This one could make waves.When a NBC military analyst made the case that US withdrawal from Iraq would have very harmful consequences, you might have expected Meredith Vieira to argue the point. But not only did the NBC host seem to buy into his logic, she took it a significant step farther toward its logical conclusion.
Retired LTC Rick Francona was Meredith's guest on this morning's "Today." The appearance was sparked by reports that the US has amassed firm evidence that Iran is supplying a variety of weaponry to Shia militias in Iraq, including shoulder-fired missiles and sophisticated IEDs responsible for the deaths of many Americans. The screen graphic posed the question "Is U.S. Fighting Iran in Iraq?"Francona made his thesis clear from the get-go: "We're in a power struggle with the Iranians over who's going to exercise influence in the future in Iraq, and they want to be that power. It's either us or them."
Vieira set the stage for her off-the-Dem-reservation remarks with this question: "So they're hoping if and when we leave Iraq they will fill the power vacuum that is left?"
View video here.
Vieira: "So their activities are aimed less at the US and more at inflaming a civil war, then."
Francona: "They're aimed not directly at the US. But by taking actions against the US they hasten our withdrawal. Everything they do is calculated on being the surviving power there. If that means killing American forces, supplying weapons to the different insurgent groups, they're going to do that. Anything they can do to get us out of there."
Vieira: "Do you believe that Iran and the US are already involved in a proxy war in Iraq?"
Francona: "I think the Iranians have looked at it that way for some time now. . . I think they believed they're involved in that kind of war already. I think we're just coming around to that realization."
That's when Meredith, shockingly, asked a question that seemed not merely to embrace Francona's view, but to take it the logical step further:
"If their plan really is to fill this gap once we leave this country, then can we afford to leave the country?"
Francona: "I don't think we can afford to leave it in the hands of the Iranians. Now, how we do that is really the big question. Is there some way that we can prop up an Iraqi government so they do what we want them to do rather than what the Iranians want them to do? It's one or the other. I don't think we're going to come to some middle ground here."
Didn't Meredith get Hillary's memo? We've got to be out by the end of W's term!
Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Nice try, Meredith. But the
January 30, 2007 - 09:09 ET by Mica the MagnificentNice try, Meredith.
But the libs who watched the show only heard, "Blahhhhhhh . . .hasten our withdrawal . . .blahhhhhhhhhh . . .leave the country . . . . .blahhhhhhhh . . . .come to some middle ground . . ."
We flew on a commercial jet to reduce our carbon footprint. This shows we care about global warming. We will not, however, bulldoze Buckingham Palace, plant a forest in its' place, and move the royal family to a condo down by the river! - Prince Charles and his mum, Camilla, preparing for a question they'll never be asked
Must be cold in hell today.
January 30, 2007 - 09:10 ET by dervishMust be cold in hell today...
GMTA. Cross-posting at Free
January 30, 2007 - 09:40 ET by Mark FinkelsteinGMTA. Cross-posting at Free Republic, I called it a "cold July in Baghdad"!
This could all appear as thou
January 30, 2007 - 13:03 ET by TruthMongerThis could all appear as though the left was lying all along about exiting Iraq - just to get some Dems recently elected of course - and now presto-chango they simply sing a different tune - and this blatant two-faced BS is all just fine and dandy - but only when the left does it, of course...
I challenge these so-called "peace-activists" to organize JUST ONE MAJOR D.C. PROTEST AGAINST AL QUEDA by the end of 2007...
We all know what a post lik
January 30, 2007 - 09:13 ET by American InfidelWe all know what a post like this envisions.
We've finally given liberals a war against fundamentalism, and they don't want to fight it. They would, except it would put them on the same side as the United States. Ann CoulterDoes this mean she was "
January 30, 2007 - 09:37 ET by dvdaughtryDoes this mean she was "fair and balanced"?
Reality is starting to smack the libs upside the head...
January 30, 2007 - 09:42 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasFirst of all this is just Vieira covering herself as a typical lib so that if she and the libs get their way and we pull out and Iran pours in she can look back and for the record say, "See, I asked the important question when no one else did". Right Vieira.
But maybe a bit of reality is sinking in and someone has pulled the show host aside and said, "Hey dummy, I realize this is all a game for you but here are the real world consequences if Iran siezes control of Iraq".
