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Lauer Challenges Uncle's Call for $100 Million Ransom for Kidnapped Soldiers
Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 06/20/2006 4:59:26 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

June 20, 2006

For a TV host, there's nothing much more difficult than interviewing a family member of someone who has been killed or seriously harmed. So when the uncle of one of the US soldiers kidnapped and possibly killed in Iraq called for the offering of a massive ransom and a prisoner exchange, give Matt Lauer credit for having had the courage to challenge him.

Here's how it went down.

Lauer: "A group linked to al-Qaeda on its website has claimed that they actually took Kristian and another soldier. What's your reaction to that?"

Replied Ken MacKenzie, a well-spoken, well-informed uncle to PFC Kristian Menchaca:

"My reaction is the United States government should have immediately notified . . . the mujahadeen that the United States government was offering a $100-million reward and offering to exchange the 2,500 mujahadeen detainees that Prime Minister al-Maliki of Iraq plans to release several weeks from now. I think the U.S. government was too slow to react to this, they should have had a plan in place. Because the U.S. government did not have a plan in place, my nephew has paid for it with his life."

Lauer:

"Let me just interrupt for a second. Obviously the U.S. has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists. We do have reports that up to 8,000 troops, U.S. and Iraqis, are out searching for your nephew and also reward money is being offered in Baghdad or in the area for any information leading to the finding of your nephew. Are you suggesting that you think the U.S. government should pay a ransom?"

MacKenzie didn't mince words:

"Yes. The ransom is available from Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party funds seized by the U.S. government. More than $100 billion in cash and gold, that the U.S. government apparently had plans to return to the government of Iraq. I would think that that money, part of it, could be used to pay ransom. That would not be coming out of U.S. taxpayer pockets, by the way. It could be paid out of the bank account where it now reposes. I think that that money should have been earmarked for this type of a hostage situation." Lauer again challenged the suggestion:

"Mr. MacKenzie, obviously you are dealing with this as a personal and a family tragedy. I can certainly understand that, but wouldn't that then make it very profitable for terrorists in Iraq and other parts of the world to kidnap westerners because they could reap huge amounts of money from it?" MacKenzie:

"Yes, but they are doing that anyway. I don't know if that would escalate or encourage them to kidnap more westerners and more U.S. soldiers. But I rather doubt it. My concern is the humanitarian concern. This money will be used of course by whoever's going to use it in the future and it won't go toward saving lives. I am more interested -- was more interested in seeing my nephew saved with some combination of ransom and prisoner exchange. Apparently the Prime Minister of Iraq planned to release these 2,500 mujahadeen without any so-called quid pro quo, something for something."

Lauer: "I'm sorry. Mr. MacKenzie, I'm sorry to interrupt. And I want to mention again there are some conflicting reports coming out of Baghdad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We hope for a good outcome."

MacKenzie: "Thank you very much."

For all the criticism this column levels at the MSM in general and the Today show in particular, we're obliged to applaud Lauer for his courage in sensitive circumstances in standing up, politely but firmly, for a U.S. policy designed to prevent the taking of even more hostages.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: kidnappedsoldiers; lauer; maliki; menchaca; mujahadeen; ransom; thomastucker; todayshow
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To: Blueflag
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry

WOW, was Henley prescient or not re Katie Couric sitting in cBS's big chair.

101 posted on 06/20/2006 7:36:05 AM PDT by Surtur (Free Trade is NOT Fair Trade unless both economies are equivalent.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I agreed with your approval of Lauer, I disagree with your praise of the uncle.

We will have to agree to disagree.

Sorry if you now consider yourself one of the UNCRITICIZABLE.

LOL who knew you were part of the people on Ann Coulter's list of those who dare not be criticized.

Get over yourself already.

102 posted on 06/20/2006 7:42:05 AM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I think the U.S. government was too slow to react to this, they should have had a plan in place. Because the U.S. government did not have a plan in place, my nephew has paid for it with his life."

I didn't see the interview but from reading the above statement it sounds like the guy is critisizzing the plan on getting his nephew back - not critisizing the war.

This still makes me livid. Doesn't this man realize that troops were injured and one soldier died in trying to find/rescue his nephew. He just spit on those soldiers and another soldiers family going through the same pain of loss.
103 posted on 06/20/2006 7:47:39 AM PDT by Republican Red (Everyone is super stoked on Gore. Even if they don't know it)
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To: JCEccles
Stage magicians use one hand to misdirect you (Lauer challenging the uncle) while their other hand pulls off the trick (the MSM giving a raving nut a microphone, a camera, and centerstage to undermine the War on Terror).

Exactly. They do it all the time in order to pull all the response they can. The Houston local abc channel 13 was aware of this man's slightly incoherent opinions and offered him up to GMA for this "interview".

104 posted on 06/20/2006 7:51:38 AM PDT by daybreakcoming (If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. A. Lincoln)
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To: OldFriend

You seem incapable of understanding that I was did not offer 'praise' of the uncle, I was simply stating the irrefutable fact that he was well-spoken and well-informed. Obviously I disagreed with the SUBSTANCE of what the uncle said.

I pointed out that he was well-spoken for purposes of refuting the suggestion by some that he was a distraught relative being exploited by Today.

The entire essence of my thread was to praise Lauer for having challenged him. If you had read the article carefully in the first place you would have understood that, and this unpleasant exchange would have been averted.

For you to place me in the same category in which Ann Coulter places the Jersey Girls and Cindy Sheehan is as absurd as it is insulting. Do you really think I'm a liberal shill?


105 posted on 06/20/2006 7:56:21 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: daybreakcoming

Whoops - my bad on the GMA and Today - wrote it on the run and I haven't watched either show in years anyway but the rest of my statement stands.


106 posted on 06/20/2006 8:04:11 AM PDT by daybreakcoming (If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. A. Lincoln)
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To: tarheelswamprat

Thank you!!!!!


107 posted on 06/20/2006 8:06:10 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ("Over there, over there, We won't be back 'til it's over Over there.")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Maybe Lauer was influenced by Ann Coulter's views on "moral authority".


108 posted on 06/20/2006 9:50:41 AM PDT by RedRover (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Fire Murtha! http://www.irey.com/)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Maybe Lauer was influenced by Ann Coulter's views on "moral authority".


109 posted on 06/20/2006 9:50:48 AM PDT by RedRover (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Fire Murtha! http://www.irey.com/)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Mr. McKenzie, what in God's name do you think they'd've done with the money?


110 posted on 06/20/2006 9:53:49 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
This was not the bereaved wife/mother, this was a highly articulate, composed, well-informed uncle being given a chance to make his case.


And being paid to do it too.

Looks like we've just possibly witnessed the birth of another Cindy Sheehan.
111 posted on 06/20/2006 12:51:48 PM PDT by AmeriBrit (LIGHT A PRAYER CANDLE FOR THE TROOPS SAFE RETURN: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm)
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To: Brilliant

"They need to give these guys tracking devices."

I was thinking the same thing, but then what happens when the terrorists figure out how to use them?


112 posted on 06/20/2006 6:36:53 PM PDT by LibertarianInExile ('Is' and 'amnesty' both have clear, plain meanings. Are Billy Jeff, Pence, McQueeg & Bush related?)
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To: OldFriend

No.


113 posted on 06/25/2006 4:46:43 AM PDT by starfish923 ( Socrates: It's never right to do wrong.)
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