Walter Cronkite sounds off on Iraq war at Fisher Island forum

[cal04]

Veteran journalist Walter Cronkite said Thursday that the war in Iraq has divided the United States. "The public's reaction to Vietnam is going to be peanuts when compared to Iraq if it's not settled soon," he said during a media forum on Fisher Island held to benefit the Fisher Island Philanthropic Fund. "The war is tearing us apart."

During hour-long remarks, Cronkite also spoke out on the presidential election, the national debt and the state of television journalism.
Cronkite, 88, who spent years as a foreign correspondent and covered World War II and the Nuremberg trials for United Press, said the outcome of the presidential election only added to a tense atmosphere in the nation.

"We have one party controlling the White House, House of Representatives and its subsidiaries," Cronkite said. "The nation's severely unbalanced." The former anchorman said he was pleased with election coverage but noted the press was reluctant to point out fallacies in the candidates' arguments. He was also quick to criticize the Bush administration's tactics in dealing with the media.

"They're not interested in communicating with the public," he said. "They lock up what they don't want the public to know."Still, Cronkite said he was optimistic about the future of the nation."I have faith in this country and somehow we are going to make this work," he said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/yahoo/sfl-dcronkite19nov19,0,7156281.story?coll=sfla-newsaol-headlines

[Selatius]

1. Nobody's listening, Walter Cronkite

No one in any position of power anyway...

[MissMarple]

2. Thank you, Walter. Sometimes it is hard to maintain one's perspective.

He echoes Thomas Jefferson:

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to it's true principles. It is true that in the mean time we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war & long oppressions of enormous public debt. ... If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, & then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are the stake. Better luck, therefore, to us all; and health, happiness, & friendly salutations to yourself."


I've told friends this several times over the past few years, that we have been here before and have survived. But, it is nice to see the reinforcement.