In all the excitement this past week, I missed the Adbusters interview with Helen Thomas, "the First Lady of the Press". In "Journalists Need More Courage", associate editor Deborah Campbell asked Thomas about the state of journalism.
Most of the article was the standard responses. The most interesting statements came when Campbell asked Helen Thomas about the direction of US foreign policy. Helen had quite a response:
"Well, I think that we've got to pull the troops out of Iraq. We've got to stop killing. This is ridiculous. It's more than ridiculous, it's tragic. Wanton killing, killing and being killed - for what? I think the administration wants to hang in there because they actually believe they can win. But I think that's a long shot, if anything. And what is winning anyway? Winning what? A Shia theocracy? Is that what American soldiers are dying for?"
That was not enough for Helen Thomas. She had to offer her opinion on how we should be fighting the war against terrorism.
"Furthermore, we've got to find out what terrorism is really about, find out about the root causes. I think that it was right to go into Afghanistan and right to go after Bin Laden. But what about the bigger picture? Is it a religious war? Is it American policy that is motivating these people? What is it? Figure that out and deal with it."
I don't think a Dr. Phil approach will work with terrorists, Helen. September 11, 2001 was the bigger picture and one that we never want to see again.
