Fox News Reverses Course After Initially Calling For U.S. Navy To Blow Iran Boats ‘Out Of The Water’
Fox News Reverses Course After Initially Calling For U.S. Navy To Blow Iran Boats ‘Out Of The Water’
On January 7, the media reported that five Iranian speedboats had harassed three U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz, almost instigating a military confrontation.
The next day, Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade angrily claimed the Navy should have blown the Iranian boats out of the water. Speaking on the morning show Fox & Friends, Kilmeade said the following:
KILMEADE: Was this a mistake not to blow these other Iranian speedboats out of the water? [...] Why did we not destroy these speedboats? [...] We had an opportunity to send a message to a nation that has been needling us for 20 years.
Today, a week after his call for war with Iran, Brian Kilmeade was forced to concede that the verbal threats made against the U.S. ships are “a possible hoax from a man called the ‘Filipino Monkey.’” Kilmeade’s co-host Gretchen Carlson claimed that she knew it all along. “I remember sitting in my office thinking, you gotta be kidding me? That voice does not sound to me like an Iranian accent.” She didn’t say that on-air, however, prior to this morning.
Kilmeade’s other co-host, Steve Doocy, piped in with this comment:
DOOCY: But can you imagine, had we blown those little boats out of the water to find out, you know, that they didn’t have bombs and in fact it was the Filipino Monkey who was somewhere on shore pulling a prank?
Indeed, we would have have, if Fox News had its way. Watch a compilation:
Carlson wrapped up the segment by stating, “Let’s hope it’s not the Filipino Monkey, for our sake. Because I think it’s a humongous embarrassment.”
UPDATE: More from Newshounds.
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93 Responses to “Fox News Reverses Course After Initially Calling For U.S. Navy To Blow Iran Boats ‘Out Of The Water’”
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hey, at least he got the chance to say ‘Filipino Monkey'...
January 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pmsanctioned...
Could I possible hire a couple of Iranian naval vessels to blow Faux Snooze off the air?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:06 pmit's a GINORMOUS embarrassment, bimbo...
January 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pm“Let’s hope it’s not the Filipino Monkey, for our sake. Because I think it’s a humongous embarrassment.â€
Embarrassment would be so much worse than a war with Iran, afterall.
/snark off
January 15th, 2008 at 2:07 pmThese idiots are really suffering without their writers.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pmDoes this qualify as a Macaca Moment?
Should I laugh at Faux News or weep for my country?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:09 pmBoth, woodgguy, both.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:10 pmFaux Snooz should only be on Cable Access.
Although the production values are much higher, the content is on par with Wayne's World.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:11 pmThis is like a bad Gilligan's Island plot (as alluded to by Keith Olbermann). Watch the hilarious hijinks as Gilligan starts World War III!!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:13 pmPoor, poor Doocy....he's all upset because we couldn't start a third war. Poor widdle baby.....
January 15th, 2008 at 2:14 pmKilmeade desperately needs a course in recent history, specifically the events surrounding the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. But wait.... the dolt can't read anything beyond My Pet Goat.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:14 pmPerhaps we should always ASSume that it was the Filipino Monkey, at least until one of those boats slams into and sinks one of our Naval vessels in full U.S.S. Cole style, then we can blame the President for not taking earlier action.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
No. From now on anything that moves should be bombed. What happened in this instance is what should happened. You support the troops right? Well, luckily they have the brains to determine what's going on & handled it correctly. It was the GWB spin doctors that misplayed this after the fact & probably wish it had triggered a war. Thankfully this was yet another case of making a mountain out of a molehill... like the attack on Iraq. Just intentionally mishandled intel in order to attack a country they planned to attack anyways.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:15 pmPerhaps we should always ASSume that it was the Filipino Monkey, at least until one of those boats slams into and sinks one of our Naval vessels in full U.S.S. Cole style, then we can blame the President for not taking earlier action.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Or perhaps we should ASSume that all middle eastern countries possess WMD and we should preemptively attack every country, but when no WMD are found we can blame the Clintons.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:15 pmThe Males on Fox News are sending a message that they have "size" issues...
