Moments after noting both Bushes "led wars in the Gulf," Gibson criticized Henican for bringing up Iraq
As John Gibson introduced a segment comparing the Middle East policies of the two Bush presidencies, he noted that both Bushes "led wars in the Gulf." But when Newsday columnist Ellis Henican tried to contrast "the allies we had in the Iraq war the first time" under George H.W. Bush with George W. Bush's approach to the current Iraq war, Gibson criticized Henican for "always want[ing] to go back to that Iraq war."
On the August 2 edition of Fox News' The Big Story, host John Gibson introduced a segment comparing the Middle East policies of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush by stating that "they both led wars in the Gulf, but it's not 'like father, like son' when it comes to their policies in the Middle East." Yet when Newsday columnist Ellis Henican, a guest on the program, attempted to discuss the two "wars in the Gulf" by contrasting "the allies we had in the Iraq war the first time" under George H.W. Bush with George W. Bush's approach to the current Iraq war, Gibson castigated Henican for "always want[ing] to go back to that Iraq war." Iraq was not discussed at any other point during the segment.
From a discussion on the August 2 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson, which also included National Review editor Rich Lowry:
GIBSON: President Bush and his dad share a lot in common. They both became American presidents, they both led wars in the Gulf, but it's not "like father, like son" when it comes to their policies in the Middle East.
Here to debate their policies are Fox News political analyst Ellis Henican, a Newsday columnist; and Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review.
Gents, they differ on Israel. President Bush the elder was tougher on Israel; President Bush the younger seems to be more permissive. Rich Lowry, who's right?
[...]
LOWRY: And if you also -- Ellis, if you listen to -- if -- some of the public statements of these Arab leaders have gotten more critical of Israel, but basically, they're on our side. They want Hezbollah to be destroyed as soon as possible because they know it's the agent of Iran.
HENICAN: Absolutely. Absolutely. So let's work together with our potential --
LOWRY: That's what we're trying to do.
HENICAN: It's the same thing with the Iraq war. Look at the comparison of the allies we had in the Iraq war the first time and how it worked.
GIBSON: You always want to go back to that Iraq war. Stick with the Hezbollah for a second. Are you telling me that President Bush the elder wouldn't have been just as tough on Hezbollah?
HENICAN: No, no, I'm not -- we're all tough on Hezbollah. Hezbollah needs to be reined in and pacified, but the question is how you go about doing it.
LOWRY: Yeah, and you know, the first step to doing that, Ellis, is -- the first step to doing that --
HENNICAN: Do you do it in an isolation approach?
... Johnny-boy can't change his spots.
New hairdo, same idiot.
I don't blame the Republicans for wanting to forget about how their golden boy drug us into a tar pit...using trumped up intelligence to do it.
In fact, I believe that the Bushies are cheering on the Israelis behind the scenes. In essence, Israel is destroying a house to get rid of the cockroaches. Why are they doing this? They aren't stupid. Could it be to distract attention from the Iraq fiasco long enough for the Cons to hold on to Congress? You don't think Israel owes Washington a lot of favors?
In the past I've thought SOME of your "theories" were a little out there, BUT I think you may be on to SOMETHING here:
*"In fact, I believe that the Bushies are cheering on the Israelis behind the scenes. In essence, Israel is destroying a house to get rid of the cockroaches. Why are they doing this? They aren't stupid. Could it be to distract attention from the Iraq fiasco long enough for the Cons to hold on to Congress? You don't think Israel owes Washington a lot of favors"*
Yeah like the Iraq War for instance? Anyone here really NOT believe that was done in part for Israel's SECURITY/BENEFIT? Yeah they OWE Bush Big Time for that mess. And now [if you listen to Fox at all] here's their NEW mantra...Forget al-Qaeda, the US should be wary of Hezbollah and ALL their "sleeper cells" right HERE within our own borders. Yup, if I hadn't heard THAT with my own ears I wouldn't have believed it....So Israel is fighting OUR new enemy I guess. AND the longer it stretches on, the MORE frightened they can keep us here in the US. AND the more apt people will be to vote Republican...cause them Dems are appeasers. It makes sense Nerzog, it really does.
You know what nerzog, I think YOU & I are finally on the same page. At least on THIS topic.
When the White House propagandists engaged national security issues into the arena of dirty politics and held political power above national best interest, we the people were shafted by our own public servants. How can the populace trust the information that our elected officials and media mouthpieces feed to us if they aren't based in reality? These poseurs continually disseminate information not even supported by federal agencies. The best public relation and smartest marketing strategies don't ultimately replace reality's cold truths. The politics of terrormongering must end.
