Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (15072)	3/20/2003 1:24:22 AM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 89467

"There has to be some kind of WMD in Iraq, no doubt about it. If first it can not be found then the 300K inspectors or some “agent” can plant one. Question is how can the world be sure that it actually belong to Saddam. Any Scientific proof or evidence will most likely come from the US allied side. LOL! I was wrong! I was sure Scott would be the first one to post something like this. Ahhhhh, conspiracies everywhere. LOL! OOF Ö¿Ö

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (15072)	3/20/2003 2:05:37 AM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Former CBS anchor Cronkite voices disappointment in move to war Retired journalist addresses Drew about future of U.S. By Rob Jennings from the Daily Record newsroom 03/19/03 - Posted 12:19:32 AM MADISON - The "most trusted man in America," retired CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite, put aside his journalistic impartiality Tuesday night and issued a blistering dissent to President Bush's decision to wage war with Iraq. At a Drew University forum, Cronkite said he feared the war would not go smoothly, ripped the "arrogance" of Bush and his administration and wondered whether the new U.S. doctrine of "pre-emptive war" might lead to unintended, dire consequences. "Every little country in the world that has a border conflict with another little country … they now have a great example from the United States," Cronkite, 86, said in response to a question from Drew's president, former Gov. Thomas Kean. More than 2,000 people attended the 8 p.m. forum, including college students such as Jennifer Gross, 19, of Sparta, who wasn't yet born when Cronkite surrendered his groundbreaking anchor post in 1981. Also attending was 83-year-old Debbie Langehammer of Morristown, who recalled Cronkite's most famous broadcasting moment - the tragic afternoon when he blinked back tears while announcing the death of President Kennedy in 1963. Hobbled by a torn Achilles tendon, Cronkite began by discussing one of his journalistic high points, reviewing the D-Day invasion with President Eisenhower in Normandy. He then addressed the looming war with Iraq. "I'm very disappointed that we've come to this point," Cronkite said. While many are confident the United States would easily oust Saddam Hussein, Cronkite said he isn't so sure. "The military is always more confident than circumstances show they should be," he said. Cronkite speculated that the refusal of many traditional allies, such as France, to join the war effort signaled something deeper, and more ominous, than a mere foreign policy disagreement. "The arrogance of our spokespeople, even the president himself, has been exceptional, and it seems to me they have taken great umbrage at that," Cronkite said. "We have told them what they must do. It is a pretty dark doctrine." Cronkite chided Congress for not looking closely enough at the war and attempting to ascertain a viable estimate of its eventual cost, particularly in light of Bush's commitment to tax cuts. "We are going to be in such a fix when this war is over, or before this war is over … our grandchildren's grandchildren are going to be paying for this war," Cronkite said. "I look at our future as, I'm sorry, being very, very dark. Let's see our cards as we rise to meet the difficulties that lie ahead," he added, in a play on Bush's dismissive remarks about France. But Cronkite, who spent many days and nights on battlefields and in campgrounds with U.S. forces, also spoke of supporting the troops. "The time has come to put all of our, perhaps distaste, aside, and give our full support to the troops involved. That is the duty we owe our soldiers who had no role in deciding this course of action," Cronkite said. In response to a question about media bias, Cronkite said the press is not politically partisan but does tilt toward liberalism. He said that the smartest president he ever met was Jimmy Carter. "Most news people start their early years as cub reporters, covering the seamy side of life. They see the poverty. They see the want" - and as a result, Cronkite said, tend to favor the underprivileged. dailyrecord.com

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (15072)	3/20/2003 8:34:15 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Resignations over Bush's Iraq policy T V Parasuram in Washington \| March 21, 2003 01:27 IST In brewing discontent at home against United States war on Iraq and President George W Bush's foreign policy, a handful of senior level officials have resigned after Washington went ahead with a military solution to disarm Baghdad. The latest to resign is Rand Beers, the National Security Council's senior director for combating terrorism. Though Beers said that he resigned for personal reasons, close associates felt he was protesting against White House's increased concentration on Iraq at the expense of the overall counter-terrorism effort. Others cited general weariness with fighting internal battles. Among the various positions he had held was deputy political adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. He had also served in the State Department. Mary A Wright, No 2 official at the US Embassy in Mongolia, who has spent 15 years in the Foreign Service and 26 years in the Army Reserves, has also resigned. Writing to Secretary of State Colin Powell, she said, "I strongly believe that going to war now will make the world more dangerous, not safer. In our press for military action now, we have created deep chasms in the international community and in important international organisations." "Our policies have alienated many of our allies and created ill will in much of the world," said Wright, who also criticised a "lack of policy on North Korea" and expressed disagreement with 'lack of effort' in solving the crisis in the Middle East. John Brady Kiesling, a political officer at the US Embassy in Athens, resigned last month. In a letter to Powell he said he no longer believed he was upholding the interests of the American people and the world by supporting President Bush's policies. "The policies we are now asked to advance," he said, "are incompatible not only with American values but also with American interests. Our fervent pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international legitimacy that has been America's most potent weapon of both offence and defence since the days of Woodrow Wilson." He also said that the current course of actions would only bring instability and danger, and not security. John H Brown resigned last week from the Foreign Service after serving for 22 years. He said, "The President's disregard for views in other nations, borne out by his neglect of public diplomacy, is giving birth to an anti-American century." Powell himself sees the role of dissenters differently. In his own case, he has said, he often disagrees with some of his colleagues and voices his disagreement openly in internal meetings. However, all being advisers to the President who has supreme authority, once the President decides, "We salute and say -- Yes, Sir." rediff.com