January 15th, 2008 at 2:16 pmIndeed, the Gulf of Macaca incident, a huge embarrassment.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:17 pmEeeeeek! Scary speedboats threatening our huge military for which we spend more than the rest of the world COMBINED! Let's all hide under our beds on election day.
sheesh!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:20 pm"Be Afraid of The Iranian Water Skiers of Death"
January 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm~Reich-wing talking point 145,479,141,056
Breaking News:
An anonymous source is telling us that the U.S. is declaring war on all speedboat manufacturers, just in case they have WMD hidden in their hulls!
Film at 11!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:24 pmI really, really thought the right side had at least a small amount of courage. Listening to the pundits and reading some of these posts makes me realize that the right side is filled with whiny little babies - no offense to babies.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:26 pmI'm sure Jeff Gannon would assert that those water skiers have nookular warheads stashed in their speedos.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:26 pmgood-golly also thinks that little kids on bigwheels are motorcycle gangs.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pmI’m sure Jeff Gannon would assert that those water skiers have nookular warheads stashed in their speedos.
Comment by Peter C
Don't be ridiculous. Men can't hide ANYTHING in their speedos. Ewwwww.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pmListening to the pundits and reading some of these posts makes me realize that the right side is filled with whiny little babies - no offense to babies.
Comment by StratRat — January 15, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Don't forget, these are the same Republicans that support world wars but are too afraid to join them. They're chickenhawks, key word being "chicken". So their fear is not unexpected.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:29 pmRightoric at Fox Noise? Say it ain't so!
Gulf of Macaca, heh
January 15th, 2008 at 2:35 pmEven FoxNews might realize now that a THIRD war in the Middle East might not have the desired effect on the American voters in November.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pmI don't get it -- wouldn't it have been easier for Faux news "personalities" to pretend they had never said anything stupid about this?
I mean, isn't that what they usually do?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pmIt’s a damn shame after all these years that we still can’t tell the difference between a Persian and an Arab. Of course if you’re a member of the “shoot first, and then ask questions later†crowd, it doesn’t really matter I guess.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:41 pmWait, wait!
Does this mean that Faux Snooze is now reading too many of Ahmedinijad's press releases, too?
Let's ask Mitt.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:42 pmComment by ralph the wonder llama — January 15, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Listen to good_golly, they don't think they were stupid. They still feel the appropriate reaction was to bomb the ships, valid threat or not. By waiting to sort it out they probably think the U.S. looks weak whereas by bombing the shite out speedboats with boxes & faked threats make them look like they're not to be messed around with. Now they've just set themselves up for rubber dinghy attacks.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:42 pmre 28:
the rethuglican motto is "if they're white, they're allright, if they're brown, gun'em down"
January 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pmNow they’ve just set themselves up for rubber dinghy attacks.
Mind you, most Reps will have some experience dealing with dinghies wearing rubbers.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pmgg, you don't have to defend your guys at Faux News 24x7. It makes you look weak and whiney little guy. Get off your knees and show some strength, you are an embarrassment.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pmComment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
real republican/fox news thinking there gg!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:47 pmNow they’ve just set themselves up for rubber dinghy attacks.
-Comment by Dave C
I didn't know Jeff Gannon had served in the Navy!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:48 pmTo answer Doocey's question, what if we had killed people involved in a hoax against US Warships, my answer is "so what?"
Three dipshit teenagers taunt a tiger in the zoo, so one gets mauled and another killed - good, ef them. Similarly, a prankster goes into a war zone and taunts US battleships, ef them too, blow them out of the water, and they won't taunt battleships anymore.
It's called Darwinism. Stupid people die.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:48 pmKilmeade = sh!t for brains
January 15th, 2008 at 2:49 pmWhat do you mean, 'in'?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:50 pmDOOCY: But can you imagine, had we blown those little boats out of the water to find out, you know, that they didn’t have bombs and in fact it was the Filipino Monkey who was somewhere on shore pulling a prank?
Yeah, just as embarrasing as invading a country for non-existen WMDs.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pmPerhaps we should always ASSume that it was the Filipino Monkey, at least until one of those boats slams into and sinks one of our Naval vessels in full U.S.S. Cole style, then we can blame the President for not taking earlier action.
Comment by good_golly
Huh? The Filipino Monkey just seem to jam radio communication with stupid messages, just like you jam every thread you comment on.
I didn't know Filipino Monkey also rammed boats.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:54 pmWhat would happen if Iranian destroyers were operating in international waters off the coast of New York or Norfolk and the Coast Guard sent boats out?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:55 pmThe marketplace — the ultimate free market poll.
Maybe you wouldn't mind then if we subjected global warming, universal healthcare and other liberal ideas to the free marketplace of ideas. There are huge majorities reflecting demand for these things yet we don't seem to have them.
The market is not free. And to ridicule us for talking about polls when you support the party of the corporation who are CONSTANTLY polling and gathering data on it's customers.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pmYou poll-it-ariats love polls. Take this market poll for a spin. How do Fox News ratings compare with Air America’s ratings? The marketplace — the ultimate free market poll.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Hmm, comparing tv with radio. That should work. btw, is that how polls work? By watching Faux News you automatically agree with it & embrace their spin? Or could it be some watch just to ridicule & see how the other half thinks? Isn't that why you're here? You add to the popularity of ThinkProgress, does that make you a believer in every article that is posted here?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pmYou poll-it-ariats love polls. Take this market poll for a spin. How do Fox News ratings compare with Air America’s ratings? The marketplace — the ultimate free market poll.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
What gg is sayings is that Republican's pay so much more to propogate their arguments, so they must be true.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pmComment by Juan C. — January 15, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
filipino monkey = gg ?
makes sense. they both hate america and what it stands for.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pmPerhaps we should always ASSume that it was the Filipino Monkey, at least until one of those boats slams into and sinks one of our Naval vessels in full U.S.S. Cole style, then we can blame the President for not taking earlier action.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Unless those speed boats can hit Mac 5 I really dont think your argument holds much water. We can knock inbound supersonic threats. So, maybe best to give the baby speed boats a hundred meters or so before you cause world war III. Dont you think?
Here is what awaits them if they do charge at us. So relax before you go rooting for more dead Americans in a needless war (not to mention 8 dollar per gallon gas for your Hummer Sr. Dumeass...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH5RVTS4QxA&feature=related
January 15th, 2008 at 3:01 pmHow does Fox News content compare with Air America’s?
Well, Fox lies, obfuscates, denies, stretches, mangles and aborts truth, to begin with. Corporate funding allows way below average commentators and comments to be falsely hyped as 'somebody'.
While MSM had actual reporters on the ground in Iraq, Fox pundits made the calls from the safety of a studio.
Roger Ailes onced produced 'A Current Affair', which feature whom?...
Bildo O'Really! Wow, what a coincidence.
I could go on, g_g, but I have to go throw up now.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:07 pmYou poll-it-ariats love polls.
Comment by good_golly
for the record we're lumpin poll-it-ariats. We do have a pole for you though.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:08 pmCarlson wrapped up the segment by stating, “Let’s hope it’s not the Filipino Monkey, for our sake. Because I think it’s a humongous embarrassment.â€
FOR WHOSE SAKE?
FOX NEWS?
YOU?
Those of us in the REALITY BASED COMMUNITY saw this for precisely what it was the moment it was manufactured, edited together, and broadcast for spoon-feeding.
THE ONLY REASON you hope it turns out to be a hoax and fails to start WWIII is that it reveals YOU to be a PROPAGANDIST SHILL FOR THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF IF ISRAEL, and the fact that it did fail to start WWIII.
We get it.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:12 pmHow do Fox News ratings compare with Air America’s ratings? The marketplace — the ultimate free market poll.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Comparing apples to oranges -- the ultimate tighty-righty debate technique.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:15 pmIts a tabloid.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:19 pm51 yes, unless chimpy is stirring shit around the world.....
January 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pmOn March 14, 2007, a federal judge in the United States, Robert Doumar ruled that the Sudanese government was liable for the bombing.[3]
The ruling was issued in response to a lawsuit filed against the Sudanese government by relatives of the victims, who claim that Al-Qaeda could not have carried out the attacks without the support of Sudanese officials. The judge stated "There is substantial evidence in this case presented by the expert testimony that the government of Sudan induced the particular bombing of the Cole by virtue of prior actions of the government of Sudan." [4] On July 25 2007, Doumar ordered the Sudanese government pay $8m to the families of the 17 sailors who died. -Wikipedia
January 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pmNow, do you think we should rest easily and just assume every threat is from a Filipino Monkey prankster with these murdering terrorists on the loose?
