Oh, what a lovely war - Wolf Blitzer, John Peter Zenger and George Orwell spinning in his grave

[sisyphusshrugged]

Andrew (edit: my brain got ahead of my fingers. I actually knew that Alexander wasn't an old man forty years before the war. Besides, Alexander probably wouldn't have said anything this cool, proto-social climbing yupwardly mobile class snob that he was) Hamilton

And you can see I labor under the weight of many years, and am borne down with great infirmities of the body; yet old and weak as I am, I should think it my duty, if required, to go to the utmost part of the land where my service could be of any use in assisting to quench the flame of prosecutions upon [charges] set on foot by the government to deprive a people of the right of remonstrating [and complaining too] of the arbitrary attempts of men in power. Men who injure and oppress the people under their administration provoke them to cry out and complain; and then make that very complaint the foundation for new oppressions and prosecutions.

Henry Kissinger

KISSINGER: I mean, this is occurring in a context in when -- in which. On Middle East television, their cutting the throat of American prisoners is being shown. So it is a terrible atmosphere.

It is not excusable, but some of the people who express such outrage in the region should look into their own souls to see what they have contributed to creating an atmosphere where this can happen.

BLITZER: Doctor...

ALBRIGHT: But, Henry, we have to have a higher standard. This is America.

KISSINGER: Absolutely. I'm not excusing it. But I'm trying to establish a context.

So (as Dr. Kissinger would say) A, it is not excusable, and second, the atrocities occurred in a context where it was all the fault of the arab press for broadcasting film of atrocities six months later.

Gotta give Blitzer credit, though. You want to know about war crimes, there are few better-informed sources in US politics than Henry Kissinger.

So, Wolf, when you get a minute: John Peter Zenger. It might help you muddle out the whole confusing People who report on bad behavior are not the ones making the bad behavers look bad thing.

The name may sound familiar. He's got a room at the National Press Club named after him.

For some obscure reason.

Comments

[lawgeekgurl.livejournal.com]

Rush was also spouting the "it's war, that excuses it" mentality yesterday, but you know, it's Rush so we expected that.

Blitzer doesn't deserve to be on television. Let's ask an anchor or correspondent who actually was tortured, like Bob Simon, what he thinks.

minor quibble

[mehetabel.livejournal.com]

The first quote, "and you can see...", is perfectly lovely. Too lovely, in fact, to belong to the upwardly-mobile Alexander Hamilton. "Andrew" is the Hamilton in question, yes?

[tempest0402.livejournal.com]

"You want to know about war crimes, there are few better-informed sources in US politics than Henry Kissinger."

No. Those weren't war crimes, they were atrocities. Kissinger isn't used to dealing with death tolls of such small magnitude - he probably as just confused.

[(Anonymous)]

Heya SS,

I heard you on the radio. I like your talking style and political comment. You should do it more often.

I think I am going to bookmark your blog and read it too.

cheers.