War Made Easy How Presidents Pundits Keep Spinning Us To Death
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Let us pray that peace |
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be now restored to the world |
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and that God will preserve it always. |
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These proceedings are closed. |
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The final United Nations |
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The war is over. Peace is here. |
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The crowd of two million |
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parade of victorious |
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This is the news that |
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Unconditional surrender |
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Today the guns are silent. |
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The skies no longer rain death. |
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The entire world lies |
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On the way American |
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hit the road toward Korea's |
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US Marines were ordered into |
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The US Marines have also taken |
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This is what the war in |
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The first wave of marines |
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Twelve hundred US Marines would |
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Most of the Libyans were terrified |
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President Bush's |
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Panama's General Manuel Noriega. |
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Saddam Hussein's reign |
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The war in Iraq. |
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Narrator: Since World War II, we |
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in the United States' military |
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Ranging from missile strikes |
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to all out wars and occupations. |
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The reasons for these military |
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each involving complex |
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different parts of the world at |
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But the public face of these wars |
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Over the past five decades |
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the liberation and debate |
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have largely been left |
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of elite Washington policy makers, |
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politicians and bureaucrats |
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for war have come into public view |
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only with the release of leaked |
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often years after the |
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dropped and the troops |
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In real time, officials |
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and justified these |
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to the American people by |
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about the actual reasons and |
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Again and again choosing to present |
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A steady and remarkably consistent |
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but to generate and maintain |
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Nationally syndicated |
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author Norman Solomon |
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basic contours of this official |
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Norman Solomon: As |
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about the war in |
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I saw the footage on television. |
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In combat there are no niceties. |
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A dead enemy soldier is simply an |
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and then removed as quickly as |
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Solomon: People that I knew |
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in uniform of the US military and |
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particularly as I became draft age, |
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about the truthfulness of |
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the White House and top |
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We fight for the principal |
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that the people of |
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be able to choose their own course. |
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Choose it in free |
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bias, without terror |
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Solomon: And through that |
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about whether we were |
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Narrator: In the years since, |
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a set of striking |
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selling of the Vietnam |
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Presidents have rallied |
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for subsequent military actions. |
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Solomon: Looking back on the |
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I had a very eerie feeling that while |
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and of course each |
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there were some parallels that |
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Rarely if ever does a war just |
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The foundation needs |
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case is built - often with deception. |
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In the background was |
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between two great powers to |
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Already an iron curtain |
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Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria. |
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It can't happen here? This is |
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Chief of Police is |
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Public utilities are seized |
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Editor who operates under a free |
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This will account for |
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but some will get |
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Narrator: The use of |
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public support for war is not new. |
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Leaders throughout |
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to propaganda to |
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understandably weary |
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war into war's most |
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Invoking images of nationalism |
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towards perceived |
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And in the United States |
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government attempts to win public |
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have followed a similar pattern. |