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
Now, do you think we should attack and invade every middle eastern country because herr dubyah "thinks" [sic] they have WMD?
January 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pmOn February 3, 2006, 23 suspected or convicted Al-Qaeda members escaped from jail in Yemen. This number included 13 who were convicted of the USS Cole bombings and the bombing of the French tanker Limburg in 2002. Among those who reportedly escaped was Al-Badawi. On October 17, 2007, Al-Badawi surrendered to Yemeni authorities as part of an agreement with al-Qaeda militants. Following his surrender, Yemeni authorities released him in return for a pledge not to engage in any violent or al-Qaeda-related activity. Now, do you think we should rest easily and just assume every threat is from a Filipino Monkey prankster with these murdering terrorists on the loose?
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
You assume that the entire foregoing story is true, correct?
Do you have any proof that the United States was not directly involved, and that these individuals were not operatives of the US Intelligence Community or Mossad?
Just because you read something, doesn't make it true.
Who REALLY bombed the Cole? You have no idea.
Who REALLY bombed the King David Hotel?
You REALLY have no idea.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:29 pmNow, do you think we should rest easily and just assume every threat is from a Filipino Monkey prankster with these murdering terrorists on the loose?
Comment by good_golly
gosh, I don't know what to do.....guess I could give up my democracy because I'm really scared now.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:29 pmgood_golly, you are missing the point....the Iranian water ski boats were not and are not a threat. Plus, the Navy cannot confirm that that voice they heard came from those Iranian water ski boats. In other words, you as a typical unhinged reich-winger, wants to murder Iranians for the sake of being Iranian. How utterly pathetic.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pmgg's not missing the point.....she thinks we care what she thinks. In the words of bugs bunny....."What a maroon"
January 15th, 2008 at 3:32 pm“Be Afraid of The Iranian Water Skiers of Deathâ€
~Reich-wing talking point 145,479,141,056
Comment by Dr. Matt
January 15th, 2008 at 3:32 pmGood thing no one at Faux was in charge of those Warships. Shoot first, ask what happened later.
Buck Fush
January 15th, 2008 at 3:33 pmhttp://adlusa.us/israelis_evacuate.htm
Scores dead in three Amman hotel bombings; Israelis evacuated before attack
By Yoav Stern and Zohar Blumenkrantz
Bombs rocked three hotels in Amman late last night, killing at least 57 people and wounding more than 115 in apparent suicide attacks. One of the hotels is known to be popular with Israeli tourists. "There were three terrorist attacks on the Grand Hyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn hotels, and it is believed that the blasts were suicide bombings," police spokesman Major Bashir al-Da'aja told The Associated Press. He declined to elaborate.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.
A police official said the attacks were simultaneous and hit minutes before 9 P.M. in two districts in the Jordanian capital, including the commercial area of Jebel Amman and Al-Rabiyeh, which houses the Israeli Embassy. A number of Israelis staying yesterday at the Radisson SAS were evacuated before the bombing by Jordanian security forces, apparently due to a specific security alert. They were escorted back to Israel by security personnel.
The Foreign Ministry stated yesterday that no Israeli tourists are known to have been injured in the blasts. Representatives of Israel's embassy in Amman were I contact with local authorities to examine any report of injured Israelis, but none were received. There are often a number of Israeli businessman and tourists in Amman, including in the hotels hit yesterday.
Israel's counter-terror headquarters yesterday recommended Israeli citizens not travel in Jordan. Travel recommendations regarding Jordan were tightened a few months ago, but many Israelis still visit the country. Many also visit other regions such as the Jordanian Arava and the ancient city of Petra.
The first bomber, at 8:50 P.M. local time, struck the Grand Hyatt, completely shattering the stone entrance. An AP reporter saw at least seven bodies removed from the hotel and many more wounded carried out on stretchers.
CNN reported an eyewitness saying the Jordanian prime minister's car was at the Grand Hyatt at the time of the blast.
Police said a second explosion hit the nearby Radisson SAS hotel, where about 250 people were attending a wedding reception. At least five were killed and at least 20 wounded in that blast, believed to have been caused by a bomb placed in a false ceiling, police sources at the scene told Reuters.
