Matt Damon:
By on Dec 15th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Matt Damon:
Maybe President Bush’s daughters should go to Iraq.
[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2006/12/damon.320.240.flv]
DAMON: I don’t think that it’s fair, as I said before, that it seems like we have a fighting class in our country that’s comprised of people who have to go for either financial reasons or — you know, I don’t think that that is fair, and if you’re gonna send people to war, if we all get together and decide we need to go to war, then that needs to be shared by everybody, you know, and if the president has daughters who are of age then maybe they should go too.
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We should have seen that comment coming after this:
Why shouldn’t I work for the N.S.A.? That’s a tough one, but I’ll give it a shot. Say I’m working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. So I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I’m real happy with myself, ’cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never had a problem with get killed. Now the politicians are sayin’, “Send in the marines to secure the area” ’cause they don’t give a shit. It won’t be their kid over there, gettin’ shot. Just like it wasn’t them when their number was called, ’cause they were pullin’ a tour in the National Guard. It’ll be some guy from Southie takin’ shrapnel in the ass. And he comes home to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, ’cause he’ll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile my buddy from Southie realizes the only reason he was over there was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And of course the oil companies used the skirmish to scare up oil prices so they could turn a quick buck. A cute little ancillary benefit for them but it ain’t helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. And naturally they’re takin’ their sweet time bringin’ the oil back, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain’t too long ’til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So my buddy’s out of work and he can’t afford to drive, so he’s got to walk to the job interviews, which sucks ’cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin’ him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he’s starvin’ ’cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat the only blue plate special they’re servin’ is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what do I think? I’m holdin’ out for somethin’ better. Why not just shoot my buddy, take his job and give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.”
December 15th, 2006 at 9:39 pmExcellent post Jeffrey Stewart.
I think this is all connected to the class wars.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:43 pmWho the hell ever toldja life was fair? —-
Everyone’s Parents
December 15th, 2006 at 9:46 pmI always thought Matt Damon was a bit of a chunkhead, but he’s alright.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:48 pmGood Will Hunting is my favorite all time movie. Truly brilliant. I wish Matt and Ben would do more like that one.
Good for him for speaking the truth. I love when these celebrities use their status for something other than bling and attention…
December 15th, 2006 at 9:52 pmWho gives a shit what Matt Damon says?
December 15th, 2006 at 9:52 pmBut, if the power of his starness makes the unwashed stoopid masses of America wake up, because they get their political views from Entertainmetn tonight, then hey – this is awesome!!!!
How dare he insult The Decider and his angelic daughters who live and breathe the purity of the great American race?
I shall boycott all of these liberal Hollywood elites and I will watch only good Christians and Americans on tv and in film.
Can’t think of any right now, but there must be some talented Christian conservatives out there, somewhere.
Dear Jeebus, please give me some recommendations.
-GSD
December 15th, 2006 at 9:53 pmAny politician who votes for war should send atleast one sibling to the war zone to show his/her support for the war!
December 15th, 2006 at 9:54 pmJeffrey Stewart, Outstanding post, Thank you…..Blessings
December 15th, 2006 at 9:54 pmI always thought Matt Damon was a bit of a chunkhead, but he’s alright.
Comment by Zooey — December 15, 2006 @ 9:48 pm
We definitely don’t have the same taste in men. I think he’s hot. Smart-ass Alpha Males with a conscious really do it for me… :D
December 15th, 2006 at 9:56 pmComment by Jeffrey Stewart
Ha! I saw Goodwill Hunting too. Love that speech. And he is married with an argentinian.
December 15th, 2006 at 9:57 pmwe have a fighting class in our country that’s comprised of people who have to go for either financial reasons or — you know,If you don’t work hard and do your studies you could end up…….John Heinz.
Thank you for your insight Matt. I wasn’t aware that a parent could volunteer their children for military service. I wonder if Saint Cindy would have been allowed to stop Casey from joining and reenlisting in the army. Makes as much sense. Do the Bush girls support the war? How would you know? Do you suppose it’s genetic? How about Saint Cindy, did she support the war? What happened to Casey?
December 15th, 2006 at 9:57 pmMatt, what would you do if your parents volunteered your services for something? The idea that parents should be allowed to control their adult kids seems so progressive.
Who gives a shit what Matt Damon says?
I do. Whoever speaks against the atrocities and hypocresy of the actual US government, in times where critical thinking and questioning is seen medievally as witchcraft, has my applause.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:00 pmWe definitely don’t have the same taste in men. I think he’s hot. Smart-ass Alpha Males with a conscious really do it for me… :D
Comment by unbelievable
Yeah, that’s why I like Danny DeVito. :-)
Heh.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:01 pmJenna and Barbara Bush are probably thumbing through the Yellow Pages today. What are they looking for? Easy! Easy! SPERM BANKS.