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We are living in an era marked |
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Its basic Godless philosophy. |
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Lying. Dirty. |
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Its goal of world conquest. |
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Shrewd. Godless. |
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Its insidious tactics. |
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Murderous. Determined. |
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And its cunning strategy. |
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It's an international |
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Solomon: It's the same sort of |
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and often identical techniques. |
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States like these and their terrorist |
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arming to threaten the |
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These are barbaric people. |
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Servants of evil. The cult of evil. |
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A monumental struggle |
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But good will prevail. |
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Solomon: Whether it's the |
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it provides a way to |
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You have the comparisons between |
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President Bush calls Saddam Hussein |
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We are dealing with Hitler revisited. |
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Bin Laden and his terrorist |
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as clear as Lenin and |
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Solomon: We don't get |
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would help us put the |
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This mad dog of the Middle East. |
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I find that he's not only a |
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The drug indicted, drug-related |
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And to support their claim that |
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ghoulish evidence of Satanic |
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that one official called kinky. |
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Saddam Hussein is a |
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who is addicted to weapons |
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Solomon: And as Aldous |
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it's more powerful often to leave |
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For instance, quite |
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directly helped the dictators |
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must be overthrown and it's |
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that's a very effective |
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Narrator: This selective |
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buttressed by these |
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represents a larger pre-war pattern. |
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The repeated claim that the |
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only with great reluctance. |
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We still seek no wider war. |
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The United States does |
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America does not seek conflict. |
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I don't like to use military force. |
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Our nation enters this |
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Narrator: And only for the |
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first and foremost to spread |
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We want nothing for ourselves, |
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only that the people of South Vietnam |
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be allowed to guide their |
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Solomon: The rhetoric |
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part of the process |
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that even though unpleasant things |
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like bombing other countries, |
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The United States has been engaged |
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of Communism in Central America |
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By supporting democracy. |
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Solomon: And it's |
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repeating it enough |
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Our cause of liberty, |
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our cause of compassion |
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People want democracy, |
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peace and the chance for a better |
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We want to lift lives around |
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Solomon: These are forms of |
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they tug at our heart strings. |
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We must get the Kosovar |
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Mine fields will have to be cleared. |
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Homes destroyed by Serb forces |
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Homeless people in need |
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Solomon: Of course we want |
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These are propaganda |
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don't just think of yourself, |
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It makes bombing other |
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an act of kindness, of altruism. |
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Today our armed forces joined |
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against Serbian forces responsible |
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We are upholding our values, |
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protecting our interests and |
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But even as planes from the multi |
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I prefer to think of peace. Not war. |
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Solomon: If my motives are pure then |
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the fact that I'm killing people |
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It may indicate that I'm killing |
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America will stand |
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freedom to support |
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in the Middle East and beyond, |
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with the ultimate goal of |
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Solomon: So you have kind of |
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with the lofty motives |
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or told that peace is being sought. |
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Alternatives to war |
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and that's kind of |
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I am continuing and I |
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search for every |
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Solomon: Whether we are talking about |
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Johnson, Nixon or |
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you have one chief executive |
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saying how much they |
