Video: Diane Sawyer asks Syrian fascist what’s on his iPod
posted at 1:49 pm on February 5, 2007 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
From this morning’s GMA. Not quite as flirtatious as Wallace’s pattycake session with Ahmadinejad, but at least he sprung a few tough questions about Hezbollah and the Holocaust. Sawyer’s most probing moment was asking in the broadest terms about jihadis coming across the border into Iraq, a subject for which Assad was surely prepared and which he batted away with a pat answer about spillover.
Part two airs tomorrow morning. Maybe the big guns come out then.
I had to be draconian about cutting for fair use purposes so you should read the full transcript. Here’s one bit that got left out. Read this first, though, so that you’re in the right frame of mind to appreciate his answer:
Sawyer: So the influence of the neighboring countries can create a cease-fire?
Assad: Yes, this is something mainly that they don’t understand. It doesn’t matter how strong economically or what army you have, it’s a matter of credibility. We have credibility. We have good relations with the other factions. They should trust you to be able to play a role.
We have this good relations with all the parties, including the parties participating in this government and the other who oppose this political process. So that’s how we can help. As Syria. Maybe other countries as well.
Also left out, but worth quoting for its red-meat value:
Sawyer: And is there anyone operating on the world stage today that you admire? Any leader, any diplomat?
Assad: Maybe Bush, the father, because of his will to achieve the peace in the region. Of course, President Clinton, he has the same will, and he is admired in our region and respected.
That line about peace in the region passed without any rejoinder from Sawyer about Lebanon, of course, as did his statements about the virtues of democracy and the alleged similarity between Syria’s and America’s border problems, as you’re about to see. The killer, though, is his crack about what good democracy is if you’re dead; as both a summation of the fascist mindset and a threat to reformers in the region, you can scarcely do better.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
Hard-hitting journalism.
I wonder what Hitler would’ve had on his iPod. Lotsa Wagner, that’s for sure.
Good Lt on February 5, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Mr (kaf) President;
While studying opthalmology in England did you ever think you would be ordering the assassination of political figures in Lebanon?
Just asking.
Limerick on February 5, 2007 at 2:06 PM
(one of these days Allan is going to ban me for my spelling)
Limerick on February 5, 2007 at 2:07 PM
To quote Stewie from Family Guy – “I’m just gonna go out in the hallway and throw up about something else.”
CP on February 5, 2007 at 2:08 PM
allah….gezzz lim
Limerick on February 5, 2007 at 2:08 PM
Dear God. That’s what passes for an interview?
no wonder the daily show is kicking butt.
One Angry Christian on February 5, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Mr. Dictator, have you always been a chinless opthamologist?
JammieWearingFool on February 5, 2007 at 2:20 PM
It must be nice to make any kind of outlandish statement you want and be secure in the knowledge that you won’t be challenged on it.
Ms Sawyer closes out the interview by asking Assad if he would endorse Hillary. Is this really the sort of endorsement any of our presidential candidates are looking for?
LakeRuins on February 5, 2007 at 2:21 PM
Diane Sawyer: Polishing Syrian schwanz.
A “journalist” subverting the nation-state foriegn policy model, nice.
Theworldisnotenough on February 5, 2007 at 2:23 PM
HAHA.
Theworldisnotenough on February 5, 2007 at 2:24 PM
I noted this when first posting this morning about the interview – not a single mention of Lebanon, Hizbullah, Hamas, or Syrian support for destabilizing the government in Beirut or aiding the flow of weapons and personnel into Lebanon or Iraq.
Unless there’s hard hitting questions to come, this is yet more insight into the puff pastry mentality of the big media elites in the US and a refusal to stray from the pseudorealist position proffered by the Iraq Survey Group’s report.
lawhawk on February 5, 2007 at 2:39 PM
She asked him WHAT?
What an idiot Sawyers has become in her old age.
Lawrence on February 5, 2007 at 2:42 PM
Yeah… just like they admire the comedic tallents of the pansy clowns at the circus.
Lawrence on February 5, 2007 at 2:44 PM
“I America they belive that you are all-powerful.”
Huh? I for one don’t hink he’s all powerful, but I do think they (Syria) could stop the infiltration of Jihadies into Iraq if they wanted to. In a society as under the boot of fascists as Syria is, how does a Jihadi get arms and explosives and cross a border without state knowledge or support?
