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Sam Donaldson: Fire Geraldo
NewsMax.com ^
| 4/03/03
| Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
Posted on 04/03/2003 12:50:03 PM PST by kattracks
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To: hnorris; Pest; UCFRoadWarrior; Young Werther; gcruse; amused; N. Theknow; Aeronaut; paul51; ...
Was what Geraldo did any worse than what the rent-a-generals have done on EVERY network since the war began? ----Hnorris Actually yes .......and i tried to explain why to another poster in # 32.
The talking-head 'ex-military/expert' rent-a-general types who come on the evening news everynight cannot even be compared in the slightest to what Geraldo did Hnorris. And this is why.
The ex-military types (and some of them are quite adept at what they did and extremely well versed in military matters) engage basically in intelligent speculation. they delve into what they would do, and what they think the armed forces will try to achieve and how they would go about it. However they do not know exactly what is going to happen (since all they are doing is saying what they would do if the decisions were up to them). But since they are out of the loop they are not saying anything of major significance. You can get most of their info from reading past US maneuvres.
However this is what Geraldo did.
He went on live TV, that was being broadcast around the world, and gave the stratagems of the US military division (the 101st i believe) he was travelling with. Not only did he give away their current position but he also said what their plans and objectives were! As if that was not bad enough he then proceded to say what the next location the 101st would be moving to was! And to emphasize the fact he dres his silly little etchy sketches on the sand!
And that is where he diverges from talking-head experts on TV. Geraldo had real info ...... not just speculation but veritable stuff that was 100% legit! Furthermore he gave it away on live TV. And to add insult to injury he even gave what would be happening in the near future.
US soldiers might have been killed due to his stupidity! The Iraqis cold easily have set up an ambush that might have wounded or even killed those soldiers (and probably stupid Geraldo himself).
An analogy for you: In football opposing teams know basically what the other team is going to try to do. Basically win through effective offense and efficient defense. After all that is football. And sport comentators can come and talk all they want on sunday ....but allt hat talk is moot come monday night.
Now imagine if somehow the plans and strategies of a team was made known to the other team. Not just general stuff but exactly what the team oulod be doing, their starting list, the tactics, what maneuvres, and everything play by play! It might not assure victory for the other team ....but it would still be a big mistake for that info to be just given away!
Geraldo foolishly gave the Iraqis valuable info, tht thankfully was not (as far as we know) used against our soldiers.
And as i said in post # 32 that is far worse than anything Peter Arnett did (at least Arnett's spinless cowardice did not put even one soldier in jeopardy .....but Geraldo's lack of prudence did).
Basically in my opinion Geraldo bogs down Fox. He did in Afghanistan when he lied about being in the middle of a battle that was miles away (and trying to make himself into Rambo with a mike by totting a gun ......and i can bet if any action did take place he would be cringing behind a real soldier pi$$!ng his pants). Fox News is a respected channel, respected even by those who hate it (trust me, everytime CNN looks at the ratings it respects FOX LOL). However Geraldo is a blight on Fox .....like the foolish drugee reckless sot of a kid that shames his otherwise respectable family.
And criticizing Geraldo for what he did is not 'Lott-ing' him (ala Trent Lott) but just calling a spade a spade not a big spoon! Geraldo messed up yet again, and this time he put the whole freaking 101st airborne in jeaopardy!
And anyways, what is Geraldo doing in Iraq anyway? He should be covering sunday brunch lemonade-sipping contests! (Unless ofcourse the reason he is sent to battlezones by Fox is because he is their most expendable 'journalist')
And as a matter of principle i have to apologize for referring to geraldo as a journalist.
41
posted on
04/03/2003 5:30:42 PM PST
by
spetznaz
(Nuclear missiles: The ultimate Phallic symbol.)
To: paul51
I'm no big supporter of GR however after watching his screw up, I think his enemies are blowing it out of proportion. The Pentagon obviously decided he deserved to be slapped and they did it but there are also reports he will be allowed back inThis is much ado about NOTHING!
Geraldo drew a map. If what he did was so bad, why did the supposedly-peeved commander allow him to stay and report with the 101st for another 24 hours?
The Pentagon's got egg on its face, which is why it's allowing Geraldo back in.
42
posted on
04/03/2003 5:43:31 PM PST
by
sinkspur
To: kattracks
I couldn't stand Geraldo's boot licking of the Clinton clan but, I think he's found his niche in Iraq....I hope he comes back if nothing more than to tick off the rats who are making all the noise...
43
posted on
04/03/2003 5:50:40 PM PST
by
hope
To: kattracks
THis is about FOX not Geraldo.
44
posted on
04/03/2003 5:52:47 PM PST
by
dalebert
To: N. Theknow
45
posted on
04/03/2003 5:58:41 PM PST
by
BRL
To: kattracks
Ted Koppel PINGGGGGGGGggggggggg
Sorta changes the whole complexion of this thread. What say you NOW, Sam????
