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Stars turn backs on America's troops in Iraq
Guardian ^ | December 24, 2005 | Jamie Wilson

Posted on 12/23/2005 6:39:07 PM PST by West Coast Conservative

During world war two American troops away from home for Christmas were entertained by Marlene Dietrich, Bing Crosby and the Marx Brothers. Even in Vietnam Bob Hope was guaranteed to put in an appearance. But soldiers in Iraq are more likely to get a show from a Christian hip-hop group, a country singer you have probably never heard of and two cheerleaders for the Dallas Cowboys.

Just as the seemingly intractable nature of the war has led to a growing recruitment crisis, so the United Services Organisation, which has been putting on shows for the troops since the second world war, is struggling to get celebrities to sign up for even a short tour of duty.

It is a far cry from the days following the September 11 2001 attacks, when some of the biggest names in show business, from Jennifer Lopez to Brad Pitt, rallied to the cause. "After 9/11 we couldn't have had enough airplanes for the people who were volunteering to go," Wayne Newton, the Las Vegas crooner who succeeded Bob Hope as head of USO's talent recruiting effort, told USA Today. "Now with 9/11 being as far removed as it is, the war being up one day and down the next, it becomes increasingly difficult to get people to go."

Newton said many celebrities have been wary of going because they think it might be seen that they are endorsing the war. "And I say it's not. I tell them these men and women are over there because our country sent them, and we have the absolute necessity to try to bring them as much happiness as we can."

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: California; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; bush; celebrities; hollyweird; hollywood; iraq; military; uso; war
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To: West Coast Conservative
Did the Guardian mention is was probably because Hollywood is going broke? These losers can't even pull an audience into the theaters to see their third class drivel, why would our heroes be interested in seeing them even if it was for free?
61 posted on 12/23/2005 8:40:35 PM PST by McGavin999 (If Intelligence Agencies can't find leakers, how can we expect them to find terrorists?)
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To: MikeinIraq; Grampa Dave; Interesting Times; Travis McGee; Chieftain; PhilDragoo; potlatch; ...



62 posted on 12/23/2005 8:41:11 PM PST by devolve (<-- (--in a manner reminiscent of Senator Gasbag Kohn--)
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To: devolve

BUMP


63 posted on 12/23/2005 8:42:09 PM PST by MikefromOhio (It's amazing that a guy says he wants to nuke parts of America ON FR, but he doesn't get zotted)
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To: rasblue
I can swaer that just recently (in the last year) the USO got the likes of Jessica Simpson, Garth Brooks, etc. to do shows for the troops. I think the Guardian has a case of selective amnesia.

Bruce Willis was just over there with his band a few weeks ago.

64 posted on 12/23/2005 8:44:57 PM PST by bad company ( Sorry, I'll try to act normal but I'm all I have to work with.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Hollywood sinks to a new low. It's hard to know which is further in the sewer--Hollywood or The Guardian--or which is more representative of decadence.
65 posted on 12/23/2005 8:48:01 PM PST by Savage Beast (Why George W. Bush is a Great President in five words or less: 9/11 was never repeated.)
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To: wallace144

Several times.


66 posted on 12/23/2005 8:49:39 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: moog

Yeah, but odds are, it's diseased.


67 posted on 12/23/2005 8:50:43 PM PST by Baby Driver
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To: devolve

Tsk, tsk, tsk.


68 posted on 12/23/2005 8:53:45 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: West Coast Conservative

Al Franken was just here at Al Asad. I watched a DVD instead


69 posted on 12/23/2005 9:01:56 PM PST by AbnSarge
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To: Baby Driver

No wonder they can't have a "ball." Okay, enough of these kind of jokes. I'm going beyond my PG rating that I usually stick to.


70 posted on 12/23/2005 9:01:59 PM PST by moog
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To: West Coast Conservative

Here it is in a nutshell:
The overpaid stars are RACIST!!
Just because the people over there are not like us, they don't want or deserve freedom.

Think about it.


71 posted on 12/23/2005 9:13:28 PM PST by crashthe24
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

THAT IS HOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTT!


72 posted on 12/23/2005 9:14:11 PM PST by rlmorel ("Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does." Whittaker Chambers)
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To: MikeinIraq; PhilDragoo; potlatch; ntnychik; Grampa Dave; Interesting Times; Chieftain; Lady Jag; ...

73 posted on 12/23/2005 9:30:56 PM PST by devolve (<-- (--in a manner reminiscent of Senator Gasbag Kohn--)
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To: McGavin999
Hollywood is far from broke; they're just not making as much as last year.

That excuse won't work for them. And since they are in the habit of tossing out soldiers' votes, who is surprised that their "we support the troops" rhetoric is just that?

I just hope people bring this up the next time someone uses that new, BS cliche of the anti-war left.

The folks listed in the article are not major celebs, let's be honest. I'm sure our soldiers are grateful to everyone who comes to entertain them, but where are all the stars that top the movie, TV and CD charts? Giving interviews in magazines where they pose for pictures and give their views on foreign policy, not actually DOING anything to support the troops they so "care" about.

Franken is obviously over there trying to find someone to listen to his gawdawful show and so he can say "See? *I* went!" But while I can't stand his "comedy" I give Williams props for going.

74 posted on 12/23/2005 9:33:43 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (Warning: Adult language, but great Christmas message: http://foamy.libertech.net/noxmas.swf)
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To: West Coast Conservative

There are NO stars today. Just second rate has been actors and actresses. That's all.


75 posted on 12/23/2005 9:37:29 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He has done more for this country than anyone will ever know. He's A++)
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To: solitas

I have no idea who she is. But I thank her for supporting the troops. :)


76 posted on 12/23/2005 9:44:09 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg ("Defeatism may have its partisan uses but it is not justified by the facts.")
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To: Darkwolf377
Well, true, not exactly going broke, but if they continue to have years like last year it won't be long before they do. I read that they went upside down on several of their "blockbusters". You can't do that very often.

Interesting thing is, some of the smaller movies, with relatively unknown artists, are doing quite well.

I think Hollywood forgot how to make "B" movies. That was a staple of the old Hollywood.

77 posted on 12/23/2005 10:00:00 PM PST by McGavin999 (If Intelligence Agencies can't find leakers, how can we expect them to find terrorists?)
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To: West Coast Conservative

One reason why I haven't bought a movie ticket in a couple of years. Hollywood can rot in hell.


78 posted on 12/23/2005 10:01:39 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: McGavin999
I read that they went upside down on several of their "blockbusters". You can't do that very often.

Actually, they do it all the time. This year's numbers are nothing to be alarmed about, actually, they just need a story. It's a period of expanded "epic" production, which will contract a little. It's not a big deal at all.

I don't think Hollywood forgot how to make B pics, though--I think that's all they make now, with A budgets. Independent movies are just as crappy as Hollywood flicks--you have to trudge through a lot of either kind to get to a gem. That's always been the way.

I do think you've got the right idea, though Hollywood doesn't seem to know how to exploit it. They should give more $$$ to (or start) low-budget arms--say, give $5 million budgets to a bunch of upstart filmmakers to make anything they want, or even $1 million budgets. Spread that cash around, let directors make script-oriented movies instead of star-oriented ones.

79 posted on 12/23/2005 10:08:28 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (Warning: Adult language, but great Christmas message: http://foamy.libertech.net/noxmas.swf)
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To: wallace144

If Gary Sinise spent any more time in Iraq and Afghanistan than he does, he'd be up for dual citizenship. Does "meet and greets", has a charity to supply school supplies to the kids, and gigs with his "Lt. Dan's Band"


80 posted on 12/23/2005 10:21:11 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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