Where’s the followup Diane? Is it better to suck-up to fascists, than to risk losing out ont the next exclusive interview with a tyrant?
Here’s a question that probably never crossed he mind to ask: When will Syria hold open elections for president?
Mig on February 5, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Imagine if we had journalists like this instead of William Shire covering the rise of Hitler. Imagine asking Hirohito if he enjoyed Judy Garland.
We wonder why so many Americans don’t understand the fundamental nature of war against Islamic Fascism. The MSM works for the other side.
mkstach on February 5, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Good one.
CP on February 5, 2007 at 2:54 PM
To paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton:
The t*rd doesn’t fall far from the toilet.
profitsbeard on February 5, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Ok, I give. What good is democracy if you’re dead??
What would Hitler have on his iPod……
Faust?
The Producers?
honora on February 5, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Now I know where the Democrats are getting thier talking points….
Isn’t Sean Penn, Susan S., Jane F., Tim R., the Code Pink gals and the rest of the usual suspects due for a trip to Syria?
Oh, I forgot, when we shipped Syrians back to Syria that were captured on the battle field after a stay at Club Gitmo, the President was accused of “sending them to be torured in secret prisons”.
Well, which is it Ms. Sawyer???
Ms. Sawyer???
(Crickets Chirping……. again)
PinkyBigglesworth on February 5, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Well if no one else will say it…. what a fag. I’m not just talking about the lisp, I’m talking about him having Shania Twain and Faith Hill on his iPod and giggling like a little girl about it.
But let me just say, that was some hard hitting journalism Sawyer. You know, it’s one thing to toss a little friendly thing out like that at the end of an interview with American politicians.. but the Syrian president?! WTF!? I’m just glad Rick Warren wasn’t there this time or it would have turned in to a Purpose Driven Partay.
Also, not that anyone here needs to be told, but his comment about us not being able to control the Mexican border, so why should we expect him to control his is stupid… We CAN control our border, our politicians CHOOSE not to.
RightWinged on February 5, 2007 at 3:40 PM
“One last thing, how did you feel when your dad murdered the entire town of Hama in one morning, bulldozed it flat in the afternoon (without removing the 30,000 bodies) and then called a press conference to brag about it?”
uptight on February 5, 2007 at 3:46 PM
“and do you find it helps to mellow out to Shania after ordering the assassination of Lebanese politicians?”
uptight on February 5, 2007 at 3:49 PM
Soooo… Anyone else think Assad is a freaking loser? How in the world is this man the dictator of a country? It’s as if Screech from Saved By the Bell won his own country or something.
Seixon on February 5, 2007 at 3:53 PM
It’s no good at all. That’s why he has such a keen interest in letting people into Iraq to kill innocent people; it’s a validation of his own dictatorship.
She’s letting a murderer use the blood on his own hands as a justification for his own tyranny. No problem with that?
Allahpundit on February 5, 2007 at 3:57 PM
Not usre. Steve Jobs is Jewish.
Mazztek on February 5, 2007 at 4:00 PM
Gee, why he’s so normal and like you know, he has iPod and like listens to music, gosh.
Now if she’d done the right thing and asked him instead of his playlist, but rather his political prisoner list in jail … then we’d have been treated to the cheerful smile morphing into a snarl.
People who travelled to Syria say it’s a police state – visitors are followed, rooms are bugged. iPod my butt. That earplug is connected to eavesdropping devices.
naliaka on February 5, 2007 at 4:04 PM
A new talk news program oppsite Chris Matthews.
Diane Sawyer and Softball.
Kini on February 5, 2007 at 4:05 PM
That disgusted me to no end. I need a shower after watching that. Ugh. Syria needs a vist from the US Air Force. With LOTS of ordinance.
itzWicks on February 5, 2007 at 4:06 PM
douchebag
Sammy316 on February 5, 2007 at 4:07 PM
Consider the source. Even Sawyer has more than a few IQ points on the resident progressive.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 5, 2007 at 4:19 PM
What’s your point? Let me guess: democracy doesn’t work everywhere; is the fascist regime really that bad if the collective has food, water and shelter?; we (Americans) should be fighting for democracy here at home, where this administration has been taking it away from the people (little-by-little); this administration has done nothing but misled us…
Am I on the right track?