46
posted on
04/03/2003 6:02:08 PM PST
by
NonValueAdded
("Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists." GWB 9/20/01)
To: kattracks
I agree with this except for one thing; Frank Rich from the NY Pravda has no room to complain. That pos rag has done more to hurt our troops and spread lies that Radio Baghdad.
V
47
posted on
04/03/2003 6:03:26 PM PST
by
Beck_isright
(If Susan Sarandon pooped in the woods, would ELF boycott her?)
To: sinkspur
I saw the map drawing on the tube. It was a line with Basra at one end, and Bagdad at the other, with Nasiriyah and Najif in between, where Geraldo said there was resistence. The map was not particularly accurate, and reminder laughing how ham handed and show boaty the whole thing was, with nothing really new or of interest being reported. He didn't say where anyone was or was going, except that the goal was Bagdad. The whole thing is bizarre. Someone in the right place in the DOD had it in for Geraldo.
48
posted on
04/03/2003 6:10:28 PM PST
by
Torie
To: kattracks
the phrase "the pot calling the kettle black" comes to mind...
49
posted on
04/03/2003 6:13:45 PM PST
by
citizen
To: hope
I hope he comes back if nothing more than to tick off the rats who are making all the noise...Great minds think alike....well, at least yours is great but I'm working on it
50
posted on
04/03/2003 6:16:59 PM PST
by
citizen
To: kattracks
The map in the sand was not nearly as objectionable as the running commentary Whorealdo gave while he was drawing it. Whorealdo should have been dismissed based on that alone.
Fox has really screwed the pooch on this one.
To: N. Theknow
52
posted on
04/03/2003 6:36:03 PM PST
by
BRL
To: spetznaz
I saw GR and the map drawing incident on tv. What you say in your post #41 is essentially correct however you give his map and description a lot more credit than is due. The scrawled lines in the sand resembled something a 1st grader would do and his commentary was not the least bit detailed and proprietary. Again, I don't care for the guy and I think he deserved to get slapped but to say he could have cost lives I think is a stretch. Any iraqi generals viewing his show would most likely have found it laughable if not useless.
53
posted on
04/03/2003 8:03:08 PM PST
by
paul51
To: spetznaz
What "valuable information"? I saw his broadcast. He drew a map in the sand where his scale was as indefinite as the tele screens that the talking heads use.
If you think that his observations provided any tactical or strategic intel to the Iraqi forces you haven't been listening to the news.
The Iraqi Air Force has been deployed as speed bumps at their airfields. Their Army has been routed and unless they deploy WMD they are DUN!
To: Prince Charles
Whorealdo got his hand slapped.
He'll be back in spades....and soon!
Yes, he is an egomaniac, but he's on the right side now.
He interviewed the Brigade Commander (Colonel) for about 4 or so minutes that night.
To: hnorris
Obviously you don't listen to Sam Donaldson's show. And when has Sam ever wanted anyone in the military hurt.
To: dljordan
"I've never liked him, he's just too oily or something"
He comes across as a smarmy lawyer.
57
posted on
04/03/2003 10:04:04 PM PST
by
dolander2002
(I'm just a sweet little grammy who wouldn't hurt a fly.)
To: spetznaz
The mere fact that there is no balance between Geraldo and Arnett tells me that this is still much ado about nothing.
The reason I say that was because there were many reports during the same time that Geraldo came on and gave his little spill. It appeared by all reports that we (the US military) wanted the Republican Guard and paramilitary to come to them, removed from their holes as they did before under the cover of the sandstorm. I, and many more, thought it was a ploy to draw them out. However I did wonder if that were the case, why no one made a big stink at the time of Geraldo giving out the info.
How is it that the info was first reported thru Reuters, CNN and MSNBC. If there is a possible security breach I would have to say it's within Centcom or DOD. That was one positive that came from this ordeal. To see where the security holes are.
What Arnett did was, from my viewpoint, more a concern due to the fact of his statements during the operational pause. There could have been negotiations in the works of widescale surrenders. But instead after that interview we heard of terrorists and busloads of individuals coming back to fight for Saddam against the Coalition. Now who really put our troops in harms way? They have both made a mistake one was traitorous in that he went on the enemy's propaganda tool and incited the enemy against us. And confessed that his writings were meant to engage those who were dissatisfied in America to continue their anti-war efforts.
But this is still much ado about nothing and to take the edge off of the Left's mouthpiece, Arnett.
58
posted on
04/04/2003 12:22:06 AM PST
by
swheats
To: pgyanke
i hope FNC keeps Geraldo... and i never heard Donaldson asking for Clinton's confession before forgiving him his shortcomings... Geraldo no longer bothers me as when he was with MSNBC... Dick Morris hardly bothers me as when he was with Clinton... there's someone else who no longer bothers me as much, but i can't think of whom right now... as for Greta--i never watch her, so i don't know if she's any different since CNN...
59
posted on
04/04/2003 12:49:56 AM PST
by
scripter
(The validity of faith is linked to it's object.)
To: BRL
Quite right good fellow.
Harumph!
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