Charlie Rose

tartufe  12/04/2008 10:34 PM Report

What's not to like about Zakaria? Have his book - unread as yet. Implies (I think) the US needs to start thinking as a world neighbor rather than a hegemonic monopolizer of the only way to do anything - except well maybe wars and peddling of too sophisticated financial instruments.

Perhaps it's an ill wind that will curtail our penchant for war. The A-P (Afghanistan-Pakistan) conflict is shaping up to be our trifecta in stupid conflicts. The following is a re-post under General Chilton's conversation.

The US military via the air force and their missile firing drones are creating long term enemies that are now bringing predictions of non-nuclear mass destruction attacks in the foreseeable future. Our arrogance in our 30:1 proportion of civilians to bad guy kill will come home to roost. An aggregation of all Pakistan civilians killed will justify (rightly or wrongly) a terrorist attack - massive or otherwise.

The objective in Afghanistan and Pakistan is fanciful and doubtless illusive. What would victory be? Would we leave if Osama bin Laden were dead (whether by old age or missile fire)? Another will take his place. Then what? Do we stay until they vote us out a la Iraq?

Another 9/11 type attack is more likely the longer we stay than were we to leave tomorrow.

What goes around comes around. Technology is transferable - from nukes to missile firing drones.

How many civilian deaths would the arrogant jingos deem acceptable in Peoria?

highflyer  12/03/2008 06:36 AM Report

Well I'm glad you replied but I would prefer more quotes about how Zakaria believes America needs to bring democracy, 'regardless of its cost'.

I've just finished his book and it strikes me as full of the nuance, historicism and factful analysis that was absent in the Bush agenda. I've watched maybe a hundred hours of him doing interviews and speeches and I've yet to discern any distortive ideology.

And I don't regret 'calling you out'. When people are watching a video they often flick down to check the comments and to have the only comment be an attack on Fareed is just inappropriate. By your arguments it appears you are more thoughtful than some of the other people you read, who post short, baseless points against anything even tangentially linked to Bush or any of his policies.

craigb  12/02/2008 09:46 PM Report

Well highflyer ... at least I do not 'call out' other members.

My point is/was truly and sincerely one of "Lest we forget".

Lest we forget the significant role Mr. Zkaria played in the run up to the invasion of Iraq.

Lest we forget his contortions to rebuild himself and the neocon agenda.

Lest we forget his latest efforts in regards to militarily engage in Iran. And in the last few days against Pakistan.

And then finally, lest we forget Chaney and Wolfowitz and their strategy that we can push are vision on to other's ... we had Mr. Zakaria, in a rather slcik way, suggest we should follow that model. "We could be in the middle of all of that" Mr. Zakaria suggests.

My point is that when you cut through the slick presentation it's important to remember that Mr. Zakaria still suggests it is the duty of America to bring American style 'Democracy' to the world no matter if it's wanted and regardless of it's cost.

And I must close by stating that many years ago, I was quoting or doing some other foolishness on a forum being very supportive of Mr. Zakaria and was absolutely hammered for having not done my homework and being won over if you will by Mr. Zakaria's skills and my (as many American's) gullibility) towards a very eloquent, highly educated and successful Indian-born Muslim ... a point not lost on the Bush Administration.

I'm just get very edgy when I hear Mr. Zakaria's 90% spot on analysis with 10% hook for NeoCon Ubber Alas.

REMant  12/02/2008 06:38 PM Report

Just as with the "economic crisis" everyone is running around about these really insignificant attacks (in the large scheme of things) crying "we have to DO something!" This is precisely what the terrorists (and probably Israel) want us to do - something just as stupid as the Iraq war. What a coup that was! It has literally brought the US and the rest of the developed world to its knees. Imagine Geronimo doing as well. What I think we ought to do about this is what I would recommend if some teenagers shoot up another high school or college: reflect on at what WE, ourselves, have done, instead of running around pointing fingers and demonizing others. And if I were president I'd dismantle the Dept of Homeland Security about 30 secs after taking office, set up an IT czar and do some serious civil service reform instead.

While I don't like Mr Zakaria and his ilk either, I have to say he was circumspect here. If the opportunity Rose gives his viewers to join in the discussion is to be made the most of, it really is necessary to stay on-topic and try to be substantive, but which I would extend to both those who ridicule and those who puff.

highflyer  12/02/2008 05:01 PM Report

What a poorly argued and substance-free point you make craigb. Please elaborate on any of your erroneous pejoratives so that some sort of discussion can ensue, otherwise refrain from vanadalising the comment section of these videos.

craigb  12/02/2008 03:35 PM Report

In the front of the line for unrepentant neo-con media personality life time achievement award is Fareed Zakaria. He is so out of it that he sites Cheney/Wolfowitz policy as hallmark in foreign policy.

Although Fareed has previously stepped back and apologized for being a cheap administration sycophant, he still doesn't get it.