Rick on February 5, 2007 at 4:24 PM
No problem with what? With a softball interview? Certainly it’s pap, who can’t see that? But justifying his own tyranny? You really think this clown think he needs to justify his actions? And that if Syria were not engaging in infiltrating Iraq, everything would be peachy?
I see all the outrage over this sort of thing–the endless policing and kvetching over the transgressions of the MSM as so much sound and fury, the preening and tsk-tsking, the hand-wringing and the portentous calls of “traitors!”–it’s all of one cloth IMO. Misdirection: Iraq gets awfuller and awfuller and—oh look! A bird!
honora on February 5, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Assad looks kind of like a laughing hyena, or something.
JackM on February 5, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Not the right track at all. The point is, if you are dead, it doesn’t matter what type of government you have, because, well, of being dead. This is true of many things–being rich, being stupid, being double jointed. Death is just so pervasive.
honora on February 5, 2007 at 4:37 PM
What good is democracy if you are dead?
Depends. if you are dead because you fought tyrants and fascist and preserved the democracy then It is of great beanfit to those who live free, and hopefully they will honor the memory of the proud men and women who died to make them such.
But if you are the type of person that believes in life and/or peace at all costs, and will gladly let your masters use your tongue as toilet paper… Well, that type of person would never understand that their are some things worth dying for. Democracy would be one of them.
Wyrd on February 5, 2007 at 4:38 PM
I nominate Wyrd to the Hot Air Smackdown Hall of Fame.
RushBaby on February 5, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Honora, Iraq is not getting awfuller and awfuller. The problem is that the true story is not getting out. The war in Iraq was won several years ago, and it was nearly a flawless victory. The rebuilding of Iraq is what we are doing now. Is it hard? Yes. But be real! More people died in car crashes last year (around 4K) then all the soldiers in Iraq since we won that war. We never hear any of the good though. All the media does it harp on the negative. When was the last time you heard CNN talk about a new school, mosque, water treetment plant, hospital etc that the US helped build? Now when was the last time you heard about 2 US soldiers being killed? I bet one was almost never, and the other was 5 minutes ago. Hell, those 2 soldiers probaly saved a few civillians and killed 15 islamist, but thats part of the story you won’t hear.
The MSM has been pushing a lie for years, eventually people beleive it. How about all those polls about 60% of America is against the war? I have been hearing these polls for 4 or 5 years. They been repeating their crap so often people are starting to beleive it.
Of course i know better then to listen to statistics. Anyone with half a brain can make a statistic say what they want. If you keep polling people at an anti war rally you are going to get a large number supporting your premise that wars bad. But what if they came down to Norfolk VA and polled us here? Most people (about 80-85%) of the people I polled believe we should take off the kids gloves and kick some ass. 20 or so of those people work at a University (admin staff, not professors) So statistics a re a tool to be used to support ones agenda. And boy does the MSM push their agenda.
Wyrd on February 5, 2007 at 4:48 PM
honora, you are misleading me.
Yes, a little crass, maybe, but gets to the point.
Rick on February 5, 2007 at 4:51 PM
A little crass???
honora on February 5, 2007 at 5:11 PM
Journalists are farstuckers.
mymanpotsandpans on February 5, 2007 at 5:12 PM
I know that you have no interest in statistics, but look again at the number of deaths you attribute to auto accidents.
Does that even look right?? I have no idea what the real number is, but will bet you the farm that’s way, way, way off.
honora on February 5, 2007 at 5:18 PM
Wyrd is just being expressive. Nothing wrong with that.
Rick on February 5, 2007 at 5:24 PM
honora, honora, my friend, please take a deep breath and let go of the ever-increasing fog. I know that you know better.
This one really, really hurts.
Entelechy on February 5, 2007 at 5:33 PM
I’m confused. Why would any american, dem or rep, right or left, cons or lib ever, ever pander to dictators like Ahmadinejad, Castro, Hussein, Assad. Why!? Please explain it to me? How does she sleep at night?
trader67 on February 5, 2007 at 6:14 PM
It’s gotten so pathetic lately that I actually heard a reporter on cnn-hln, I believe, report 2 more deaths of US soldiers in Iraq, but added quickly that one of them was from a heart attack.