The Radisson, in particular, is popular with Israeli tourists and was a target of several foiled Al-Qaida plots in the past.
Police also reported a third explosion at the Days Inn Hotel in Amman. There were also casualties at that hotel.
"The attacks carry the trademark of Al-Qaida," one police official said on condition of anonymity in line with police regulations.
"However, it is not certain. We are investigating."
Ayman al-Safadi, editor of Jordan's Al-Ghad newspaper, told the Al-Arabiya satellite network that it was a "terrorist operation."
"Finally, the terrorists succeeded in breaking the security in Jordan," he said, referring to past success in foiling many terror plots.
Jordan's King Abdullah II condemned the attack, saying, "Justice will pursue the criminals" behind the Amman suicide attacks, CNN reported. Abdullah, who was on an official visit to Kazakhstan, cut short his trip and was returning home last night.
The Grand Hyatt and Radisson SAS hotels, in the commercial Jebel Amman district, are located about one kilometer apart and are frequented by American and European businessmen and diplomats. The Days Inn is located three kilometers away.
An American businessman who was at the Grand Hyatt when the explosion occurred said a "bomb that went off in the lobby." He declined to identify himself.
"It was a miracle that we made it out with a scratch," said a British guest at the Grand Hyatt.
"We thought it was fireworks for the wedding but I saw people falling to the ground," said Ahmed, a wedding guest at the Radisson who did not give his surname. "I saw blood. There were people killed. It was ugly."
Jordan, a key ally of both the United States and Israel, had largely escaped the terror attacks that have hit other parts of the Middle East, and its sleepy capital, Amman, is viewed as a haven of stability in the region.
But Jordan has not been entirely immune: On Aug. 19, militants fired three Katyusha rockets at a U.S. Navy ship docked at the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, narrowly missing it and killing a Jordanian soldier.
Jordanian officials blamed that attack on Al-Qaida in Iraq, and there have been growing worries that the violence in Iraq could spill over into Jordan, where many Iraqi exiles have taken refuge from the violence.
EXPLAIN THAT.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:34 pmIt's interesting that so many of the lunitic fringe, being so caught up in their loyalty to the Bush regime and pro war thinking, couldn't look past the reality of the situation. If these minute speed boats had intentions of "blowing us up", why would they have given us "minutes" of notice?
January 15th, 2008 at 3:35 pmEXPLAIN THAT.
Comment by plunger
hi plunger.......that's all I read of your post.....I think most just scrolled by too.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:37 pmhi plunger…….that’s all I read of your post…..I think most just scrolled by too.
Comment by Fred — January 15, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
That's very nice, Fred. Thanks for sharing everyone else's opinion.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:41 pmit's not that I think it's not releveant....that's just not why I am here.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pmit’s not that I think it’s not releveant….that’s just not why I am here.
Comment by Fred — January 15, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
Oh, so you were just speaking for yourself then, and not "nearly everyone?"
Thanks for clarifying.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:52 pmIf the commanders on the scene had believed the Iranian boats were credible threats? They would have probably "blown them out of the water" as so many seem to wish. The simple fact that no violence occurred pretty much destroys any credibility of claims of "provocation". In light of the Cole attack, and our current standing in the region, legitimate "provocation" would be dealt with on the spot.
A short Google will turn up plenty of anecdotes of interaction between U.S. Naval vessels foreign vessels, from dugouts on up, including Iranian vessels. One will soon come to the conclusion that the Iranian Navy uses these small boats, for approaching U.S. vessels, because they are not threatening. They provide a "unprovocative" way to positively identify foreign vessels operating within weapon range of Iran.
Our government's claims of provocative actions, after the fact, makes them look like complete idiots. And it's very amusing to watch those who were using the incident, as a legitimate argument for action, squirm.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pmPerhaps we should always ASSume that it was the Filipino Monkey, at least until one of those boats slams into and sinks one of our Naval vessels in full U.S.S. Cole style, then we can blame the President for not taking earlier action.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
I think that ANY kind of threat should be treated seriously, but weighed with a little common sense before any impulsive reactions are put into play. For instance, in the Iranian boat situation, it makes sense to ask "would a little bitty boat sit there in the water threatening a great big boat with great big weapons on it?" Chances are that if any of those little boats was indeed packed with explosives intent on doing harm, they would have gone ahead and kamikaze'd their way into the ship instead of issuing warnings. The lack of a Farsi accent was a bit of a tipoff, too.
