How do you know the Iraq Study Group's suggestion of reaching out to Iran is in trouble? When of all people a leading MSM light like Matt Lauer approvingly cites leading neo-con Richard Perle to shoot down the idea.
The Baker-Hamilton duo was making the TV rounds this morning. Appearing on 'Today,' it wasn't long into their chat with Matt that he hit them with this:
"Let's talk about this idea of reaching out to the people in the neighborhood - Syria and Iran. Richard Perle said recently that 'talking to Iran about Iraq will be seen throughout the region as an indication of American weakness."
To drive home the point, 'Today' displayed a graphic with Perle's photo and the language cited above.
Asked Lauer, essentially restating Perle: "So as a former Secretary of State, how do you sit down with someone like President Ahmadinejad of Iran knowing about the past and present of that country, and not make it seem like the US is operating from a position of weakness?"
After Baker argued that Iran had an interest in avoiding a chaotic Iraq that would send thousands of refugees into Iran, a tight-lipped Lauer asked dubiously: "but what do we get in return, Secretary Baker?"
Responded Baker: "We get their assistance to stop meddling in there and creating further chaos." In a classic moment, Lauer replied with a "right" that dripped with skepticism.
No doubt adding insult to Baker's injury was that the pro-Israel Perle is surely one of Baker's bete noires. Note that the Iraq Study Group report managed to slip in - presumably at Baker's behest - a recommendation that the Palestinian right of return be considered. This is something that supporters of Israel see as absolute anathema since it would threaten to drown the Jewish state in a Palestinian sea.
There will be many more twists and turns along the ISG's way. But the spectacle of Lauer citing Perle to refute Baker was some must-see TV.
Finkelstein recently returned from Iraq. 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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3 Morons walk into a TV Studio.............
December 7, 2006 - 09:14 ET by BBallleaperIt never ceases to amaze me how willingly and compliantly the American sheeple press the Power button and blindly accept the validity and insight of such untrained, unskilled, uneducated boob-tube mouthpieces like Lauer. One would have thought that such a mental lightweight would by now have drifted off into space like a child's balloon. Combine that lack of talent with two senior statesmen in Depends and you have a sterling NBC moment!
Said it yesterday here on N
December 7, 2006 - 09:34 ET by John in CASaid it yesterday here on NB'ers, and will say it again. The only talks we should have with Iran and Syria is when they are calling to ask what they have to do to stop the bombs and cruise missiles...
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!
JICA -- agreed. Baker's del
December 7, 2006 - 10:06 ET by Jack BauerJICA -- agreed. Baker's delusional.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
I'm surrounded by idiots that
December 7, 2006 - 14:56 ET by Conservative in the ArtsI'm surrounded by idiots that refuse to acknowledge that every IED blowing up on the news has a "Made in Iran" stamp on it. Their come back to that is: "well, we shouldn't be there in the first place."
yep, classic denial and then change the subject.
Iraq
December 8, 2006 - 00:48 ET by pbanks7What part of negotiating with sociopaths don't they understand?
Or, better stated, what part of negotiating with sociopaths DO they understand?
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
"After Baker argued th
December 7, 2006 - 09:55 ET by S"After Baker argued that Iran had an interest in avoiding a chaotic Iraq that would send thousands of refugees into Iran..."
Is it just my imagination, or didn't Iran and Iraq fight a decade-long war with each other that cost each country hundreds of thousands of citizens not so long ago? You remember, waves of children sent into the breach, poison gas (which we're now told didn't exist) used to kill more efficiently, etc.? If I'm a refugee from today's war, I think I'm headed the other direction - away from Iran.
Another thing to dislike/distrust about the Iraq Surrender Group's report.
Vietnam
December 7, 2006 - 10:11 ET by iveseenitallWell, they media and the politicians have finally succeeded in making this Vietnam all over again. Where shall we meet for the "peace" talks? How about Paris? This whole thing is sickening to the millions who know we should either "fight " this war or retreat to isolationism and wait to be nuked ourselves. America has lost its culliones. God help our poor children and grandchildren.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
"...America has lost its
December 7, 2006 - 15:16 ET by Ten7s"...America has lost its culliones..."
"Culliones/cojones", that's an interesting choice of terms. The Castración (to continue your theme) was set in motion over 85 years ago and was completed over 40 years ago. Although having gone without for so long, now in light of the looming trouble, most everyone senses that something's missing. But, far from finding our "cojones", most just can't imagine what the necessary missing part might be, and of those that know, at least half are completely unwilling to admit its priceless necessity. God help us all, because Los Pollos are already coming home to roost.
I heard yesterday that James
December 7, 2006 - 10:32 ET by Dave RI heard yesterday that James Baker's law firm does a lot of work for Saudi Arabia. If that is true, then it explains, at least in part, why Israel was left out of this completely. My gut tells me that the Iraq Surrender Group just made a major move in the direction of appeasement that will eventually lead to Israel being thrown under the bus.
I consider this to be an ominous development.
You have a very good gut fo
December 7, 2006 - 10:49 ET by james789You have a very good gut for feelings there Dave, now have you considered what recent events reveals about how GW thinks, big oil, the Saudi's and Father Bush? Don't forget about Chenneys last visit to Saudi where among other things they wanted us to work with Hamas while leaving Israel out of the talks.
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price,
peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of
soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt
If you haven't already seen
December 7, 2006 - 10:43 ET by John in CAIf you haven't already seen it, gotta go over to Drudge, left hand column near the top, and see what the NY Post thinks about the ISG report....
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!
Thanks, John. That made my we
December 7, 2006 - 10:45 ET by Dave RThanks, John. That made my week!
Here's what one Iraq vetera
December 7, 2006 - 11:10 ET by John in CAHere's what one Iraq veteran thinks of the surrender study (via Powerline Blog)
Sergeant Boggs Dissents
T.F. Boggs is a 24-year-old sergeant in the Army Reserves, back home from his second deployment to Iraq. I yield the floor to Sergeant Boggs on the ISG report:
After watching the Iraq Survey Group press conference today I am a firm
believer that all politicians are idiots. Okay well not all of them but
they all have a problem understanding reality. If any politician is
reading this now feel free to email me and we’ll go out for coffee and
I’ll further explain. But I digress.
[...]
must read the whole post
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!