And honora, if you can’t believe the auto accident comparison, consider that the number of Americans killed annually by illegal aliens is more than 5 times the number of our Honored Troops that have fallen in Afghanistan and Iraq since the war started. That means that we’ve lost just over 3,000 of our Honored Troops in the past 3 years, while illegal aliens have killed over 45,000 right here in the good old USA. We should probably do something about that, huh?
Our losses, as grievous as they are, are blessedly and astonishingly minimal. Our Troops WANT to finish this fight. And we NEED them to.
techno_barbarian on February 5, 2007 at 6:16 PM
I’ll take that bet. Personally, it took me 5 minutes to find the latest fatalities from auto accidents. Apparently, that oh-so-intelligent-progressive can’t use the internet to research facts. Here’s the fact loser:
Read the report here.
Now STFU until you can accept FACTS.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 5, 2007 at 6:25 PM
BTW, he meant 40K, not 4K. That was obvious.
Andy in Agoura Hills on February 5, 2007 at 6:27 PM
Ah, the MSM at its very most irrelevant…
seejanemom on February 5, 2007 at 6:45 PM
That so-called interview is more proof that the Hot Air’s formula for hard news dissemination is far superior to anything the old, biased media has to offer. No contest. Hot Air rules.
Zorro on February 5, 2007 at 6:51 PM
Correction:
That alleged interview is more proof that Hot Air’s formula for hard news dissemination is far superior to anything the old, biased media has to offer. No contest. Hot Air rules.
Zorro on February 5, 2007 at 6:55 PM
And the jews are now defending the party that is supporting the destruction of Israel. The Jews in this country, by and large, could care less about Israel. The democrats invited a known radical anti-american religious leader to open their session in prayer. You can bet Jobs is giving big to the democratic party, Israel be damned.
right2bright on February 5, 2007 at 7:04 PM
Hmmm, it seems that many in our past (and present) have answered that question … with their lives.
Why would someone say such a thing?
Exactly!
IrishEyes on February 5, 2007 at 7:17 PM
What good is democracy if you are dead?Sounds like the French solution. They are all rights and justice and enlightenment, then the bully shows up and they cave, and then the bully takes away everything they’d said was important in life. Sometimes people are afraid to fight because they think it’s somehow a given that they will die if they pursue that course, but usually much of it is the propaganda of the enemy to scare the weak kneed out of the fight before it starts.
naliaka on February 5, 2007 at 8:36 PM
fruitcake.
he has Judy Garland on his ipod.
sbvft contributor on February 5, 2007 at 8:40 PM
Neither Assad nor Bush has the WILL to close any border that has an advantage or benefit in being kept open.
Speakup on February 5, 2007 at 8:53 PM
With the sibilant S-es, Assad sounds like the gay robot video Ace got from you.
bokonon42 on February 5, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Because they honestly do not believe these guys are the cause of the problem. They believe that the American Military should never be deployed outside the boundaries of our own countries, and that any wars we fight should be wars of defense after someone attacks us on our own soil. So, regardless of the reason, simply placing our troops in harms way in someone else’s country is wrong and nothing you or I can do or say will change their perspective.
Lawrence on February 5, 2007 at 10:28 PM
Knob wench for a second generation totalitarian dictator. Quite the resume builder, isn’t she?
As for Bastard Asshat, he is a dead ringer for those little cartoon critters in the Bud Light commercials; what were they? Ferrets?
Jaibones on February 5, 2007 at 11:14 PM
As others have said, I cannot believe this so called hard-hitting journalists asked about his Ipod. I don’t even have an Ipod. I guess that makes me out of the mainstream but seriously, this makes for a great journalist?
Catie96706 on February 5, 2007 at 11:31 PM
OMG!! *Vomit Alert* WTF did that POS ever do for the middle east?!?! Anyone remember Arafat? Billy Jeff’s biggest disapointment?!?! What – on God’s earth – could he possibly be admired for? This absolutely HAS to be nothing but diatribe.
thedecider on February 5, 2007 at 11:36 PM
But…but…but what about the Balkans???
