Bush chides press for 'silly' Iraq obsession

washingtontimes.com ^ | 23 August 2002 | Bill Sammon

[Darlin']

MEDFORD, Ore.

[Darlin']

I don't know how Ari maintains his cool day after day.

[princess leah]

When DO THEY NOT criticize ARI for crying out loud? I really do hate the liberal media...they couldn't report REAL NEWS if it were about their own mothers!

[Moleman]

President Bush believes "the press looks silly" for obsessing over Iraq
As do many Freepers...

[Russ]

"...can we give you advice on being press secretary and governing?"

So when don't they do that? Their arrogance is limitless!

[skeeter]

A reporter asked: "If you're going to give us advice about journalism, can we give you advice about being press secretary and governing?"

I don't see why not, as long as everyone understands the average journalist's grasp on what it means to govern is every bit as demented as what it means to be a good reporter.

[philosofy123]

Islam, the religion, teaches hostility to non-Moslem, that is not much different from any other religion teaching of superiority of their way of thinking or believing. The difference are
1) most other religions started to deemphasize the hate to others, and Islam failed to do so, and

2)most religions do not have the luxury of state support with billions of dollars budgeted to teach hate as well as networking of militants to force that religion down the throat of others. Now these two fundamental reasons are why the Islamists became a world-wide terror to be contended with.

If the US fails to recognize that, and starts to waste time and effort on changing dictatorship in Iraq, then we have people in charge who fail to understand the big picture. First, we must recognize that all the Moslem fanatic nations are authoritarian dictatorship of one sort or another. For Example Mr. Mubarak of Egypt can swear all day that he has a democracy, but he has been in office for more than 20 years, and keep getting 99% of the votes during the charade game they call election. Therefore, all these dictators who are able to govern with an iron fist, and forbid criticism of their government should also be able to FORBID CRITISISM OF THE US, AND ISRAEL! Second, We should disregard the concept of “interfering in internal affairs of other nations”, if the internal affairs of these nations is to incite hate against us.

To conclude, the US was given a tremendous sympathy, and sense of support from most of the world after 9/11. We needed that to help chase the flow of funds that supports the terrorist Islamic cells. Less than a year later, with the cells still operating in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Philippine, as well as the marathon fundraising in Saudi Arabia, we are disregarding our main mission, and focusing on “changing the government of Iraq”. The world that was 100% behind us in combating the terrorists is now 100% against us in invading Iraq! How inept can you get in wasting worldwide goodwill into a worldwide hate?

Again, the US should focus on Islamic terrorist groups and the venomous hate from the Moslem clerics. We must dictate to these dictators: “You employ these clerics, you are responsible for their hate preaching”--- if that continue, we will make you pay! JUST AS SIMPLE AS THAT!!

[alnick]

They are being silly. I for one am not the least bit interested in endless speculation about Iraq from the various guests that the news stations keep trotting out. It's ridiculous.

Last night Alan Colmes actually had the nerve to say that Bush keeps going on and on about Iraq and now he doesn't want to talk about it. Um, Alan, it's the stupid media that keeps going on and on about Iraq. The president has been mostly quiet about it.

[Darlin']

FOFLOL. That is a given, except FReepers aren't nearly as diplomatic or charitable in our accessment as our gracious president.

[Darlin']

Colmes is a fool. Rather than listen and report what is actually being said the press prefers to speculate and predict. President Bush has kept it short and clear, Saddam is a threat to the world and he must go.

[1Old Pro]

Ari has the patience of a nursery school teacher.

[Always Right]

A reporter asked: "If you're going to give us advice about journalism, can we give you advice about being press secretary and governing?"

Ummm, you already do.

[Darlin']

"...Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice — have made harsh statements about Iraq in recent weeks, ----snip---

Miss Rice said last week in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. that dealing with Saddam was better done sooner than later.

"We certainly do not have the luxury of doing nothing," she said. "If Saddam Hussein is left in power, doing the things that he's doing now, this is a threat that will emerge — and emerge in a very big way."

Oooooooh, " sooner rather than later", that is really harsh. Shame on Dr Rice for speaking so harshly. Bill Sammon must be really bored this August he is usually more rational than most of the pack.

[What Is Ain't]

Uh-oh - these folks will be apoplectic over being referred to as "silly."

Look for any number of sniveling pieces from their motherships.

Silly people don't like being called silly.

[kayak]

Mr. Fleischer said the media's preoccupation with a prospective war against Iraq allows the administration to discuss various sensitive subjects with little or no scrutiny by the press.

Someone even faintly worthy of the title journalist would have jumped all over this statement and asked about something .... anything .... but Iraq. But they can't give up their own agenda. Heaven forbid that they report on what is actually happening rather than trying to stir up trouble!

[Darlin']

FOFLOL. Nursery school teacher or Press Secretary ? In both cases you're dealing with a group of demanding children with a short attention span and prone to pouting.

[Darlin']

You got it ! They're soooooo poredictable.

[Darlin']

"poredictable" ???? I'm pretty sure I meant to type predictable LOL

[Gluteous Minibus]

I'm glad Ari set this matter clear so we can all get on the same page. For the time being, talk about invading Iraq is silly, and the news media needs to shut up about it.

But because the press is liberal, we will no doubt hear more and more questions about invading Iraq. They won't care that we all now understand that it is a silly obsession.

If the media were conservative, it would be different: We'd hear and read about Ari's reference to the 'silly obsession' of the press about Iraq day after day for a while, and we'd even hear pundits and columnists admitting that what Fleischer said is right.

But that won't happen -- which is just more proof that the media is liberal.

[Darlin']

Ping

[Darlin']

"But that won't happen -- which is just more proof that the media is liberal"

Exactly. If the media were conservative Helen Thomas would have been buried at the time of her passing.