Despite all the good news coming out of Iraq lately, it's perfectly clear that whatever happens there, CBS's Bob Schieffer isn't prepared to change his antiwar stripes any time soon.
In fact, as media outlet after media outlet - including even the liberal New York Times - admits that conditions in Iraq are improving, the host of "Face the Nation" wanted his viewers to know Sunday morning that he clearly is not willing to put down his white flag.
In fact, Schieffer's commentary is sure to make our troops putting their lives on the line for this country wonder why they are doing so (video available here):
The best advice I ever got on covering foreign policy was when someone said, "Don't ever make news of a cease fire the lead of a story about trouble in the Middle East," the lesson being events are always so fragile there that the cease fire would most likely be broken before the story made print or got on television.
That's why we shouldn't be rolling out the "Mission Accomplished" banner again in Iraq, at least not just yet.
Things have quieted down considerably. The additional troops the administration put into Iraq this year have made a difference, frankly more of a difference than I would have thought, and those troops deserve great credit.
But we must also keep our eye on the prize - or in this case, the continuing lack of one.
The whole idea of sending those troops in was to quiet things down so the factions within the Iraqi government could work out ways to share power and rule the country.
And so far, they haven't moved an inch.
Parliament took the summer off, and since its members got back, they have managed to do exactly nothing.
Until they do, until there is some progress in solving the problems that are the root cause of the violence, the turmoil may return once our troops leave.
So where do we go from there?
Immigration has dominated the recent presidential debates, and it is important to be sure, but Iraq is still the place where Americans are dying. We need to be hearing more about that.
Hearing MORE about that? Might that be because Schieffer understands that if the election next year ends up being about anything other than Iraq, the Democrats can't win?
You know, I never thought I'd say something like this, but even Katie Couric seems less liberally biased than Schieffer who CBS should really consider trading to MSNBC for a player to be named later.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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big suprise
December 2, 2007 - 14:54 ET by candanceWe must keep our eyes on the prize...in other words, don't let a minor inconvenience like this keep us from our goal from losing the war.
The most dangerous thing in the world is an angry person with political power.
Schieffer Bashes Surge, Admits He Didn’t Think it Would Help
December 2, 2007 - 15:06 ET by Army BratTranslation.... "My bias would not/cannot allow me to admit that America can win this, or any other conflict in which we are involved." Happy Trails...
Exactly ...
December 2, 2007 - 17:38 ET by celatorArmy brat...exactly.
Schieffer is yet another anti-American media wolf in sheep's clothing.
As they age, they become more careless in the words they chose, and the wolf in them becomes more obvious. Cronkite and Rather are hall of famers in this area, of course.
"we must keep our eye on
December 2, 2007 - 19:12 ET by GregE"we must keep our eye on the prize, or continued lack of one" ...???
So, no matter how great the news appears, there is no "prize" huh? So regardless of how good, it's completely in vain. Very nice, Mr. Sheister.
Oh yea, and I'll bet like everyone else, he "supports the troops." Yea, sure he does.
Our enemies must freakin LOVE our media boobs.
Why should anyone trust the good news when
December 2, 2007 - 21:15 ET by professor truththe sources for this news have proven themselves so wrong in the past?
The same positive views about Iraq were stated time and time again, only to be interrupted by a different reality. When the troops come home, then everyone can celebrate.
When the troops win, we can
December 2, 2007 - 23:53 ET by GregEWhen the troops win, we can celebrate. You can celebrate too if you wish.
If the troops just come home, having not been allowed to win, they'll just come home. Al Qaeda and Iran will celebrate, as will you, as you've just stated.
I guess you are a real
December 3, 2007 - 07:26 ET by Dan The Man 2I guess you are a real bummer for your kids when they dont get some Chemistry equation right or tehy get some right and some wrong and then you probably tell tehm what losers tehy are and tehy will never amount to anything. Life is comprised of steps big and small and forward and back.
The goal is as it always was and it will be accomplished if given a chance.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
I thought this has-been 2nd
December 2, 2007 - 15:18 ET by fitzfongI thought this has-been 2nd banana had been sent to the glue factory years ago. Well, he should have been.
Ditto!
December 2, 2007 - 16:17 ET by ThalpyDitto!
Only 70
December 2, 2007 - 17:13 ET by allanfIt is hard to believe, but the Texas Leftist is only 70. Could have fooled me. My gradnfather looked better at 90.
That's why we shouldn't be
December 2, 2007 - 15:43 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsThat's why we shouldn't be rolling out the "Mission Accomplished" banner again in Iraq,
Another useless idiot, friend of our enemy, enemy of America, spreading propaganda and distortion again.
