The day after Barry Bonds set a dubious record, CNN's Kyra Phillips [file photo] might have set one of her own. Rather than "Career Home Runs," file this one under "Tasteless and Inappropriate Questions Posed to a Soldier in a War Zone."
At about 3:40 P.M. EDT on this afternoon's CNN Newsroom, co-anchor Phillips was interviewing Lt. General Raymond Odierno, the MNF second-in-command in Iraq.
CNN Anchor Kyra Phillips: You know there's been a lot of shifting around in positions, a lot of positions lost, key positions. Do you think that this job that you've taken on could be career suicide?
LT. GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO: Oh, I don't worry about that. All I care about is getting the mission done. As long as I feel comfortable with what I'm doing, as long as I feel comfortable that we're doing the right thing, that's all that really counts, and that's what I expect the American people would expect.
Good on the general for his even-keeled response. Shame on Phillips for asking a question that served no purpose other than to seek to discomfit a member of the US military serving in a war zone.
Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Hey Kyra
August 8, 2007 - 17:03 ET by Survivor24Speaking of stupid questions only asked in order to be inflamatory:
Hey Kyra, Have you stopped beating your kids?
Too bad he didn't turn
August 8, 2007 - 18:05 ET by dervishToo bad he didn't turn around and ask her the same question, but generals are usually gentlemen (at least the ones they let talk to the press). Still -- imagine her asking that to someone like Patton.
Patton would've slapped her.
August 8, 2007 - 20:07 ET by drillanwrPatton would've slapped her.
Intellectual suicide
August 8, 2007 - 18:05 ET by nkviking75Kyra, is working for CNN intellectual suicide?
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Kyra
August 8, 2007 - 18:33 ET by allanfKyra will be forever remembered for her bathroom break. She uttered this famous line about her brother:
She is not building up a great "best of file"
In the immortal words of
August 8, 2007 - 20:06 ET by drillanwrIn the immortal words of Dan Aykroyd:
"Kyra, you ignorant slut!"
As usual, Phillips can't
August 8, 2007 - 21:08 ET by jdhawkAs usual, Phillips can't find her a** with both hands. Following a 5 second Google search, I came up with a document called the 2007: The Army Modernization Plan (AMP) at this web site: http://www.army.mil/institution/leaders/modplan/.
The plan details the expansion of the Army from 70 combat brigades and 200 support brigades to 76 comabt brigades and 225 support brigades. That's 31 colonel positions (1 per brigade - a colonel command) and at least 6 more major general positions (3-5 brigades make up a division - a major general command).
Does that sound like positions are being lost?
Meanwhile, does Phillips really think that a three star general in the middle of the biggest fight to come along in a decade isn't going to be promoted to the highest rank following this tour of duty, particularly when this phase of the fight seems to be going well?
Was she in the can when she
August 9, 2007 - 01:33 ET by fitzfongWas she in the can when she held this interview?
That's the vacuous left for
August 9, 2007 - 08:05 ET by annoyedmanThat's the vacuous left for you - more concerned about career track than substance. Speaking of career tracks, I wonder if KP realizes that her initials are synonymous for pealing potatos. Now THAT would be a job that does not exceed her intellectual capacities.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. ~~ Ecclesiastes 10:1-2
}}---> Potato peeler
August 9, 2007 - 08:10 ET by Cool ArrowGet her some of those fashionable tater mitts.