I think the skippers of the American ships are to be commended. I'm sure they were very alert during the situation and considered all possible scenarios. I doubt they tossed anything aside lightly. But had they reacted violently, we could have been in a worse situation.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:55 pmPlunger,
That's some scary shit.
Jordan, on the other hand, has been acting a little like a 'fence-walker', trying to have it both ways.
Now, let's see if Bushit blames it all on Iran.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pmYea, I guess you’re right dono. There’s no way such a small vessel could have ever done any damage to the U.S.S. Cole, right? WRONG Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
You compare RAMMING A BOAT with a small speed boat not NEAR a boat? ROTFL!!! You're one dum bass little child!
No WONDER you 'TARDS are SO EASILY MANIPULATED by FOX NOISE and the GOP MORONS that keep making DISASTROUS DECISIONS! You're a COMPLETE MORON!!! ROTFL!!
January 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pmmissmolly. You and I agree that the skippers acted appropriately to the situation. At least we have that common ground.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
yes, except thatyou don't share that kind of common sense, or you wouldn't have written your initial post the way you did. so, you're a hypocrite and a liar.
not news.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:10 pmFox Noise, like the Republican candidates, were more than willing to take retaliatory action against this unsubstantiated "threat."
January 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pmIt would have been more than an embarrassment - it could have escalated into an uncontrollable series of events.
Cooler heads prevailed, thankfully.
Lefty, lefty, lefty. The difference is that TP would have the sailors let down their guards and assume that the provocative actions by the Iranian Revoluntionary Guard speed boats were not a threat
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
What evidence do you have to support this assertion?
Oh, wait -- it's Gigi. Just more lame accusations without anything to back them up.
Carry on.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pmFox News...has several hosts and commentators with widely varying viewpoints. Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
Yes, the vary from extreme right to extreme far right.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:40 pmLefty, lefty, lefty. The difference is that TP would have the sailors let down their guards and assume that the provocative actions by the
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
TP is now part of the DOD?
January 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pmOf course, one wonders what happened between the White House "leaking" the story, the release of the amateurish attempt at "video confirmation", and the complete discrediting of the story. One could wonder whether the video was sabotaged, by military/government factions seeking to thwart Bushco, to cause just this response.
These are the types of situation where Bush displays his abject, deer in the headlights, stupidity and all the toadies have to follow party line until someone finally convinces him to shut up about it. Lord knows he'll never admit he's wrong.
However, it does appear the MSM is setting itself up to drop any allegiance to Bushco. (The local NBC anchor actually laughed when they ran the video.) There was a certain amount of skepticism from the start and even some of the more strident voices backed down when the video "tanked in the ratings".
Would I like to see a prominent MSM outlet skewer Bush on this? Of course, but, they have set him up to discredit himself with each additional hostile word and the video is a perfect demonstration of the ridiculous disparity between our forces. I don't think a single sane person could see it and think military action is more necessary than before.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pmSorry for feeding teh troll (good golly). Anyway our fighting men and women distinguished themselves as usual and our government acted like idiots as usual. If you really think anyone in our Navy would have let those boats charge a ship under US flag in international waters you and the speedboats would be wrong.
The PR on this was a sham. That is the real story. All the bogus saber rattling is the main currency of so many politicians and xenophobic miscreants.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:49 pmI'm gonna call Kilmeade 'The Studio warrior'...
Send both them he and his buddy Steve Doocy straight to the war front to enjoy wars in the Middle East that they love so much, far away from their comfortable environment in their Fox studio.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:58 pmor you can watch Keith...
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/15/countdowns-worst-persons-columbus-doughy-pantload-adm-mike-mullen/
January 15th, 2008 at 5:06 pmIf you really think anyone in our Navy would have let those boats charge a ship under US flag in international waters you and the speedboats would be wrong.
Comment by dono — January 15, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
Exactly! Though, there is some doubt about the "International Waters". The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most contested major waterways in the world. While merchant vessels have limited "right of passage", the consensus seems to be that Iran, Oman, and others have every right to approach and inspect foreign Naval vessels for the purpose of positive ID and that long range (ship to shore) weapons are "safe".