Jenna is telling Barbara, “If we get KNOCKED UP, we won’t be KNOCKED OUT in Iraq. I bet Mary Cheney ain’t goin’ to Iraq.”
Good thinking girls! You’re much brighter than your father.
Girls, your cousin, Noelle, is good at writing prescriptions. Just call her up and have her write you a prescription for you-know-what.
Just take the prescription to your local sperm bank. Presto! No Iraq duty.
John
December 15th, 2006 at 10:02 pmDo the Bush girls support the war?
Comment by beefeater
Only if they think there is alcohol in the oil.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:03 pmThe idea that parents should be allowed to control their adult kids seems so progressive.
Comment by beefeater
That argument is totally lame-assed.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:06 pmYeah, that’s why I like Danny DeVito. :-)
Comment by Zooey — December 15, 2006 @ 10:01 pm
I think he’s taken :)
December 15th, 2006 at 10:08 pmHow about Saint Cindy, did she support the war?
Comment by beefeater
Why a grieving mother makes you feel so threatened, that you have to call her names?
December 15th, 2006 at 10:11 pmI think he’s taken :)
Comment by unbelievable
And Matt Damon isn’t? Ha!
December 15th, 2006 at 10:17 pmDo the Bush girls support the war?
Comment by beefeater
Well, they certainly haven’t spoken out against it, have they? None of their able-bodied cousins, male or female, are serving in the military, either, nor are the children of any war-supporting Republican member of Congress I can think of, other than Duncan Hunter, and I think a son of John McCain currently is or is about to. If you can add any more names, please do. But it says a lot about the GOP warhawks that they are all for sending other people’s children to war but not their own.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:19 pmBy contrast, both of Lyndon B. Johnson’s sons-in-law served in Vietnam, and Prince Andrew of the UK in the Falkland War.
Full-time cowards get threatened by even the thought of their own shadow, so why should uncomfortable truths not scare them? Bush and his merry band of armchair Genghis Khans not only won’t encourage their own to fight, they won’t even stand up straight and encourage anyone to sign up. They know that the loudest supporters of their bloodsucking charade would run and hide so far and so fast that they’d lose half their base.
That’s why these pathetic right wing lickspittles will seem like they’re stooping to attacking those who’ve actually lost family members. They’re not actually stooping; it’s the normal posture for an invertebrate.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:22 pmAnd Matt Damon isn’t? Ha!
Comment by Zooey — December 15, 2006 @ 10:17 pm
He just got married. He’s still allowed to be hot, I think…
December 15th, 2006 at 10:25 pmSince we still live in a somewhat free society without a military draft, Jenna and Barbara are afforded the same freedoms that the rest of us enjoy. We can choose to join the military or choose not to join the military. Yes, it is mostly the disenfranchised that feel compelled to join, for whatever reason. The problem is not with the Bush daughters, but with George Bush and the rest of the elite, ownership class that firmly believes that we are supposed to be and must be subserviant to them. We don’t have to be and we will not (at least I won’t)!
I for one would not want Jenna and/or Barbara Bush in the military simply because they are not mentally capable of adhering to and maintaining the standards required for military service of this country. A great many who do serve and survive the rigorous training and demands still succumb to the stresses they sometimes must endure and fail their oath. Why would someone want 2 people, who I equate intellectually with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, to serve in our military?
Our military is not supposed to be used to satisfy some dark political agenda. It is only supposed to be activated in the case of dire national emergency such as an invasion by another sovereign nation’s armed forces. George Bush has reduced them to nothing more than his personal thugs to do his whimsical bidding. He has dishonored them like no president has before.
Let Jenna and Barbara party naked in Argentina all they want. It’s the best thing they can do for the well being of our country.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:33 pmHe just got married. He’s still allowed to be hot, I think…
Comment by unbelievable
Well, Danny DeVito hangs out with George Clooney, and George Clooney is super hot. Danny sort of gets lost in that equation…
December 15th, 2006 at 10:39 pmPeople need to stop beating the “only the poor join the military” argument. The heritage Foundation just completed a study which said the most recruits from 2003-2005 came from middle-class families while the poor were UNDERrepresented during that same time.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/cda06-09.cfm
December 15th, 2006 at 10:40 pmSurge of Troopers to the Iraqi Theatre to begin
Pentagon to move troops into Kuwait
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq
December 15th, 2006 at 10:40 pmZoo and UnB, would you please stick to the issue?
December 15th, 2006 at 10:42 pm*jealousy face* :)
#23 Church Secretary
How many times to I have to keep telling people to stop slandering Genghis Khan. There is no comparison whatsoever between the great Khan and the Bush administration. For one, Genghis grew up in war, was a masterful strategist, and a great Tribal Politician.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:45 pmIf you want to make a comparison to anyone in history, call them an Armchair Julius Caesar. It makes a whole lot more sense.
Zoo and UnB, would you please stick to the issue?
