I heard something outrageous on CNN yesterday afternoon. I sometimes listen to Wolf Blitzer's 4:00 show while I cook and I'm used to shaking my head in disgust as I chop away at vegetables. But what I heard yesterday stunned me. From the kitchen I couldn't tell whom Blitzer was conversing with, so I waited till
a transcript of the show was posted today.
Blitzer and John Roberts (CNN Sr. National Correspondent) were discussing the talks in Vienna, at which six world powers decided to present Iran with an ultimatum: "Stop the nuclear activity and receive benefits or continue and there will be costs."
With an "if you will" flourish worthy of Dick Cheney, Blitzer termed these talks a "triumph" for Condoleeza Rice. Yet, ever the cautious reporter, he adopted a wait-and-see attitude:
BLITZER: John, it's an important diplomat triumph, if you will, for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. But it's too early to be corking champagne bottles over at the White House.
I guess our teetotaler President corks champagne bottles when he celebrates, instead of uncorking them.
Roberts also expressed some doubt, focusing his skepticism on those obstructionist peacemongers at the U.N.:
ROBERTS: Yes. I mean, there is nothing to suggest, Wolf, that even though they have agreed on a set of sanctions that anything is going to get past the U.N. Security Council.
Here comes the kicker. Note first how Roberts mispeaks and confuses Iran with Iraq. I've boldfaced the absolutely outrageous part:
ROBERTS: Don't forget, there has been resolution on sanctions against North Korea because of its nuclear program that's been languishing for three years. And then, of course, there is the issue, if they do get sanctions leveled against Iraq--leveled against Iran, are they going to work? Don't forget, Iraq endured 11 years of sanctions, and, you know, we still had to go to war to get rid of what it was that they had.
BLITZER: Good point, John. Thank you very much.
Apparently, the fact that no WMD were ever found in Iraq merely causes Roberts to avoid using the term "WMD." Yet the necessity of the war still remains, cut loose--liberated, if you will--from any specific reason: we had to go to war to get rid of what it was that they had.
And Blitzer allowed the conversation to conclude there, even thanking Roberts for his "good point." These guys must have "corked" something pretty potent before they went on the air.
Mr. Roberts, have we gotten rid of what it was that they had yet? Will you let us know when the "what it was" is good and gone so that people can stop dying for it??
Will you tell us "what it was" they paid you to spew this shit?
Mr. Roberts--if you will--you're an imbecile. An irresponsible hack. You and the Wolf you rode in on.