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We maintain our strength in order to |
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to preserve freedom and peace. |
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No one, friend or foe, should |
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The United States wants peace. |
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We seek peace. We strive for peace. |
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Solomon: Every President of the last |
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to say that he wanted peace |
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I pledged in my campaign for |
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in a way that we could win the peace. |
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Solomon: Even while |
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Solomon: So you have |
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way of the president |
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massive military violence and |
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turning around and saying I want to |
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Nixon: I respect your idealism. |
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I want peace as much as you do. |
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Solomon: Actually war |
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when it's used as a |
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George W. Bush: We cannot |
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the smoking gun that could come |
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Solomon: As Americans we |
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subjected to propaganda |
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Certainly that we are not |
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that is trying to drag |
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as in the case for setting the |
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Saddam Hussein recently |
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quantities of uranium from Africa. |
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There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein |
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Weapons of mass destruction. |
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Botulin, VX, sarin, nerve agent. |
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Iraq and Al Qaeda. |
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Al Qaeda. |
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Iraq and Al Qaeda. |
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Terrorism. |
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Cyber attacks. |
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Nuclear program. |
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Biological weapons. |
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Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles. |
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Chemical and biological weapons. |
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Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. |
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President Bush has said Iraq |
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Tony Blair has said Iraq has |
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Donald Rumsfeld has said Iraq |
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Richard Butler has said they do. |
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The United Nations has said they do. |
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The experts have said they do. |
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Iraq says they don't. You can |
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Solomon: The war propaganda function |
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It's sophisticated and most of all |
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The White House says it can |
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has weapons of mass destruction, |
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The White House insisted again |
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that Saddam Hussein is hiding an |
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Solomon: It's necessary to provide |
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They might fight dirty, |
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using weapons of mass destruction, |
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There are ties between |
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Anthrax, small pox. |
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Dirty bomb. |
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Dirty bomb. |
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Iraq-Al Qaeda connections. |
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Saddam Hussein and Al |
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Both of them want to |
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Solomon: And I was very |
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the tone of most of the media |
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as the invasion of Iraq |
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possible to probable |
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President essentially giving |
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War now seems all but inevitable. |
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Short of a bullet to |
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or he leaves the country, |
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I think that's exactly |
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inevitable and it is |
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Is war with Iraq |
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I think it is 95% inevitable. |
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You at this point right now tonight, |
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Do you? |
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I'm asking you ambassador. |
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I agree. I don't think |
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option for the administration |
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We're way too far |
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Send us over there guys. Let's get |
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Showdown Iraq. If America goes to |
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Solomon: And in many ways, the US |
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the officials in |
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Hill in setting the agenda for war. |
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We'll take you there, MSNBC. |
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Solomon: And although it's |
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one has a great deal of |
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of major media outlets |
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challenging the way in |
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setting for war is well under way, |
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and when that reporting is so much |
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that's when you have a problem. |
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US officials tell CNN |
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Bush official says that |
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Analysts say |
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Pentagon officials tell us |
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According to US intelligence |
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Solomon: Often we're |
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officials are the ones who make news. |
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US officials say |
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US officials say that |
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US officials here say |