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
Nice to see a member of the
January 30, 2007 - 09:44 ET by Tom1969caNice to see a member of the MSM actually listening to the answers and asking a logical follow-up question, rather than just going to the next talking point on the teleprompter.
I think this is one of those times when NB has to give kudos to an MSMer for doing their job correctly.
Funny, though. Whenever a member of the media does their job correctly, the answer invariable hurts Democrat policy. Weird how that works out, eh?
~~~
VOTE DEMOCRAT!
(It's easier than thinking)
Tom
January 30, 2007 - 09:54 ET by JimboI agree Tom. Vierira did some sound reporting on another case not long ago and I had the same reaction you did. She deserves credit for asking the tough questions that the MSM typically avoid. I may have gone a little too far on my praise of her, however, because the next day she was back in lock step with the rest of her cronies asking the typical softball type questions. It’s like her demeanor changes depending on the day of the week or on what side of the bed she wakes up on.
Jimbo says - "There is a fine line between freedom of speech and treason"
...the next day she was bac
January 30, 2007 - 10:26 ET by Tom1969caAfter asking questions like she did today she probably gets a letter from the DNC saying, "Get back in line or we'll spam your inbox with nude pictures of Helen Thomas."
Now that your undigested breakfast is all over the computer screen...
In all seriousness, someone - whether a staffer, an NBC exec or someone on the Hillary campaign - probably points out to her that this particular line of questioning isn't helping "The Cause", and she "corrects" herself next time out.
~~~
VOTE DEMOCRAT!
(It's easier than thinking)
Tom -unfair to pick on Helen
January 30, 2007 - 10:38 ET by misterbillTom -unfair to pick on Helen--inside that fat ugly body is a fat ugly body.
Don't forget to make comparis
January 30, 2007 - 09:55 ET by ucDon't forget to make comparisons to post Korean War North and South and the benefit to a country's economy our assistance can lead to. Does Iran have any history of their assistance and support of free people leading to such economic success as South Koreans? And to think Hillary wants all our forces out. What radical flip-flop will tomorrows polls bring us from the mouth of Hillary?
Meredith's Convenient Moment Of Truth
January 30, 2007 - 09:58 ET by emjem24Wow, a balanced interview about the Iraq War for a change. Perhpas GE and the network saw the writing on the wall (profits decreasing) and got with the program. However, I highly doubt it. Why go against a proven track record of hypocrisy and double standards when NBC is doing so much better indoctrinating their fan base? I can't stand this show. It was good in the '80's when I was a kid and didn't know better. Now, this convenient moment of levity is an aberation. I'm sure NBC will be back to their Bush-bashing, anti-military, liberal bias in no time flat.
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
My guess is...
January 30, 2007 - 10:31 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasMy other guess is that Vieira's liberal bent is so obvious and the heat from Fox's new liberal bias campaign might be forcing them to patronize some of the audience.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
How about this???
January 30, 2007 - 10:42 ET by misterbillHow about this??? This is one of the two days a years I will act like an impartial reporter. I don't care who it hurts.
One of the main reasons giv
January 30, 2007 - 10:46 ET by robert108One of the main reasons given for not deposing Saddam in 1991 was that it would create a "power vacuum" in the region, which would then be filled by Iran. Any good newsperson should know that. Nothing new here.
What's new is that MSM host
January 30, 2007 - 10:48 ET by Mark FinkelsteinWhat's new is that MSM host - and past anti-Iraq war protestor Vieira - would mention it. To the extent you include Meredith in the category "good newsperson" doesn't that make the point that this morning's event was noteworthy?
That she'd mention it is no
January 30, 2007 - 11:55 ET by sarcasmoThat she'd mention it is noteworthy, but the fact that Iran has and will have extensive religious, family, and trade ties with Shiastan is no more surprising than the fact that Saudi Arabia & Jordan have ties to Sunnistan or the fact that everyone for the past 50+ years has screwed-over Kurdistan, IMO. Iraq is three countries trying, without much success, to be one. The current fixation on controlling the capital city is logical only if Iraq can actually stay one country absent a ruthless strongman dictator. While I naturally hope our troops will meet with success on the new fluctuation/surge, I don't think I'd put money on it...
