Actor George Clooney frustrated by U.S. war drive

Reuters ^ | 02/23/03

[nypokerface]

BERLIN, Feb 23 (Reuters) - American actor George Clooney stepped up his criticism of George W. Bush's administration on Sunday, saying he feared a war against Iraq was inevitable but would ultimately only lead to more violence.

"America's policies frustrate me," Clooney said in a German television programme. "I think a war against Iraq is as unavoidable as it senseless. I think it's coming. But I also think the real danger is going to be what happens after it."

Clooney, who in interviews with European newspapers has accused Bush of war-mongering over Iraq, is on a growing list of Hollywood celebrities to speak out against war. Others include Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Dustin Hoffman, Madonna and director Spike Lee.

"You can't beat your enemy anymore through wars; instead you create an entire generation of people revenge-seeking," Clooney said in the ARD television programme "Beckmann".

"These days it only matters who's in charge," Clooney said. "Right now that's us -- for a while at least. Our opponents are going to resort to car bombs and suicide attacks because they have no other way to win."

Clooney, 41, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was making a mistake to think a war against Iraq would be an easy win for the United States.

"I believe he thinks this is a war that can be won, but there is no such thing anymore," said Clooney, who starred in a film about the 1991 Gulf War "Three Kings" that took a dark look at the war to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.

"We can't beat anyone anymore," added Clooney, who has called it unfair that Americans opposed to war are being branded unpatriotic.

Clooney, who won fame for his leading role in long-running hospital drama "ER", has also appeared in films including "Batman and Robin", "The Perfect Storm" and "Brother Where Art Thou?".

[Free_at_last_-2001]

"Paging Dr Dim, paging Dr Dim, Dr Dim to neurosurgery immediately..."

[WOSG]

"We can't beat anyone anymore," Maybe he was talking about the leftist scum wanting to rule America.

You are wiser than you know. When the left ran the US (under Clinton) they were not worried about US intervention run amok. But now a perceived 'right-winger' is in charge, they really fear US power.

Their greatest fear is *not* dictator Saddam Hussein, not even Korean nukes ... their biggest fear is all these countries become democratic and run by Newt Gingrich & Ronnie Reagan clones. ... I bet it really hacked them off to see that Maggie-Thatcher-like Latvian President support the US. They must be thinking "My God, will the whole world turn into Republicans?!?!?"

[FirstTomato]

You mean Martin Sheen isn't a world leader? But, but he pretends to be one on tv! Doesn't that mean something? Afterall, he learns his lines so well, and looks so good walking around on the soundstage made to look like the West Wing!

(Sarcasm alert - I have to make clear this was sarcasm because I'm new, and someone may misunderestimate me!)

[BlessedBeGod]

Clooney, 41, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was making a mistake to think a war against Iraq would be an easy win for the United States.

Wow! George knows more than Rummy! I'm so impressed! < /sarcasm >

[Steel Wolf]

"America's policies frustrate me," Clooney said in a German television programme. "I think a war against Iraq is as unavoidable as it senseless."

I don't understand why everyone has such a problem with this? Apparently you all don't realize that Mr. Clooney starred in a movie about three Green Berets that ripped off Saddam's gold like a modern day 'Kelly's Heroes', and is well qualified to speak on the subject of dealing with Iraq.

I don't know what YOUR take on all this is, but I for one didn't see any nuclear weapons in Saddam's vault. I'm sure that Mr. Clooney would have seen any that existed, since he was there. Clooney has front line experience in dealing with Iraq, people. He was THERE, man.

You guys can listen to the foriegn policy experts, the intelligence reports, and people who know what they're talking about. Me personally, I get confused easily when people use big words, so I'll stick to getting my political advice from random celebrities. I find their arguments easy to follow and emotionally upbeat.

[timestax]

Clooneys' father Nick Clooney was a local T.V. newsman/personality in the Cincinnati area. He also writes a column for the Cincinnati Post, and about a year ago, did a large article that said Bill Clintoon was the GREATEST PRESIDENT ever!! So that's where Georgie boy gets his political views, it's all in the family!

