Posted on 09/14/2006 5:24:40 PM PDT by Impeach98
BLOG ALERT
Commentator Arianna Huffington Makes Disparaging Remarks About Plight of Iraqi Kurds Under Saddam Hussein
* Chairman of Kurdistan Development Corporation Invites Ms. Huffington to Visit Iraqi Kurdistan to Gain a Better Understanding for Herself
In an appearance last night on the O'Reilly Factor, commentator Arianna Huffington, who runs the blog website, www.HuffingtonPost.com dismissed the plight of the Kurds under dictator Saddam Hussein. Huffington also attacked a television ad campaign by the Kurds to thank Americans for helping liberate them from Hussein's reign of tyranny.
Huffington inaccurately stated that, "I think the Kurds were free before we invaded Iraq. But how have the conditions of the Kurds changed since we invaded Iraq?"
When shown a television commercial by Mr. O'Reilly titled "Thank You America" Ms. Huffington responded by saying, "I think that spot is sad. It is sad to use people in the interests of promoting an agenda." She added that in her belief, "The Kurdistan -- the position -- the position of the Kurds has not changed one iota since we invaded Iraq. What has changed is the position of Americans, who are less safe because we invaded Iraq."
The ad in question can be viewed for yourself here: www.TheOtherIraq.com
Responding to the comments made by Huffington, Ms. Bayan Rahman, Chairman of the Kurdistan Development Corporation, made the following statement:
"I was saddened to see the comments made by Arianna Huffington on the 'O'Reilly Factor" television show. One of the reasons we started our public relations efforts here in the United States, was to tell the story of Iraqi Kurdistan that has until now not been told."
"Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilian Kurds were killed by Saddam Hussein. Over 5,000 in one chemical weapons attack against the Kurdish city of Halabja. Even after the United States and Great Britain provided air protection with the "No Fly Zone," Saddam's tanks still stood pointed at our cities and our people.
"But now the people of Iraqi Kurdistan are free. We've implemented a flourishing democracy. We are rebuilding our nation from the devastation brought about by Saddam Hussein. And now we've passed free market economic reforms to encourage American companies to come and help rebuild Iraqi Kurdistan into a vibrant bastion of freedom and success in the Middle East.
"I invite Ms. Huffington to come to Kurdistan, as our guest, so that she may learn the truth and join our efforts to help tell the story of The Other Iraq."
- Ms. Bayan Rahman
Chairman, Kurdistan Development Corporation
www.TheOtherIraq.com
*A copy of the transcript from last night's O'Reilly Factor follows:
________________________________________________________
HUFFINGTON: I think Iraq has been a tragic disaster.
O'REILLY: OK. I want to play you a spot that's running on FOX News right now, and I want your reaction. Roll tape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Saddam's goal was to bury every living Kurd. He failed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you!
ANNOUNCER: The Kurds of Iraqi Kurdistan just want to say thank you for helping us win our freedom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for democracy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, America.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'REILLY: How do you react to that?
HUFFINGTON: I think it's sad. I want to know who's paying for it. I want to know who...
O'REILLY: The Kurdistan government is. You think it's propaganda?
HUFFINGTON: Of course it's propaganda.
O'REILLY: You don't think the Kurds are free because of us?
HUFFINGTON: I think the Kurds were free before we invaded Iraq. But how have the conditions of the Kurds changed since we invaded Iraq?
O'REILLY: All right. So you think that's a total -- that's a total lie?
HUFFINGTON: I think that spot is sad. It is sad to use people in the interests of promoting an agenda.
O'REILLY: Yes, but the Kurdistan -- the Kurdistan government...
HUFFINGTON: The Kurdistan -- the position -- the position of the Kurds has not changed one iota since we invaded Iraq. What has changed is the position of Americans, who are less safe because we invaded Iraq.
O'REILLY: All right. I don't -- I disagree with you. I think Saddam persecuted the Kurds. I think they have a free -- and -- so what?
HUFFINGTON: So what? Our job is not to go there and save the Kurds. Our job to keep Americans safe.
O'REILLY: All right. OK. So what, the Kurds are free.
