Walter Cronkite says Bush war on Iraq 'excited Arab world'

[RamboLiberal]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/10/25/state1433EDT0068.DTL

Veteran newsman Walter Cronkite said Americans aren't any safer because of the U.S.-led war on Iraq.

"The problem, quite clearly, is we have excited the Arab world, the Muslim world, to take up arms against us," Cronkite said Saturday, adding that this excitement far exceeds the anger that existed among terrorist groups prior to the war.

<snip>

Cronkite said the Nov. 2 presidential election will be one of the most important since perhaps the Civil War because it comes on the heels of a drastic change in U.S. foreign policy and a ballooning national debt.

The war on Iraq marked the first time the United States has conducted a pre-emptive invasion and occupation of another country, he noted.

Asked what it will take to achieve peace, Cronkite said, "It certainly has to include, as a major factor, diplomacy."

[eddiebrowns]

1. Gee, I really miss "Uncle Walter"

Honestly-no sarcasm here-called him that when I was in college

[FuzzySlippers]

8. LOL! I think of him as Uncle Walter too.

He's just so darned avuncular. But if he were still working for CBS, he couldn't be so outspoken. Much better that he's an outsider.

[Eric J in MN]

2. he probably said "incited" and got misquoted. nt

nt

[GHOSTDANCER]

3. Excited?????? YA?????

Like poking a stick in a hornets nest. Duh???

[SoCalDem]

4. *'s actions reminded me of a cousin of mine

his family lived on a farm, and they had bees and wasps & all kinds of inscets.. He spotted a big nest of something or other not far from the barn,. His mother told him to just "be careful" around it, and to leave it alone..

You know what happened next.. he just HAD to "remove" it, even though NO ONE had been stung...

He ended up in the hospital with multiple stings..

That nest was a "nuisance", but as long as no one bothered it, it was fine where it was..

[aden_nak]

5. Show this to older Bush supporters and undecideds

Walter Cronkite still has a lot of journalistic integrity saved up with them.

[JPZenger]

6. If we've lost Cronkrite, We've Lost America

"If we've lost Cronkrite, we've lost America"

- Lyndon Johnson in response to comments Cronkite made on his broadcast that were critical of the Vietnam War

[struggle4progress]

7. "Our grandchildren's grandchildren are going to be paying ...

... for this war. I look at our future as, I'm sorry, being very, very dark." - Walter Cronkite, Drew University, 20 March 2003

[Rob H.]

9. Cronkite is a national treasure

He's one of the few journalists* who has any integrity nowadays--some of the screaming heads on cable probably don't even know what the word "integrity" means.


*I know, I know, he's retired, but still.

[coreystone]

10. Walter Cronkite, if you logon to this site......

always remember that your integrity as a journalist and as a human being are extremely revered. Not that you're perfect, but, that the journalistic credentials which you have worn so well, for all of these years, is so highly appreciated and honored.

If Robert C. Byrd may called the "conscience and soul" of the Senate, then I would nominate you as the "conscience and soul" of the Fourth Estate.

Thank you so much for service to this country in the role which you played!

With the most respect, I submit this post!

:-)