*jealousy face* :)
Comment by Juan C — December 15, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
We are talking about Matt Damon :)
Okay… really going now. ‘Nite.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:46 pmJust think, if Laura and Dubya adopted Brittany and Paris, then they would have a twin set of drunken slut twins….. and none of them would EVER go in harm’s way!
December 15th, 2006 at 10:46 pmPeople need to stop using the “only the poor join the military” defense. Check out this site: http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/cda06-09.cfm
This study was just published in October. Basically most recruits from 2003-2005 were middle-class while the poor were underrepresented based on over population during that time. Also there is only a -2% difference between the percentage of whites in the army compared to the overall population and +2% difference in Blacks who joined the army compared to the overall population.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:48 pm*jealousy face* :)
Comment by Juan C
That Juan is really hot, too. Ask anyone. He hangs out on TP…
:-)
December 15th, 2006 at 10:52 pmGeorge Clooney, now there’s a hottie I would like to trip and beat him to the ground…To bad I am not as quick and pretty as I once was…Sigh!.. Blessings George and all
December 15th, 2006 at 10:58 pmHe hangs out on TP…
:-)
Comment by Zooey
Ha!! Good one. ;)
December 15th, 2006 at 11:03 pmOur military is not supposed to be used to satisfy some dark political agenda.
Um, I think we jumped the shark on that one a couple hundred years ago.
December 15th, 2006 at 11:16 pm#36
December 15th, 2006 at 11:19 pmYou’ll have to cite someone besides the Heritage Foundation. As an organization, they were founded for one reason, which was to put a patina of academic credibility on the the indefensible policies of the Republican party.
I’m sure you’ll find the same results no matter whose survey you use. The whole argument is left over from the days of the draft. The whole recruiters preying on the poor is giving them a bad name.
December 15th, 2006 at 11:25 pmWho the hell cares if Barbara & Jenna are ready for war? My husband @ 17 was not ready for war – my son @ 18 was not ready for war -however, they went – my husband served in Vietnam; my son in the first Gulf war. The thing with wars is that the marjority of people who are in them are not “ready for war” – the whole point is that the ruling elite are almost always ready to commit our sons and daughters to war; they certainly do not think that their progeny should participate. I cannot think of anyone I know who has been in combat was “ready for war” – how could anyone be? If our goverment has involved us in a war – everyone should participate – Barbara & Jenna should be at the very front commiting themselves to the war their father has started. Roosevelt had four sons who volunteered …. how about Barbara, Jenna, Mary……no one should be excluded.
December 15th, 2006 at 11:31 pm#1
December 15th, 2006 at 11:32 pmAt the time I saw Good Will Hunting, this little speech impressed me but it was spoken quickly and it all didn’t sink in– shortly thereafter when I read it in print, I was astonished. Thanks for printing it here.
This was the 2004 situation. Still looking for 2006 data
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/03/AR2005110302528_pf.html
Youths in Rural U.S. Are Drawn To Military
Recruits’ Job Worries Outweigh War Fears
“Many of today’s recruits are financially strapped, with nearly half coming from lower-middle-class to poor households, according to new Pentagon data based on Zip codes and census estimates of mean household income. Nearly two-thirds of Army recruits in 2004 came from counties in which median household income is below the U.S. median.”
December 15th, 2006 at 11:51 pmOT, sorry. Does any one have an email address or site I can send A nice letter to Al Gore.? …Please and Thank You..Blessings
December 16th, 2006 at 12:02 amWell if you have a problem with the Heritage Foundation, then surely you realize that the Washington Post is about as Left as it gets for major newspapers.
December 16th, 2006 at 12:04 amWhatever #29. The tall order per McCain, Lieberman, Bush, etc., the use of the present military for extended service (three to four tours) plus the call up of arm forces who should be here, i.e. remember Katrina, either don’t want hear the warnings or maybe don’t want to come to reality.
This present government and their allies are beyond the lack compassion, it’s all about profit. The Jesus Christ that I learned about in my childhood would have never, in my opinion, stand for this.
My opinion again, Jesus Christ would be a Liberal, and the neocons/wingnuts are too blind to see because of this so call end of the world stuff instead of embracing him or her here in this life. They would rather call this person a terrorist, and in the U.S. – unamerican.
I want to know that my children have a future with peace. Not just the rich but all here on this earth or at least can afford a safe passage to Mars.
December 16th, 2006 at 12:13 am#48 Joneses
random question … I’ve always wanted to ask this, and since you seem to be a believer in Christianity … do you think that Jesus is more powerful as a divine figure, or as a fully human figure? In other words, is Jesus a better divine figure because of what his actions (as in caring for the poor etc.) or is he even more amazing because he was human and therefore showed the rest of us that it is possible to ‘care’ for everyone whether or not we know them and no matter what their or our position in life is?
