Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cronkite: Time for U.S. to Leave Iraq
Breitbart.com ^ | 1/15/06 | AP

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."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: conkedout; coot; cronkite; cronkitehascooties; cutandrun; dumbassalert; handwringers; iraq; leftist; leftistmedia; mediabias; moonbat; mrwegiveupcronkite; oldcoot; senileoldcoot; traitor; waltercronkite
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-170 next last
To: wagglebee

"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."

Walter lost his job the for the same reason Rather lost his: Lack of credibility will inevitably doom any newscaster, even in an overwhelmingly leftist media.


21 posted on 01/15/2006 4:27:49 PM PST by wvobiwan (It's OUR Net! If you don't like it keep your stanky routers off it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Oh yes, Cronkite, the commentator who betrayed 2.5 million men in uniform that served in Viet Nam when he declared a decisive victory a defeata nd enabled the enemies of freedom to overtake all of Viet Nam, after costing America nearly 58,000 lives.

Walter, enjoy your retirement, no one cares what you think, least of all, us Viet Nam Vets you helped betray!


22 posted on 01/15/2006 4:28:06 PM PST by DakotaRed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: operation clinton cleanup
"We had an opportunity to say to the world and Iraqis after the hurricane disaster that Mother Nature has not treated us well

Isn't it a hoot? Pat Robertson can say Katrina was punishment and he gets ripped (as he should). But Uncle Walter can infer something similar and is the toast of the left.

23 posted on 01/15/2006 4:28:08 PM PST by dirtboy (My new years resolution is to quit using taglines...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Between Walter Crankcase, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, and Dan Blather, the Old Guard is continuing to give CBS a black eye.


24 posted on 01/15/2006 4:28:14 PM PST by alancarp (Will hack code for oil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Yes, it is time to head to Iran next, with a sturdy remnant remaining in Iraq.


25 posted on 01/15/2006 4:28:25 PM PST by DoNotDivide (Were the American Revolutionaries rebelling against Constituted Authority and thereby God? I say no.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee


Ahem, hey Cronkite, time for you to stfu and go away.


26 posted on 01/15/2006 4:28:30 PM PST by rockabyebaby (I'm not afraid to say out loud what the rest of you are afraid to admit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

That skunk is still spreading a suspicious aroma.


27 posted on 01/15/2006 4:28:54 PM PST by christabel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

I can remember as a little kid in the '60s my dad calling WC a commie, and CBS the Communist Broadcasting Station.

C'mon Walter, shut up and go away.


28 posted on 01/15/2006 4:29:04 PM PST by Theresawithanh (You'll get me to stop posting on FR when you wrench my laptop from my cold, dead fingers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

"He's still a CBS News employee, although he does little for them."

He does even less for me.


29 posted on 01/15/2006 4:29:10 PM PST by SeaBiscuit (God Bless all who defend America and Friends, the rest can go to hell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
What makes him an expert on foreign affairs? Why do people think he is some great thinker or diplomat.

He's just a news reader. Another no nothing "celebrity".
30 posted on 01/15/2006 4:29:47 PM PST by MaDeuce (Do it to them, before they do it to you!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wvobiwan

'Now 89'

I thought he was taking the dirt nap a long time ago.


31 posted on 01/15/2006 4:30:06 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
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.

And thus began the period when the MSM decided they should be running the country and setting policy.

That was when surrender and pacifism became the foundation of dem foreign policy.

Sorry Walter,there will be no repeat of history this time as we will not let you guys usurp power and influence.
Never again.

32 posted on 01/15/2006 4:30:09 PM PST by carlr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Enterprise

Hey Cronkite: Go find yourself an old coot boyfriend. Maybe you'll shut up for a while.


33 posted on 01/15/2006 4:30:40 PM PST by Enterprise (The MSM - Propaganda wing and news censorship division of the Democrat Party.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: pabianice
Got that, the fact that they are pulling these folks out of the nursing homes is a clear sign of their desperation. I guess that just because their career died thirty years ago shouldn't make them less objectionable.
34 posted on 01/15/2006 4:30:42 PM PST by Steamburg (Pretenders everywhere)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
Archie: "Edith, what channel is CBS News on?"

Edith: "Channel 2 Archie. The one we don't watch anymore because you said Walter Cronkite is a communist."

"All In The Family", 1972.

35 posted on 01/15/2006 4:31:20 PM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theresawithanh
I can remember as a little kid in the '60s my dad calling WC a commie, and CBS the Communist Broadcasting Station.

Your dad saw the light about 20 years before I did.

36 posted on 01/15/2006 4:31:54 PM PST by Marathoner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

walter cronkite,"THE MOST SENILE MAN IN AMERICA"!!


37 posted on 01/15/2006 4:32:45 PM PST by ohiobushman (Common sense is less common today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Marathoner

LOL!! See post 35.


38 posted on 01/15/2006 4:33:23 PM PST by buccaneer81 (Bob Taft has soiled the family name for the next century.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
I would blame Uncle Walt's comments on senility... but he has not changed his beliefs in 30 years, so I guess he really means it.
39 posted on 01/15/2006 4:33:33 PM PST by operation clinton cleanup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Cronkite has probably done more harm to the world than just about any other person outside of governemnt.


40 posted on 01/15/2006 4:33:39 PM PST by yarddog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-170 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson