Posted on 01/15/2006 5:17:10 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
January 15, 2006 - 08:04
Once might be excused as an aberration, but twice signals a troubling trend.
On Saturday's Fox & Friends Weekend, over-promoted host Julian Phillips seemed to downplay the threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions. He implied that there was limited cause for concern since Iran has agreed agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to carry out surprise inspections of its nuclear sites with as little as two hours notice.
Phillips was back at it this morning. His guest was Barry Schweid senior diplomatic correspondent for AP and a Fox News contributor. And once again, Phillips trotted out his pet theory:
"They agreed to protocols with the UN in 2003 for snap inspections in two hours or less. Why are these inspections not enough?"
Like a patient teacher gently correcting a slower student, Schweid explained:
"There are reports of secret facilities, of building 5000 centrifuges ready to be put on platforms [centrifuges are used to enrich uranium. Not clear whether his reference to platforms suggested they would be mobile and hence harder to detect], If Iran refuses to let people look at what they're doing and are hiding things, monitoring is not going to do the job."
Phillips is also apparently unaware that just three days ago, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki threatened to cancel permission for surprise inspections and end other cooperation with the IAEA.
It is emblematic of Phillips superficiality that to end the interview, he tossed out as a throwaway this question:
"Real quickly: military action looming ahead shortly, what do you think?"
Consider Julian's frivolousness. He is invoking the possibility of war in a nuclear-charged situation. Nothing could be graver. Yet he did it "real quickly" as a way to end an interview.
For the record, Schweid's response: "Who am I to know, but no I don't. The president has said this is different from Iraq. We keep hearing diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy, Iran is not Iraq, and you would get almost no support for anyhow."
Julian, it could be time to consider an offer to join the Live at Five Team in Terre Haute.
Fox & Friends/NewsBusters Julian Phillips ping to the Today Show ping list.
I'm not sure if this is in the way of partial exculpation of Phillips or further condemnation, but I have a theory as to why he does things like trot out the little pet theory he did yesterday and today.
It's not necessarily that he believes that the inspection regime will be sufficient to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions. It's that he simply knows so little about the situation, and the factoid about the inspections is the one thing that he has picked up on.
So Phillips cleaves to it almost as a life preserver. It gives him something to mention and helps him portray himself as at least mildly knowledgeable on the issue at hand. Sad, really.
Nuff said.
Wish Brit had more power to hire and fire.
I know that FNC, is supposed to be "Fair and Balanced". But, for the life of me, I can't understand why they keep this guy on the air. The weekend show is shunned by me, just like an instant channel change, when Geraldo "The Fake", would come on.
I now watch, less and less, of FNC.
He is on TV, he is a news reporter. What in the world is wrong with FOX that they would let a jerk like Phillips make such retarded statements.
Challenge to all: say the headline five times fast ;-)
him and katie couric would make a nice salt & pepper shaker set on cnn
Here's a link to the article, referred to in the thread, about Iran's threat to cancel the very program Phillips is relying on:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060113/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear
I think that is exactly right. It is irresponsible, and yes, sad.
Julian Phillips = affirmative action..............
Glad to get your take on it. The more I think about it, the more I do believe this explains Julian. He's not a terrible guy, and while not a conservative is certainly no extreme leftist. He's just in over his head. Episodes such as this morning's are more embarrassing than infuriating.
The same tactic worked so well in Iraq that he thinks it'll work in Iran too, Huh.
NOT!
Re #4 Bingo. Julian swims in shallow waters. Monsters lurk in the deep...and WILL attack the foolish swimmers like him.
I heard it..He is clueless. It's background noise until Fox News Sunday(network) comes on.
Thanks again for watching these shows. I simply do not have the stomach for that.
I knew he was an idiot but he cant possibly be this much of an idiot.
Please put me on the ping list. Fox and Friends Weekend has to be stopped.
I no longer watch it, btw. Can you believe I am actually watching MSNBC and, on occasion, CNN!!
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