Chomping on some corn flakes this morning, I turned on Good Morning America, where anchor Chris Cuomo conducted a four-minute interview of Senator Hillary Clinton. This exchange caught my attention:
Cuomo: "If Iran were to launch a nuclear attack on Israel, what would our response be?"
Clinton: “"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran. That's what we will do. There is no safe haven…we would be able to totally obliterate them.”
America’s ill-conceived intervention in Vietnam cost 50,000 American lives, millions of civilian deaths, and $700 billion in 2007 dollars. In 2003, we attacked Iraq, which proved to be a toothless tiger that posed no real threat to the United States or our allies. Billions of dollars and thousands of lives later, the drumbeats grow louder to turn our guns on Iran. You’d think by now, our leadership, media and citizenry would’ve learned their lesson, and stopped threatening military force against countries that pose no imminent threat to America. But they haven’t. So here’s my attempt to cut through the groupthink:
Senator Clinton: Your use of such forceful language suggests that Iran is on the verge of doing exactly as Cuomo suggests. Where is your hard evidence that Iran has the ability to threaten its neighbors and/or the United States with a nuclear attack? And that it would suicidally choose to exercise it? Why isn’t Israel’s nuclear arsenal enough of a deterrent that the United States need offer its own? Why do you verbalize the almost comical imbalance between our respective militaries in the crudest of terms? And if the goal is to persuade Iran that they don’t need nuclear weapons, is the use of such bellicose language by a Presidential candidate the most optimal way to do so?
Chris Cuomo: Senator Clinton had already answered multiple questions on Iran in the same vein. Given the limited time that Good Morning America allocates for interviews of Presidential candidates, why not take the opportunity to ask her for evidence that a threat is realistic and imminent? Her estimates of possible lives lost, dollars spent, allies alienated and energy supplies disrupted if the United States chose to “totally obliterate” an ancient civilization of 70 million people?
Americans: Imagine for a moment that you are an ordinary Iranian. You toil under a suffocating regime that tries to mask its domestic economic failures by blustering against perceived enemies abroad. A government that you didn’t choose through a free election, and seems to be more concerned with enforcing dress codes than addressing unemployment. Many of your friends and family look to the United States as a model for liberty and economic vitality, even though America supported Saddam Hussein’s unprovoked war against your country. A war that cost the lives of at least 500,000 of your countrymen. Your country has never attacked anyone, yet a major Presidential candidate takes your leadership’s bait and promises to “obliterate” you if your dictatorial leaders attack Israel. Distasteful as they may be, your leaders promise to protect you with nuclear weapons of their own, while America threatens you with a nuclear attack.
Your government is not on your side, that’s for sure. But what would make you think any differently about America?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
What I'd Rather Be Doing
Boston TV Weather Forecaster: I’d hone a faux-New England accent, drop obscure suburban town names with a hometown familiarity, and sarcastically put down newsbunny anchors that dare to direct nonsensical weather banter at me. Best of all, I would use perfectly ordinary weather events to out fear-monger Dick Cheney. Six to twelve inches of snow in January used to be ho-hum before television came to be. But in the capable hands of the local weatherman, it’s transformed into NOR’EASTER ATTACKS! 2008. Watch how the right mix of certainty, controlled panic, and a sufficiently scary backdrop (a live remote from Gloucester would do nicely) will have the masses tearing down the local Stop & Shop in search of canned goods. Terrorism comes in many forms, and some of it’s perfectly legal.
One-hit Presidential Interviewer: Give me an hour with the President, and I could effectively demonstrate the degree to which your favorite hard-hitting anchor transforms himself into the First Sycophant to maintain his access to power. “Why are you surprised when your clarion call for freedom rings hollow to those that observe our unwavering support of the dictatorial regimes in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait?” I’d sweetly ask. I’d follow-up probingly. I wouldn’t let a single distortion of fact get by me. I’d conclusively demonstrate that respect for the Office doesn’t equate to respect for the Message. And I’m sure that I’d never be invited to the White House again.
