Cronkite: Time for U.S. to Leave Iraq

Breitbart.com ^ | 1/15/06 | AP

[wagglebee]

Former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was unwinnable keenly influenced public opinion then, said Sunday he'd say the same thing today about Iraq.

"It's my belief that we should get out now," Cronkite said in a meeting with reporters.

Now 89, the television journalist once known as "the most trusted man in America" has been off the "CBS Evening News" for nearly a quarter- century. He's still a CBS News employee, although he does little for them.

Cronkite said one of his proudest moments came at the end of a 1968 documentary he made following a visit to Vietnam during the Tet offensive. Urged by his boss to briefly set aside his objectivity to give his view of the situation, Cronkite said the war was unwinnable and that the U.S. should exit.

Then-President Lyndon Johnson reportedly told a White House aide after that, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."

The best time to have made a similar statement about Iraq came after Hurricane Katrina, he said.

"We had an opportunity to say to the world and Iraqis after the hurricane disaster that Mother Nature has not treated us well and we find ourselves missing the amount of money it takes to help these poor people out of their homeless situation and rebuild some of our most important cities in the United States," he said. "Therefore, we are going to have to bring our troops home."

Iraqis should have been told that "our hearts are with you" and that the United States would do all it could to rebuild their country, he said.

"I think we could have been able to retire with honor," he said. "In fact, I think we can retire with honor anyway."

Cronkite has spoken out against the Iraq war in the past, saying in 2004 that Americans weren't any safer because of the invasion.

Cronkite, who is hard of hearing and walks haltingly, jokingly said that "I'm standing by if they want me" to anchor the "CBS Evening News." CBS is still searching for a permanent successor to Dan Rather, who replaced Cronkite in March 1981.

"Twenty-four hours after I told CBS News that I was stepping down at my 65th birthday I was already regretting it and I've regretted it every day since," he said. "It's too good a job for me to have given it up the way that I did."

[Cobra64]

The jerk sounds like Jimmah.

[RAY]

What the hell does Valter Cronkite know! The AH has been wrong about virtually everything he has ever asserted.

[golfisnr1]

Drinks abundantly!

[Mr. Mojo]

.....whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was unwinnable keenly influenced public opinion then

Fortunately the MSM doesn't have quite the stangehold over the electorate these days. Cronkite and his ilk are essentially irrelevant.

[HardStarboard]

Walter Cronkite has long been in the same catagory as Daniel Schoor, Dan Rather, John Murtha and Teddy Kennedy....too old and feeble of mind to remember what being an American was like.

there are at least a few thousand others but you know who they aare....and I'm tiired typing

[YOUGOTIT]

"Cronkite said the war was unwindable and that the U.S. should exit."

Cronkite was and is a liar, and a traitor many Americans died because of his lies and support of the Communist. Another multimillionaire left-wing fascist who needs to keep him lying mouth shut.

[PLMerite]

"I think we could have been able to retire with honor," he said.


The purpose is to win, not "retire with honor."

Pardon me if someone's already pointed this out.

[Dawggie]

When is this guy going to leave the building?

[Texas Songwriter]

Iraq would become another Cambodia will another set of killing fields in the millins. At least the old bastard is consistent. He wants Iraqis killed with the same zeal as the Cambodians. Go away Mr.Cronkite.

[dr_who_2]

Typical leftist reliving the glory days at the expense of the here and now. Old Walt, like the rest of his movement, is way past his prime and should have left the stage ages ago.

[Waco]

F.Y.C.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

After Senator TED KENNEDY got Congress to cut off all funding for Military resupply to the then Free South Vietnam...

the Communist Soviet Union gave $ Billion worth for Military re-supply to the Communist North.

Translating into over 600 Soviet heavy tanks plus mobile artillery coming down from the North for its 'Final Solution' in the South after we had left it behind.

This was more tanks then Gen. PATTON needed to win World War II with in Europe.

And Sen. TED KENNEDY just knew better...

...having persnally toured a Free South Vientam 3 years earlier,

...before his going a bit off the deep end later on:

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
(See 5th Picture down)


.

[Texas Songwriter]

We had an opportunity to say to the world and Iraqis after the hurricane disaster that Mother Nature has not treated us well and we find ourselves missing the amount of money it takes to help these poor people out of their homeless situation and rebuild some of our most important cities in the United States," he said. "Therefore, we are going to have to bring our troops home."

Quiet a nationalistic viewpoint considering the curmudgeon is one of the foremost globalists on the planet. In other words, I want what I want, when I want it. The rest of the world can kiss Mr.Cronkites ass, so says Cronkite.

[devolve]

How about posting the exact recent words of Walter Cronkite - about "Americans are now too stupid to vote...." (rough paraprase)

But Uncle Wallie can decide how to run the America and the rest of the world - free elections in America, Afghanistan, and Iraq are "unfair" unless the left can win by any and all means - the Saul Alinski template

As the democrats are now not in the majority in either the Senate or House and have lost the Presidency - and are losing control of an unelected and unaccountable activist "law-writing" SCOTUS tyranny -

Cronkite is exactly the same as the old USSR's Commie butchering leaders - living in luxury while telling the peons they must give all "for the good of the state....."

Ted Kennedy, the Klintoons, Kohnman-Heinz, Jay Rockefeller, Feinstein, Boxer, Pelosi - all the same offshore / foundation / tax shielded / foreign incorporated scumbags


There is no difference between Stalin and Cronkite and Castro and Hitler

They all "knew best" and killed millions of people while living high on the hog

[axes_of_weezles]

I agree with Walter. We should leave Iraq and roll into Iran and Syria.

[OKSooner]

""We had an opportunity to say to the world and Iraqis after the hurricane disaster that Mother Nature has not treated us well and we find ourselves missing the amount of money it takes to help these poor people out of their homeless situation and rebuild some of our most important cities in the United States," he said. "Therefore, we are going to have to bring our troops home."

What an utter coward and $#!+he@d this man has become in his old age. What a hell it must be for him.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Time for Cronkite the crank t assume room temperature, the idiot is a 1st class arsehole.

[Thebaddog]

It's obvious that that was the high point of his career as he sees it. It's kinds like Glenn going up in the shuttle after tanking an investigation for Clinton. The sweet justice of Glenn's perfidity was him yorking on the shuttle for an hour after it landed.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Walter....I saw you in Vietnam setting on your ass drinking high atop the hotel in downtown Saigon.....then you were so profound with you telling the American people in 1968...your assessment of the war...which was Bull $hit...as a result many of my friends got their names on the wall....and now you come back whith this.....have you no shame you tottering old fool...may death find your traitor's old soul soon..

[Lawgvr1955]

Uncle Walter cost us the waste of over 50,000 lives. I listened to him once. I shan't do so a second time.

To hell with him this time IMHO.