Koppel: Afghanistan War Dead Not Included

NewsmMax.com ^ | 4/30/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

ABC "Nightline" host Ted Koppel said Friday afternoon that he had no plans the show the faces of soldiers killed in Afghanistan as part of his tribute to U.S. GIs killed in the war on terror.

Asked if the photos of soldiers killed in the first phase of America's response to the 9/11 attacks would be included with those killed in Iraq, Koppel told to radio host Sean Hannity, "You know something, it's a perfectly legitimate question.

"But you know, if you say the kids in Afghanistan, you know, how much further are you going to go, Sean. You know how many guys have died in how many different countries?"

The ABC newsman said also that he had no plans to produce a future tribute to the U.S. heroes and victims who died in the Sept. 11 attacks, insisting that reading 3,000 names on-the-air would simply take too long.

He noted that "ABC News as an organization carried the reading of the names of all of those people [on the attack's first anniversary] live, as an institution."

"Did 'Nightline' do it separately? No," he added.

Asked if he'd gotten permission from the families of the dead GIs to use their images in his tribute, ABC newsman said he hadn't.

"Basically, we got all of the names and photographs from either the Marine Corps, the U.S. Army or the Army Times," he told Hannity.

The "Nightline" host insisted that there was no political agenda behind his decision to focus on the Iraq war dead.

"If the question is, was this intended as an anti-war effort, the answer is a categorical, No. It is neither in support of the war or against the war," he insisted.

But earlier in the day, the unbiased newsman appeared on the official Democratic Party radio network Air America and bashed president Bush's Iraq war policies, WABC radio's Monica Crowley told her audience Friday night.

[sinkspur]

A son. Four years in the Army; two in Korea, two in Kosovo.

He's a Dallas police officer now.

[VOA]

"But you know, if you say the kids in Afghanistan, you know, how much
further are you going to go, Sean. You know how many guys have died in how
many different countries?"

The real reason?
Ted Koppel secretly fears that if he had to say "Pat Tillman", the audience would
not fail to notice that PAT TILLMAN was a REAL MAN and Ted Koppel is the polar opposite.

[Burkeman1]

Really? no deaths?

[MJY1288]

LOL, What a juvenile

[Mo1]

"If the question is, was this intended as an anti-war effort, the answer is a categorical, No. It is neither in support of the war or against the war," he insisted

Then explain your comments to Al Frankin .. Ted is a condescending jerk off who thinks he is too important to be questioned

Hey Ted .. Go pound sand

[sinkspur]

No deaths. I had four uncles in WWII, and they all survived too.

Do you define "service" by body count?

[Wacka]

Koppel was born in England and moved here when young. I think he became a citizen in his teens.

[Burkeman1]

Actually- I am acting like a stupid child. Thanks. I won't dishonour my family here.

[gusopol3]

I don't think there would have been any debate on this had he also read the names of those killed in Afghanistan. My sympathy for you as the subject obviously opens old grief for you.

[sinkspur]

I'm going to end this fruitless conversation.

You're not a serious person, Burke.

You'll keep up this hostility toward the war in Iraq, and GWB, until you join Kevin Curry and the late Demidog on the outside.

[Mo1]

Koppel on Hannity Radio Program earlier today picked up the John Kerry line: 'They are questioning my patriotism.'

Dang right I am .. Koppel is a liar and a fraud .. he has made it no secret he was against this war from the beginning

[MJY1288]

Yes you are acting like a stupid child, AS PER USUAL. What would compel you to ask such a silly question like "Want to compare family service?"?, your posting history is a window into your antiwar pacifist existence. I pity you

[Burkeman1]

? what? Who?

[FreeReign]

It is neither in support of the war or against the war," he insisted.

Ted, if you and other media-types like you were truly objective, we would most likely have less servicemen killed in Iraq.

The terrorists and insurgents feed on your propaganda. You raise their hopes. It increases their resistance. It kills our soldiers.

JMO...

[texasflower]

My goodness. You are quite a jerk aren't you?

[sinkspur]

Texasflower's got your number, Burke.

[KellyAdmirer]

People who hide behind their "family" sacrifices rather than anything they themselves have done, and claim some kind of nobility or deeper insight as a result of something someone else did, really, really annoy me. So I guess this person is achieving his/her goal of annoying people.

[arasina]

Want to compare family service?

We've all read about your military family background, Burkeman. But you're the one who was left at the neighborhood bar, right?

[Burkeman1]

OK- Kevin Currey was the anti drug war guy? Not my topic. I rembember DemiGod as a name but not sure what he thought of?

But you have input on who gets lost or not?

[Lady Heron]

Oh great, you again come to ruin an other thread. My only question is when will they ever finally zot you?