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The US officials here at |
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Solomon: They're the |
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consulted to understand |
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I just pulled these two things out. |
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I've laundered them so you can't |
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because I don't want the Iraqis |
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But trust me, trust me. |
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Solomon: If history is any |
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The officials blow smoke and |
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We will in fact be |
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The notion that it will take |
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to provide stability in post-Saddam |
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So the money's gonna come from Iraqi |
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They think it's going to be something |
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They think it might be |
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A country that can |
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own reconstruction |
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National security advisors |
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early advocates of the war, said |
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Solomon: The sources |
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us so constantly don't |
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and to the extent that |
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we set ourselves up to be |
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There are reports that there is |
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between Baghdad and some of |
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There are known knowns. |
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There are things we know we know. |
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We also know there |
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That is to say that we know there |
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But there are also unknown unknowns. |
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The ones we don't know we don't know. |
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Excuse me, but is this |
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There are several |
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to know if this was |
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I'm not going to say which it is. |
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Mr. Secretary? |
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I'm right here, I'm right here. |
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Narrator: In the run |
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the failure of mainstream news... |
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organizations to raise |
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about the government's |
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compounded by the |
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decision to stress |
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before any fighting had even begun. |
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We've got generals and if you |
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for war with Iraq they |
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Narrator: CNN's use of |
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as supposedly independent experts |
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reinforced the decidedly military |
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remained about the wisdom and |
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Solomon: Often journalists |
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the failure of the journalists... |
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themselves to do |
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But nobody forced the major networks |
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from retired generals and |
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You had a top CNN |
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Jordan going on the |
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and boasting that he had |
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of possible military commentators |
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at the Defense Department |
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was a good list of people to hire. |
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I think it's important to |
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and to describe the military |
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talk about the strategy |
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I went to the Pentagon myself |
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and met with important people |
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here are the generals we're |
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on the air and off about the war and |
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and that was important. |
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Solomon: It wasn't even |
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It was something to say to the |
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see, we're team players. |
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We may be the news media |
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same side and the same |
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And that really runs directly counter |
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And that suggests that we have some |
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when the US is involved |
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Narrator: In 1964, President Lyndon |
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Johnson falsely |
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on US gunships by North Vietnamese |
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gave him no choice but to |
00:22:38 |
That renewed hostile actions against |
00:22:43 |
in the Gulf of Tonkin have |
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military forces of the United |
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Solomon: Routinely the official |
00:23:00 |
or a partial bit of information |
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In international waters |
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destroyers of the United |
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assigned routine patrols |
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Sunday, August 2, 1964, the destroyer |
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Shortly after noon |
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is broken as general quarters sound. |
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In a deliberate and unprovoked action |
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three North Vietnam PT boats unleash |
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Solomon: The official story about |
00:23:45 |
The destroyer was carrying out a |
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in international waters |
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Solomon: But it quickly became |
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by the news media |
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press' refusal to |
00:24:03 |
it was much easier for |
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pass the Gulf of Ton kin resolution, |
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which was pivotal because it opened |
00:24:23 |
I think it's a very |
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of the unity of the country, |
00:24:28 |
behind the policies that are being... |
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followed by the President |