[weegee]

"America's policies frustrate me," Clooney said in a German television programme.

The hate America first crowd continues to make their case in the foreign media.

Looney Clooney, your directoral debut tanked. Your 15 minutes are up.

[Reagan Man]

Your sarcasm was crystal clear, but its always good to CYA.

[GB]

George's aunt Rosemary is one of my favorite singers of all time ... bought one of her CDs yesterday, in fact ... but he's a stone-cold dufus with the political acumen of an amoeba.

[WarSlut]

I gained new respect for Brad Pitt a few years ago when a giggling reportette shoved a lens and a mike in his face and solicited his opinion on some weighty world issue. His response was “Why are you asking ME? I’m just a F**KING ACTOR!”

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston ran into Jenna Bush in London back in 1991. Brad Pitt chased her down the hallway, taunting with, "C'mon Jenna, let's go get drunk. I've got some beer down in my truck".

At least this was the account that Aniston giddily gave to Rolling Stone one week after 9/11/01.

Pitt's "why are you asking me?" quote surely came during the Caligula administration, when the nation was in safer hands.

[timestax]

Clooneys' father Nick Clooney was a local T.V. newsman/personality in the Cincinnati area. He also writes a column for the Cincinnati Post, and about a year ago, did a large article that said Bill Clintoon was the GREATEST PRESIDENT ever!! So that's where Georgie boy gets his political views, it's all in the family!


106 posted on 02/23/2003 10:39 AM PST by timestax

[Timesink]

Solaris WAS boring! It got the lowest US audience rating by Cinema Score in the 20 year history of the survey.. an 'F' in every age group and category.

You almost have to give Looney credit for this. To make a new Solaris that was even more interminable and mindnumbingly dull than the Soviet original requires some kind of twisted pseudogenius.

[weegee]

Separated at birth:

[GB]

Yeah, Rosie was an old-line Kennedy Democrat, according to her autobiography. Never stopped me from enjoying the music, though. But I seriously doubt she'd have ever gotten up before an audience and ca-ca'ed upon her own country like Georgie has. In fact, Rosie's last album was a live concert recording from Hawaii in the winter of 2001, post 9/11, and she does a version of "God Bless America" that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. She was 75 years old and suffering from lung cancer, but she sang that song the way it's SUPPOSED to be sung and actually seemed to MEAN it, unlike a lot of folks today who sit there and caterwaul for three minutes and everyone thinks it's great.

[Stultis]

Our opponents are going to resort to car bombs and suicide attacks

Oh, gee, Georgie, ya think they might?

What could ever make Lil' Georgie think such things would ever happen?!

[retiring to vomit]

[Paulus Invictus]

Take away his passport while he is over there and let him continue to rant with the eurotrash, especially the Frenchidiots.

[cake_crumb]

Does Cloonie give anyone else the impression that he's pretending to be Scud Ritter? With the same results, too.

[weegee]

Looney Clooney may idolize UN Arms and Legs Inspector Scott Ridder (a man who sold out his country to make a $400k proIraq movie) but Scott's got to be the smarter one (IQ, not wisdom) because we know that Scott is smart enough to be able to use the internet (even if he uses it for vile deeds); I could believe that Looney Clooney can't.

[cake_crumb]

"Clooneys' father Nick Clooney was a local T.V. newsman/personality in the Cincinnati area. He also writes a column for the Cincinnati Post, and about a year ago, did a large article that said Bill Clintoon was the GREATEST PRESIDENT ever!! So that's where Georgie boy gets his political views, it's all in the family!"

That 'splains it: defective genes!

[cake_crumb]

"Looney Clooney may idolize UN Arms and Legs Inspector Scott Ridder (a man who sold out his country to make a $400k proIraq movie) but Scott's got to be the smarter one (IQ, not wisdom) because we know that Scott is smart enough to be able to use the internet (even if he uses it for vile deeds); I could believe that Looney Clooney can't."

LOL..good point! It's hard to imagine Cloonie as being computer literate.