December 16th, 2006 at 12:21 am“if we all get together and decide we need to go to war, then that needs to be shared by everybody…”
That would include you and your hollywood pals too Matt. Oh yeah, I forgot you all are not included because you’re big “stars”.
These people play dress up and recite lines that someone wrote for them and they think they are experts on everything.
Give me a break!
December 16th, 2006 at 12:48 am“we have a fighting class in our country that’s comprised of people “
Heh! What a nitwit! He meant to say “a fighting class that’s COMPOSED of,” not ‘comprised of…..’
Quick lesson on proper usage, you child:
The United States is COMPOSED of 50 states.
The United States COMPRISES 50 states.
This chunkhead doesn’t understand basic word usage…It is hysterical Thinkprogress is citing this grammatically-challenged half-wit as some type of sage. HehQ
December 16th, 2006 at 1:29 amHe used to live right next door to Howard Zinn..thank god for the People’s History Of The United States!! exley needs to pick it up and stop focusing on grammatical errors while ignoring the statements semantic truth
December 16th, 2006 at 3:17 am#1 = I would only expect to find something like this on a shelf in a bookstore! Great piece of writing.
I was never really fond of Matt Damon but that changed
December 16th, 2006 at 4:01 amwith this statement.
There need to be coming more from the entertainment
industry. Man Hollywood needs to join the political stage
and take responsibility for telling the people some truth.
Or they will end up making movies like Leni Riefenstahl.
The last thing the military needs is the irresponsible party twins in the service.
December 16th, 2006 at 4:13 amIt never helps when a celebrity comes out against the Bush Junta. It’s altogether too easy for the pundits to massacre them. These sorts of stories, IMO, should be avoided. They only help to discredit any sort of real resistance movement.
December 16th, 2006 at 4:27 amMost here will continue with the fantasy that this war is being unilaterally propogated by an insane Bush Administration intent on securing cheap oil or enriching itself with war contracts. Believe whatever you want. But if your assessment of the war in Iraq is so clear and keen, why is there so little talk from the newly elected democratic majority about defunding the war and bringing the troops home?
December 16th, 2006 at 5:54 amThat’s pretty funny, vet. Even if your statement is accurate, it is effectively meaningless. It’s like saying the Titanic is the most impressive ship under the ocean. If ‘major newspapers’ were really progressive, we wouldn’t need websites like “Think Progress.”
…such as? If some really prominent non-politicians hadn’t thrown their careers on the three-card Monte table then, Vietnam might have lasted into the ’80s. In a media-driven society, celebrities (unfortunately) have a great deal of influence. Would Arnold Schwarzenegger be CA’s governor without the assist from Oprah? Who knows.
Don’t belittle Damon’s stance. Questioning a right-wing war– even one as obviously cocked up as Bush’s– can seriously damage an entertainment career. Just ask Jane Fonda.
December 16th, 2006 at 6:29 amMatt Damon laments the fighting class. Too poor to have any other choice. Matt made 10 million for his ‘work’ in The Bourne Identity. Instead of going to Iraq to help defend his right to speak freely in this country (and help balance the class representation he is so troubled by) he would rather compel a couple of girls to do it for him. Real hero.
December 16th, 2006 at 6:36 amRepublican Senator John McCain has introduced legislation that would fine blogs up to $300,000 for offensive statements, photos and videos posted by visitors on comment boards, effectively nixing the open exchange of ideas on the Internet, providing a lethal injection for unrestrained opinion, and acting as the latest attack tool to chill freedom of speech on the world wide web.
December 16th, 2006 at 6:53 amWhile Matt made a good point regarding who goes to war…I think what needs to be examined here is what is the ‘mission’ ITSELF before we talk about who fights it…over the last few years the package of reasons behind this war given was made of different contents and different colors.If you ask two Congressmen to define the mission , you will get two different answers,the same with two journalists…and two in the Bush administration..even the mission makers do change their description between one month and the other. If the mission as it was described in early days of the war to topple Saddam and find and destroy WMD….we would be out of Iraq by now…but the mission seems not to be clear,and seems to have different colors. UNLESS PEOPLE DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT REALLY THE MISSION IS THRU THEIR CONGRESS,AND THEIR MEDIA THEN WE WILL BE IN THIS ENDLESS WAR FOR A LIFTIME.
December 16th, 2006 at 7:09 amWhen women are going to moon, Iraq is on Earth.
December 16th, 2006 at 7:17 amwell it amaze me that people share there views with such hatred venom yet not understand what’s going on but should be grateful for the men and woman who gave and give there life’s but being afraid of things we dont’ understand the men and woman before in military thru history fought and are fighting freedom is worth fighting for but in saying that god has the finale say pray for the men and woman of the service god bless
December 16th, 2006 at 7:29 amDo the Bush girls support the war? How would you know? Do you suppose it’s genetic? How about Saint Cindy, did she support the war? What happened to Casey?