Will they never feel the shame and stop?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
If we leave, the MSM can go
December 2, 2007 - 16:42 ET by JerryIf we leave, the MSM can go help Al Qaeda roll out the "Mission Accomplished" banner. I'm sure it will be a joyous moment for both.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that and President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
spreading propaganda and distortion again.
December 2, 2007 - 21:29 ET by HypocriteHaterI too am so sick of them using that banner as a bash against Bush. Will someone please explain to Bob Shyster that the banner for the ship's crew that just completed a specific mission, thus the words "Mission Accomplished".
According to the left, our military is not allowed to celebrate small victories while the left is still claiming the war is lost.
The media spreads propaganda about the success of the surge.
December 3, 2007 - 01:39 ET by professor truthHere's another point of view regarding the surge:
http://www.counterpu...
If the surge is so successful, a proportionally large number of troops should be able to come home. Nir Rosen offers other explanations for the decreased villence.
Your source is not exactly
December 3, 2007 - 03:08 ET by NL207Your source is not exactly disjoint from the media. Nor is he particularly objective.
His publication record is decidedly left: "He has written for The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, The New Republic, Boston Review, Time, Mother Jones, and World Policy Journal." None of these publications is anything but far left.
So what if he has an explanation for the decline in violence? There are other, simpler, explanations such as: 'the enemy are dead or in retreat.'
Don't overlook different tactics as a big reason, NL207
December 3, 2007 - 09:00 ET by RJ....but beyond that, the primary goal of the article and "Perfesser" Twaddle is to denigrate and downplay any successes.
As for the link, it provides an unsurprising look at the kind of anti-American ideology the Perfesser subscribes to, and just how far out into the wacky wilderness of the extreme left he dwells. Indeed, Barking Moonbat only barely describes him.
I wonder how much the US
December 2, 2007 - 15:46 ET by NortoI wonder how much the US parliament accomplished this summer? I mean a dim-led US congress.
The whole idea of sending
December 2, 2007 - 15:54 ET by MidAmericaThe whole idea of sending those troops in was to quiet things down so the factions within the Iraqi government could work out ways to share power and rule the country.
And so far, they haven't moved an inch.
That's why we shouldn't be rolling out the "Mission Accomplished" banner again in Iraq, at least not just yet.
Is he really talking about talking about the democrat led US Congress? Who are we to lecture any country about a dysfunctional government?
Professor TrulyNuts
December 2, 2007 - 18:18 ET by MrShyTaking the debate (ha, there's a laugher) to this thread, cuz Chris Matthew's one is getting too long... and this is about Iraq, so....
In June 2004, the bipartisan 9/11 commission.......released its report, which concluded, unanimously, that while there had been contacts beetween al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's Iraq, it had seen no evidence of a "collaborative operational relationship."
Whoop-dee-do, Nutty. Fine, you win. I don't really give a flying fudge.
Instead, by the end of 2004, the US intelligence community would conclude that the invasion had turned Iraq into a new breeding ground for a fresh generation of tougher, more professional Islamic extremist terrorists.
Yes, it has been a breeding ground since we invaded. We've sucked them in and killed them. Brilliant strategy. Sort of like the Roach Motel. We've definitely killed a sh*tload of the "more professional" ones, too, who went into Iraq to start up AQ-in-Iraq cells, I'm sure.... and we've zapped'em or captured them, and taken them to Gitmo.
Gotta love this country, Senor Cheetos !!!
BTW: Last major, coordinated terror attack in the whole world.... London bombings, 2 1/2 years ago... and they were really ametuers. Last plus-100 killings one, Madrid, I think, almost 4 years ago!
That's called doing a pretty good job in the GWOT, Cheetos, so why don't you join with us and root for the U.S. .... the fine country you live in!
Dana Perino and Newsbusters gals will look great in Shywear
(*NB guys, too)
Don't forget that $25,000
December 3, 2007 - 10:14 ET by pbanks7Don't forget that $25,000 bounty to Palestinian suicide bomber families. You don't hear too much about suicide bombers in Israel since Sodomy Insane is gone.
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
So reporting all the really
December 2, 2007 - 23:56 ET by GregESo reporting all the really bad news over the years of this war was ok and the reports just flowed like honey. But now that there's something very positive happening, Sheiffer feels the need to have a one-on-one with his viewers to be sure everyone understands that what they're seeing is not all that's happening, and that the bad stuff is likely on the horizon again if they'll just be patient.
What planet am I on?? Good stuff happens and he feels a need to do a fire-side chat to settle everyone down and explain what's REALLY taking place so that we boob Americans can rest assured that more big bad stuff and major American losses are just on the glorious horizon?
Insert anything of what he says, regarding Iraq, into a WWII context. Perhaps Normandy, since that stands out as a very deadly invasion that, oh I don't know....seemed to be necessary. See how stupid he'll sound reading that off the teleprompter.