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and more specifically of |
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in response to the attack |
00:24:39 |
Solomon: At that point |
00:24:43 |
In the case of the |
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I asked, more than three decades |
00:24:50 |
a Post retraction of its reporting |
00:24:56 |
And I called the newspaper and... |
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eventually reached |
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the Chief Diplomatic correspondent at |
00:25:03 |
Mr. Marder, has there ever been a |
00:25:07 |
of its fallacious reporting |
00:25:10 |
And he said, I can |
00:25:12 |
happened. There was |
00:25:14 |
And I asked why. |
00:25:15 |
And he said, if the news |
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to retract its |
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Tonkin it would have to |
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on virtually the entire Vietnam War. |
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Fast forward a few decades, you |
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saying that to an |
00:25:31 |
there were weapons |
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in Iraq and that intelligence |
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that clearly which was |
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Secretary of State Powell will |
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about Iraq's illegal |
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its attempts to hide those |
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and its links to terrorist groups. |
00:25:57 |
Narrator: The failure |
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media to check government distortion |
00:26:01 |
reached new heights on when the |
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Secretary of State Colin Powell |
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to make the case that there were |
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Saddam Hussein's intentions |
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He is not developing the |
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These are missiles that Iraq wants in |
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and to deliver chemical, biological, |
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Today Secretary of |
00:26:32 |
the United Nations Security Council |
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the administration's |
00:26:36 |
Solomon: After Colin Powell's |
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the US press applauded |
00:26:43 |
Did Colin Powell close the |
00:26:48 |
for anyone who has yet |
00:26:53 |
I think for anybody who analyzes the |
00:27:01 |
This irrefutable, undeniable, |
00:27:05 |
Colin Powell brilliantly |
00:27:09 |
Colin Powell was outstanding |
00:27:13 |
It was so compelling. |
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I don't see how anybody at this |
00:27:18 |
He made a wonderful presentation. |
00:27:19 |
I thought he made a great case |
00:27:23 |
It was devastating I |
00:27:25 |
Overwhelming abundance |
00:27:28 |
Point after point after point. He |
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It's the end of the argument |
00:27:37 |
The Powell speech has moved the ball. |
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I think case is closed. |
00:27:42 |
Solomon: But at the time |
00:27:45 |
to analyze and debunk |
00:27:49 |
Narrator: Whereas the British press |
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immediately raised |
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about the accuracy of |
00:27:58 |
the major US news |
00:28:01 |
silent about the factual basis |
00:28:03 |
of his claims and near |
00:28:07 |
Solomon: Even the |
00:28:09 |
New York Times |
00:28:12 |
that Colin Powell had made a |
00:28:16 |
One of the great myths then part |
00:28:22 |
is way after the fact |
00:28:24 |
couldn't have been known at the time |
00:28:27 |
that US officials were lying us |
00:28:31 |
it was known at the time |
00:28:34 |
who were not allowed on |
00:28:37 |
Narrator: One such critical voice |
00:28:42 |
one of the few mainstream media... |
00:28:44 |
commentators who |
00:28:46 |
the official storyline |
00:28:48 |
You know we're all now everybody's... |
00:28:50 |
righteous. What a |
00:28:53 |
We were mute when he was |
00:28:56 |
And now we're sending our sons and |
00:29:01 |
It doesn't seem fair to me. |
00:29:03 |
Narrator: Despite being the |
00:29:06 |
Donahue's show was abruptly |
00:29:10 |
just three weeks before |
00:29:12 |
Solomon: Phil Donahue was |
00:29:15 |
on MSNBC, one of the |
00:29:18 |
And a memo that was |
00:29:21 |
show was cancelled is very explicit. |
00:29:24 |
It said, we don't want |
00:29:27 |
of NBC as the United |
00:29:31 |
This guy puts anti-war |
00:29:34 |
The American people need to know |
00:29:38 |
But there's no evidence |
00:29:41 |
a weapon that exists |
00:29:43 |
Journalists, too many of them |
00:29:47 |
have said that they see their |
00:29:53 |
and if you define your mission that |
00:29:56 |
that might be important, |
00:29:58 |
maybe isn't helpful |
00:30:00 |
Solomon: We don't want to have |
00:30:03 |
when then we'd be vulnerable to |
00:30:07 |
It'll make it more |
00:30:09 |
the flag-wavers at Fox |
00:30:13 |
And more broadly news media are very |
00:30:17 |
but advertiser pressure, criticism |
00:30:22 |
Our soldiers are in the field. |
00:30:25 |
Don't raise these tough questions. |
00:30:27 |
It seems to me that the right |
00:30:30 |
when American lives are at |
00:30:34 |
is to unite behind the |
00:30:38 |
Now on this show, Buchanan and |
00:30:41 |
months on this conflict |
00:30:42 |
but now it seems when the |
00:30:46 |
I think unity, Bill, is |
00:30:49 |
time or at least when |
00:30:52 |
Solomon: It's a very effective |
00:30:55 |
to a large extent to say "look |
00:30:58 |
You're killing the troops. |
00:31:00 |
Solomon: And that's an effort to |
00:31:04 |
with supporting the |
00:31:06 |
Once the war against Saddam begins |
00:31:10 |
support our military and if |
00:31:13 |
Narrator: In addition |
00:31:15 |
many other journalists |
00:31:17 |
for crossing the mythical |
00:31:20 |
Today, NBC News fired journalist |
00:31:23 |
for participating in an interview on |
00:31:26 |
Arnett criticized American |
00:31:29 |
said his reports about |
00:31:32 |
and the Iraqi resistance |
00:31:34 |
to anti-war protesters in America. |
00:31:36 |
Solomon: If you're |
00:31:39 |
but if you're anti-war you're biased. |
00:31:41 |
And often a news |
00:31:44 |
flak at all for making |
00:31:47 |
are supportive of a war |
00:31:49 |
of making a statement |
00:31:52 |
I was trying to think of something |
00:31:57 |
on an occasion like |
00:31:59 |
the case the best |
00:32:01 |
is something that Shakespeare |
00:32:04 |
"wreak havoc and unleash |
00:32:06 |
Solomon: And that is a tip off to |
00:32:12 |
We should keep in mind |
00:32:15 |
many believe to be a liberal network, |
00:32:17 |
had a memo from their |
00:32:20 |
Walter Isaacson, in the fall of 2001, |
00:32:23 |
as the missiles were |
00:32:26 |
telling the anchors and the reporters |
00:32:29 |
you need to remind people anytime |
00:32:33 |
the people who are |
00:32:36 |
you've got to remind |
00:32:38 |
that it's in the context |
00:32:41 |
As though people could forget 9/11. |
00:32:43 |
We talked to several people who told |
00:32:47 |
had died in the bombing there |
00:32:50 |
Nic Robertson, CNN, |
00:32:53 |
And we would just remind |
00:32:56 |
do now with these |
00:32:58 |
Taliban-controlled |
00:33:00 |
you're seeing only |
00:33:02 |
that these US military |
00:33:05 |
Robertson was talking |
00:33:08 |
to a terrorist attack |
00:33:12 |
more innocent people |
00:33:16 |
And we juxtapose what we're |
00:33:18 |
with a live picture of the cleanup |
00:33:22 |
Ground Zero, again |
00:33:26 |
5,000 killed that day back |
00:33:30 |
their biggest crime as civilians? |
00:33:34 |
Solomon: And yet we |
00:33:36 |
the best estimates tell us |
00:33:38 |
that more civilians were killed |
00:33:43 |
than those who died in the |
00:33:47 |
And the moral objections that could |
00:33:52 |
in the name of |
00:33:58 |
those objections were muted by the |
00:34:02 |
in which it was used |
00:34:04 |
and in Congress and |
