O’Reilly/Clark dust up….
Crooks & Liars thinks Bill O’Reilly might need to brush up on his World War 2 history. Actually they think worse than that and I’m being generous with my summary…
In his debate last night with Wesley Clark, Bill said this to prove his point:
Clark: And let me explain something. You go all the way up the chain of command —
O’Reilly: General! You need to look at the Malmedy massacre in World War Two, and the 82nd Airborne who did it!
That is a flat out lie. (thanks to Mccarthy.vg ) It was the Nazi soldiers that committed the massacre on US troops and not the 82nd Airborn on the Germans. Bill you just used false information to defame our own troops. How could you sink to a low like that just to try and prove a point in a debate. It took two minutes to discover your falsehood. I think you owe an apology to our military and every veteran who fought in WWII. How you could mix up an atrocity like that is beyond me and worst yet paint our own soldiers as being the perpetrators of one of the worst war crimes in WWII. Did you just pull it out of your—?
Here’s the C&L video of the segment.
And here’s is the Wikipedia link to the Malmedy Massacre….
I guess fnc never hired that fact checker they advertised for a number of months back.
Comment by Anonymous — October 4, 2005 @ 9:27 pm
Let’s see if the jerk makes an appology on his show… after all, he kind of forced the New York Times to do it… so let’s see if he holds himself to the same standard he likes to hold everyone else to.
Comment by Nobody — October 4, 2005 @ 10:34 pm
perhaps o’Reilly was thinking of the post SS massacre when u-s soldiers retaliated for the Malmedy Massacre by killing 60 German POW’s..
either way, he could have been accurate.
Comment by willy — October 4, 2005 @ 10:57 pm
was prolly thinking of the 82 airborne talked about at this site by The Daily Kos about Abu Graib http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/23/22489/0673
He should explain his mistake cuz its a pretty small one though seems to this site a simple apology wouldnt be humiliating enough to be worth the effort. He shouldnt even bother explaining himself to a left wing watch dog, much less apologizing
Comment by Wake — October 4, 2005 @ 11:51 pm
Nice to see this attack was based on things he actually said cuz we know what happened last time. I dont think he should, by your attitude about this its doubtful that he’d really accomplish anything sound like an angry lefty to me.
Comment by Wake — October 5, 2005 @ 12:00 am
There was a major massacre of nearly 600 Waffen SS troops whose camp was located close to Dachau. A detailed summary, including eyewitness accounts and actual photos of the massacre can be viewed here: http://www.scrapbookpages.com/DachauScrapbook/DachauLiberation/SoldiersKilled.html
Comment by karlito — October 5, 2005 @ 8:21 am
General Clark’s main point, the one O’Reilly seemed not to get (or chose to blow off), is that yes, there are abuses in every war. The difference is, our military has NEVER in the past condoned them, and has for the last 40 years or so (the Army Clark served in) ALWAYS prosecuted the abusers when discovered. We drilled into our soldiers both the rules and principles of the Geneva Conventions, and worked very hard indeed to impress upon them that “just following orders” is no excuse, that they are responsible for their own behavior and that there is NO justification for the abuse of prisoners under any circumstances.
But now, the current administration is, at worst, directing violations of the Geneva Conventions; at best, causing an atmosphere that permits and/or encourages such illegal activity. And let there be no doubt about it–the Constitution is quite clear that all ratified treaties carry the force of federal law (as if the UCMJ were not enough). They are undoing what officers like Wes Clark worked damn hard to repair within the Army during and after Vietnam.
That is why Clark has repeatedly called, as he did once again on O’Reilly’s show two nights ago, for a full and independent investigation into the abuses at Abu Grahib, Guantanamo and wherever else it is alleged to have occurred. For more information on this effort, please see http://www.securingamerica.com/?q=node/184
The military is taking the rap for what is the direct result of White House and DoD policy. This is not to say that the individual abusers are not also culpable, but if the policy is not changed, and the policy makers not held accountable, then the abuse will continue, even worsen.
What’s going on now, no matter to what extent it is perception or reality (and it appears to be some of both), is a direct threat to military discipline and morale, it endangers US soldiers in the field, it subverts our anti-terrorism mission throughout the Muslim world, and it is destructive to the long-term health of the American military. It must stop, and soon, before the damage becomes irreversable.
Comment by Retired LTC — October 5, 2005 @ 11:10 am