Why doesn't he just address the troops directly? They'll see it anyway in it's current form as he's done it. Perhaps he could have just said something to them about "you're losing, regardless of what you think. WE elites know better than you who are there on the ground in the thick of things. Don't let this little touchdown get you too excited."
What a joke!
******************
My comments.....
Troops, you're winning, and you're doing a FINE job of it. Keep it up!! We appreciate all you are doing, and doing well!
OLD FART...
December 2, 2007 - 18:06 ET by danybhoyI sort of believe that when you can't drive at night, maybe you should'nt be telling me how to think about the news & issues of the day. Just 1 more reason I do NOT watch the 3 networks for news.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Noel...thats a good Idea, Trading talking heads....like NFL
December 2, 2007 - 18:43 ET by JayTeeGee, what Great entertainment that would be, putting Katie and Chris M on the Trading block among the Alphabet Networks. Schieffer could be forced into Retirement thru lack of interest.
I'll Trade you Two ANTI-BUSH bashers for 1 Carl Rove is a Crook Lecture'er ?
This is the Last Gasp of "We're Losing in Iraq" talking heads.....Even the Dems have shut up, sat down and buckled their Seat Belts.
IF the IRaq Govt. performs better than Pelosi and Reid in the coming months, what is going to be the NEXT anti Bush/Iraq complaint from the MSM ?
IF the MSM continues with the "Omission" Strategy of Iraq Reporting, FOX will be the only channel Giving us information. Murphy may be the LAST DEM visiting a War zone.......as they can't afford to be truthful in a press Conference upon returning to the US.
Old Texas Cowpie Schieffer
December 2, 2007 - 18:50 ET by Lame CherryI would like to see a fairness in media board enacted where all reporters who advocate an editorial OPINION like 99% of the media does instead of reporting..........that if they were proven wrong 3 times in one year they would be fired.
Chris Wallace of Fox from Bob Cowpie Schieffer could all be judged by Bozell. Wallace has been flat chip wrong about Fred Thompson for one strike.............and Schieffer has been wrong about Iraq for one strike.
These turds if found wrong 3 times would be expunged from the media "as it is in the public interest" for 1 year. If they screw up for 3 suspensions they would be banned for life.
The media always likes thinking they are the 4th branch of government, but the public has no recourse other than not buying their product.........but when you have multi billion dollar corporations owning them they can lie, cheat, forge and editorialize without penalty.
Congress can outlaw yelling FIRE in a theater so Congress can certainly outlaw editorials without penalty when they are connected with licenses granted for the public good.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Isn't Schieffer like 90
December 2, 2007 - 19:05 ET by buddycIsn't Schieffer like 90 years old. Doesn't CBS have a desire to appeal to a younger group? How about someone in their 50's. This guy was a has been 30 years ago. His senility even shows when he does interviews. The guy is living in the 70's.
Media and Terrorists
December 2, 2007 - 21:00 ET by ScrapironOld, Retired and glad of it.
At least the terrorists don't respect the media types and have killed several in Iraq. Makes me happy to see the media types pay for their traitorous actions with blood, especially when those they help (terrorists) draw the blood...
Party pooper
December 3, 2007 - 01:48 ET by Parker1227Says Schieffer, "I poop on your good news!"
"HaHaHaHaHaHa!"
"Die evil right-wing capitalist colonial scum!"
Thinking to himself, "I wonder if that came off as Cronkite-esque?"
"Immigration has dominated
December 3, 2007 - 04:16 ET by ckc1227"Immigration has dominated the recent presidential debates, and it is
important to be sure, but Iraq is still the place where Americans are
dying. We need to be hearing more about that."
Tell that to the 9,000 or so American lives that are lost each year in this country at the hands of illegal immigrants, Bob. Iraq isn't the only place Americans are dying.
"Parliament took the summer off, and since its members got back, they have managed to do exactly nothing."
You mean like our own government, minus the living in a war zone part?
Schieffer - who cares what
December 3, 2007 - 06:34 ET by sembySchieffer - who cares what he says - No one!
His radio commentaries...
December 3, 2007 - 08:18 ET by deedledeeare turned off by me as soon as they come on every Sunday on my local news radio station. He is so liberal I know everything he says in that irritating accent will make my blood boil so I've stopped listening. He twists and turns things to his point of view on the radio in a way that I just can't watch him on the tv, questioning his objectivity.
Spoken like a true Marxist.
December 3, 2007 - 09:56 ET by Ernest T. Bass 08What an insult to all Americans serving in Iraq. After grudgingly admitting that maybe the surge has worked, he throws cold water on any success by sneering, "we shouldn't be rolling out the Mission Accomplished banner again in Iraq." Schieffer and the rest of the elite Marxist media will not support their country until the government is a socialist utopian state. What an ***hole.