Matt, what would you do if your parents volunteered your services for something? The idea that parents should be allowed to control their adult kids seems so progressive.
Comment by beefeater
Hey muckdog, I think what is being gotten at is that there should be a draft especially for politicians children when war is waged.
You make the assumption that people don’t get economically forced, or sometimes “conned” into signing up by recruiters with all the oily charm and grace of a used car salesman. Basically, recruiters are government funded con-artists these days.
Lets make a draft especially for politicians children.
December 16th, 2006 at 7:31 amThis idea that being a politician is all perks and no penalties is about the stupidest thing I’ve heard. I see absolutely no constitutional impediment to drafting politicians children when conflict breaks out and I think it would actually make these shith3ads think twice before starting wars of choice. I love how these politicians love to talk about “sacrifice”.. as long as its other people who would be doing the sacrificing.
#61Matt Damon laments the fighting class. Too poor to have any other choice. Matt made 10 million for his ‘work’ in The Bourne Identity. Instead of going to Iraq to help defend his right to speak freely in this country (and help balance the class representation he is so troubled by) he would rather compel a couple of girls to do it for him. Real hero.
Comment by paul
December 16th, 2006 at 7:41 amWe are NOT in Iraq to help defend our right or Iraq’s right to speak freely.
We are NOT in Iraq to fight the terrorist there so we don’t have to fight them here.
We are NOT in Iraq because of 9-11.
And Matt Damon is merely making a point. This is the problem with those who cannot argue the validity of their opposition to sound advice; they argue against the messenger; or “your with me or against me” (the Bush method of argument).
America is not feeling the immediate pain and consequence of our actions in the middle-east and war in Iraq. A draft would begin that process and perhaps get us off our asses to move us quickly out of this situation.
#52 Exley stop being a linguistic hipocrite.. you quibble over small verbal mistakes yet you support a guy who mangles the english language like it was an enemy combatant…. “suiciders” and “misunderestimaters”? ring a bell.. yikes.. thats like the pot voting for the black ketting, or something like that..
oh, and the Heritage Foundation can kiss my a3s.. those dudes are tools and world class propagandist.. reminds me of the the time muckdog was trying to disprove global warming by quoting some guy who said cigarettes were good for you and asbestos could have saved the world trade center.
http://www.commondreams.org/pressreleases/march99/031799a.htm
December 16th, 2006 at 7:43 amI keep hearing about how actors should not make comments on politics. But, I say Why Not? They are citizens too. They have every right to speak out and be heard like all the rest of us do. If people want to boycott them for political views, thats that persons choice. Speak Matt Damon! Speak Robin Williams! Speak AND sing Dixie Chicks!
December 16th, 2006 at 8:09 amWhile I agree with Damon – I wonder if he also thinks he should go to Iraq? I imagine he’s the correct age to go fight.
I hope he isn’t just advocating that politician’s children should go and also means the Rich and Famous…
December 16th, 2006 at 8:27 amBut if your assessment of the war in Iraq is so clear and keen, why is there so little talk from the newly elected democratic majority about defunding the war and bringing the troops home?
Comment by paul — December 16, 2006 @ 5:54 am
The “democratic majority” has a lot on it’s plate. At least they won’t spend two days a week rubberstamping special interest giveaways to Big Business. Newly-elected members are just getting their sea-legs, and you’re wondering why they aren’t already clamoring for a change of course?
Let’s see what Henry Waxman digs up in the next six months. After twelve toothless years of republican Deputy Dawgs running around marking their territories and howling every time they scent a Clinton in the hallway, he’s itching to draw that holstered subpoena power.
December 16th, 2006 at 9:18 amAppeal for Redress from the Iraq War – petition by active service members – gathering signatures for delivery to Congress in January 200. Sign it if you are active duty – pass it on to those who are..
http://www.appealforredress.org/
The wording of the Appeal for Redress …..
As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq . Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
December 16th, 2006 at 9:32 amSoldiers call for Iraq withdrawal
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/121606Z.shtml
Appeal for Redress from Iraq War
December 16th, 2006 at 9:45 amAnd how about you Matty boy? Shouldn’t you go? You seem to be of age? And if you do decide to go to Iraq Matty boy that’s when I join the insurgency in the place where you happen to be.
December 16th, 2006 at 9:52 amIHL
And just who is the insurgency? Are they the Sunni baathists supported by the Saudis, the Wahabi Muslims, the fathers of the Taliban, the country of Osama, the spawners of the 911 crew, who Bush secretly support?
Or are they the Shiite, the majority, who are not Arab, but Persian, culturally aligned with Iran, the country that did NOT spawn the 911 crew.
Ever ask yourself why the US media never identifies the insurgents as Sunni? Rarely will they make mention of that. Their omission is meant to suggest that the insurgency are Shiite. Because BushCo is bought and paid for by the Saudi Taliban.