00:34:08 |
Narrator: Free flows of information |
00:34:11 |
a more general atmosphere of |
00:34:15 |
Among them are a |
00:34:17 |
which is headed by Medea Benjamin |
00:34:20 |
dictator worshipping propagandist. |
00:34:23 |
The far left element |
00:34:26 |
destructive force that |
00:34:29 |
Some Americans, sadly, |
00:34:32 |
and yet they want us to believe |
00:34:35 |
Well, it's not. |
00:34:36 |
To call the President stupid, |
00:34:38 |
he doesn't know much about |
00:34:40 |
Go with Danny Glover and Susan |
00:34:43 |
To in any way be defending a |
00:34:48 |
he used chemical weapons |
00:34:50 |
is pretty remarkable |
00:34:52 |
long tradition in |
00:34:54 |
Pay no heed to the peaceniks |
00:34:58 |
They've had their 15 minutes of fame. |
00:35:00 |
These people are essentially useless. |
00:35:02 |
They are reflexively opposed to war. |
00:35:04 |
It's a principled position, |
00:35:06 |
And you can't take them |
00:35:08 |
Millions and millions of |
00:35:10 |
Solomon: If you want |
00:35:12 |
you've got to have the free flow |
00:35:13 |
of information through |
00:35:16 |
You can't have these blockages. |
00:35:19 |
Narrator: While |
00:35:20 |
have rarely called |
00:35:22 |
to the failure of news |
00:35:24 |
necessary information |
00:35:27 |
they have repeatedly |
00:35:29 |
failures well after wars |
00:35:32 |
During the course of |
00:35:33 |
was a lot of snap-to |
00:35:35 |
We're at war. The world's |
00:35:37 |
to root for the |
00:35:38 |
Something missing from |
00:35:40 |
critical analysis of |
00:35:42 |
Those of us in journalism never even |
00:35:46 |
Because it just didn't occur to |
00:35:49 |
You'd had to have gone |
00:35:51 |
You'd also come off as |
00:35:53 |
trying to figure out |
00:35:55 |
Exactly. Negative, negativism. |
00:35:58 |
Solomon: News media |
00:36:00 |
point out that there will lies about |
00:36:02 |
the Gulf of Tonkin or about weapons |
00:36:06 |
I'm sorry to say that |
00:36:08 |
and perhaps to an extent my station, |
00:36:10 |
was intimidated by the administration |
00:36:15 |
We should've been more skeptical. |
00:36:19 |
Solomon: But that doesn't bring |
00:36:22 |
who were killed in their |
00:36:27 |
the President of the United |
00:36:30 |
After the fact, it's |
00:36:33 |
say the system worked |
00:36:35 |
But when it comes to life and |
00:36:40 |
My fellow citizens, |
00:36:42 |
at this hour American |
00:36:45 |
are in the early stages |
00:36:48 |
to disarm Iraq, to |
00:36:51 |
to defend the world |
00:36:54 |
The idea, to blitz the |
00:36:58 |
There is, quote, complete confusion. |
00:37:02 |
This will be a campaign |
00:37:04 |
The senior Iraqi military leadership. |
00:37:06 |
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. |
00:37:09 |
Narrator: Once public support is in |
00:37:14 |
the news media necessarily turn from |
00:37:18 |
to covering war itself. |
00:37:21 |
Solomon: When the President decides |
00:37:25 |
then the war becomes the product. |
00:37:36 |
Particularly in the early stages, |
00:37:38 |
news coverage of war is much |
00:37:50 |
Narrator: Influencing |
00:37:52 |
war coverage has been |
00:37:54 |
administration after |
00:37:57 |
when conventional wisdom held that |
00:38:00 |
that turned the American |
00:38:02 |
the war and forced US withdrawal. |
00:38:05 |
Since that time, and beginning with |
00:38:10 |
the Pentagon has worked with |
00:38:14 |
media coverage of war. |
00:38:15 |
As then Defense Secretary |
00:38:18 |
about the importance of public... |
00:38:20 |
perceptions during |
00:38:34 |
Solomon: So for the |
00:38:37 |
and invasion of Panama |
00:38:39 |
then the Gulf War in early 1991, |
00:38:42 |
it was like a produced TV show and... |
00:38:44 |
the ma in producers |
00:38:46 |
They decided, in the |
00:38:49 |
exactly what footage would be made |
00:38:53 |
They did non-stop |
00:38:55 |
increasing importance |
00:38:58 |
They named it Operation Desert Storm. |
00:39:01 |
Breaking news of what's |
00:39:03 |
called Operation Desert Storm. |
00:39:05 |
Good evening, Operation |
00:39:09 |
Solomon: All that sort of |
00:39:11 |
so you could look at that as an |
00:39:15 |
from the standpoint |
00:39:19 |
Then you had a different era. You |
00:39:24 |
Scores of American reporters have now |
00:39:27 |
as part of the Pentagon's effort |
00:39:31 |
what the Pentagon calls a |
00:39:34 |
Another part of that |
00:39:37 |
at the US Military |
00:39:40 |
A Hollywood set designer was brought |
00:39:47 |
for official war briefings. |
00:39:49 |
Solomon: And tied in with that is |
00:39:54 |
I've fallen almost in |
00:39:57 |
Hornet because it is |
00:39:59 |
I got to tell you my |
00:40:02 |
the A-10 warthog. I |
00:40:04 |
This morning around 4 am local |
00:40:07 |
and when you're 300 feet away |
00:40:11 |
you hear it in your shoes |
00:40:14 |
Narrator: The Pentagon's influence on |
00:40:18 |
in the news media's tendency to |
00:40:21 |
of the latest weaponry. |
00:40:23 |
Should they have used more? |
00:40:27 |
The Mother Of All Bombs? |
00:40:29 |
A few daisycutters and let's not just |
00:40:34 |
Newest, biggest, baddest US bomb. |
00:40:37 |
We'll pound them with 2,000 |
00:40:40 |
2,000 pound bombs in urban areas? |
00:40:41 |
Oh, sure. |
00:40:42 |
The plane I'm holding in my hand |
00:40:46 |
was used in these attacks. |
00:40:48 |
How do you steer this thing? I mean |
00:40:51 |
Sure, both of us have a matching |
00:40:57 |
Solomon: Every war we have US news |
00:41:02 |
state of the art killing |
00:41:04 |
the present moment to |
00:41:07 |
B - 57's, the British |
00:41:10 |
We're using them very effectively |
00:41:14 |
to dive bomb the VietCong in |
00:41:18 |
Colonel, what's our mission |
00:41:21 |
Well our mission today sir is to |
00:41:24 |
70 miles south of here and |
00:41:30 |
The colonel has just |
00:41:32 |
is the target area right over there. |
00:41:34 |
1- 2-3-4 we've dropped |
00:41:37 |
tremendous g-load as we |
00:41:41 |
I know something of what those |
00:41:47 |
Well, Colonel, that's a |
00:41:51 |
Solomon: And there's a |
00:41:53 |
Some might see it as the |
00:41:56 |
That's it. |
00:41:57 |
It's a 2,000 pound bomb |
00:42:02 |
and that is the thing that |
00:42:06 |
and will allow us in this next |
00:42:09 |
terribly precise and |
00:42:11 |
Narrator: In fact, |
00:42:13 |
technology has become |
00:42:16 |
with the development of |
00:42:19 |
and other forms of |
00:42:21 |
civilian casualties now greatly |
00:42:25 |
A grim toll that has steadily |
00:43:02 |
This is the beginning |
00:43:04 |
Awe campaign, according |
00:43:07 |
This is going to be |
00:43:10 |
It was a breathtaking |
00:43:13 |
Solomon: There's kind of an |
00:43:17 |
towards what happens at the |
00:43:22 |
Behind the flight deck the weapons... |
00:43:24 |
officer who goes by |
00:43:26 |
will never see the ground or |
00:43:30 |
The airfield is simply a |
00:43:33 |
Solomon: And this is another very |
00:43:38 |
There's a bias involved where because |
00:43:43 |
high tech military weaponry |
00:43:46 |
slaughter people from |
00:43:49 |
or a thousand feet in the air from |
00:43:54 |
whereas strapping on a |
00:43:57 |
people up is seen as |
00:44:00 |
The targeting capabilities and |
00:44:04 |
to see that the precise |
00:44:09 |
and that other targets are not struck |
00:44:12 |
is as impressive as |
00:44:18 |
The care that goes into it, |
00:44:22 |
To see that military targets |
00:44:27 |
but that it's done in a |
00:44:32 |
and in a direction and with a weapon |
00:44:35 |
that is appropriate to that |
00:44:39 |
The weapons that are |
00:44:43 |
degree of precision that |
00:44:47 |
Narrator: Within this |
00:44:50 |
the Defense Department |
00:44:52 |
successful in shaping |
00:44:55 |
Its influence reached |
00:44:57 |
embedding of journalists |
00:44:59 |
The Pentagon tightly |
00:45:02 |
media during the 1991 |
00:45:04 |
limiting where reporters could |
00:45:08 |
to small groups of pool reporters. |
00:45:11 |
This time the Pentagon |
00:45:14 |
after running more than 230 |
00:45:18 |
the Pentagon is inviting more |
00:45:22 |
to accompany US combat units to war. |
00:45:25 |
Narrator: Despite being |
00:45:27 |
a new form of realism |
00:45:30 |
the strategy of embedding |
00:45:32 |
raised new questions |
00:45:34 |
war reporters to convey balanced |
00:45:39 |
Solomon: Rather than being kept |
00:45:43 |
and smothered and participated in |
00:45:47 |
They were brought a long, |
00:45:50 |
with the Marines, with |
00:45:53 |
They became, in a sense, part |
