Michael Scheuer, a former counter-terrorism analyst for the CIA, scolded CNN's Christine Romans Thursday for letting her support for the current President show.
Toward the end of a lengthy interview on "American Morning" about the situation in Libya, Romans took issue with her guest saying America is "nearly bankrupt" leading Scheuer to respond, "You're just carrying the water for Mr. Obama" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: You know, you led the CIA unit that tracked Osama bin Laden in 1996 to 1999, and you believe that much like that situation, America's involvement in Libya, could prove to be a recruiting tool for extremists. Why?
MICHAEL SCHEUER, FORMER CIA COUNTERTERRORISM ANALYST: Oh, it's absolutely a recruiting tool. It's the American- led West attacking a Muslim country that has oil.
CHETRY: But they're very careful to say it's the American-led West. That NATO is now fully taking over the operation.
SCHEUER: Well, that --
CHETRY: Yes, our firepower was used in the beginning, but that this is a coalition that includes Arab states.
And you talk about Arab states that are involved -- the Arab states are tyrannies that are hated by their own people. This is -- this is a piece of theater set up by Mrs. Clinton and Mr. McCain and the bipartisan group that loves to intervene abroad.
In the Muslim world, this is Americans killing Muslims again and it looks like it's for oil.
CHETRY: I just want to ask. Are you trying to have both ways in saying that, OK, these are tyrannies that hate their own people, well, that's why we're helping because in Libya, it was the people that wanted Gadhafi out, that they were tired of it. So, weren't we then supporting Islamic democracy, I guess you could say, in these countries where they're tired of totalitarian rule? SCHEUER: If we were supporting Islamic democracy, that would be one thing. But if you listen to Mrs. Clinton and especially rather crazed Ms. Rice at the U.N., this is all about democracy in a world where democracy is not going to take hold.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I think it's very clear, Michael Scheuer, that you are no fan of this policy and this administration. I think calling Ambassador Rice crazed is certainly a significant charge.
SCHEUER: Well, I don't know. I've just listened to her. You know, that's only my impression.
And I have to say, this is not a Democratic problem, this is a Republican problem, too. Both parties love to intervene in other people's business where there are no U.S. interests at stake and where we spend enormous amounts of money that when we're nearly bankrupt. That doesn't seem to be a wise practice of American statesmanship.
SCHEUER: They're not separate issues, ma'am. You're just carrying the water for Mr. Obama.
ROMANS: I'm certainly not carrying anyone's water. And I will assure you of that.
Michael Scheuer, thank you so much for your time. You know, we had a very long exhaustive interview. You had plenty of time to give your point on that.
As you can see at the end, Romans clearly didn't appreciate being told she was carrying water for the Administration.
Maybe in the future she should do a better job of hiding it.
(H/T Mediaite)
