Posted on 01/15/2006 4:20:31 PM PST by wagglebee
Former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was unwinnable keenly influenced public opinion then, said Sunday he'd say the same thing today about Iraq.
"It's my belief that we should get out now," Cronkite said in a meeting with reporters.
Now 89, the television journalist once known as "the most trusted man in America" has been off the "CBS Evening News" for nearly a quarter- century. He's still a CBS News employee, although he does little for them.
Cronkite said one of his proudest moments came at the end of a 1968 documentary he made following a visit to Vietnam during the Tet offensive. Urged by his boss to briefly set aside his objectivity to give his view of the situation, Cronkite said the war was unwinnable and that the U.S. should exit.
Then-President Lyndon Johnson reportedly told a White House aide after that, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."
The best time to have made a similar statement about Iraq came after Hurricane Katrina, he said.
"We had an opportunity to say to the world and Iraqis after the hurricane disaster that Mother Nature has not treated us well and we find ourselves missing the amount of money it takes to help these poor people out of their homeless situation and rebuild some of our most important cities in the United States," he said. "Therefore, we are going to have to bring our troops home."
Iraqis should have been told that "our hearts are with you" and that the United States would do all it could to rebuild their country, he said.
"I think we could have been able to retire with honor," he said. "In fact, I think we can retire with honor anyway."
Cronkite has spoken out against the Iraq war in the past, saying in 2004 that Americans weren't any safer because of the invasion.
Cronkite, who is hard of hearing and walks haltingly, jokingly said that "I'm standing by if they want me" to anchor the "CBS Evening News." CBS is still searching for a permanent successor to Dan Rather, who replaced Cronkite in March 1981.
"Twenty-four hours after I told CBS News that I was stepping down at my 65th birthday I was already regretting it and I've regretted it every day since," he said. "It's too good a job for me to have given it up the way that I did."
Guess what Uncle Wally? It ain't 1968 any more, and nobody gives a rat's patootie what your "belief" is.
Walter Cronkite is a devoted One World Government ideologue who believes that America should give up her sovereignty.
He is dung.
You got that right...Walter Crankcase is a fool...and perhaps some of his rag head friends would be a real pain in his butt.... http://www.masada2000.org/impalement.asx Try this on for size....don't click on in front of kids.....but this is what we have in store for us if we don't win this war...
He won't go away easily. I uttered my first "F*** you Walter" in 1968 when he pompously declared that the war was unwinnable. After all these years I now know that these POS won't go away just because you ignore them or wish them away.
You seditious POS this isn't TET and we have a president more like Churchill than LBJ
He will do little for her! I'm glad.
Shut up, Walter. Aren't you dead yet?
Then-President Lyndon Johnson reportedly told a White House aide after that, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."
for a president (LBJ) to give a man who just sits and reads words off of a teleprompter that much influence over America is shocking
.
HILLARY's No. 1 Media Defensive Linebacker WALTER CRONKITE came on stage and interrupted DAVID LETTERMAN's opening monologue just before her guest appearance there a few years ago...
...just to publically warn DAVID on TV to go light on his good friend HILLARY when asking his questions of her that night.
...It worked.
.
Does anyone over the age of 25 even remember who he is?
You mean `under' 25? Well for you 'kids':
Uncle Wally is a senile Demo-gasbag.
He's Dan Rather's mentor.
He pines for Klinton.
He's a poo.
He is "Stuck On Stupid "
::::crickets:::
Walter....Walter who?
Oh yeah, wasn't he the Bounty guy? No? Hmm...
Someone needs to fill Uncle Walter in on the fact America doesn't trust him anymore. Watergate is over. Vietnam is over. Woodstock is over. Walter is over.
Welcome to the 21 Century, where you don't rule.
.
Actually,
...with a Mainstream News Media that still refuses to tell the American People the TRUTH about WALTER CRONKITE's Anti-Freedom history,
...like it or not,
...WALTER CRONKITE is still...
.."Stuck on Dangerous"
.
"Cronkite, who is hard of hearing and walks haltingly, jokingly said that "I'm standing by if they want me" to anchor the "CBS Evening News." CBS is still searching for a permanent successor to Dan Rather, who replaced Cronkite in March 1981."
Hmmmm...sounds like he is interviewing for the opening.
Who is this cracker kite, guy, and why does what he says matter?
Walter Cronkite needs to "have a warm glass of milk" and say "that's the way it is January 15, 2006, then go to bed. This is Walter Cronkite, Good nite.
Most trusted man in America my ass! Even back in then, I could tell a lib from the truth........The Great Oz Has Spoken
Boy, wouldn't you have loved to have had a young Walter backing you in a bar fight?
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