What's George Bush's solution to hostile media coverage? Bomb it, of course!
PRESIDENT Bush planned to bomb Arab TV station al-Jazeera in friendly Qatar, a "Top Secret" No 10 memo reveals.But he was talked out of it at a White House summit by Tony Blair, who said it would provoke a worldwide backlash.
A source said: "There's no doubt what Bush wanted, and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it." Al-Jazeera is accused by the US of fuelling the Iraqi insurgency.
The attack would have led to a massacre of innocents on the territory of a key ally, enraged the Middle East and almost certainly have sparked bloody retaliation.
Not to mention destroyed one of the few genuinely free media outlets in the Middle East and a vital force for democratic progress in the region. But it's been clear for some time that the US has no commitment to a free press unless it slavishly follows their line; just look at what they did in Iraq, where one of the CPA's first moves was to establish press censorship (something about as far from American values as torture).
The man is crazy. Absolutely batshit fucking crazy. Caligula crazy. Hitler chewing the carpet crazy. And he leads the world's most powerful nation, and controls an arsenal of nukes.
We just better hope he doesn't take a dislike to the coverage he's getting in the New York Times...
4 comments:
It will be interesting to contrast the media coverage that results from Bush privately talking about bombing a TV station, with the (lack of) coverage when Clinton actually did it.
Posted by Nigel Kearney : 11/23/2005 07:49:00 AM
Don't forget the hoohaa when Bush got actual questions from an Irish reporter a while back.
Posted by Muerk : 11/23/2005 10:45:00 AM
Yup, he certainly fits the DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for a well known personality disorder:
1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
2. Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
3. Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
5. Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.
6. Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
7. Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
I'm sure I don't need to provide examples of the above ;-)
Posted by zANavAShi : 11/23/2005 11:59:00 AM
My first impression is that the British government wanted this story to run, but only once, and then look like they were against it. (Surely GWB is a pain in the ass to them too.)
Posted by Anonymous : 11/24/2005 05:16:00 AM
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