Madonna calls for US troops to leave Iraq

[cal04]

US pop star Madonna made a rare foray into politics, calling for her home country to withdraw its troops from Iraq during an interview with British radio. "I just don't want American troops to be in Iraq, period," she said on BBC Radio.

"My feelings are 'can we just all get out?'," said the 46-year-old star, who lives mainly in London with British film director husband Guy Ritchie, who said she believes the US-led war will not help in the fight against terrorism."Global terror is everywhere. Global terror is down the street, around the block," she said.



"Global terror is in California. There's global terror everywhere and it's absurd to think you can get it by going to one country and dropping tons of bombs on innocent people."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/041109/19/rnmi.html

[Pig_Latin_Lover]

1. Madonna makes more sense than our President

Not that I would elect her to anything.

[TaleWgnDg]

20. Can you hear it now? "Don't Cry for Me U.S.Aaaaaaaa!" n/t

This is the DU member still known as a DU insomniac. :hi:

[Chimpanzee]

62. I'd replace Bush with her in a heartbeat.

Bring Mr. Ed out of retirement - I'd vote for him too.

[Pirate Smile]

2. ROTFLMAO. Well, OK then, I guess we are out of there!

[jdj]

49. yes but good for her to let them know pukes can' t shut her up.

all the other libs in entertainment need to start talking again and soon.

Once again Madonna is a trailblazer. Good for her for sending the pukes an f-you.

The U.S. has a computer virus called George Bush.

[0007]

56. Trust me, they will for sure. They've been blasted by the extreme right

and they will blast back.

[Chimpanzee]

63. Well, good luck trying to get back into the country

remember that even the conductor of the 'Peace Train' couldn't get back in!

[jdj]

88. Madonna will shoot fire out of her conical bra.

the Mammazon will kick their asses.

[shall_not_tell]

93. I totally agree! Where are all the entertainers?

They've been so quiet lately. I feel like they've abandoned the public since the election. They really need to get out and start talking, like Madonna has done. So many don't understand the truth behind politics, and nobody is better at reaching the unenlightened than those already in front of a camera.

[Fenris]

*laughing uncontrollably at the headline*

Surreal.

[AngryLizard]

76. Right there with you

Who gives a shit what Madonna thinks?

[rabid_nerd]

3. oh SHUT UP

you stupid ditz

Madonna is our Britney Spears

I'm sure the freepers just loved it when she came out for W

[LiberteToujours]

37. She never supported W

She was a Wes Clark supporter from the beginning, and she has spoken out against Bush many times. What are you talking about?

[jpgray]

40. He/she is talking about Spears's support for Bush (nt)

[rabid_nerd]

58. He...

but you are correct... I was talking about Spears...

Madonna is to us what Spears is to them.

Thanks for your vote, now go play your songs because when you try to talk smart it doesn't work.

Of course that works for many others.

The rocker for W Jon Stewart found.

and I'm sure we have a lot of people who voted for Kerry because he was on Nick at Nite with Norm and Cliff (Cheers Episode).

Luckily when they get the soapbox (rockers, Cheers fans) they try to stick to what they know. It's when you get people who are too removed from reality like pop stars in particular that their over simplified jibberish is embarrasing to everyone.

[Chimpanzee]

64. Madonna - typical blue stater, Spears - typical (fill in the blank)

[jpgray]

4. I love that someone named "Madonna" is a Kabbalist

How fucking ridiculous.

[saracat]

11. Isn't her Kabbala name Esther?

Still fucking ridiculous!

[0007]

57. Ridiculously lovely!

[Solitaire]

5. errrr

Ok, I want to leave too, but is she going to rebuild their country that we destroyed?

Works for me, if she's willing.

Ok, sleep. Night :)

[sweetheart]

27. What?

Getting the army out has nothing to do with how the iraqi people
decide to rebuild their colonialized country. Our actions there
are pure neo-colonialism, and have nothing whatsoever to do with
justice, or goodwill.... mass murder and repression.

Viet nam has done amazingly fine at rebuilding once we stopped
mass murdering and destroying. I expect iraq will as well. THe
US army is no friend of democracy... and should be sent home to
protect america's borders, not some asian desert.

