Don't look for Tom Brokaw to turn up in an "Army Strong" ad anytime soon . . .
Brokaw will praise President Ford in the eulogy he will deliver later today. But it was the former NBC anchor in a much more familiar role -- that of criticizing a Republican administration -- on this morning's "Today." Along the way, he did his best to dampen enthusiasm among potential military recruits.
Discussing the execution of Saddam and the possibility of a surge, Brokaw opined:
"The manner in which Saddam Hussein was executed reveals the essential truths about Iraq: that this is a deeply divided country along tribal lines. And the idea that we're going to impose the rule of law and democracy there by putting in more troops now will seem to most people, especially those families that may be sending somebody there, like a folly. And a lot of families, and I think a lot of people who are raising their hands to join the armed services are wondering 'I'm giving my life for that?'"
View the video of Brokaw's anti-recruitment pitch here.
Speaking of "folly", I'd say Brokaw should have realized that the people least likely to share his liberal worldview are precisely the members, current or prospective, of our military.
Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
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These yahoos have been predic
January 2, 2007 - 07:54 ET by PeskyDaneThese yahoos have been predicting that recruitment will suffer since we first hit the ground over here. And yet...
Just had this discussion with another.
January 2, 2007 - 07:57 ET by acaiguanaJust had this discussion with another.
All branches of the service met their recruiting goals for 2006 or exceeded. Two of the eight Reserve Units fell short by 1-2% points, but it was made up by overages in the others.
The Coast Guard (which has nothing to do with Iraq) is consisently falling short.
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
Coast Guard In Iraq
January 2, 2007 - 10:43 ET by NetizenCainActually, the CG has and continues to serve in the Middle East & Iraq. With hundreds of men and women serving on CG Cutters and Navy Ships, they provide port security and boarding/inspection expertise.
And in regards to recruitment, in 2006 the CG had exceeded their recruitment goals for enlisted men and women; enlisted being the one that most people focus.
NetizenCain, thanks for the head's up. Here's my source.
January 2, 2007 - 10:47 ET by acaiguanaNetizenCain, thanks for the head's up. Here's my source. I was relying on these numbers.
I did not know that about the Coast Guard.
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
Precisely is right, Mark. W
January 2, 2007 - 08:16 ET by rimskyPrecisely is right, Mark. Well said. Brokaw and all his MSM cronies are blind to the concept of sacrafice in the name of God, Country, Family, and Freedom. And especially to the concept of volunteering to fight for same. It's a pitiful display.
Good point... the concept of
January 2, 2007 - 08:25 ET by PeskyDaneGood point... the concept of having something in your life that is bigger than yourself is completely alien to them.
" . .impose the rule of
January 2, 2007 - 08:47 ET by FastEd" . .impose the rule of law and democracy there . . " and how arrogant can he get - the Iraqi people VOTED for their present government, while Saddam IMPOSED his form of rule of life and death. Have these folks of the msm forgotten the death threats voters (70% of eligible) received, while changing their lives? Does Brokaw and other msm weenies forget how divided OUR country is? Last election roughly 50-50? Or, how only 44% of those polled believe the newsmedia can be trusted?
Mark, if the agenda driven msm and Brokaw were to look around and start to report, we might actually begin to watch.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad
Ed, great point. I suppose
January 2, 2007 - 14:38 ET by Darth DutchEd, great point. I suppose we also imposed our will over Japan & Germany after WW2.
And how about Darfur? If we go over there to intervene, are we not imposing our will, at least in some degree? But we are considered heartless for doing nothing. Darned if we do; darned if we don't.
Dutch
Ed, great point. I suppose
January 2, 2007 - 14:59 ET by Darth DutchEd, great point. I suppose we also imposed our will over Japan & Germany after WW2.
And how about Darfur? If we go over there to intervene, are we not imposing our will, at least in some degree? But we are considered heartless for doing nothing. Darned if we do; darned if we don't.
Dutch
One of the most annoying thin
January 2, 2007 - 09:02 ET by PeskyDaneOne of the most annoying thing about these elitists (out of a long list, of course) is the way they view the military - not as an instrument of national policy and furtherance of United States' interests, but as a bunch of mindless drones.
And another thing: ...those families that may be sending somebody there...
What a dumbass thing to say. As if we are in some sort of Orwellian society that has military quotas for every family and village.
Closer to the truth would be the Starship Troopers philosophy: If you don't get in the capsule, even 30 seconds before launch time, then you're simply sent home - no harm, no foul. No amount of coercion will preserve a society if you simply don't have enough soldiers willing to fight to maintain its sovereignty
My family votes daily on whether to send someone to Iraq.
January 2, 2007 - 09:36 ET by acaiguanaMy family votes daily on whether to send someone to Iraq.
We do that at Breakfast so we don't have to clutter our otherwise fun packed social calendar for the rest of the day.
I enjoy these votes. It is like the old days at home when Mom would take out the family bible and we would all sit around and she read the passage that struck her as appropriate for the children's behavior that day.