Do you get it? Our military sons and daughters have fought and died to depose a Sunni leader who fell into the Saudi princes disfavor. And now the Saudi princes are hopping mad at the mere suggestion that our troops withdraw. We haven’t yet achieved the mission of the Saudi princes – their lust to dominate the Persians – Iran is in their sights and our army is their weapon.
December 16th, 2006 at 9:58 amThinkprogress is citing this grammatically-challenged half-wit as some type of sage. HehQ
Comment by Exley — December 16, 2006 @ 1:29 am
Grammar does not define intellect. You have great grammar, but you’re not very bright. So Matt Damon’s grammar is a bit off… He was accepted to Harvard. I bet you couldn’t get in even if you were friends with the Dean.
December 16th, 2006 at 10:16 amExley could not even read the piece about Padilla correctly. Exley’s first comment mistated the issue – Exley thought it was Padilla’s attorney’s trying to declare him incompetent. Exley – it’s the Government’s attorneys who want Padilla declared incompetent in order to discount his claim of torture.
Probably too complicated a thought process for Exley.
December 16th, 2006 at 10:26 amWhat seems to be lost upon the people who say that Damon should join the military and fight in Iraq is the fact that he is not the one who is advocating that the war and occupation be fought. What seems to be overlooked is the hypocrisy of the Bush administration. Bush has continually stated in the past that the citizens of this country should realize that since this country is supposed to be at war, that they must then sacrifice for their country. This begs the question: when will the mainstream media finally ask either Tony Snow and/or Bush if Bush has urged his daughters to sacrifice by joining the Army and fighting in Iraq? This is an extremely relevant question. He has counseled the citizens of this country that they should sacrifice for his war. Does his advice include his daughters as well as his other family members as well as Cheney’s daughters and Donald Rumsfeld’s son and Karl Rove’s son? If not, why not? Again, the mainstream media should be asking these questions but for some inexplicable reason, they are not.
December 16th, 2006 at 10:32 amI agree with Erroll’s comment (#78).
Damon is making the point that Bush doesn’t seem to care for members of the military. Bush acts as if members of the military are expendible.
Damon is bringing Mr Bush’s daughters into the discussion in order to personalise it for Mr Bush and/or to expose Mr Bush’s disregard for the wellbeing of members of the military.
December 16th, 2006 at 10:57 pm#75. No, the problem isn’t exactly how you state it.
It is true that the administration would like to support the Sunni side (that were implicated in the 9-11 attacks), and that a more secular or Sunni run solution would be more appealing to them. The US does not like the Shia (not originated in Iran, but largely based there now)- that is also true.
However, the insurgency – if you want to call it that has multiple faces. Arab/Persian Shia, Arab Sunni, non-Arab Kurd who all now have political clout in the weak Iraqi govt. and even more clout as militias on the street.
Also, the Baathists were more secular – not religiously fanatic Sunni’s – like OBL’s followers. It is good that you identify that there is no singular insurgency.
Don’t doubt that some Kurds are also insurgents – at least in Turkey!!
Anyone see the excellent interview last week of Jay Garner with Brian Lamb? What an astute leader of the interim he was. He was able to broker common interest among the factions, wanted to keep most of the military, economic, and civil infrastructure in place, and could see thorugh Chalabi’s BS right away.
You know going into Iraq was a big mistake, but a huge mistake was yanking Garner out in favor of Bremer, and then disassembling any sense of structure that remained in the country. Even if you agree with the neocon philosophy, you have to be stunned by the near complete incompetency with which the post conquest efforts have been planned and implemented.
December 16th, 2006 at 11:14 pmThose that cannot do teach.
December 16th, 2006 at 11:55 pmThose that cannot teach if their father is a president go on vacation for a party and certainly do not serve overseas in the danger areas. They party safely close to home.
The real question is…..if Matt Damon truly thinks there shouldn’t be a fighting class then he should get his sorry self over to Iraq. Why should the Bush daughters have to go if Matt Damon can stay here in his mansion? Just fyi: I am not a Bush fan.
December 17th, 2006 at 1:54 amJR at 1:54 am
The answer to your question is at post #78.
