him on the best course of action.   Not surprising that it is at odds with the Bush Administration which is completely incompetent.

Politico

President-elect Barack Obama’s call for swift passage of a second economic stimulus package has put him at odds with President Bush early in the transition of power.

“I want to see a stimulus package sooner rather than later,” Obama told reporters during his first post-election press conference Friday, adding that if Congress and the White House cannot agree to legislation in a lame-duck session this fall, “it will be the first thing I get done as president of the United States.”

The press conference was meant to send reassuring signals to global markets that the two teams were working together on a smooth transition during these turbulent economic times. But Obama’s remarks also revealed some clear tensions between him and Bush when it comes to responding to the current crisis.

Supreme Court hears amputee’s case involving drug labels and possible limits on lawsuits

NPR

The Supreme Court hears arguments Monday in a case involving drug labels and the Food and Drug Administration. The result could limit liability claims against drugmakers, if one of their medicines causes harm. The case pits Wyeth Pharmaceuticals against a musician who lost part of an arm after she was improperly injected with an anti-nausea drug made by the company.

A Vermont musician who lost her arm because of a botched drug injection is squaring off against a drug maker and the Bush administration in one of the most closely watched business cases of the Supreme Court’s term.

At issue is whether the federal government can limit lawsuits by consumers like Diana Levine who have been harmed by prescription medications.

The justices are hearing arguments in Levine’s case Monday, shortly after the court announces whether it will accept other cases for argument sometime next year.

Homeland Security-Sesame Street Style

In a move that partners Big Brother with Big Bird. The Department of Homeland Security has decided “to encourage family preparedness plans in the case of emergencies” to brainwash the youngest members of society.

When it comes to securing the homeland, who better to help you sleep at night than various characters from the popular children’s show, “Sesame Street” … ?!?

I’m not joking.

And the Department of Homeland Security represents the biggest expansion of government since the New Deal!

“We all want our children to feel safe in this world,” said Meryl Chertoff, wife of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, at a ceremony held at the John Tyler Elementary School to announce the partnership. “And who better to do that than our Sesame Street friends, Grover and Rosita!”

Grover puts it best in his introductory remarks, published in a pamphlet titled, “Let’s Get Ready!”  Yes, my little darlings they want to indoctrinate you into paranoia. Now remember A is for Al Qaeda.

Truly scary….

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