Iraq war was "justified", says John Burns, NYT writer

NYDaily News ^ | 8/19/03 | Hot Copy feature

[MaxPlus305]

War called 'justified'

New York Times foreign correspondent John Burns is on record in interviews and in his own stories about dangers in Iraq under Saddam Hussein.

In a new oral history, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner went on to say: "This war could have been justified any time on the basis of human rights. Alone. This was a grotesque charnel house."

Interviewed May 1 in Baghdad for "Embedded: The Media at War in Iraq," Burns added, "There were probably fewer people [who] died in the six weeks since this war began than would have died if Saddam Hussein's killing machine had gone about its daily business. So, to my mind, it was always on that basis that the war should have been justified."

Burns slammed unnamed colleagues "who turned a blind eye" to terror under Hussein.

Compiled by Bill Katovsky and Timothy Carlson, "Embedded" goes on sale next month.

Times spokesman Toby Usnik said management would reserve comment on Burns' remarks until after they read the book.

In an earlier episode, Times reporter Chris Hedges, author of "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning," was booed during a May commencement address at Rockford College in Illinois for criticizing U.S policy in Iraq.

Usnik said The Times had nothing to add to its earlier comment about the speech.

Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis had said the paper was looking into the matter.

The reporters' views may fall into a gray area.

The Times' code of conduct, in a reference to broadcast appearances, says staffers "should avoid expressing views that go beyond what they would be allowed to say in the paper."

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The News We (CNN) Kept To Ourselves [must read]