Dumb & Dumber
By chance, I saw the first 90 seconds of a Bill O’Reilly broadcast on 26 Feb. At the start of that show, he said this:
Once the war against Saddam Hussein begins, we expect every American to support our military, and if you can’t do that, just shut up.
Americans, and indeed our foreign allies who actively work against our military once the war is underway, will be considered enemies of the state by me.
Just fair warning to you, Barbra Streisand and others who see the world as you do: I don’t want to demonize anyone, but anyone who hurts this country in a time like this, well, let’s just say you will be spotlighted.
“Talking Points” invites all points of view and believes vigorous debate strengthens the country, but once decisions have been made and lives are on the line, patriotism must be factored in.
This does not give the government carte blanche to do anything, but it does give the government the benefit of the doubt at least until that benefit is proven wrong as it was in Vietnam.
It’s exactly because of this say-nothing-and-fall-in-line attitude put forth by fascists like O’Reilly that the Vietnam war went on for as long as it did. Every use and every deployment of a civilian-led military should always, always be questioned by the people.
Of course, O’Reilly has no monopoly on stupidity. At least the press corps knows how to handle it: watch this RealVideo clip and advance to 30:00.