Nostalgia waves over me as the song, 'family bible' trills through my brain when I vote each morning.
I love my country where the government doesn't actually 'send' anyone anywhere to protect me.
Don't you?
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
Well, since I am at least as smart as Brokaw, how's this?
January 2, 2007 - 09:04 ET by acaiguanaWell, since I am at least as smart as Brokaw, how's this?
"The manner in which Saddam [Hussein's execution] Hussein was [reported] executed reveals the essential truths about [the MSM and me] Iraq: that this is a deeply [agenda driven effort to divide our] divided country along [political] tribal lines."
QED
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
I have noticed that whenever
January 2, 2007 - 09:16 ET by JimboI have noticed that whenever one of the enemy (Al-Qaeda, not the liberals) make a public announcement, their speech is riddled with talking points that can be directly linked back to things that were previously said by the negative coverage of the war by the main stream media and liberals in general.
That tells me that the enemy is unquestionably listening to what these traitorous “Americans” are saying, and are emboldened by it.
If I can realize this, I think it is reasonable to conclude that the main stream media and the liberals can realize it too. However, do they stop, realizing what they are doing is jeopardizing our efforts and the lives of our troops?? As we all know, quite the contrary happens. The liberals take notice that their efforts to bring a “swift conclusion” to the war (AKA cut and run) are working, and actually turn up the rhetoric even more!
Yet this type of behavior is allowed to continue, and is even condoned. Just like most people believed a 9/11 type of event was inconceivable on 9/10, most people believe that our country will continue on without end. I assert that the type of actions being perpetrated by the media and the liberals of this country jeopardize the very foundations of this country in a very real way.
Tom Brokaw is fast becoming
January 2, 2007 - 09:25 ET by Red JeepTom Brokaw is fast becoming the world’s biggest know-it-all. From 20+ years of news reading he is an expert in everything, especially WW2 because he wrote a book about that. He will be a eulogist at President’s Ford’s funeral today! That ought to swell his ego to enormous proportions. He is already starting most sentences with “I think…blah, blah, blah. I think…so and so. I think President Bush believes…this and that.” I,I,I.
I hope someone buys Tom a wagon to pull around his ego in. His ego is getting to big for his head.
'I'm giving my life for tha
January 2, 2007 - 09:30 ET by Mivvis'I'm giving my life for that?'" yeah that's right Tom "Freedom". not just "that" "that" is the very reason for your existence. I guess he will never get it.
"life for that?"
January 2, 2007 - 10:46 ET by AgnosticUnless things have changed recently the military taught me to never give my life for anything, the whole "die fighting" idea comes to mind. It was in the military that I started to have value for my life and learned that there are very important things worth fighting for even if that fight puts my life in jeopardy. I will admit that I sometimes find it hard to swallow that people are fighting and losing their lives to protect a way life that encourages people like Brokaw and allows them to utter their insanity. However, I do believe in the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press no matter how incredibly moronic some people use those freedoms.
Brokaw thinks everyone in the Military is 'giving' their lives.
January 2, 2007 - 10:57 ET by acaiguanaBrokaw thinks everyone in the Military is 'giving' their lives.
The whole objective is to let the other guy give his life.
Hard concept, but should be easy for a Liberal.
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
liberal concept
January 2, 2007 - 12:13 ET by AgnosticIf the liberals would just pretend that it is money involved they would understand the concept of "giving away" the other guy's life. They excel at giving away my money to anyone who hasn't earned it.
I'm so friggin' tired of these people talking about me and war.
January 2, 2007 - 12:21 ET by acaiguanaI'm so friggin' tired of these people talking about me and war.
Excuse me, but what the Hell do they know about war? What do they know about it?
Just to practice sedition.
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
aca, I believe they know a gr
January 3, 2007 - 07:04 ET by Agnosticaca, I believe they know a great deal about war as a political tool. Just like the economy, social programs and infrastructure; war is a useful tool to the politician as manipulator of the "masses". As I have noted from your other post, your knowledge of history will tell you that when direction of war is held in the control of physically uninvolved political body then the war becomes marginalized by rhetoric and the "useful idiots" gain the ear of power. The war may not be lost but the objectives cease to be clear and the battle plan is compromised by such waffling.
You know the joke about a**holes and opinions; well that is what I think when people start spouting their theories about war and the people who fight them. The visual of that joke goes a long way in helping me remain somwhat calm.
Don't mean nothin'
January 3, 2007 - 07:14 ET by acaiguanaDon't mean nothin'
ACA
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
aca
January 3, 2007 - 07:22 ET by AgnosticThanks for your input, Happy New Year & Good Luck to you and yours!
