Matthews: Bush War Plan Recalls Pearl Harbor Sneak Attack

NewsMax ^ | 9/20/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews said Friday that he was opposed to Bush administration plans for a preemptive strike against Iraq because it would violate the principle that "we don't attack other countries" the way Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

"We're not the Japanese. We're not into surprising other countries," Matthews complained to radio host Don Imus.

The full exchange went like this:

IMUS: Do you buy this - ah - we-don't-want-to-wait-until-there's-a-smoking-gun deal?

MATTHEWS: Well, you know, I'm very proud, like everybody who grew up in this country, of the American tradition of that great old flag, which was a picture of a rattlesnake and it said, "Don't Tread On Me." (There's) the rule that we don't attack other countries. We're not the Japanese. We're not into surprising other countries.

But there (are) two different kinds of preemption. In 1967 the Israelis knew that the Arabs were coming to get them. They were shutting down their harbors. They were mobilizing their troops on the border. They were coming to get them. So Israel struck quick and killed them all in six days.

That's good preemption. I'm all for that. If you know the other side is coming at you, you hit them first, clearly. But if you're just going - this is where it's tricky - if you just don't like the look of their face, if you don't like anything about them, if they thumb their nose at you and they have weapons but they haven't moved against you yet and there's no evidence they are moving against you, that is the kind of preemption that I think is very bad.

Because what you get in a situation like that is, the Indians will attack the Pakistanis tomorrow morning claiming the Bush doctrine said they had to do it because the Pakis have a nuclear weapon.

I think if you get into this situation of fighting other countries just cause they have the wrong weapon or you don't like their face, then you're going to have a world that is going to be warlike forever. That's what I think. I think there's a difference here. (End of Excerpt)

[irish guard]

Chris Matthews is full of it! Does he remember at all when Billy Jeff decided to bomb Serbia and surrounding areas? They never....NEVER were a threat to the United States, yet we did the right thing there. Why is this any different?

[The G Man]

"Because what you get in a situation like that is, the Indians will attack the Pakistanis tomorrow morning claiming the Bush doctrine said they had to do it because the Pakis have a nuclear weapon."

Yeah, and if we don't act now we'll be right in the middle of our own little Pakistan / India situation with a nuclear Iraq.

[RooRoobird14]

Good Old Prissy Chrissy.....

Just remember: This @sshole's first column after 9/11 was "Bush's War", a mournful monologue about how "unlucky" Rapist Clinton was, because 9/11 didn't happen on his watch--Poor Clintbilly "missed his chance for greatness."

[Psycho_Bunny]

I agree. It's pretty obvious that Iraq has no idea what's going on or what we're planning on doing.

>:P

 

[ladtx]

Great! First the Germans compare Bush to Hitler now Matthews compares the administration to the Japanese before Pearl Harbor. Message to Chris--you're either with us or with them.

[Fracas]

The difference is WJC is a Democrat and GWB is a Republican.

In spite of the Dems repeated denials that 'this has nothing to do with politics', it does. It also has to do with philosophy, and never forget that Matthews spent a long time in the Peace Corps.

[mhking]

Because what you get in a situation like that is, the Indians will attack the Pakistanis tomorrow morning claiming the Bush doctrine said they had to do it because the Pakis have a nuclear weapon.

Somebody, please go smack Chris four or five times cross the top of his thick skull...

"Let's not attack Iraq, 'cause the Indians might attack Pakistan..." Oh please!

I'm sorry, what they hell do you wanna do, Chris, wait until after they've taken out Las Vegas and left a radioactive cloud of fallout to waft over the Rockies and settle on the American breadbasket?

Moron.

[joesnuffy]

The war on terror...started with the WTC ( and OK City)...terrorists trained in Iraq...are funded by Iraq...
Hitting terrorists before they can hit us ...AGAIN.. is not aggression for the sake of aggression but for the survival of American people...precisely what one of the jobs of Govt. is...the protection of America..
Hit them hard hit, them frequently, and hit them now...and keep hitting them till they've stopped wiggling!

[SoCal Pubbie]

Of course the obvious difference between the Japanese attacking BEFORE they expressed their intentions to conduct hostilities, and our clearly stating the need for regime change and the upcoming congressional resolution and UN authority before the attack is lost on the simpleton Mr. Matthews.

[pgkdan]

Chris Mathhews is the biggest loser on MSNBC...and that says alot coming from the home of Ashley Banfield! He is making no sense ion this issue at all. He was one of the loudest critics of the administration for not "connecting the dots" before 9-11 and preventing it. Well, President Bush and his team have connected the dots regarding Iraq and we're damn well gonna do something about and sissies like Chris Matthews can go sit in the corner and piss their pants for all I care.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews said Friday that he was opposed to Bush administration plans for a preemptive strike against Iraq because it would violate the principle that "we don't attack other countries" the way Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

As if Saddam doesn't know we're coming for him.

[Consort]

Matthews is still delirious from his bout with malaria.

[cmak9]

I'm sorry, what they hell do you wanna do, Chris, wait until after they've taken out Las Vegas and left a radioactive cloud of fallout to waft over the Rockies and settle on the American breadbasket?

Exactly. And these these idiot "journalists" will be the first ones to scream "What did Bush know and when did he know it?"

[MinuteGal]

Chris Matthews is an un-American piece of filth and a traitorous Lord Hee-Haw of the airwaves. Yet he continues apace. They're even giving him some kind of new show. Anti-heroes are now icons and rewarded handsomely.

Evidently, not enough, if any, people are protesting to his employers and sponsors. Dan Rather and the other two of the unholy trio are beginning to look mild compared to this motor-mouthed pile of fetid paste.

Leni

[cactusSharp]

shoulda seen squat to pee Matthews on pMSNBC earlier
too....Said the polls proved America was stupid
said we voters don't know Usama from Saddam
and then really took it to the dems.....said Bush
is gettin a blank check from weenie dems
who wouldn't attack Iraq in a million years.

ole squat to pee is some pizzed his party
is outta power and the one world ICC type
stuff is sunk like the Titanic.

[finnman69]

It would not exactly be a sneak attack would it? We can't warn Iraq any more than we are now.

[finnman69]

At least this mornign on IMUS Matthews got it right when he laughed at Clinton and said he is NOT a great man.

[cactusSharp]

and this thought...ole squat to pee must
have said NO GRAVITAS a zillion times
but the tables are turned huh....Bush is awash
is gravitas and ole squat to pee is babbling
like an 8th grader.

[mass55th]

I don't see where this would be a surprise attack, since it's been in the news for weeks/months. Besides, Sadaam has already been attacked in the past and knew full well, that if he failed to comply to the U.N. resolutions he agreed to, he stood the chance of being attacked again.