Sean Penn breaks his silence ... sort of (Hollywood Left Idiot Alert)

WorldNetDaily ^ | January 12, 2003 | WorldNetDaily

[Jacob Kell]

Sean Penn broke his silence following his controversial trip to Iraq with an interview last night on CNN's ''Larry King Show'' by saying he went to Baghdad seeking information, but doesn't feel he is in a position to share what he learned with the American people.

Sean Penn on CNN

Asked by King what the purpose of his trip to Iraq was, the actor-director said: ''The purpose was information.''

Insisting in a somewhat rambling interview that he doesn't think he ''hurt this country's position,'' Penn accused the Bush administration of trying to ''herd us into this position. We as citizens have to take stock of our own conscience on these issues.''

Penn boasted of spending nearly 90 minutes with top Iraqi official Tariq Aziz, but said he didn't feel comfortable relating what was said.

''I don't believe that, despite some compelling arguments ... that it is legitimate for someone in my position to quote him and to be a messenger of anything to do with that message,'' said the actor.

The actor made clear he is no fan of Saddam Hussein.

''I think there's probably two legitimate places for Saddam Hussein: it's either Bellevue or a meat grinder,'' he said. ''This man's a horror and a criminal, there's no question about it.''

Penn said repeatedly he is not a pacifist, but said he opposed a U.S. attack on Iraq without proof the country has weapons of mass destruction and plans to use them against America. Asked what kind of proof would persuade him to change his mind, he said: ''What is it they have? How much of it do they have? What is the immediate threat of it? What are the ramifications of what we do about it? For example, the same – those same enemies of the state of Iraq today who, on the other hand, are Arab brothers. My friend – you know, the enemy of the enemy and that whole notion. Who is going to give terrorists nuclear capability as a result of us going into Iraq in a certain way? Who is going to? All of these things have to be considered. The best way that, for my own opinion, I think, you know, given what are the facts of – the only way that I'll answer it is to say that, you know, again, I do not stand here as a pacifist. I would aspire to be a pacifist. I'm not. I doubt I ever will be.''

Penn said he undertook the fact-finding trip out of an ''increasing feeling of shame on my own part in not participating in what, for me, was not necessarily so much a political but a – to the degree that humanitarianism and civic responsibility are the same thing.''

He said he believes we are living in what Norman Mailer called ''the first century that – because of technology and the conflicts in the world ... the Earth survives without us. And I have children who are going to face that century and live in that century.''

Penn, who has been known to slug it out with paparazzi and even his former flame Madonna, said the Bush administration ''inadvertently teaching a master class in the manifestation of rage into hatred.''

Have we seen the end of Penn's unofficial diplomatic career? Not necessarily, he says. Asked if he would go to North Korea, where another dictator is threatening war agains the U.S., Penn didn't rule it out.

''If I felt there was a productive reason to go, I think, is one answer to it,'' he said. ''Am I curious to go to North Korea? Yes.''

[Jacob Kell]

''Am I curious to go to North Korea? Yes.''

Good, then go. Hopefully, they'll keep you.

[Texas Eagle]

''I think there's probably two legitimate places for Saddam Hussein: it's either Bellevue or a meat grinder,'' he said. ''This man's a horror and a criminal, there's no question about it.''

Yeah. Notice that he waited until he was back in a land that allows free speech before he says this?

What an asshole.

[Fintan]

''I think there's probably two legitimate places for Saddam Hussein: it's either Bellevue or a meat grinder,'' he said.

And I'm sure, given Penn's impeccable integrity, truthfulness, honesty, and courage of his convictions as a socialist, that he had the balls to say this to Tariq Aziz' face.

[What Is Ain't]

I stand in awe of this Hollywood intellectual who's penetrating analysis is so powerful I momentarily mistook him for Babs.

[cardinal4]

I stand in awe of this Hollywood intellectual who's penetrating analysis is so powerful I momentarily mistook him for Babs.

Why bother establishing policy when we can send someone from Hollywood? /sarcasm off

[Mo1]

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[Inspectorette]

said the Bush administration ''inadvertently teaching a master class in the manifestation of rage into hatred.''

What the he** kind of incoherent gibberish is this?? The moron is babbling and drooling all over himself.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I tried watching a few moments of that last night. He stammered so much it was hard to follow him. Then he started reading some ancient quote from the 1960s by Barry Goldwater concerning his vision for the Republican Party. Then I changed the channel.

[Malcolm]

I caught a little of SP on Larry King last night while flipping through the channels, (LOL, as little as I possibly could), and the look on his face alone was enought to convince me that he does not know what he is talking about. He must not of had to do much acting when his did Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. War is bad, no doubt, but sometimes it is justified. People like SP apparently don't know this, or if they do, they are anti-American. I don't have much use for either of the two.....

[MadMoo]

Both King AND Penn are A-Hole$. Yes, I know, let's have Larry go to Iraq for an interview with Saddy. When he comes back he can interview himself harshly. Yes, that's what he should do!

[doug from upland]

''I think there's probably two legitimate places for Sean Penn: it's either Bellevue or a meat grinder,'' said DFU.

[ConsiderTheLily]

I'm sure many freepers have already posted thier opinion on this petition, but if not go here. http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/hollywoodceleb/index.html

[Turbodog]

Man, I hate it when elder statesman like Sean Penn say they are opposed to Iraqi action without proof that Saddam has WMD. It’s so shallow and transparent – it’s absurd. Saddam, unprovoked, attacked Iran and used Chemical Weapons against the Iranians. Saddam has used Chemical Weapons against his own people and the Kurds. Saddam invaded neighboring Kuwait, and raped, pillaged, and murdered thousands of Kuwaitis. Saddam committed environmental terrorism the likes the world had never seen. Saddam was caught with his pants down building Nuclear Weapons and much more. Saddam was caught red-handed attempting to murder former President Bush. Saddam almost blew up the World Trade Center in 1993 and his fingerprints are all over the 9/11 attacks. Saddam broke every U.N. resolution and even some he never agreed to. And Saddam continues to murder and torture his own people today. What, pray tell, makes idiots like Sean Penn think anyone is stupid enough to believe them when they say they want proof?

[Arkady]

I wish he'd break something besides his silence...his tongue for starters. Thank God for old movies.

[Valin]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?

[Paul Atreides]

Did Larry King, or anyone on his staff, ever stop to think that they are talking to an ACTOR?!! Who cares about listening to anyone whose career consists of make-believe? Get over yourself Hollywood.

[Libloather]

...but doesn't feel he is in a position to share what he learned with the American people. Sean Penn on CNN...

Penn got 'debriefed' by CNN? Sure sounds like it...

[GunRunner]

"All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine."

[John Lenin]

This guy can barely put a coherant sentence together and he gets facetime to tell us about world politics ? Unbelieveable !

[Liz]

Heheh. Good one.