Cronkite: Time for U.S. to leave Iraq

[IChing]

y DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was unwinnable keenly influenced public opinion then, said Sunday he'd say the same thing today about Iraq.

"It's my belief that we should get out now," Cronkite said in a meeting with reporters.

Now 89, the television journalist once known as "the most trusted man in America" has been off the "CBS Evening News" for nearly a quarter-century. He's still a CBS News employee, although he does little for them.

Cronkite said one of his proudest moments came at the end of a 1968 documentary he made following a visit to Vietnam during the Tet offensive. Urged by his boss to briefly set aside his objectivity to give his view of the situation, Cronkite said the war was unwinnable and that the U.S. should exit.
Then-President Lyndon Johnson reportedly told a White House aide after that, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."

The best time to have made a similar statement about Iraq came after Hurricane Katrina, he said.>>>>>snip


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CRONKITE_IRAQ?SITE=FLSTU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[MichiganVote]

1. That's my man and that's good enough for me. Go Cronkite!

[IChing]

4. I agree it's great he said it I hope "Middle America" listens

like they did back in those days,
his views changed my parents',relatives' and neighbors' view
on the war after he stated that.

[0007]

7. Middle America doesn't even remember Walter and if they do

they think he an old senile man. Middle America listens to the first lady, that knows everything.
When Laura's stumped for an answer she consults Rush.

[Voltaire99]

19. I expect you're right.

Out of sight is out of mind in the United States of Amnesia.

Cronkite's "moral authority," such as it was, hasn't been reaffirmed in decades. Unfortunately, these days, Americans are more apt to attend to what the war-huckster Tom Brokaw says in his many appearances on the tube browbeating them into supporting Bush and the war.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. I miss Walter Cronkite's reporting.

He was the best of the good guys. It was when he stepped down that things started changing for the worse.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Me too...

I still trust him more than any reporter out there. Cromkite was about news...not ratings or buy-offs.

[Straight Shooter]

3. "He's still a CBS news employee, although he does little for them."

:wtf:

Is it possible to reword that sentence and make it less pejorative? How about, "He's still a CBS news employee, who continues to be consulted on a periodic basis." Period. Leave it just like that.

Sheesh.

[Botany]

5. Neo con controlled media spin

Aging Cronkite shows sigs of dementia and is being manipulated by
left wing extremists.

Fire it up Papa news.

Cronkite, Eric Severied, Murrow, and company ..... real reporters.

[Vidar]

15. Add Helen Thomas and Dan Rather.

[PegDAC]

17. They were journalistic integrity personified.

:toast: to those who are gone from our living rooms each night.
:patriot:

[stellanoir]

6. gotta love him always

[UDenver20]

8. Way to go Walter! That's my Chi Phi Brother!

[gulfcoastliberal]

10. "And even Cronkite says the war is unwinnable" - FMJ after Tet Offensive

We never learn.

[jazzjunkysue]

11. You go, Walter. Amen.

[yurbud]

12. print and mail this to any old folks not on the internet

I pass along Cronkite pieces to my grandfather and he appreciates this.

I don't know if this will get on the airwaves, but if older folks read it, they'll pay attention.

[marylanddem]

13. Walter Cronkite is a class act. eom

[YDogg]

14. Why does Cronkite hate America?

:sarcasm:

Not that this will matter to bush.

[MarianJack]

16. Oh My!

Do I ever miss journalists with courage and integrity!

Hell, i miss real journalists!

[Voltaire99]

18. Cronkite is smarter than Hillary.

What part of STOP WASTING US AND IRAQI LIVES don't you understand, Hillary?