I didn't realize Mr. Brokaw h
January 2, 2007 - 09:38 ET by Chris NormanI didn't realize Mr. Brokaw had ever found anything about President Ford to praise - while he was alive. I've never heard anything from him to indicate that he admired the late President. Amazing, that it takes a Republican's death to draw any sympathetic words from the MSM - if then.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
For somebody who "author
January 2, 2007 - 10:03 ET by donsalesFor somebody who "authored" the book The Greatest Generation about those men and women who fought, lived and died in WWII, this fool has learned absolutely NOTHING from his research or output........
Does this mean the war is an honorable thing under a Democratic President (FDR) and dishonorable under a GOP President (GWB)???
Can anybody confirm to me that Brokaw is truly "bi-polar"?????
Nowhere to Run....Nowhere To Hide.....
donsales,Don'tcha just love h
January 2, 2007 - 10:12 ET by Chris Normandonsales,
Don'tcha just love how Libs focus their praise on WWII, I suppose to disprove that their present opposition to most things military doesn't mean they are - er - anti-military. I think the title of that old radical Studs Terkel's book says it all: The Good War. Of course, if the same situation was presented today under a Republican president...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
It is the lack of any sense
January 2, 2007 - 11:05 ET by Red JeepIt is the lack of any sense of proportion about Iraq that is so frustrating with the MSM. What is going on in Iraq is a minor conflict compared to WW2. But the MSM blows it up all out of proportion. The deaths in Iraq do not equal one battle in WW2.
It is interesting the difference in reporting between Afghanistan and Iraq. The left approves of the Afghanistan fighting so hardly a weekly report from there. But there is a daily drumbeat of bad news out of Iraq and a feeling is generated that war on terror in Iraq is larger than WW2 and we are as mired and bogged down there as the MSM told us we were in Viet Nam. It’s a quagmire!
If the MSM wanted to do something patriotic to help the situation in Iraq they would be as quiet about Iraq as they are about Afghanistan and stop the enemy thinking they are winning the propaganda war for the hearts and minds of the American people. Currently this nation is screwed by the MSM.
The same idiots have predic
January 2, 2007 - 10:32 ET by Richard RomanoThe same idiots have predicted failure in Iraq, civil war, and war atrocities on a grand scale...all have gone by the wayside, but the sick MSM will not let it go. A broken clock is right twice a day, and they're waiting for that time. Pathetic and sad.
Like I said before, the MSM is slowly hanging themselves...and we get to watch.
Brokaw
January 2, 2007 - 11:09 ET by iveseenitall"L" ife, "L"ife. Stop rolling your L's, Brokaw. To quote the movie Murder By Death--"That drives me crazy!"
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Those in the military join
January 2, 2007 - 12:28 ET by awffp1890Those in the military join to protect freedoms for idiots like you. The freedom you have to cut down those that join, was graciously brought to you by a service member. For shame Tom. Oh, and one last thing you Liberal loonies are confused about. NO ONE IN THE U.S. SENDS THEIR CHILD TO WAR, THEY VOLUNTEER! Thanks for your insight though. By the way, what branch did you serve in?
Brokaw never served as far as I can find out.
January 2, 2007 - 12:32 ET by acaiguanaBrokaw never served as far as I can find out.
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Acaiguana says: "Which city is next?"
Precisely. That is my poin
January 2, 2007 - 12:36 ET by awffp1890Precisely. That is my point. He has "interviewed" many military leaders, but has never served. And to question why people join and possibly trying to dissuade that is irresponsible. We are involved in a lot more around the world than just the middle east. He and his liberal friends need to remember that when they are suggesting people do not join.
One last thing from me Tomm
January 2, 2007 - 12:48 ET by awffp1890One last thing from me Tommy. This is from the barracks at Ft. Benning.
"Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity. But in simple obedience to duty."
Duty, something you liberals will NEVER understand.
Hear, Hear
January 2, 2007 - 14:27 ET by iveseenitallAwffp 1890
Hear,Hear! Wonderful! Americans thank you for your service!
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
Has anyone else noticed tha
January 2, 2007 - 14:18 ET by American InfidelHas anyone else noticed that democrats are much more bold now to show their vicious and rabid hatred of our military?
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 CoulterWhat Tom Brokaw does not real
January 2, 2007 - 19:50 ET byWhat Tom Brokaw does not realize is that the reason our troops are still there is to try turn an uncivilized nation into a civilized one--not so much for their nation, but to prevent their nation from hurting our nation. Uncivilized people have no regard for the life of others. (Our nation has a problem with this in regards to abortion.) We are wrong, however, to think that we can change Muslims into civilized people--but I don't think that is what Brokaw is referring to.
Debra...-of: .. www.InformingChristians.com
And some out there can't unde
January 2, 2007 - 21:19 ET by UnsaneAnd some out there can't understand why I won't, nor will ever, buy The Greatest Generation. All I need to see is that Tom Brokaw worte it and that is enough.
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Uns,It's a not-too-bad read.
January 2, 2007 - 21:22 ET by BlondeUns,
It's a not-too-bad read.
And just to give Tom Lock-Jaw (Greta's cousin in torrid interviewing techniques) his just desserts....get it from the library.
Laughing.