Posted on 08/11/2006 8:29:17 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
While ostensibly trying to praise elite U.S. soldiers, seamen and civilian first responders, on Thursday's Hardball on MSNBC, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams seemed to equate them with terrorist suicide bombers: "The willingness to take one's own life -- I always tell people, you know, there are guys on our team like that, too." Referring to those caught in the new plot to bring down airliners leaving Britain, Chris Matthews noted how they lived for years amongst Westerners and yet "having gotten to know us, they want to kill themselves to hurt us. Isn't that an even deeper conundrum here than the chemicals being used in these attacks?" Williams, live from near Heathrow Airport, responded: "And that, Chris, that last aspect, the willingness to take one's own life -- I always tell people, you know, there are guys on our team like that, too. They're called Army Rangers and Navy Seals and the Special Forces folks and the first responders on 9/11 who went into those buildings knowing, by the way, they weren't going to come out. So we have players like that on our team."
No, our soldiers and seamen may be willing to kill enemy operatives and bravely willing to sacrifice their lives in order to save others, but they do not commit suicide by blowing themselves up in order to murder innocent civilians.
It's hard to believe Williams buys what he said, so I'll chalk it up to a bungled attempt to praise members of the American military for the bravery they display in being willing to die to protect others -- not that Williams really thinks they are the same as terrorists who mass murder innocents through suicide bombings. His reference to how "first responders on 9/11 who went into those buildings knowing, by the way, they weren't going to come out," also raises doubt about his soldier-terrorist comparison since first responders certainly aren't known for killing.
Mark Finkelstein, a blogger on the MRC's NewsBusters, learned on Free Republic about the Williams comment and posted an item Thursday night on NewsBusters -- for which I supplied audio/video. That will be added to the posted version of this CyberAlert, but in the meantime, to watch the Real or Windows Media video, or MP3 audio, go to: newsbusters.org
The exchange from the interview at the top of the live 7pm EDT edition of the August 10 Hardball, with Matthews outside the headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security (probably really in the parking lot for NBC-owned WRC-TV which is next door), and Williams standing outside near Heathrow Airport close to London:
Chris Matthews: "In our first edition of Hardball tonight we had a Senator on, former Senator John Edwards on, who said that once these people in the east, in the Islamic world, get to know us personally, understand our character -- our good character as he said -- they wouldn't hate us so much, they wouldn't want to commit suicide to hurt us. But here we have maybe 25, 24 people who've lived in London and England and the free world for all these years that become citizens, subjects of the Crown, and yet, after having gotten to know us, they want to kill themselves to hurt us. Isn't that an even deeper conundrum here than the chemicals being used in these attacks?"
Williams: "And that, Chris, that last aspect, the willingness to take one's own life -- I always tell people, you know, there are guys on our team like that, too. They're called Army Rangers and Navy Seals and the Special Forces folks and the first responders on 9/11 who went into those buildings knowing, by the way, they weren't going to come out. So we have players like that on our team.
"But to the center of your question, it goes to ideology. Can you reverse the clock here? We now know this is the conflict of our generation. Who would have thought it would take this shape? Who would have thought it would be against an enemy we can't always see? And who would have thought the new target would be a stainless steel tube flying, as you put it, at 39,000 feet full of innocent people?"
Hat tip to poster 'nutmeg' at Free Republic from newsbusters.
PING
I don't think so. They knew there was a chance they wouldn't come out (there always is). However, if they knew for a fact it was a suicide mission, they would reevaluate and find another way. You don't sacrifice the living to save the dead.
Talk about not getting it.
I don't have a problem with what he said. He used a poor analogy, but it seems like much ado...
I read the other thread without seeing the conversation in context. In no way do I think Brian Williams was trying to equate Seals and Rangers with terrorists. The words were poorly chosen, but I do believe he meant that we have men and women willing to give their life to defend and protect us.
Wow, looks like your a celebrity now. ;-D
Talk about empty suits.......FGS!
I was referring to Williams, but Edwards is vying for title of absolutely dumbest man in America.
These people are insular and live among their own communities. They are not assimilated into our culture.
Brian, Our soldiers will put their lives on the line to protect a comrade or civilian or our country but never put on civilian clothes, strap bombs to themselves, walk into a cafe' and blow up innocent men, women and children.
Sacrificing your life to TAKE life is the opposite of offering to sacrifice yourself to SAVE life.
Wasn't Williams the one who last year compared our founding fathers with terrorists?
The kindest thing to say about Williams' statement is that it was certainly bungled. There are any number of stories in our history about our warriors willingly giving their lives in sacrifice to this nation, but there are none about our warriors blowing themselves up to kill women and children.
I have a big problem with the (at the very least) ignorance of the progressive socialist media who can only interview each other to produce the news slanted their way.
He knew exactly what he said and why he said it. These people abhor the military - as do their dnc masters.
Brian Williams is an asshat.
Thanks, Mark. We usually never get credit.
Brian Williams, NBC anchor Makes Stunning Commnent Comparing Navy Seals and Army Ranger to terrorist
And they laugh at George Bush's inability to speechify...
Exactly, if we just show those people how we celebrate homosexuality, feminism, lewd and sacrilegious art, Hollywood's profanity and perverse sexuality, they'd just start loving and respecting us.....
The more I get to know you Chris, the better I understand those feelings.
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