Andrea Mitchell Claims Iran an 'American Ally' Before Bush Gave 'Axis of Evil' Speech

NewsBusters.org ^ | January 28, 2014 | Kyle Drennan

[Kaslin]

In a shocking declaration on her 1 p.m. ET hour MSNBC show Tuesday, host Andrea Mitchell asserted that one of America's fiercest enemies was actually a friend to the U.S. before George W. Bush came along: "Up until that moment, Iran was cooperating with the United States on the border of Afghanistan, it was post-9/11, Iran was more or less an American ally. By being included in the Axis of Evil, it turned the Iranian government in a completely different direction." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

The topic came up when The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza told Mitchell that the last "memorable and impactful" State of the Union address was President Bush's 2002 speech labeling Iraq, Iran, and North Korea to be an "Axis of Evil." Mitchell interrupted: "No, let me challenge you on that....Colin Powell and the State Department did not focus enough on those words and get them taken out of the State of the Union."

Andrea Mitchell Claims Iran 'More or Less an American Ally' Before Bush Gave 'Axis of Evil' Speech

Mitchell concluded that speech was "a turning point in American politics and in foreign policy." Cillizza replied: "Andrea, I would agree with you."

The random Bush-bashing came during a segment previewing President Obama's upcoming State of the Union Tuesday night.

Here is a transcript of the January 28 exchange:

1:19PM ET

(...)

CHRIS CILLIZZA: We went back, here at the Post, and looked at sort of the most memorable impactful State of the Unions. The most recent one we found was George W. Bush, his first State of the Union after September 11th, so 2002, when he laid out the Axis of Evil. These are not typically speeches – even for someone who is quite gifted as a speech giver like Barack Obama is-

ANDREA MITCHELL: But, but let me-

CILLIZZA: These are not speeches that traditionally make a huge impact. Go ahead, I'm sorry.

MITCHELL: Let me – no, let me challenge you on that.

CILLIZZA: Okay.

MITCHELL: Because that speech arguably turned this country in a direction on foreign policy – now I know that tonight will not be about foreign policy and traditionally it's not. But those words, "Axis of Evil" – and I was standing right here in Congress, and when I heard those words I called the control room and I said, "This is a big deal."

CILLIZZA: Huge.

MITCHELL: The State Department – you know, with all due respect – Colin Powell and the State Department did not focus enough on those words and get them taken out of the State of the Union. Because up until that moment, Iran was cooperating with the United States on the border of Afghanistan, it was post-9/11, Iran was more or less an American ally. By being included in the Axis of Evil, it turned the Iranian government in a completely different direction. It was a turning point in American politics and in foreign policy.

CILLIZZA: Andrea, I would agree with you. My point was not that – I would say that one was the exception, not the rule. Not that that speech didn't matter, it in fact quite did.

[Kaslin]

She is actually correct in a sense. Iran or as it used to be called Persia was a Ally of the United States until the peanut farmer of Georgia got the Shah expelled from his own country and the Ayatollah took over.

Ever since then we have been in trouble with the Muslim countries

[Sarah Barracuda]

Yeah Iran just loved us LOL Andrea Mitchell proves that stupid is forever

[ClearCase_guy]

It is also true that we were at war with England before Obama became president, but since his inauguration, there has been absolutely no trouble on that particular front.

Just ignore the whole Revolution/War of 1812 aspect of it, and the statement is perfectly true.

[DoughtyOne]

While I do agree with your interpretation based on the pre-Carter years, I don’t think she was referencing back that far.

She meant to convince folks Bush changed Iran’s true relationship with the U. S. for the worse with his statement.

One wonders what she thought of the hostage crisis. Did she think they were just keeping our diplomats safe for over 400 days?

[Richard from IL]

The marines who were bombed in Lebanon in 1983 would beg to differ.

[posterchild]

‘Great Satan’ must be a farsi term of endearment.

[DoughtyOne]

Hello.

My name is Adrea Mitchel...

...and I’m a lair-aholic.

Welcome Andrea...
Hi Miss Mitchell...
Yo Andrea...
Hey Andrea...
Good evening Andrea...
Sweet...

[VTenigma]

I guess she spaced that whole hostage crisis thingy./s

[M Kehoe]

November 4, 1979.

Sheesh.

5.56mm

[Billthedrill]

Yep, and the USS Cole as well.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Yep, the damage from Mr. Peanut is still upon us. His damage, however, can’t compare to what the Kenyan has done. I’ll be long gone before that damage is history.

[realcleanguy]

I think Left Wing revisionism is akin to what Hitler did to the German people in the 1930’s and led them to destruction.

[Charles Martel]

MITCHELL: ...Because up until that moment, Iran was cooperating with the United States on the border of Afghanistan, it was post-9/11, Iran was more or less an American ally.

Andrea, you ignorant slut. Cooperation does not equal alliance - just ask Khadafi.

[Bernard Marx]

Yep, and the USS Cole as well.

While there's plenty to blame Iran for, the Cole isn't part of it directly. It was bombed an al-Qaeda attack in the port of Aden in Yemen.

[JimSEA]

Andes, you are lying to those too young to remember or too indoctrinated to care. I’d say shame but you have none.

[fishtank]

[fishtank]

[fishtank]

[Amagi]

Hello. Andrea. Clueless much?
Let me tell you about Americans held hostage in Iran during the pathetic Jimmah Carter administration.

[Kaslin]

See, it goes all back to the peanut farmer from Georgia