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John Malkovich would shoot Robert Fisk
The Scotsman via the Drudge Report ^ | Sat 4 May 2002 | CHRISTINE GRANT

Posted on 05/05/2002 9:38:28 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative

The Scotsman

  

Sat 4 May 2002


Galloway in the line of fire from actor Malkovich



CHRISTINE GRANT



GEORGE Galloway, the outspoken Labour MP, is consulting his lawyers after Hollywood star John Malkovich allegedly said he would like to shoot him.

Malkovich - star of movies including Dangerous Liaisons and The Killing Fields - is reported to have said that Mr Galloway, the Glasgow Kelvin MP, was one of two people he would most like to kill.

The MP yesterday expressed astonishment that the actor should have such animosity against him - or indeed should ever have heard of him.

The unexpected attack came as Malkovich, who is in the UK filming Johnny English with Rowan Atkinson and Natalie Imbruglia, addressed students at a Cambridge Union Society debate on Wednesday.

He was asked by one student who he would most like to fight to the death, and replied "I’d rather just shoot them," before naming Mr Galloway and the Independent newspaper’s Middle East correspondent, Robert Fisk. Union Society spokesman Luke Layfield said last night: "Someone asked him why he hated George Galloway and what his problem was. He said he was an idiot and he didn’t know. But then he was a bit more serious and he said people shouldn’t summarise thousands of years of history in just a few paragraphs because they are angry about something. He said ‘It’s dangerous; very dangerous indeed.’

"It would be fair to say you can infer from what he said that he was talking about the way George Galloway and Robert Fisk report on the Israel and Palestinian conflict and perhaps that they are not the most neutral of reports and come out with the Palestinian side."

Mr Layfield added: "He lives in France and he said he always reads the British press and he said he doesn’t like what George Galloway or Robert Fisk write but that he always reads it."

Michael Lynas, president of the Cambridge Union Society, said the comments were only a small part of the hour and a half debate, which was attended by 750 people, stressing that they were not a serious death threat but a "lighthearted" remark.

Mr Galloway assumed that his outspoken criticism of US policy in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Iraq was behind the outburst.

He said: "In the current climate of terrorism and violence and so on, if it was a joke it is not very funny and if it wasn’t a joke, he will be hearing from my lawyers. We can have a high noon at the Old Bailey if he likes.

"His comments are especially dangerous because in a couple of days’ time, I will be in the Palestinian Authority visiting President Arafat and there are a lot of bullets flying around there."

In response to the comments, Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of the Independent, said: "I am treating the remarks with the contempt they deserve."



This article:

  http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/politics.cfm?id=478912002





TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: johnmalkovich; robertfisk
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It's good to know that there are some actors in Hollywood who don't buy into political correctness. The more articles I read about John Malkovich, the more I like him.
1 posted on 05/05/2002 9:38:28 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: Paleo Conservative
He was asked by one student who he would most like to fight to the death, and replied "I?d rather just shoot them," before naming Mr Galloway and the Independent newspaper?s Middle East correspondent, Robert Fisk.
I love John Malkovich.
2 posted on 05/05/2002 9:44:36 PM PDT by Asclepius
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To: Paleo Conservative
'"His comments are especially dangerous because in a couple of days’ time, I will be in the Palestinian Authority visiting President Arafat and there are a lot of bullets flying around there."'

Thanks for keeping hope alive.

3 posted on 05/05/2002 9:45:58 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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To: Paleo Conservative
Malkovich is another fine product of the Steppenwolf Group of Chicago. Fine actor, although he comes across as a little strange. Good to see we share some of the same enemies, although I find ALL contemporary British politicians contemptable.

Favorite Tory actor: Gary Oldman.

4 posted on 05/05/2002 9:46:04 PM PDT by Clemenza
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To: Paleo Conservative
I admire the work John Malkovich has done as an actor. However, he should learn to zipper his lip. His unfortunate comment is no different from the Hollywood personality -- I forget the details, but it was something said on a talk show, that he disagreed so much with the President's policies that he wished someone would shoot him. Or he deserved to be shot. Something like that.

In any case, nobody should engage in that type of discourse, especially with today's zero tolerance policies.

5 posted on 05/05/2002 9:47:04 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: Asclepius
You know you have to be incredibly cool to have a movie not only named after you but be the star. He came a long way from "Making Mr. Right" but it was well worth it.
6 posted on 05/05/2002 9:47:09 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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To: Paleo Conservative
You can agree with John politically, but I guess some people are missing the point that he should not make a threat like this in public, even jokingly, about killing a member of parliament.

It would be awful if someone said that about a female senator from a large state. Wait. I think I just defeated my own argument.

7 posted on 05/05/2002 9:56:00 PM PDT by doug from upland
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To: Paleo Conservative
Wow, I just always thought of John Malkovitch as a strange person. I read a bit of Robert Fisk after the 9-11 attack --which all basically stated that the USA was the REAL fundamentalists and terrorists. After reading that and seeing that he was the Progressive/Green Party darling reporter, I'd say he's pretty enemy #1, right up there with Osama Bin Laden. You go, John!
8 posted on 05/05/2002 10:02:20 PM PDT by Sally II
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: Ciexyz
His unfortunate comment is no different from the Hollywood personality -- I forget the details, but it was something said on a talk show, that he disagreed so much with the President's policies that he wished someone would shoot him. Or he deserved to be shot. Something like that.

I believe you're referring to that jackass, Greg Kilborne, Late Show on CBS. John Malkovich is no better. Unfortunate isn't the right word though. I'd say, stupid is a better descriptor. Malkovich's celebrity status, doesn't give him the right to threaten people. Besides, he's a second rate actor and not very good either.

10 posted on 05/05/2002 10:17:32 PM PDT by Reagan Man
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To: Paleo Conservative
As Fisk is a masochist, the crueler act would be refusing to shoot him.

But John's heart is in the right place.

11 posted on 05/05/2002 10:24:27 PM PDT by PhilDragoo
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To: Reagan Man
Yeah, we shouldn't condemn Alec Balwdwin's Henry Hyde remarks and then praise Malkovich. Makes us look as hypocrytical as Democrats.
12 posted on 05/05/2002 11:33:43 PM PDT by stiga bey
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To: Paleo Conservative
I don't really see it as threatening anybody. He was asked a question of who he would most like to fight to the death. One would assume he could just as easily answer with Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein or his father etc. If his answering the question is a threat then it would also be a threat to answer a question like "who would you most like to get in the ring and box with?" because that is the threat of physical violence as well. That would also make it wrong of all of us when we say Arafat needs to be shot or that we would do it ourselves given the opportunity.

He didn't volunteer the information, he was asked off hand and I figure he answered the same way. I personally wish that Fisk character would get offed by the same Palestinians he supports- it would serve him right. I can't read any of his articles it makes me so mad- so I understand exactly how John Malkovich feels.

13 posted on 05/06/2002 2:36:00 AM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: Prodigal Son
Good point.

Malkovich was asked whom he wanted to fight to the death. He shifted the burden of the question back, by actually reducing the threat of the consequence, concisely point blank.

1) He'd rather shoot than fight to the death,...smart.

2) Gave the name of a person, rather than a cause, again allows the questioner to imply the person named is evil and throws him on the defensive.

What crime is on the books in Britain to charge a questioner for promoting 'fights to the death'?

14 posted on 05/06/2002 2:49:25 AM PDT by Cvengr
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To: Paleo Conservative; all
Saddam's friend Galloway keeps odd company in Baghdad
15 posted on 05/06/2002 3:26:54 AM PDT by dighton
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: seamole
Thanks for posting a picture on my thread.
17 posted on 05/06/2002 9:29:16 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: seamole
No, I wanted a to post a picture, but I haven't figured out how to do it yet. Reread my previous post. I did not intend any sarcasm.
19 posted on 05/06/2002 10:07:23 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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