We must expect and demand more forthrightness from our officials and institutions.
While on vacation, I saw Fox news and CNN a lot, because they were on in the hotel lobbies and breakfast rooms. I noticed the sudden alarm concerning the Hezbullah sleeper cells and thought that might be the next big "boogeyman" the Bushies use to justify their excesses.
Look, I don't know for certain why we are in Iraq. It may be for Israel; it may be for oil; if may be to fulfill the PNAC plan...who knows. What we do know is that what they told us was never true...and I don't think for a minute that they even THOUGHT it was true.
I just think that the timing of Israel's move and the absolute abandon with which they are destroying Lebanon leads me to think there's more here than what we see.
Welcome to the TinFoil Hat club!
Right wing pundits really have mastered this two-faced Orwellian mental switcharoo.
O'Reilly can go from bully to victim, Rambo to intellectual in the snap of a finger.
Now here we have Gibson bringing up Bush wars in the Gulf...and then criticizing someone for bringing up Iraq.
These guys spin around in complete 180's so often I don't think they know which way is up.
---GIBSON: You always want to go back to that Iraq war."---
Gibson seems to be recalling a panicky John Cleese whispering to his Fawlty Towers guests, "Psssst: Don't mention the war!"
(Incidentally, if they ever film The George Gobel Story (who those of a certain age may remember), I nominate the mealy-mouthed John Gibson for the lead role.)
I remember George Gobel...didn't he host some game shows later in his career? Or maybe I saw him on Hollywood Squares.
Man, I feel old!
and am I the only one who'd like to see him replace Colmes on H&C? He has such a good personality that it would make for more interesting television. But he isn't a wimp so I'm sure Fox will never hire him full time.
Gibson makes it sound like the Iraq War is over, like Ellis is re-prosecuting Vietnam or Korea. In case Gibson isn't aware of it, we are still there, still fighting and dying, still getting blown up. But, gosh, don't bring up Iraq in a debate about Middle East policies. That would be as unfair as bringing up Mexico in a debate about immigration.
yes, how impertinent of him to bring up that war, you know, the one we're fighting now. those liberals.
Have the personalities on Fox News recently gotten really testy? I wonder what could be the cause of that?
I've been trying to figure the angle on the latest insanity in Lebanon, and I think I know what is going on.
Notice how reluctant the Cons are to talk about Iraq? Can't blame them, since it's down the crapper. But, they need the War on Terror if they hope to maintain their stranglehold on the U.S. Government, they need the American people to be afraid, not pissed off.
Since they have positioned Iraq as the front on the War on Terror, and we're obviously losing it...they needed a new front.
Enter Israel and Hezbullah...hating each other and sniping at each other for years. It probably didn't take much of a nudge from Washington for Israel to just go totally apesh*t. Now we have a new war, and a new group of terrorists to be scared of; Al Queda is so ten-minutes-ago, don't ya know.
I would not venture that the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict is a front for US politics but I wouldn't put it past the extreme right-wing Republican neo-cons to use the conflict for political advantage. Look at all the WWW III rhetoric and Armageddon enthusiasm----these opportunists of human failure make peace a more difficult mission.
The potential for civil war in Iraq is certainly bad news and the Israeli conflict has the media's full attention, yet it would be hard to imagine that more war would totally benefit Republican politicking.
RoronoaZoro thinks Henican would be a good replacement for Colmes.
I like Bob Beckle.
TGIF conspiracy round up! All we need now is the CIA plot for bringing down the WTC.
Looks like a run on tinfoil!
;-)
ps. All joking aside. Rather than think Gulf War I was to help the Israelis, perhaps one ought to consider the Saudis. They were the big benefactors. Why do you think they let us put bases there?
long ago I heard some guy call a radio talk show and say "the Communists in Russia won't let their kids grow long hair because it extracts fluids from the kids brains and they get stupid." I didn't believe that then but now with Gibson, maybe the guy 30 years ago was right all along.
I wish people with conscience would stop appearing on these shows where the deck is already stacked; where the faux fair and balanced host is trying to push a side and skewer the "other". We're so far from objective journalism here...and it's so bizarre, that a journalist commenting on the topic is told that he's off topic!
John Gibson is an idiot and he owes his career to O.J. Simpson. Maybe he needs to up his doage of ritalin so he can pay attention to his topic.