Rick on February 5, 2007 at 11:38 PM
To allahpundit,
Reading a story on CNN about an Iraqi member of parliament that is a known terrorist and supporter of the shiite insurgency how can someone like this have gotten onto the parliament just thought youd like to know maybe do someinvestigating. Being as Maliki said they are cracking down onthe insurgents.
Kevin43 on February 6, 2007 at 12:20 AM
Little irritable tonight aren’t we? If you are interested check her credentials at
http://www.tv.com/diane-sawyer/person/73771/biography.html
Bradky on February 6, 2007 at 12:31 AM
There are some people very dedicated to Syria that are willing to speak out. Check out this site, run by a Syrian dissident:
http://amarji.blogspot.com/index.html
Ammar is a true patriot, trying very hard to affect a change in Syria.
Babs on February 6, 2007 at 1:46 AM
C’mon Sawyer, you know the next hard hitting question. “What? No Dixie Chicks?”
oakpack on February 6, 2007 at 3:21 AM
Gah! I hate it when I miss a zero,
43K died in fatal car crashes in 2005, CNN story is here
http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/01/Autos/nhtsa_death_stats/
(proof read, must take time to proof read! :) )
As an aside, I would rather die fighting for democracy then being t-boned by some drunken idiot. We all die, but to some of us its better to die for something.
I’ll admit my statement was crass, but I believe in meaning what I say, and saying what I mean. It’s definatly not a liberal way of doing things, but at least everyone knows where I stand on an issue.
Wyrd on February 6, 2007 at 7:44 AM
LOL. The usual suspects with the usual bleating. Nothing to add to the discussion, don’t let that stop you, just hurl insults. Honestly.
I was talking with Wyrd BTW. That was obvious.
honora on February 6, 2007 at 9:12 AM
Ok. And had they not made that clarification, you know what the blogs would be saying…
Is there a point to this?
They’re minimal only if they don’t affect you. Have a friend who has a client whose son was just killed. Minimal is not in their hearts today I imagine.
honora on February 6, 2007 at 9:16 AM
1) I am glad it was just a typo, otherwise I would have to think you’re crazy.
2) Crass is in the eye of the beholder. No harm, no foul
3) Well it’s easy to say you would rather die fighting for democracy than in a car crash. If those are the only two choices, well, again, you’ll be dead in either case.
4) The real test is would you rather die fighting for democracy (and in this case in a battle that looks to be going south) or keep living in a theocracy or whatever awaits Iraqi. Keep in mind this is the reference that our Syrian buddy was making–to the Iraqis, not our troops.
On another note: Mr/Ms Wyrd, do me a favor. You often have interesting comments but often present them in long, long, long paragraphs. Hard for someone with my limited attention span to plow through! Hit that enter key once in a while. Thanks.
honora on February 6, 2007 at 9:26 AM
Diane Sawyer: Mr. Assad, one final question; Boxers or briefs?
What’s sad is Sawyer used to have a soul.
Mojave Mark on February 6, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I wonder what is on his people’s iPod….Oh wait, his people are too oppressed and poor to have them….
Tim Burton on February 6, 2007 at 11:09 AM
It’s called liberalism – strange disease that affects the brain. I’ve heard that there is a cure, but not sure.
Just giving you a hard time, honora.
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 11:40 AM
I’m a Mr.
Well Honora my dear, I am crazy, don’t let the voices in my head tell you otherwise!
I really do need to work on my length post. I think I cross the line between thorough and a yawn fest…
4. I would die fighting the theocracy. of course I have the privaledge of knowing what a democracy is. My nations had few hundred years to figure it out. The issue in Iraq is they don’t really know. I can see where the Syrian is coming from. Why die for an ideal you do not understand.
Another issue in Iraq is foreign influance from Syria and Iran, plus thetheocratic suicide impulse from Saudia Arabia Eqypt, and other Middle east countries with a strong Conservative core. If Iran, syria et el would stay out of Iraq it would follow the same Path Japan did after world war 2.
Many Japanese resisted the interim American backed goverment and our policy of removing shintoism as a state funded ideology. Japan was isolated though, the dissedents were dealt with, and Japan is now a thriving Democracy. Spreading Democracy can work, but it is certainly not easy.
Wyrd on February 6, 2007 at 11:55 AM
We’ve been down this road with honora before.
