Posted on 01/15/2006 4:20:31 PM PST by 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."
"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."
Walter lost his job the for the same reason Rather lost his: Lack of credibility will inevitably doom any newscaster, even in an overwhelmingly leftist media.
Oh yes, Cronkite, the commentator who betrayed 2.5 million men in uniform that served in Viet Nam when he declared a decisive victory a defeata nd enabled the enemies of freedom to overtake all of Viet Nam, after costing America nearly 58,000 lives.
Walter, enjoy your retirement, no one cares what you think, least of all, us Viet Nam Vets you helped betray!
Isn't it a hoot? Pat Robertson can say Katrina was punishment and he gets ripped (as he should). But Uncle Walter can infer something similar and is the toast of the left.
Between Walter Crankcase, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, and Dan Blather, the Old Guard is continuing to give CBS a black eye.
Yes, it is time to head to Iran next, with a sturdy remnant remaining in Iraq.
Ahem, hey Cronkite, time for you to stfu and go away.
That skunk is still spreading a suspicious aroma.
I can remember as a little kid in the '60s my dad calling WC a commie, and CBS the Communist Broadcasting Station.
C'mon Walter, shut up and go away.
"He's still a CBS News employee, although he does little for them."
He does even less for me.
'Now 89'
I thought he was taking the dirt nap a long time ago.
And thus began the period when the MSM decided they should be running the country and setting policy.
That was when surrender and pacifism became the foundation of dem foreign policy.
Sorry Walter,there will be no repeat of history this time as we will not let you guys usurp power and influence.
Never again.
Hey Cronkite: Go find yourself an old coot boyfriend. Maybe you'll shut up for a while.
Edith: "Channel 2 Archie. The one we don't watch anymore because you said Walter Cronkite is a communist."
"All In The Family", 1972.
Your dad saw the light about 20 years before I did.
walter cronkite,"THE MOST SENILE MAN IN AMERICA"!!
LOL!! See post 35.
Cronkite has probably done more harm to the world than just about any other person outside of governemnt.
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