Ted Koppel Speaks Out On The Current State Of The Media

[Conan71]

You really have to ask that given who was in the WH from 2001-2009?  I think GW did PLENTY to damage our standing there, C.

But if you condone putting CIA operatives at risk, no matter their status in the agency, go ahead.  I'm sure, like I said, if this had happened either during Clinton's watch, or during our current President's watch, then the R's would have been calling for heads to roll.

Regardless of what you think about GWB:

What CIA operative, in their right mind, would condone their spouse writing about matters of U.S. intelligence and national security as if they were writing a simple op-ed piece about politics?  You would have to know people would be wondering and asking questions as to why a retired ambassador is taking trips to Niger to meddle in the yellow cake issue.  If her clearance were significant at the time, Wilson wouldn't have been flaunting it for the world to see.  And it has been proven as time wore on that her role in Iraq WMD intel was quite insignificant.  Her outing did nothing.  His writing helped to divide a nation. 

[Hoss]

Regardless of what you think about GWB:

What CIA operative, in their right mind, would condone their spouse writing about matters of U.S. intelligence and national security as if they were writing a simple op-ed piece about politics?  You would have to know people would be wondering and asking questions as to why a retired ambassador is taking trips to Niger to meddle in the yellow cake issue.  If her clearance were significant at the time, Wilson wouldn't have been flaunting it for the world to see.  And it has been proven as time wore on that her role in Iraq WMD intel was quite insignificant.  Her outing did nothing.  His writing helped to divide a nation. 

I think you give the Wilsons a little more 'credit' than they deserve.  The nation has been divided since at least 2004, when it was pretty obvious that Iraq was a mistake.

[nathanm]

Really?  It's only been restated hundreds of times.

So if I know you're an expert on flatulence weapons and suggest to my boss that perhaps you should be sent to Romania to see if Romania was selling flatulence to Iran, that's somehow improper? Plame was not in a position to send anyone anywhere, as she lacked the authority. She, along with a bunch of other people, came up with suggestions as to what to do and her suggestion ended up being the best, apparently.

Urging, to me, implies strong advocacy for a given position. "Suggestion" is the correct word for what actually happened.

Conan, he had previously worked in Niger. People often go back to places they are familiar with for all sorts of reasons. That in no way indicates or implies that his wife works for the CIA.

[Red Arrow]

I think you give the Wilsons a little more 'credit' than they deserve.  The nation has been divided since at least 2004, when it was pretty obvious that Iraq was a mistake.

Just one more wedge.

[Hoss]

Just one more wedge.

Yep, but the wedge wouldn't work if the fracture wasn't already there.

Say what you will about the Wilson's, the Dems, the Republicans, journalists, whatever.

Iraq is this generation's Vietnam.  I respect and love the troops.  Have relatives and friends over there.  Hate the war.  Hated it from day 1.  We took our eye off the ball (Afghanistan/Taliban/Al Qaeda) to essentially finish the job that Bush Sr didn't.  And what was the cost?

Too much, in my opinion.

[Conan71]

I think you give the Wilsons a little more 'credit' than they deserve.  The nation has been divided since at least 2004, when it was pretty obvious that Iraq was a mistake.

Where do you think the whole famous "16 words" rhetoric and "Bush lied, men died" started?  Wilson's op-ed piece was used to directly besmirch partial justification of an Iraq invastion in the 2003 SOTU speech.

"The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa ." Some of his critics called that a lie, but the new evidence shows Bush had reason to say what he did."


http://www.factcheck.org/article222.html

Read on, there's a side bar in the article of an Oct. 2003 web chat with our new-found celebrity sponsored by Kerry for President.  Joe Wilson did plenty, my friend.

[Conan71]

So if I know you're an expert on flatulence weapons

As a matter of fart, I am.

How did you get that piece of intel? You must reveal your sources...now!

[nathanm]

Those of us who wield the flatulence weapon are keenly aware of all others who have such destructive forces at their disposal.

[Hoss]

Those of us who wield the flatulence weapon are keenly aware of all others who have such destructive forces at their disposal.

Don't forget about me.  I'm the original 'flatulence weapon', if some who post on here are to be trusted/believed.

[Red Arrow]

Don't forget about me.  I'm the original 'flatulence weapon', if some who post on here are to be trusted/believed.

Do you believe everything you read/see on the internet?

[nathanm]

Don't forget about me.  I'm the original 'flatulence weapon', if some who post on here are to be trusted/believed.

You and Conan are the reason I'm not allowed at TNF lunches.

[Red Arrow]

Yep, but the wedge wouldn't work if the fracture wasn't already there.

Say what you will about the Wilson's, the Dems, the Republicans, journalists, whatever.

Iraq is this generation's Vietnam.  I respect and love the troops.  Have relatives and friends over there.  Hate the war.  Hated it from day 1.  We took our eye off the ball (Afghanistan/Taliban/Al Qaeda) to essentially finish the job that Bush Sr didn't.  And what was the cost?

Too much, in my opinion.

I think for Iraq to be this generation's Viet Nam, we would have been fighting to keep Saddam in power.  We made some mistakes in supporting Saddam against Iran but at least our troops weren't fighting along side the Iraqis in Iran.

According to a PBS special years ago, Ho Chi Minh asked for US help.  We turned him down partly because of his politics and partly because the South VN government had been allied with our allies during WWII, the French.  Bad deal all around.  I remember the 1964 presidential election when LBJ painted Barry Goldwater as a right wing war-monger.  We all know how that turned out.

[Hoss]

Do you believe everything you read/see on the internet?

Unlike some around here; no.  Much like watching Fox News.  You have to sift through it all.

[Red Arrow]

Unlike some around here; no.  Much like watching Fox or any Network News.  You have to sift through it all.

See addition above.

[Red Arrow]

You and Conan are the reason I'm not allowed at TNF lunches.

The odor kind of sticks like cigarette smoke.