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Gotta wave the BS flag on this. (1) Shintoism was never funded by the state, the Japanese acknowledged that the emperor was not divine (2) There were not dissidents in Japan that were trying to shoot Americans (3) The Japanese still have McArthur’s office because they think very highly of what he accomplished in the post war reconstruction (4) Japan is more of a socialist state in structure (5) Of all the countries we have bases in, Japan is one of the two or three that actually pays for all the construction and labor on the bases instead of the U.S. (6) For those who complain that the Japanese don’t do enough for their defense, keep in mind that the constitution we helped them write binds them to about 4% of their GNP for military spending
Bradky on February 6, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Springtime for Hitler
Hilts on February 6, 2007 at 1:12 PM
One of these days Alice…pow! Right to the moon!!!
honora on February 6, 2007 at 1:17 PM
don’t be stupid
be a smarty
come and join
the Nazi party
Love it.
honora on February 6, 2007 at 1:19 PM
What he said. Plus, we were unabashedly occupiers in Japan. And in Iraq, we’re……what?
honora on February 6, 2007 at 1:30 PM
Gotta waive the BS flag on your comment – Shintoism was the the state religion and it wasn’t until the U.S. encouraged the separation of church and state (in wake of WWII) that the Emperor renounced claims to “living god” status.
Also, Japan is a constitutional monarchy, based on the British form of government. It does, however, follow the civil code (based on the French model.
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 1:38 PM
Bradky, I have appearantly read different articles on this then you.
As I understood it, Shintoism was considered the state religeon, and had been taught in the school systems. It increased in milatarism and stressed following the emporer without question.
Its true that most japanese did not shoot at Americans in post WW2 Japan, but then again why was that? Some reasons could be:
1) Crushing defeat
2) A mojority of the most warlike and bloodthirsty of the Japanese were dead
3) The people were demoralized by seeing their devine emporer humiliated.
The rest of your points are pretty good. I always considered Japan a democracy, but will have to look into that more, I am not as up to date on their politics as I could be.
Are their any refereces? Its been a long time since I read up on post WW2 japan, would not mind getting a few books.
Wyrd on February 6, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Wyrd, realize you were asking B, but you might find American Caesar of interest, bio of McArthur.
honora on February 6, 2007 at 1:46 PM
Hmm, interesting… we were “unabashedly occupiers” in a country that we bombed with two nukes, took over and imposed our way with, but yet are ashamed and/or embarrassed as to our current state of affairs in a country where we have tried our best to keep casualties to a minimum, tried to respect the culture, etc. I wonder why all this worked out that way? Has to be that Bush guy… has to.
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 2:08 PM
Well, duh…is he or is he not the CIC?
But, seriously, if we are not occupiers, we are what? (This is not a set-up, I honestly don’t know. Facilitators? Peace-keepers?)
honora on February 6, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Well, let’s see, according to the MSM, the “war in Iraq” is still going on, and has been since we invaded in ‘03. I guess that means we can’t be seen as “occupiers” yet…can we?? Aren’t we still just “invaders”? I’m so confused. Those darn insurgents/freedom fighters, they’ve gone and made a mess of things.
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 2:21 PM
If you don’t know, and I don’t know…..
This is a very elegant summary of the whole situation, we don’t even know what the hell to call it or ourselves!!
honora on February 6, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Also, what about that whole “civil war” business? Is that part of the “war in Iraq”? Or is that another war? How many wars are there in Iraq? What about the Brits?? What war are they fighting, or are they now “occupiers”?
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 2:25 PM
Wyrd,
It was a “state religion” beginning in 1867-68 but you should consider reading http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2130.html to understand what that really meant — nothing at all like the Islamic influence on the Arab Countries. The referenced article describes some of the many factors that led to the militarization of Japan, Shinto faith being a minor factor.
A good reference about Shintoism in particular is at http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2056.html and one paragraph states
“In contrast to many monotheist religions, there are no absolutes in Shinto. There is no absolute right and wrong, and nobody is perfect. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami.”
– hardly a religion of domination and conquering
As to your questions
Some reasons could be:
1) Crushing defeat
2) A mojority of the most warlike and bloodthirsty of the Japanese were dead
3) The people were demoralized by seeing their devine emporer humiliated.
