2007.09.13: September 13, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Swaziland: Journalism: Television: Congress: Iraq: Military: Washington Times: Chris Matthews talks about General Petraeus testimony before Congress
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2007.09.13: September 13, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Swaziland: Journalism: Television: Congress: Iraq: Military: Washington Times: Chris Matthews talks about General Petraeus testimony before Congress
Chris Matthews talks about General Petraeus testimony before Congress
"And I keep thinking about General Eisenhower. I didn't serve in the military, I was in the Peace Corps. But let me tell you something: General Eisenhower, when he met with the troops on D-Day, right before they took off and risked their lives, and lost them in many cases, he said, 'Good luck, soldier.' Imagine if he'd said to them, 'Good luck, soldier. I don't know what the hell you're fighting for, I don't know if this is going to make our country any safer or not.' It's unimaginable." Television Journalist Chris Matthews served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland in the 1960's.
Chris Matthews talks about General Petraeus testimony before Congress
Inside the Beltway
John McCaslin
September 13, 2007
Matthews 2008
"General Petraeus won't say if the dying in Iraq will make America safer. Then what are we fighting for? What are the people dying for?"
Questions not asked this week by a Democratic Party leader, but by MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, who come to think of it is sounding more like a presidential candidate these days than the candidates themselves.
Including 2008 presidential candidate Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Delaware Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who as a "Hardball" guest this week was unable to articulate his full feelings about Tuesday's testimony before the committee by Gen. David H. Petraeus on the Iraqi surge.
Tried Mr. Biden: "But this is — this — I'm — I'm — I'm getting myself angry about it. I mean, uh — uh — uh — "
"I understand, sir," interrupted Mr. Matthews. "You're very emotional about this ... And I keep thinking about General [Dwight D.] Eisenhower. I didn't serve in the military, I was in the Peace Corps. But let me tell you something: General Eisenhower, when he met with the troops on D-Day, right before they took off and risked their lives, and lost them in many cases, he said, 'Good luck, soldier.' Imagine if he'd said to them, 'Good luck, soldier. I don't know what the hell you're fighting for, I don't know if this is going to make our country any safer or not.' It's unimaginable.
"It's unimaginable that Petraeus came before the Senate and spoke," the MSNBC host opined. "Imagine what this is going to sound like on Armed Services Radio tonight and television when they watch the commander say they don't know whether they're making America safer or not. And he's asking them to go into battle every day. It's maddeningly stupid. And this President [Bush] seems to be hiding behind a guy he gave the orders to and then is expecting him to defend the policy."
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Headlines: September, 2007; RPCV Chris Matthews (Swaziland); Figures; Peace Corps Swaziland; Directory of Swaziland RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Swaziland RPCVs; Journalism; Television; Congress; Iraq; Military
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Story Source: Washington Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Swaziland; Journalism; Television; Congress; Iraq; Military
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