Posted on 11/30/2003 9:53:40 AM PST by Texas Eagle
MEDIA MATTERS Cronkite: Speech by Bush 'masterful but worrisome' Former CBS newsman questions president's conviction, cites failure to 'follow through'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: November 29, 2003 4:30 p.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Walter Cronkite, the former CBS news anchor who writes a weekly opinion piece for King Features Syndicate uses a recent column to describe the foreign-policy speech President Bush gave recently in London as ''eloquent, idealistic and worrisome.''
Walter Cronkite
Cronkite says Bush's address was masterfully crafted to defend his foreign policy against widespread European hostility, although parts of it sounded a bit ''off-key'', leading Cronkite to question the president's ''depth of conviction.'' Cronkite writes:
''That depth is suspect because of his poor record of following through. In Afghanistan, the pledge to reconstruct and democratize that country seemed all but abandoned in order to concentrate forces and finances on the invasion of Iraq. Remember the "road map" for Israel/Palestine? Palestinian terrorists shredded it with their suicide bombs, but not before Bush had failed in his promise to pressure both sides to make critical concessions. He denounced and renounced Yasser Arafat, but seemed, as he had in the past, unwilling or incapable of holding Ariel Sharon's feet to the fire. Today there is growing skepticism concerning his promise to stay the course in Iraq. With the security situation there worsening by the day, the decision to craft a new plan seemed not just defensible but mandatory. But suspicions were raised by the new timetable, which would put an Iraqi council in charge by next June and send a substantial number of American troops home. It might be simply coincidental that this timing meshes with next year's re-election campaign. But coincidence does inspire some skepticism.'' Cronkite also points to a related issue that he says goes directly to Bush's sincerity.
''That is his acknowledgement in the London speech of "good-faith disagreements" over the war. How does that harmonize with the Republicans' (and Bush's) egregious use of such disagreements to bludgeon the Democrats prior to the 2002 midterm elections – a political mugging we can expect to see more of next year?'' In recent years, Cronkite's been noted for his globalist views in numerous speeches. As WorldNetDaily reported, the 86-year-old advocates the U.S. giving up sovereignty and the creation of a U.N. standing army.
In a speech at the United Nations in 1999, Cronkite said the first step toward achieving a one-world government is to strengthen the U.N.
"It seems to many of us that if we are to avoid the eventual catastrophic world conflict we must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a world government patterned after our own government with a legislature, executive and judiciary, and police to enforce its international laws and keep the peace," he said. "To do that, of course, we Americans will have to yield up some of our sovereignty. That would be a bitter pill. It would take a lot of courage, a lot of faith in the new order."
Cronkite joined CBS in 1950, and was the anchor of the CBS Evening News until 1981, when he was succeeded by current anchor Dan Rather.
Bush is winning.
What's the matter Walter, did one of your sacred cows get "BushWhacked"?
Sorry, but I don't remember any pronounced damnations of Arafat. In fact I've been dismayed at the lack of damnations of that evil bastard.
One of my most strident criticisms of Bush has been his reluctance to strike out against every terrorist in every quarter. Arafat should have been one of the first to have been eliminated post 09/11.
What that guy isn't a greasy spot in some dirt valley is beyond my comprehension.
This is Walt's goal so we now know the lefts real end game ?
Only 14 people in Hanoi read worldnetdaily?
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the New World Order by William Blase.
Good insight, though a tad scary.
Let's put that question to Usama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. They once thought the same thing.
Among those demanding the pullout Now! was Uncle Walter. He started it in 1968. It encouraged the Communist to keep fighting. After the war they gave the American press their coveted "General Giap Most Valuable Guerilla Award."
Now Uncle Walter says, "But suspicions were raised by the new timetable, which would put an Iraqi council in charge by next June and send a substantial number of American troops home. It might be simply coincidental that this timing meshes with next year's re-election campaign."
He may have a point. Today's political/media quagmire is so like the one a generation ago that Uncle Walter may get what he wants -- not a victory for international socialism this time -- but a humiliation of America and a big step toward giving our sovereignty to the U.N. We'll see. If it happens it's the third and last chance we had to learn that politics should not run major wars, a patriot-dictator should. IMO.
myself says: I agree with you and, imho, it worked so well for the Democrats in 1968 they are doing it again.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (they liked myself) and the Democrats will again try to turn this into a physiological war, a political war. Instead of what it is - a War Against Terrorists. A war that will never end!
Clinton said "In a demoralizing message to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq, visiting New York Sen. Hillary Clinton told them that Americans back home are growing increasingly skeptical of President Bush's decision to send them into battle." "She also suggested that the U.S. could eventually loose the war in Iraq, contending, "We have to exert all of our efforts militarily, but the outcome is not assured."
"Now Uncle Walter says, "But suspicions were raised by the new timetable, which would put an Iraqi council in charge by next June and send a substantial number of American troops home. It might be simply coincidental that this timing meshes with next year's re-election campaign."
you said"He may have a point. Today's political/media quagmire is so like the one a generation ago that Uncle Walter may get what he wants -- not a victory for international socialism this time -- but a humiliation of America and a big step toward giving our sovereignty to the U.N. We'll see. If it happens it's the third and last chance we had to learn that politics should not run major wars, a patriot-dictator should. IMO."
myself says: I understand and agree with your concern and I have to trust President George Bush when he says, "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.
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