Apparently, Iran has chosen to use these small vessels for this purpose because they can get observers close, and get out of trouble, very fast without "provoking" armed response. Oddly, shore based radar is considered, under certain circumstances, a "hostile act" because radar can be used to guide anti-ship missiles.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:06 pmMilitary's Information War Is Vast and Often Secretive
By JEFF GERTH
"The media center in Fayetteville, N.C., would be the envy of any global communications company ...
"The center is not part of a news organization, but a military operation, and those writers and producers are soldiers. The 1,200-strong psychological operations unit based at Fort Bragg turns out what its officers call "truthful messages" to support the United States government's objectives, though its commander acknowledges that those stories are one-sided and their American sponsorship is hidden.
"We call our stuff information and the enemy's propaganda," said Col. Jack N. Summe, then the commander of the Fourth Psychological Operations Group, during a tour in June. Even in the Pentagon, "some public affairs professionals see us unfavorably," and inaccurately, he said, as "lying, dirty tricksters."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/politics/11propaganda.html?pagewa
January 15th, 2008 at 5:16 pm“Most people prefer to believe that their leaders are just and fair, even in the face of evidence to the contrary, because once a citizen acknowledges that the government under which he lives is lying and corrupt, the citizen has to choose what he or she will do about it. To take action in the face of corrupt government entails risks of harm to life and loved ones. To choose to do nothing is to surrender one’s self-image of standing for principles. Most people do not have the courage to face that choice. Hence, most propaganda is not designed to fool the critical thinker but only to give moral cowards an excuse not to think at all.â€
Michael Rivera
January 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pmYea, I guess you’re right dono. There’s no way such a small vessel could have ever done any damage to the U.S.S. Cole, right? WRONG
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
The Cole was harbored in Yemen, and attacked by terrorists in a suicide bombing. This is hardly the same situation.
Stop being paranoid
January 15th, 2008 at 5:26 pmFox News, unlike the liberal MSM, has several hosts and commentators with widely varying viewpoints. I am sure that there are those on Fox News who wanted to “blow the boats out of the water,†and there were definitely those who strongly disagreed. That’s the good thing about Fox. They aired all viewpoints, not just one side or the other.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
Fox News gives you both sides of every story—the President's side and the Vice President's side.
January 15th, 2008 at 5:35 pmThey aired all viewpoints, not just one side or the other.
Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
never happened, never will happen. FOX news is government propaganda, bad propaganda from a bad government. you're either stupid or dishonest.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:23 pmI am afraid that gg at #77 has demonstrated the extent of his deluded opinion of Fox Noise.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:56 pmHe will always believe the msm is liberal, despite all evidence to the contrary; he will always believe Faux is well-balanced because that is what his brainwashing has accomplished in him.
Lefty, lefty, lefty. The difference is that TP would have the sailors let down their guards and assume that the provocative actions by the Iranian Revoluntionary Guard speed boats were not a threat, while in light of the USS Cole and other incidents, I would have them assume that they are a threat and not let their guard down. The U.S. skippers acted appropriately, including having their men ready to fire warning shots if the speed boats got any closer, and to sink them if they didn’t heed the warning. Comment by good_golly — January 15, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
WHAT provocative actions? NO provocative actions were ever shown, other than some LUNATIC wailing on a RADIO...
You're as DUMB as are you INSANE! Good Golly INDEED!
January 15th, 2008 at 9:45 pmFunny, I was always under the impression that all the clowns on Faux News were Filipino Monkeys. I figured they'd be able to spot one of their own just by listening to such audio tapes. I guess not.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:54 amI guess it's not unusual that Fox used the term incorrectly. It's a Filipino Monkey, not the Filipino Monkey. It began as a generic term about "radio griefers" in the Pacific. Can they get anything right?
January 16th, 2008 at 7:25 amY'all may find it interesting to read the following article posted at Truthout
January 16th, 2008 at 11:36 am
oops -
January 16th, 2008 at 11:37 amJanuary 16th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Sorry link insert doesn't appear to be working
January 16th, 2008 at 11:38 amhttp://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/011508M.shtml
I love checking out the ramblings of unhinged lefty losers...
January 16th, 2008 at 11:46 am