00:45:57 |
You didn't have embedded reporters |
00:46:02 |
You only had embedded |
00:46:04 |
Last night a tremendous light show |
00:46:08 |
Solomon: And it was |
00:46:11 |
invaders that so much of |
00:46:13 |
It was a gradual process of getting |
00:46:17 |
and for them trusting me was knowing |
00:46:21 |
and get us all shelled |
00:46:23 |
Solomon: People who were |
00:46:26 |
the major US TV networks |
00:46:29 |
uncertain terms that they had been... |
00:46:32 |
bonding very closely |
00:46:34 |
We have a number of correspondents... |
00:46:36 |
embed with our troops |
00:46:38 |
Very deeply embedded in |
00:46:40 |
the marines that he |
00:46:43 |
Solomon: And you had correspondents |
00:46:47 |
I would do virtually anything for |
00:46:50 |
There's all this camaraderie. |
00:46:51 |
We had guys around us with guns |
00:46:53 |
and they were intent on keeping |
00:46:55 |
you guys are making us stars back |
00:46:59 |
Solomon: That's very |
00:47:01 |
nothing to do with |
00:47:03 |
which we never need more |
00:47:06 |
It was a very shrewd effort |
00:47:10 |
you want access, here's |
00:47:13 |
I doubt that in a conflict of |
00:47:17 |
the degree of free press coverage as |
00:47:24 |
Solomon: And the embedding |
00:47:27 |
in an old game which was |
00:47:33 |
Narrator: Praise for |
00:47:35 |
as a step forward in |
00:47:37 |
has often invoked comparisons to |
00:47:42 |
Solomon: A myth has kind of |
00:47:47 |
that their reporting was very tough, |
00:47:50 |
that Americans saw on |
00:47:54 |
the brutality of the |
00:47:58 |
And people often hark back |
00:48:01 |
that should now be |
00:48:05 |
This is what the war in |
00:48:10 |
Solomon: Yes, there was exceptional |
00:48:14 |
And so you had the |
00:48:17 |
used by the GI's |
00:48:21 |
of a village that Morley |
00:48:24 |
Well people mentioned that |
00:48:28 |
And in point of fact |
00:48:32 |
the tremendous violence in that war |
00:48:35 |
was conveyed through |
00:48:37 |
especially when the US government is |
00:48:42 |
That is in a way the most |
00:48:46 |
in graphic human detail what's |
00:48:51 |
mortars paid for by US taxpayers |
00:48:54 |
do what their designed to do |
00:49:07 |
I know that this is |
00:49:09 |
think it's part of |
00:49:11 |
The Vietnam Syndrome that |
00:49:13 |
was a reference to America's attempt |
00:49:18 |
This will not be another Vietnam. |
00:49:21 |
Our troops will have the best |
00:49:25 |
and they will not be asked to fight |
00:49:32 |
Narrator: Like President |
00:49:35 |
him, President George H.W. Bush |
00:49:37 |
explicitly set out |
00:49:38 |
during the first Gulf War |
00:49:41 |
of the so-called Vietnam Syndrome, |
00:49:43 |
the common belief after the bloody |
00:49:48 |
that the American public |
00:49:49 |
no longer had the |
00:49:52 |
guaranteed swift, easy |
00:49:56 |
Precision weapons and the |
00:50:00 |
helped make the Gulf War an enormous |
00:50:04 |
helping it move past |
00:50:09 |
It's a proud day for |
00:50:12 |
kicked Vietnam Syndrome |
00:50:15 |
Thank you very, very much. |
00:50:17 |
Solomon: The idea is that supposedly |
00:50:22 |
strong military action |
00:50:25 |
become too skittish |
00:50:28 |
In fact if you look at the |
00:50:33 |
there's been a real |
00:50:35 |
wars without exception |
00:50:38 |
Public support for the |
00:50:40 |
fell below 77% according |
00:50:43 |
But during the Vietnam War, |
00:50:47 |
and with in a couple of years |
00:50:51 |
public support was down to almost |
00:50:55 |
So what's the difference? |
00:50:56 |
In one case, WWII, the US |
00:51:00 |
the war was fundamentally |
00:51:03 |
But if it emerges that the |
00:51:07 |
and that the war was |
00:51:10 |
then people have turned |
00:51:13 |
So first the public has to be |
00:51:17 |
Then, after the war is underway, |
00:51:20 |
withdrawal needs to be put |
00:51:24 |
Withdrawal of all American forces |
00:51:28 |
Let no one think for a |
00:51:31 |
from Vietnam would bring |
00:51:34 |
We're not leaving so long |
00:51:36 |
That would be a huge mistake. |
00:51:37 |
Our allies would lose |
00:51:41 |
To yield to force in Vietnam |
00:51:44 |
Any sign that says we're going |
00:51:47 |
simply emboldens terrorists. |
00:51:50 |
A retreat of the United States from |
00:51:55 |
a victory of massive proportions |
00:51:58 |
If this little nation |
00:52:01 |
and can't maintain their independence |
00:52:03 |
ask yourself what's going to happen |
00:52:06 |
It would not bring peace. |
00:52:11 |
Solomon: And many propaganda lines |
00:52:15 |
who started the war |
00:52:16 |
The party of FDR and the |
00:52:21 |
has become the party of cut and run. |
00:52:24 |
The American people will |
00:52:26 |
Cowards cut and run. |
00:52:28 |
They're advocating a |
00:52:30 |
That party's old pattern |
00:52:33 |
If we high-tailed it and cut and run. |
00:52:35 |
We won't cut and run. |
00:52:37 |
Cut and run. |
00:52:37 |
Cut and run. |
00:52:38 |
We will not cut and run. |
00:52:39 |
Cut and run. |
00:52:39 |
Cut and run, cut and |
00:52:42 |
We will stay the course. |
00:52:43 |
We must stay the course. |
00:52:44 |
We stay the course. |
00:52:45 |
We will stay the course. |
00:52:46 |
And we're not going to cut and run |
00:52:49 |
if I'm in the oval office. |
00:52:50 |
Solomon: All a president |
00:52:52 |
start a war and these |
00:52:54 |
You can't stop them so it's |
00:52:59 |
to deceive, to manipulate |
00:53:01 |
sufficiently to get the war started |
00:53:04 |
and then they've got a long |
00:53:07 |
substantive challenge that says |
00:53:15 |
Then appealing for public |
00:53:18 |
Mr. Nixon said the |
00:53:21 |
or humiliate the United States. |
00:53:23 |
Only Americans, he said, can do that. |
00:53:29 |
The peacemakers are |
00:53:33 |
The soldier and the statesman |
00:53:38 |
and the responsible assistance |
00:53:44 |
But they need reason much |
00:53:48 |
They must have a practical solution |
00:53:51 |
and not a concoction of wishful |
00:53:56 |
however well-intentioned and |
00:54:00 |
It must be a solution |
00:54:05 |
surrender or for |
00:54:09 |
Those fantasies hold |
00:54:14 |
War llI and a much |
00:54:18 |
Solomon: During the |
00:54:20 |
opinion polls were |
00:54:22 |
into the early 1970's that a majority |
00:54:28 |
even immoral and yet |
00:54:30 |
because the momentum was there. |
00:54:32 |
Vice President Agnew's |
00:54:35 |
he put it, was the |
00:54:38 |
Most of those, the Vice |
00:54:40 |
at a rally for |
00:54:42 |
are Democrats, and it was |
00:54:46 |
Republican crowds have been |
00:54:49 |
In the United States today |
00:54:51 |
we have more than our share of the |
00:55:01 |
Solomon: The same has been the case |
00:55:04 |
The President and I |
00:55:07 |
politicians from losing their memory |
00:55:09 |
or their backbone but |
00:55:11 |
to sit by and let |
00:55:13 |
Solomon: And that's |
00:55:16 |
because often those who oppose |
00:55:21 |
Congressman John Murtha, the first |
00:55:25 |
a man awarded a bronze star |
00:55:29 |
choking back tears as he talked |
00:55:33 |
It's time to bring them home. |
00:55:34 |
They've done everything they can do. |
00:55:36 |
The military has done |
00:55:38 |
This war has been so |
00:55:41 |
Not only was the intelligence bad, |
00:55:45 |
there's all kinds of |
00:55:47 |
They don't' deserve to |
00:55:50 |
They're the targets. |
00:55:52 |
Solomon: As an original supporter of |
00:55:56 |
pro-military inside the Congress, |
00:55:59 |
John Murtha, despite his credentials, |
00:56:04 |
This guy has long passed |
00:56:07 |
had anything but the |
00:56:09 |
of what the heck is |
00:56:13 |
and that sound byte is |
00:56:16 |
And the man is an absolute |
00:56:19 |
Solomon: His recommendations to pull |
00:56:24 |
Pennsylvania Congressman |
00:56:26 |
once again sounding |
00:56:28 |
when it comes to the war on terror. |
00:56:29 |
Murtha's running a |
00:56:32 |
own people and against |
00:56:36 |
As a veteran, I consider it my duty |
00:56:42 |
against repeated |
00:56:44 |
politician who cares |
00:56:47 |
political and personal gain |
00:56:50 |
fellow Americans on the battlefield. |
00:56:53 |
Solomon: And yet you looked at the... |
00:56:55 |
polls and you found |
00:56:56 |
of Americans totally were |
00:56:59 |
I go by Arlington cemetery everyday |
00:57:04 |
and the Vice President, he criticizes |
00:57:08 |
Those gravestones don't say Democrat |
00:57:14 |
Solomon: And almost any analysis of |
00:57:19 |
with what news media are or are not |
00:57:23 |
will show that the |