Then she shouldn't say them at all.
It's easy to be "brave" sitting thousands of miles away where they can't touch her.
The world would be a better place if people didn't let their mouths write checks their @sses can't cash.
thanks for the PING!
"So what, the Kurds are free..."
/s -
hope BOR said it with a very good sneer...........
Since the Kurds paid for the ads, and its Kurds who appear in the ads, whose agenda is she opposed to promoting? I don't get it. Does she want TV ads from the Sunnis of Iraq? The Shia of Iraq?
Hey, if they want to broadcast 'thank you America' ads, I think we'd all celebrate that.
No, somehow I don't think it's that. I think she's pissed that these ads don't go in sync with the line being put out by her colleagues at HuffingtonPost that we should pull out of Iraq and just write off all the people and the country there and surrender to the terrorists.
"So what".
Nice.
I'm personally overjoyed for the Kurds.
None of us can even begon to understand what their lives must have been then compared to now.
She's scum.
Bottom line is that those videos certainly don't help the Democrats regain CONTROL of the country.
That's why she's mad.
With her and all Dems, it's all about -control-.
What can you expect from Arianna? She almost knocked the 'terminator' over trying to get in the spotlight in California, lol.
Thanks for the ping bitt!
LOL, bump again!!
She's like the Holocaust deniers.
It was a democrat President - Wilson who won WWI
It was a democrat President - Roosevelt who won WWII
It was a democrat President - Truman who drew in Korea
It was a democrat President - Johnson who engaged Viet Nam
It was a republican President - Nixon who detached from VN
It was a republican President - Reagan who won the Cold War
It was a republican President - Bush 1 who won the Gulf War
It is a republican President - Bush 2 who is engaged in winning WWIII
The dems believe this should be their war. Johnson ruined their record and the dems will stop at nothing until they reconquer the government and show the world how many civil rights dead people have!
Waht do you expect from a woman who has shyt like this on her blog?
"And we were appalled at the death threats the Chicks received because they couldn't tolerate the ignorant mumblings of a war-happy President. And we all loved the Chicks' new single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," because most of us weren't ready to make nice with the Bush Administration either.
So, when Natalie strummed the first chord of that song, hundreds of crowd members held up white placards that said, in large black letters, "THANK YOU." I was nearly moved to tears. I was proud to be a New Yorker."
So 3 cowards evoke "tears" becuase of death threat that as never proven, but the hundreds of thousands of Kurds who actually lost their life, get a "so what?".
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-thomas/dixie-chicks-thank-you_b_28867.html
If ANYONE propogandist, its Huffington.
I dunno. There's nothing worse in this world than being a 53-year old marbled-mouthed dingbat waking up one morning and realizing your a liberal and then feeling it's your duty to go out into the world and lecture everyone else on moral equivalency.
She needs laid.
Now it's, "what do we need to do to smear the Republicans so they lose" - even if it means attacking America as a nation and our national security.
It's disgusting.
It's more like "appease at any cost".
Those newly liberated Kurds who now want to be the best friends of the United States. Well, looking at a map, I'd think we'd take them up on it. Hmmm... Middle East. During the middle of a war on terrorism. People right in the heart of it who want to be our friends and allies. Should we embrace them or denounce them???
Geez, Arianna, this one isn't a toughie!!!
Yup.
"ignorant mumblings of a war-happy President."
Btw...which one of the Dixie Dips has a MBA from Harvard?
None?
I thought so...LOL!
"You might be right..."
I think it is a deep part of their ideology.
I really do! That and controlling where the defense $$ go...That means if they were conducting the war, it would have a different focus, different direction, but still enormous political and economic impact.
The dems have some very smart people on their side. They think decades ahead. They are experts at incrementalism.
No unions today...If the dems were running this war, only union houses would get contracts. Only dues paying and democratic contributing longshoremen would get contracts.
The mafia has nothing on the democratic party.
That bitch is transparent and if the Kurds were blasting Bush she would be sucking one off right about now!
I hate that woman.
I know I know...im a vilgar little girl....dont climb all over me..it was over the top..... but i every word of meant it.
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