Backup Vocals for a Multi-Platinum Hip-Hop Artist: I’d get to hang out with the Steve Jobs of American popular culture, my street cred would go through the roof and grunting two or three word refrains isn’t hard work. I’d choose a stage name that was deferential yet legit (12 Cent? The Hobby?). The risks are slight—how often do the late-night bullets fly, anyway? In any case, if the police ask, I never saw nuthin’.
New York Mets Starting Pitcher: I’d win the Cy Young with a 95 mph fastball and 80 mph change-up, sign a nine-figure extension, and hold the requisite press conference to declare that it’s all about “taking care of my family.” But rather than descend into the depths of drugs, alcohol, and ego, I’d build a nice house in the hills of North Jersey, start a charitable foundation, and give lectures at local high schools. I wouldn’t kill dogs, carry illegal weapons, or tearfully declare that I’m entering rehab. Doesn’t my way seem like the path of least resistance?
Delta 777 Captain: I’d command aircraft to and from exotic ports of call, not the least of which would be Atlanta. A slight southern drawl would infect my voice as I kept my passengers continually abreast of every nuance behind delays or as we passed over landmarks, to the point where they’d be begging for less information. I’d never forget to turn the seat belt sign off. I’d dismiss some particularly rough turbulence as “light chop,” calming hundreds of people instantly. I’d insist that my co-pilot call me Maverick, and ask for permission to buzz the JFK control tower. Permission denied, I’d chuckle to myself and execute a perfect landing on 22R accompanied by only the gentlest of bumps.
One-hit Presidential Interviewer: Give me an hour with the President, and I could effectively demonstrate the degree to which your favorite hard-hitting anchor transforms himself into the First Sycophant to maintain his access to power. “Why are you surprised when your clarion call for freedom rings hollow to those that observe our unwavering support of the dictatorial regimes in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait?” I’d sweetly ask. I’d follow-up probingly. I wouldn’t let a single distortion of fact get by me. I’d conclusively demonstrate that respect for the Office doesn’t equate to respect for the Message. And I’m sure that I’d never be invited to the White House again.
Backup Vocals for a Multi-Platinum Hip-Hop Artist: I’d get to hang out with the Steve Jobs of American popular culture, my street cred would go through the roof and grunting two or three word refrains isn’t hard work. I’d choose a stage name that was deferential yet legit (12 Cent? The Hobby?). The risks are slight—how often do the late-night bullets fly, anyway? In any case, if the police ask, I never saw nuthin’.
New York Mets Starting Pitcher: I’d win the Cy Young with a 95 mph fastball and 80 mph change-up, sign a nine-figure extension, and hold the requisite press conference to declare that it’s all about “taking care of my family.” But rather than descend into the depths of drugs, alcohol, and ego, I’d build a nice house in the hills of North Jersey, start a charitable foundation, and give lectures at local high schools. I wouldn’t kill dogs, carry illegal weapons, or tearfully declare that I’m entering rehab. Doesn’t my way seem like the path of least resistance?
Delta 777 Captain: I’d command aircraft to and from exotic ports of call, not the least of which would be Atlanta. A slight southern drawl would infect my voice as I kept my passengers continually abreast of every nuance behind delays or as we passed over landmarks, to the point where they’d be begging for less information. I’d never forget to turn the seat belt sign off. I’d dismiss some particularly rough turbulence as “light chop,” calming hundreds of people instantly. I’d insist that my co-pilot call me Maverick, and ask for permission to buzz the JFK control tower. Permission denied, I’d chuckle to myself and execute a perfect landing on 22R accompanied by only the gentlest of bumps.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
The Case of Murat Kurnaz
Yesterday, the state-run Chinese news agency announced that the police had a Tibetan monk in custody who’d confessed to inciting the recent separatist violence on direct orders from the Dalai Lama. The name of the monk wasn’t made public, nor were the charges made against him. Ho-hum. Sounds like business as usual in a totalitarian dictatorship. Right?
Now watch this 13-minute 60 Minutes piece.