00:57:26 |
is way behind the grassroots. |
00:57:28 |
In February of 1968, the |
00:57:32 |
survey of 39 different |
00:57:36 |
The Globe could not find a single |
00:57:41 |
for withdrawal of US |
00:57:56 |
Narrator: And even when |
00:57:58 |
have eventually become |
00:58:00 |
officials have strategies |
00:58:03 |
that have the effect |
00:58:06 |
In some cases, as with the Nixon... |
00:58:08 |
administration's strategy |
00:58:11 |
actually escalating war |
00:58:15 |
In the previous administration, we |
00:58:21 |
In this administration we are |
00:58:27 |
Solomon: It's the idea that |
00:58:28 |
the war has become |
00:58:31 |
States so let's pull |
00:58:33 |
and have the military burden fall |
00:58:37 |
White House officials say it is |
00:58:40 |
are going to have to |
00:58:42 |
Solomon: The model is to use air |
00:58:46 |
and training Vietnamese to |
00:58:50 |
And several decades later, |
00:58:53 |
of George W. Bush's administration. |
00:58:56 |
Our strategy can be |
00:58:58 |
As the Iraqi's stand |
00:59:03 |
Solomon: The rhetoric about shifting |
00:59:06 |
onto the shoulders of Iraqi people |
00:59:10 |
for a president because |
00:59:12 |
saying to people in |
00:59:14 |
hey, we're going to be out of |
00:59:17 |
There isn't a person at this |
00:59:21 |
that we're in a quagmire and |
00:59:26 |
Solomon: The media and political |
00:59:28 |
is a good example of how an issue |
00:59:32 |
The criticism would be that |
00:59:35 |
there's no good way to |
00:59:38 |
Then the word clearly |
00:59:42 |
Solomon: Talking about |
00:59:44 |
to be a positive way |
00:59:47 |
because then we can |
00:59:48 |
the war is actually working out well. |
00:59:50 |
We are now in a seemingly |
00:59:54 |
That terrible word quagmire. |
00:59:57 |
This could be or seems to |
01:00:00 |
Solomon: Quagmire is |
01:00:03 |
of a critique because |
01:00:06 |
problem here is what |
01:00:09 |
the United States. |
01:00:11 |
Are we winning in Iraq? |
01:00:13 |
Do you want the United |
01:00:15 |
I can't tell who's |
01:00:17 |
Do you believe that we are |
01:00:19 |
We are not winning |
01:00:21 |
We are losing. |
01:00:23 |
We're winning it. |
01:00:24 |
You're winning this war? |
01:00:26 |
I couldn't tell you. |
01:00:28 |
Solomon: And a big problem with the |
01:00:31 |
through the eyes of the Americans, |
01:00:35 |
rather than those who are bearing |
01:00:40 |
We have been too often |
01:00:42 |
the optimism of the American leaders |
01:00:44 |
both in Vietnam and Washington |
01:00:46 |
to have faith any |
01:00:48 |
linings they find in |
01:00:51 |
Solomon: In early 1968, |
01:00:54 |
CBS viewers that the |
01:00:57 |
It seems now more certain than ever |
01:00:59 |
that the bloody experience of |
01:01:04 |
Solomon: And that was instantly, |
01:01:09 |
heralded as "the tide has turned," |
01:01:12 |
as Lyndon Johnson is |
01:01:15 |
when he saw Cronkite |
01:01:17 |
"I've lost middle America," |
01:01:19 |
and it was presented as not only |
01:01:23 |
but also as sort of a moral statement |
01:01:28 |
Well I would say yes and no. |
01:01:30 |
It was an acknowledgement |
01:01:32 |
contrary to official |
01:01:34 |
was not winning the war in |
01:01:38 |
But it was not a statement |
01:01:42 |
A problem there is that if the |
01:01:46 |
because it's not winnable |
01:01:49 |
oh yeah, we'll show you it can be... |
01:01:51 |
winnable, or the next |
01:01:53 |
So that critique doesn't |
01:01:57 |
military expansion or aggression, |
01:02:02 |
And a deeper critique says, whether |
01:02:07 |
empire enforced at the point not of |
01:02:14 |
that's not acceptable. |
01:02:24 |
Narrator: Over the last |
01:02:27 |
witnessed a wave of US |
01:02:30 |
a series of bombings, invasions, |
01:02:35 |
Undertaken we have been told, with |
01:02:42 |
And paid for with the |
01:02:46 |
and countless others |
01:02:50 |
Solomon: What has occurred with one |
01:02:55 |
These dynamics are in play in |
01:02:59 |
looking at other |
01:03:01 |
and the future will be |
01:03:05 |
we fail to understand what has been |
01:03:09 |
The news media have generally |
01:03:15 |
that it's up to the President to |
01:03:18 |
This smart guy in the oval office |
01:03:21 |
he knows more than we do, |
01:03:24 |
and the American people |
01:03:27 |
play and nor should |
01:03:29 |
they don't have the |
01:03:32 |
to be responsive to |
01:03:35 |
That was certainly true |
01:03:37 |
War as it was to be |
01:03:40 |
There were people in Congress |
01:03:43 |
simply were marginalized by the news |
01:03:47 |
maybe especially |
01:03:49 |
they had it right and |
01:03:52 |
wisdom and the President were wrong. |
01:03:54 |
However difficult this |
01:03:58 |
of us must urge the use of restraint. |
01:04:14 |
Our country is in a state of |
01:04:18 |
let's step back for a moment, |
01:04:28 |
And think through the |
01:04:32 |
so that this does not |
01:04:42 |
As we act let us not become |
01:04:50 |
Thank you and I yield |
01:04:52 |
The gentlewoman's time has expired. |
01:04:54 |
Solomon: And this is |
01:04:56 |
of history in the |
01:04:58 |
where people who at the time were |
01:05:03 |
as outside of the mainstream |
01:05:08 |
out to understand the |
01:05:11 |
We've gotta back our President, |
01:05:13 |
since when do we have |
01:05:16 |
or should we when the President is |
01:05:31 |
Solomon: The best |
01:05:33 |
the senior senator from Oregon who, |
01:05:35 |
beginning in 1964, was a voice |
01:05:41 |
Senator Morse was unusual in that |
01:05:46 |
of the US government to go |
01:05:49 |
He said it's up to the American |
01:05:54 |
Senator, the Constitution gives to |
01:05:58 |
the sole responsibility for |
01:06:01 |
Couldn't be more wrong. |
01:06:02 |
You couldn't make a |
01:06:04 |
statement than the one |
01:06:07 |
This is the promulgation |
01:06:11 |
that foreign policy belongs to the |
01:06:15 |
Then whom does it |
01:06:16 |
It belongs to the |
01:06:18 |
Constitutional fathers |
01:06:20 |
Where does the President fit into |
01:06:24 |
What I'm saying is under our |
01:06:27 |
is the administrator of the |
01:06:30 |
Those are his prerogatives |
01:06:33 |
the American people be given |
01:06:36 |
You know Senator that |
01:06:38 |
cannot formulate and |
01:06:40 |
Why you're a man of |
01:06:42 |
democracy if you make |
01:06:44 |
I have complete faith in the |
01:06:47 |
to follow the facts if you |
01:06:50 |
against my government is we're not |
01:06:53 |
Solomon: And that's the kind of faith |
01:06:57 |
among the Washington |
01:06:59 |
the power elite in |
01:07:02 |
but it's a good reading |
01:07:04 |
and it's a good |
01:07:06 |
The independent journalist |
01:07:09 |
all governments lie and nothing |
01:07:13 |
Now Stone wasn't conflating |
01:07:15 |
and he wasn't saying that governments |
01:07:17 |
lie all the time, but |
01:07:20 |
we should never trust |
01:07:22 |
by a government is automatically true |
01:07:26 |
especially our own |
01:07:28 |
because we have a |
01:07:31 |
the surface because |
01:07:33 |
the consequences of |
01:07:36 |
what Dr. King called "the |
01:07:39 |
they can't stand the light of |
01:07:42 |
the deceptions that lead |
01:07:45 |
and the human consequences |
01:07:47 |
If we get that into clear focus |
01:07:50 |
we can change the course |
01:07:53 |
But it's not going to |
01:07:55 |
require dedication to |
01:08:02 |
Dr. Martin Luther King: A time |
01:08:08 |
and that time has come for us. |
01:08:13 |
Even when pressed by the |
01:08:18 |
men do not easily assume the task of |
01:08:24 |
especially in time of war. |
01:08:28 |
And I knew that I could |
01:08:32 |
against the violence of the |
01:08:35 |
without having first spoken clearly |
01:08:41 |
in the world today, |
01:08:42 |
my own government. |
01:08:51 |
What do they think as we test |
01:08:56 |
Just as the Germans tested out |
01:09:00 |
in the concentration camps of Europe. |
01:09:03 |
Now there is little left to |
01:09:08 |
We are met by deep but |
01:09:12 |
To speak for them is to explain this |
01:09:18 |
and especially their mistrust |
01:09:24 |
The world now demands a maturity of |
01:09:28 |
America that we may |
01:09:32 |
This way of settling |
01:09:38 |
A nation that continues |
01:09:41 |
to spend more money |
01:09:45 |
than on programs of social uplift |
01:09:51 |
Somehow this madness must cease. |
01:09:54 |
We must stop now. |
01:09:57 |
I speak as one who loves America |
01:10:00 |
to the leaders of our own nation. |
01:10:04 |
The great initiative |
01:10:07 |
The initiative to |