(1)Of course a crushing defeat helped but the Iraqi military was crushed and that has yet to win the peace.
(2) Disagree vehemently with this: they were uniformed soldiers like ours, fighting for their country with honor. This is an unfair characterization and plays to some of the negative stereotypes about the Japanese.
In Iraq, like Viet Nam it is difficult to figure out who the bad guys are, no uniforms or central command and control.
(3) To some degree but again, in a country with 2000 years of history, 70 years was all the time that this concept existed. Prior to that the Buddhists had been aligned with the ruling powers for the last 1000 years. In addition the US decided not to prosecute Hirohito because of cultural considerations — good move that muted some of the old hard line guard.
Hirohito became Emperor in 1926, at the age of 25, and in the height of the military build up. I think it is reasonable to assume he was used more by the military than being the leader.
The way we treated Japan and Germany in the post war years was what won the peace and established new alliances and stability. There was no real plan for this in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Now we have to live with that short sightedness.
Bradky on February 6, 2007 at 2:26 PM
We lost around 4,000,000 troops before we unabashedly occupied any country in WW2. We used the same types of considerations in determining what we would bomb in Japan and Germany — why is that such a horrible thing to do now? But if we had gone in as the overlords instead of with the humanitarian approach it would have never worked. It took almost 7 years to help get the Germans and Japanese self sufficient.
Indiscriminate killing is not the answer no matter how much some people wish for us to employ those methods in the mideast.
Bradky on February 6, 2007 at 2:35 PM
If you think that I’m for “indiscriminate killing” in the Middle East, then you aren’t paying attention to what I’m saying.
Rick on February 6, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Thanks Bradky and Honora, I’ll look those up. Thats what I love about this blog, peopple are not afraid to give real answers.
Almost all history is subjective, I only say that because we shape our views based on the information that we are first fed, and then on information that we find out for ourselves. Most people disregard ideas and view points which differ from their own, and this compounds the problem when people with differing views converse. If we are all parroting each other then we are accomplishing nothing but making noise. Seems like a good place for a borg reference, right Conservative 3 or 9? :)
Honora, as to your question we are not occupiers. We are not demanding a tribute, nor are we enforcing our own rules on the Iraqi’s. At this stage we are more like a partner trying to help the Iraqi’s mature in a meld of theirs and our culture.
I think the entire post war Iraq plan was based on a lot of wrong suppositions. But thats done, and can not be changed. Indiscriminate killing is not the answer (unless the question was “what are terrorist good at”)
Killing those that would harm the maturalization process is a different story though. Most fanatics can not be swayed by words or deeds. Much like mad dogs the only cure is to put them down.
Perhaps if Syria and Iran had their invading forces slapped hard enough in Iraq they would pull back and let us finish the mission. Course in a land where death and murder has been the number one spectator sport for 1500 years, who knows how long peace would last.
Wyrd on February 6, 2007 at 3:42 PM
No, indiscriminate killing is what you seem to regret us not doing in the parallel you drew.
Definition of indiscriminate is “failing to make or recognize distinctions” — exactly what happened with dropping the nuclear weapons. Whether it was the right move or not there is no way it was anything but indiscriminate.
Bradky on February 6, 2007 at 4:54 PM
Didn’t the US army drop pamphlets prior to dropping the bombs?
Their is only so much you can do in a war to protect civilians. You can warn them to leave, but if they do not then what? Surrender? Or do what is necasary to win?
As an aside,
Wasn’t the fire bombing of Dresden more costly in terms of human life then Nagasaki or Hiroshima?
Wyrd on February 6, 2007 at 5:14 PM
Honora, I’m sure he was referring to the automobile deaths caused by illegal immigrants last year, that’s just over 4,000. Nice of you to make his point for him by correcting his number upwards, though. Yeah, there was a point, and yeah, as usual you evaded it in favor of something less important but also less dangerous to your ability to ignore the truth.
By the way, we ARE occupiers in Iraq, it pains me no end that politicians think we dare not say so. Beyond that, Wyrd has it right, we WON the invasion, and we are now helping the indigenous people of Iraq to restructure their government in favor of liberty rather than tyranny. It’s too bad that there’s still many people who don’t want it that way. That’s who we are fighting.
Freelancer on February 6, 2007 at 6:22 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »