Posted on 06/08/2005 9:03:41 PM PDT by CHARLITE
Recently, entertainer Pat Boone wrote NewsMax editor Christopher Ruddy a letter regarding his feelings on Abu Ghraib and Iraq, the contents of which are published here with permission:
Mr. Christopher Ruddy
Editor, NewsMax
Dear Chris,
Hasn't anybody got the guts to accuse the worst perpetrator in this whole Abu Ghraib prison debacle - CBS and 60 Minutes II?
What do you call it when, in time of war, someone takes military intelligence and turns it over to the enemy, who in turn uses it to kill Americans?
Isn't that the definition of treason? Did Benedict Arnold do worse? Did Julias and Ethel Rosenberg pay with their lives for something like this?
It has already been well established, and CBS certainly knew, that the military announced to the press back in January that allegations had been made concerning treatment of prisoners and were being investigated.
In March there was another announcement that the allegations were still being investigated and certain service personnel at Abu Ghraib were relieved of their duties and might be court marshaled.
In other words, while America was fighting a war, the military had already taken the allegations seriously, were investigating them and were taking steps to correct the situation. In other words, it was being handled, and handled well.
These things happen in war on all sides, and though they are not excusable, they are kindergarten exercises compared to car bombs, ambushes, rocket launchings and dangling burning bodies over bridges - and this is what the interrogators at Abu Ghraib were trying to find ways to stop.
Freedom of the press is precious to us, but you can abuse any liberty and stretch it out of shape until it becomes license, and concerned citizens will call for limitations.
In this case, if CBS had really cared about the country, about our military, about doing the right thing, they would have taken these pictures, (which they had illegally) and asked the military and the Pentagon what was being done about the abuses (Although they most likely knew it, they would have been told that the matter was in hand and being taken care of).
Indeed, a general implored them not to publish the pictures because of what he knew would happen as a result.
CBS could have cared less.
In their mad competition for rating points, dollars, and seeing a great way to blast the President and the war effort in Iraq which they have continually denigrated and opposed, they broadcast they abhorrent pictures – and not just to the United States, BUT TO THE WORLD!
Knowing full well that we were walking a tight rope, trying to fight a war, quell disturbances and build a republic for Iraq in the midst of all the terrorist resistance, CBS published these abhorrent pictures knowing they would destroy completely our image and standing in the Muslim world.
And what about Osama bin Laden? What about the terrorists? What about America's image with all our allies around the world? And what about America's own self image and confidence in their leaders?
And what did the beheaders of Nick Berg say, just before they callously sawed his head off while he screamed, "This is in retaliation for what you Americans did to our people at Abu Ghraib!" And how did they know about these interrogation abuses?
Though poor Mr. Berg blames George Bush and Donald Rumsefld, it is incontrovertible that his son would be home with him right now had it not been for the publication of those pictures. Mr. Berg is pointing his finger in the wrong direction.
And as a direct result of CBS callous and patently unpatriotic action, America is suffering great loss of prestige around the world, and will for decades.
America has lost credibility with Muslims and the Arab world internationally, perhaps forever; and every American life is in far greater danger from terrorist reprisal, no matter who and where we are!
Freedom of the press is a cherished commodity, guaranteed by our Constitution. But freedoms, if they are to be maintained and to have the original meaning, must be treated with grave responsibility and restraint.
For me, CBS has become "the enemy within", and I hope never to watch the network again. I think most Americans ought to reflect on the results of their irresponsible and unpatriotic behavior and perhaps narrow their viewing options by one network. The next time America or Americans suffer at the hands of terrorists, thank CBS.
Pat Boone
P.S. As of today, May 21St, you can add Brokaw, NBC and The Washington Post to the list. Have these media pariahs gone mad?! Who'll be next to fire at our own troops?
pb
Well, he'll never be allowed to appear on a PBS retrospective again, but he's right on this time.
A few days after 9/11, the networks announced they would no longer show pictures of Americans jumping to their deaths out of the WTC for fear of inflaming our anger.
But the same networks had no problem showing pictures of terrorists in humiliating poses for over a month.
BUMP!!!
"Though poor Mr. Berg blames George Bush and Donald Rumsefld, it is incontrovertible that his son would be home with him right now had it not been for the publication of those pictures. Mr. Berg is pointing his finger in the wrong direction."
I agree with everything in the letter except for this statement about the Islamo-fascists who sawed off Nicholas Berg's head - those savages don't need new excuses to kill all infidels, and there is no reason to think they would not have done in Nick Berg even in the absence of Abu Ghraib photos. They would have cited something else instead, or they would simply have done it while screaming "Allah Akubar" or whatever their rant du jour is.....
The socialist, liberal MSM has tried to incite and worked to promote insurgency in the US since the 60's. The next war we fight will probaably be from within.
Bump.
I wonder why so many people say "I could care less" (as in "CBS could have cared less") when they really mean I could NOT care less?
We need more letters like this from famous people. He may not be front and center but people still remember him. The MSM is getting people killed and they do not care.
There was an election at stake and they wanted to win BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
Viacommie owns SeeBS of the Abu Ghrab footage, forged National Guard memos, and MTV/Rock The Vote's phony "Republican Draft" scare campaign.
Nick Berg's blood is on their hands.
He was not captured because of the prison abuse but the Islamonazis who held him sure used that as a PR excuse to behead him. Why doesn't the same media denounce these war crimes?
Many kidnap victims have suffered the same fate yet the media doesn't even show an excerpt of such videos today.
The same media also shunned any footage of the genuine horrors at Abu Ghrab under Saddam Hussein (like cutting off men's hands).
I recall Rumsfeld saying there really isn't any logic to their actions at all. He said "They just wake up one morning and want to kill someone for the heck of it..anyone".
Redstone actually claimed publicly to support Bush.
He had an odd way of showing it didn't he?
Damn skippy! I didn't know Pat Boone was still alive. Not only is he alive...he's kicking ass!
Pat Boone was my inspiration to remove CBS from my TV's channel list. It has been well over a year since my TV has been tainted by anything from CBS.
Awesome! Thank you Pat Boone for saying what so many of us have been thinking!
Yes, I've picked up on this as well. They're saying the exact opposite of what they intend. (If they could care less, they do care some)
Our next lesson will be on the meaning of "is" vs "are" (/sarcasm)
I agree that they invent excuses for their barbarism. However, Pat Boone's position is: "Why hand them such inflammatory excuses?".......and to think that these media people KNOW exactly what they are doing - i.e. hurting America's interests and endangering our men and women in uniform....that's what is despicable and unforgiveable!
Char
ping
And let's not forget the great hero, the most decorated man in the US military (now deceased) who made sure the pictures were handed to CBS for how many dollars, I wonder?
And now .. as I understand it .. there is another set of the filth and some stiking judge is going to allow the ACLU to have them. Sickening.
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