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December 17th, 2006 at 2:20 amYep, it’s true. People have become stupid. People think just because a man is in the spotlight that he is a smart person. People need to leanr to form there own opinions. Just like with poilitical parties. I work at a grocery store and I get to talking to some of the customers and on occasion, we get into politics. I had a customer say who they voted for and why. Their resoning… because he’s a democrat. This person did not know the first thing about this politician, or their views… they just knew that they were a democrat. Sad huh? I don’t give a care what Matt Damon thinks about the war. What maked Matt Damon so special to the point that his opinion is more important than ours. He got to express it on TV. Other than that, nothing else. He has a child, maybe when his child grows up, it will be drafted and he wont be saying anything then. I may not support the war 100% but I support the troop and the fact that they are fighting over there. ANd if you don’t support the troops, than I pity you. I do believe that the war started for the right reasons, WMD’s not everyone is gonna say, but they didn’t have any, they didn’t make any and my personal favorite, don’t you think we have enough intel to know if they are making WMD’s. I’ll give you my response to that. I feel a lot safer when I go to bed at night knowing that I will wake up and not be destroyed by a nuke or posioned by some type of chemical gas. Yes, the war has gone on too long, but I don’t thinl it should stop. Maybe once they get peace, but untill then, I don’t mind it. Most of you reading this are wondering,” is this guy crazy, he is a psycho.” I explain one of my biggest things why I’m okay with the war. Many of you will argue that this war is over oil, and that may be true but let me ask you this. How many of you drive. How many of you have less eco efficient cars. How many of you already spend a lot on gas. Well, I can live with the gas prices being two dollars a gallon… but when they reach four or five… then I might be thinking differently. Balancing your money might be a little more important when you pay that much money for gas. But to end the topic at hand. Matt Damon may be a smart guy and all, but he doesn’t know war untill you’ve seen it. None of us have unless your a veteran and have fought. Some may say you know what the war is about, but there is so much going on under the radar, we may never know. But don’t listen to a man just becuase he is on TV and must express his political views so that he wont feel alone out there. Thank you.
December 17th, 2006 at 2:33 amBut don’t listen to a man just becuase he is on TV and must express his political views so that he wont feel alone out there.
Comment by bigboylive — December 17, 2006 @ 2:33 am
I agree: I never paid much attention to Bill O’Reily or any of the other Bush FauxNews sycophants, for that matter.
Can we make this thought extensive to radio and include blow-hard extraordinaires Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage? How about newspapers and magazines, and we can also ignore that neo-con cheerleader William Kristol?
December 17th, 2006 at 2:52 amWell, I can live with the gas prices being two dollars a gallon… but when they reach four or five… then I might be thinking differently.
Comment by bigboylive
As long as this war provides you with 2 dollars a gallon, I think iraqis and your soldiers can hold on there…whats the rush?
One of the saddest, most ignorant, cynical and inhumans post ever…I pity you.
December 17th, 2006 at 3:38 amWhy should I care what Matt says? If he really believed what he says, he would sign up today. Go, Matt, go. There are brave men and women over there who have volunteered to put themselves in harms way. If Matt wants to send women in his place, what does that say about Matt?
December 17th, 2006 at 4:09 amMay the Shwartz be with You, my friends!
December 17th, 2006 at 4:45 amNice posts here, even though I couldn’t get through earlier…
There was a movie called “What the ‘Bleep’ do we know?”
in which an interesting phenomenon was explained. You can only see what You believe is possible. You can only hear what You believe is possible and You can only feel what You believe is possible. When Columbus reached the West Indies, the Indians couldn’t see his ships because they didn’t know about ships. It didn’t exist in their world of possible perceiptions.
The truth about this war and about the whole community of human parasites in public offices is not part of the perceivable possibilities of John and Jane Doe. The American public has been so brainwashed in the last hundred years that it will take a tremendous effort to enable the average American to brake through to the other side and to finally be able to recognize the “Ships” on the water, the lies everywhere around us. There is a lie at every corner. Only if we accept endless possibilities, including the inconvenient ones, we will accept the fact that our government has been nothing but lying, cheating, deceiving and betraying its own citizens for an extended period of time.
There is, in my humble opinion, a urgent neccessity to overcome the ‘blindness’ towards the deceit.
Matt Damon is a little long in the tooth for the military, sorry folks–he must be close to 40, right?
December 17th, 2006 at 4:48 amThat doesn’t make his statement any less true. The Bush twins, on the other hand, are at prime age–early 20s. Lots of energy, bullet-proof. Ask any little nightclubber.
As for the misguided idea that parents have no control over adult children, I would argue that this seems to only be the case in the Bush family.
I am an adult, and my elderly mother (she raised 5 children alone–she divorced my father, an alcoholic deadbeat dad) still has much influence over me and my siblings. Not that there’s “control”, but we have the respect for her that is due her. I think we’ve all witnessed the lack of respect GW has for his own father, so why in the world would anyone expect that his party-hearty daughters would respect him, at a time when he holds the highest office in the nation? At the best, they are guilty of behaving the way they’ve been taught, at worst, they have no sense of decorum.
ItsJustKarma–
December 17th, 2006 at 4:52 amgreat post. So true–people turn a blind eye to the unfathomable.
I worked out a formula early in the Bush Administration, to extract truth from their statements–
you take the statement and turn it 180 degrees, and there is the truth.
[...] I saw THIS on Think Progress and decided it was worth a post. I agree with Damon, it is bullshit that the rich make the war but send the poor to fight it. If you support the war and such send in your own, or go yourself. Example: My mother supports the war, she was all gung ho about it, but when I suggested joining up (I didn’t want to, I was testing her) she said “No, you are not going over there to die”. It is amazing how fast your opinion changes when it’s one of your own… [...]
December 17th, 2006 at 4:56 amYou can only see what You believe is possible. You can only hear what You believe is possible and You can only feel what You believe is possible. When Columbus reached the West Indies, the Indians couldn’t see his ships because they didn’t know about ships. It didn’t exist in their world of possible perceiptions.
Yeah I think you’ll find that’s bullshit.
December 17th, 2006 at 6:54 amApart from the fact aborigines used boats themselves (were they invisible too?) they’ve actually recorded their sightings of european ships in paintings.
No that’s still an eligible age for entry.
Nor does it make it any less a statement from a military aged male pointing out that two females are eligible to serve in the bloodiest US combat zone in the past 30 years.
December 17th, 2006 at 7:12 amWell, I can live with the gas prices being two dollars a gallon… but when they reach four or five… then I might be thinking differently.
Comment by bigboylive
Perhaps the new Cancer drug for breast cancer thats £16,000 a course and seems to work , unless the company that makes this drug reduces prices perhaps we should invade their country and kill their women and children until they drop their prices
same theory as stealing oil i spose
December 17th, 2006 at 8:41 amLets put it this way to those who say Matt Damon should be joining the military…
He should, if he supports the war in Iraq. If he does not support the war in Iraq, to join the army would be counter to his own beliefs – as it would be aiding in something he sees as being wrong.
Now, how about some of the trolls here, have you signed up? Have you gone and actually put your money where your mouth is? If not, why not?
December 17th, 2006 at 10:14 amBruce Gorton at #105
Well said.
December 17th, 2006 at 10:38 amI disagree with him because I don’t know the twin’s position on the war. I think Bush, his wife and the entire Bush administration, their echo chamber on right-wing radio, everyone at Fox News, republicans in Congress and the dead-enders who still support Bush and his boondoggle in Iraq should be the ones killing Iraqis or being kill by them.
December 17th, 2006 at 10:39 amNever thought that I would agree with Charles Rangle, but there should be a couple years of service required of all citizens, be it civilian or military.
December 17th, 2006 at 2:02 pmTrolls your time has come…
December 17th, 2006 at 3:24 pmI think you might be a bit confused here. Don’t you mean Matt Damon’s parents ? Whether they support the war should determine whether Matt joins regardless of whether he already has a career path ?
We alredy know the fact that Damon earns millions of dollars in one career and would earn stuff all in another isn’t a relevant deciding factor since you ask this…
Couldn’t you just assume it is the same reason they don’t join the fire department every time there is a fire. Because they already have a job.You know, the situation that applies to pretty much all adults.
No doubt some people want to work for the NFL because they really like football. For the vast majority of the population though it would just be a choice of one job over another.
December 17th, 2006 at 5:09 pmTank,
I too am tired of the “If you support the war then go fight it” argument. However, the underlying concept of that argument is more valid today than ever before. That concept being the personalzation of the war for the war hawks in Washington. It’s easy to support a war when it involves watching things blow up on CNN. It’s not so easy when the thing getting blown up just might be a loved one. Perhaps if the Bush girls were sent to Iraq or Afghanistan, Bush might actually understand the true cost of war.
December 17th, 2006 at 6:21 pm[...] pornstar wonder woman Robert De Niro and Matt Damon will be on Hardball next week, so they played a little teaser clip for us. Damon thinks that all of America should share the burden of war and maybe the Bush Twins could be serving our country better shopping in Baghdad. superman wonder woman sexread more | digg story [...]
December 18th, 2006 at 12:51 amDamon has a point. The theocons are all about family values, but not a single one of them is willing to speak out about how neither of the Bush girls are in Iraq, but the media is all upset when Sen.-elect Jim Webb’s disses Chimpy, even after Bush had know that Webb’s son almost died in Iraq.
December 18th, 2006 at 9:55 amWhat you little trolls fail to see is that Matt Damon is saying that if you support the war, you support it by encouraging your children to join a branch of the armed services. He is saying that they need to quit being hypocritical.
Since we do not support the war, why in the hell would we want to enlist or send our children? Matt doesn’t support the war, why would he enlist. Get some logic you .
Why does it have to be spelled out to them like a kindergardener?
December 18th, 2006 at 12:27 pmOne things for sure. If politicians and their offspring had to go fight, there wouldn’t be any wars.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:01 amMatt Damon needs to keep his mouth shut!!!! What a ASSHOLE!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:19 pmThen can we expect to see Matt Damon at the recruiter, requesting duty in Iraq?
December 27th, 2006 at 2:58 pmVery original jeff. Moron
December 29th, 2006 at 7:48 am