You may have heard about new Defense Secretary Leon Panetta‘s trip to Iraq–mainly because while in the country he told some U.S. soldiers that they were there because of 9/11. That led to coverage like this in the Washington Post:
On Monday, in his first visit to Iraq as Pentagon chief, Panetta appeared to justify the U.S. invasion of the country as part of the war against Al-Qaeda, a controversial argument made by the George W. Bush administration but rebutted by President Obama and many Democrats.
Also rebutted by…reality.
Panetta’s visit was covered on television too. But on NBC Nightly News (7/11/11), Pentagon reporter Jim Miklaszewski was paying tribute to the new boss at the government agency he’s paid to cover (a practice known as a “beat sweetener”). Panetta’s Al-Qaeda gaffe? Well, in Miklasziewski’s view, “Panetta misspoke when he appeared to suggest to these soldiers that the U.S. invaded Iraq because of al-Qaeda.”
What you really need to know is that Leon Panetta’s a stand up guy: “Throughout this trip, Panetta showed he’s a different kind of Defense secretary, bold and outspoken.” I think we very recently had a Pentagon leader who was “bold and outspoken” and attempted to link Al-Qaeda and Iraq.
Miklaszewski closed with this:
At 73, Panetta’s s already had a lifetime of public service. And he told us today he took the Pentagon job because he loves the work. And so far, Brian, there’s no holding him back.
Way to hold his feet to the fire.
Perhaps he and everyone else (including FAIR) should go to the website Leading to War at http://www.leadingtowar.org and see the film, and its ledes as how we got there. At least someone could see some substantial reporting and history!
Relax, Miklaszewski might have said: “The aging comedian and Defense Secretary, Leon Pannetta, entertained the troops with his short version of what brought them to Iraq. Gotta love this administration’s DoD appointment!”
I got to laugh(and i did )at that statement when he made it.I can just see the call he got from Obama. Probably sounded something like this
prez…..Ah Leon we talk like that behind closed doors,but in front of the world we have to keep to the liberal talking points
leon…..Sorry mr president.I forgot that Iraq was no threat at all ,and Bush went to war for his daddy ,or something like that.Dont worry -i told everyone we would be pulling most of our troops out of the war theaters 2 months before the next election.I didn’t forget that.
prez……And whatever you do don’t talk about Gitmo.
leon……Yes sir.Yes sir.Ah one question I have about libya……
prez…….No comment
“At 73, Panetta’s already had a lifetime of public service. . . .”
Translation: He made a career of living on the taxpayers’ dime.