JMR
iRAN doesn't want Iraq! Who would?
January 30, 2007 - 13:25 ET by Poppa999All this liberal/neocon media ballyhoo is just so much entertainment. An international American Idol.
No one seems to care about reality.We kicked over the ant pile.
Iraq is an ancient desert tribal culture with a suicide- warrior mindset. They will not be dominated. Either by the old Persian /Iran empire or the new American empire.
When we leave the tribes will reach a power balance based on regional warlords.
As for the oil they will have to sell it on the global market just like everyone else.
America will move on to a new President and a new season.
Even though Viera feigns unde
January 30, 2007 - 11:11 ET by truth_missileEven though Viera feigns understanding the situation in Iraq, they would only mention this if it can be parlayed into something positive for Democrats. Watch next for a whole slew of far Left talking heads saying "Why doesn't Bush get it that we are fighting Iran?" to be followed by a downtrodden midwestern family in a diner saying "The President doesn't understand that we are fighting Iran".
The endgame is that the Dems will spin "We have to get out of Iraq before we have nuclear war with Iran." For Dems it is always capitulate or else complete nuclear holocaust.
When people think instead of
January 30, 2007 - 11:25 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveWhen people think instead of feel, they will be more apt to arrive at the logical conclusion. Unfortunately, Merideth prefers to feel, so I'm sure this is just an anomaly.
Gun Safety Tip #8: No matter how responsible he seems, never give your gun to a monkey. (www.imao.us)
Wow... looks like Meredith'
January 30, 2007 - 11:38 ET by happyuscitizenWow... looks like Meredith's collision with the headboard last night unclogged the commonsense supply to her brain! However, much like the troop surge, her use of common sense will only be temporary.
"I'm just a big fat hairy American Winning Machine!" - Ricky Bobby
You will have to forgive Ms.
January 30, 2007 - 12:23 ET by Chris NormanYou will have to forgive Ms. Viera. The new information, regarding Iran, made her confused before she asked that followup question. I am sure she has since recovered, been provided with better liberal rejoinders, and will use them in subsequent interviews.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Europe Resists U.S. Push to Curb Iran Ties
January 30, 2007 - 12:31 ET by SamFrom NYTimes - Europe Resists U.S. Push to Curb Iran Ties
If the Europeans won't get on board with a "diplomatic solution" as they so often claim to prefer than what option do they leave us with? They won't cut-off Iran with sanctions but will cry like 5 year old little girls if we have to confront them militarily. God-damn it if you want diplomacy to work then get on board - either that our get out of the freakin' way.
mark please consider:1. vi
January 30, 2007 - 12:38 ET by buddycmark
please consider:
1. vieira is a democratic hack for hillary and knows the talking points
2. the democrats think they can win and somewhat satisfy their angry base by being hostile to the war by saying bush has been incompetent
3. they don't believe they can win if they don't act strong on iraq and if they can avoid what they did about vietnam, somalia and nicagragua (sp).
4. hillary voted for the war and even said she had indepdent intelligence not from bush so they MUST say say it was a righteous war, we can't quit and we will be tough but after they are elected they will simple say "bush lost it, we were too late" and many of the far left know exactly what they will do because they are being assured that once 2008 occurs they are out of iraq immediately no matter what.
5. to show you how scumy they are, the libs could end iraq right now. they won't because they need that angry hateful base to win in 2008. without iraq they lose most of the hate that drives their base.
6. they won in 2006 with that strategy. i think they will win in 2008 with the same strategy.
bc - I can't read as much i
January 30, 2007 - 12:52 ET by Mark Finkelsteinbc - I can't read as much into Vieira's statement as you do. I was just interested to hear it and report it. Given the anti-war drumbeat of the MSM, I saw it as unusual, not part of some byzantine bank shot.
Didn't we STAY in Europe, to
January 30, 2007 - 16:18 ET by JayTeeDidn't we STAY in Europe, to prevent the USSR from taking over ?
Gee, A Strategy that has WORKED ALREADY.....and WON the Cold War.
LETS DO IT AGAIN !!! Becasue Leaving Viet Nam didn't work.......