Or read this summary: A 19-year old German-born Turk named Murat Kurnaz was pulled out of a bus by a Pakistani cop in the fall of 2001. He was handed over to the United States in return for a $3,000 bounty. He was held by the American military at prisons in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, where he was made to inhale while his head was dunked into water. He was electrocuted. He was suspended by his arms for five straight days. He was attended to by doctors who were present not to minister to his wounds, but to certify that he could handle even more physical abuse.
Six months into his incarceration, a secret U.S. military memo confirmed that he was innocent. The German authorities concurred. But he was held and tortured for another 3 ½ years, and was released only after the German Chancellor made a personal appeal to the President. In total, an innocent man was held for almost 5 years by an American justice system that operates on the presumption of guilt, and is accountable to no one.
But who to blame? Not Pakistan, where $3,000 will trump justice every time. Not the American military, where volunteer personnel are trained to fight, not to moonlight as interrogators. And certainly not Mr. Kurnaz, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
No, the blame rests with two parties. First, President George W. Bush, whose sloppy command of history’s lessons, indifference to the value of a human life, and inability to admit mistakes translated into a callous disregard for the principles enshrined in our Constitution. His underlings simply took this indifference and ran with it. Little wonder that his speeches touting liberty and freedom just don’t seem to gain much traction amongst the masses that toil under evil dictators. Yet our President remains blind to the fact that his record stands in almost comedic contrast to the prepared text in his teleprompter.
And the blame rests with the American electorate. Fifty-one percent of us voted to return the President to office in 2004. That the horrific prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib (which was made public in April 2004) happened under his watch should’ve been reason enough to send him back to Crawford. Yet the majority chose a man who hides his incompetence through bluster, his intellectual laziness behind slogans and lapel pins. Shame on us for re-electing a leader who handed our morally bankrupt enemies the ability to claim cultural equivalence with America.
Now imagine you are the Chinese Foreign Minister, and you’re on the phone with the American Secretary of State, who’s calling to protest the treatment of the Tibetan people. How easily and succinctly could you shame her into silence?
Now watch this 13-minute 60 Minutes piece.
Or read this summary: A 19-year old German-born Turk named Murat Kurnaz was pulled out of a bus by a Pakistani cop in the fall of 2001. He was handed over to the United States in return for a $3,000 bounty. He was held by the American military at prisons in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, where he was made to inhale while his head was dunked into water. He was electrocuted. He was suspended by his arms for five straight days. He was attended to by doctors who were present not to minister to his wounds, but to certify that he could handle even more physical abuse.
Six months into his incarceration, a secret U.S. military memo confirmed that he was innocent. The German authorities concurred. But he was held and tortured for another 3 ½ years, and was released only after the German Chancellor made a personal appeal to the President. In total, an innocent man was held for almost 5 years by an American justice system that operates on the presumption of guilt, and is accountable to no one.
But who to blame? Not Pakistan, where $3,000 will trump justice every time. Not the American military, where volunteer personnel are trained to fight, not to moonlight as interrogators. And certainly not Mr. Kurnaz, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
No, the blame rests with two parties. First, President George W. Bush, whose sloppy command of history’s lessons, indifference to the value of a human life, and inability to admit mistakes translated into a callous disregard for the principles enshrined in our Constitution. His underlings simply took this indifference and ran with it. Little wonder that his speeches touting liberty and freedom just don’t seem to gain much traction amongst the masses that toil under evil dictators. Yet our President remains blind to the fact that his record stands in almost comedic contrast to the prepared text in his teleprompter.
And the blame rests with the American electorate. Fifty-one percent of us voted to return the President to office in 2004. That the horrific prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib (which was made public in April 2004) happened under his watch should’ve been reason enough to send him back to Crawford. Yet the majority chose a man who hides his incompetence through bluster, his intellectual laziness behind slogans and lapel pins. Shame on us for re-electing a leader who handed our morally bankrupt enemies the ability to claim cultural equivalence with America.
Now imagine you are the Chinese Foreign Minister, and you’re on the phone with the American Secretary of State, who’s calling to protest the treatment of the Tibetan people. How easily and succinctly could you shame her into silence?
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