You're sounding very neoliberal. People do better without being
"helped" by attack gunships, or rebuilt by mercenary contractors
and colonial thieves. I'm sure you know this, but you imply otherwise.

[Solitaire]

50. sweetheart

What I was trying to convey was that I do think we at least need to "stabilize" the country. I didn't make myself clear.

If we leave now (after we made this MESS), then they will just be run over by terrorists or militants.

I agree, we need to leave, but the Iraqi's at least need a good foundation to begin the building process.

I'm very much for leaving. If it could be done tomorrow, it wouldn't be soon enough for me. Or perhaps, someone else could bring peace? Whatever works.

[VegasWolf]

65. "If we leave now (after we made this MESS), then they

will just be run over by terrorists or militants. "

I remember people saying this during Vietnam, except
substitute communists for terrorists. My guess is
we will leave Iraq the same way we left Vietnam, off
the top of the US Embassy.

[sweetheart]

75. "stability" is an imperial term

Peace is not justice. Prisons are peaceful. You are, perhaps
unconsciously parroting the rhetoric of the colonialists, that
we need to stay until "stability is ensured". nonsense.

I'm sure, were an invading power to come to your neighborhood,
kill 10% of the local population with collateral fire, and then
demand that stability be returned before they leave, that your
neighbors would be fighting them tooth and nail. The very
impulse to impose our "stability" (which means permanent
military bases, military occupation, puppet dictators, limited
civil rights and perpetual state executions)... that is no justice,
and that is why i'm fingering your language.

Stability is when the warden wants the prison locked down. It has
nothing whatsoever to do with liberty, freedom, justice, self
determination or democracy.

[Solitaire]

77. Question to you, sweetheart..

because I don't have the answer. We should have never made this Mess in the first place, but we did.

My question is: What do you think we should do now that we are there and terrorists from other countries have free reign of the country?

[sweetheart]

78. Strategic withdrawl

Firstly, announce the intent to withdrawl unilaterally from
iraq and the middle eastern nations. State publically that the USA
supports free democracy in iraq, but is leaving the iraqi people to
sort that out for themselves.

Then help iraq's provisional government invite the UN to assist it
in establishing its state. The comment "the terrorists from
other countries have free reign." is media rhetoric. Those fighters
are defending what they believe is an arab country from an invader,
and are terrorists only insomuch as they attack anything the invader
is up to.

They said the same thing about the "terrorist" NVA in viet nam and
voila, they stopped when we pulled out. You using arguments framed
by the republicans to justify infinite occupation, as if nations
and people cannot fend for themselves.

Forget the word terrorists for a moment and replace it with "opposition
fighters". Yes, as long as the military is stealing someone elses
nation against their will, resistance fighters will come out of
the woodwork.

[Solitaire]

82. strategic withdrawal

If it were only so that all the fighters were Iraqi's.

Al Ziqari (sp?) is not Iraqi. He is a known Al Queda terrorist. It's also fact that he is there taking hostages and leading the fight. If it was only Iraqi citizens fighting, I would agree with you, but unfortunately it's not.

It's just one big Mess.

[sweetheart]

85. Un messing a mess

Let the iraqis handle their own immigration issues. So what if
there are AQ people in iraq. Last time i checked, the AQ people
that attacked the United states were in the united states, not
iraq. This argument from the GOP has come full circle, from framing
iraq to having WMD's, being behind 9/11... and now we can't leave
because its buzzing with AQ.

Yet, in fact, that "whomever" is there, is just heresay, to justify
today's occupation. Don't you ever get suspicious, when all the
previous claims were lies? You are trusting the military propaganda too
much. On DU people question unsupported hypothesis. ;-)

We've gotten off topic in a madonna thread... perhaps we can
explore this further in a closer topic.

peace,
-s

[Solitaire]

94. Peace

I agree, that's all I want is peace.

I just feel like we invaded a country for no reason and literally /destroyed/ their country.

I think that there is truth on both sides of the argument, but I don't think leaving the Iraqi's to fend for themself immediately is the right approach. Don't get me wrong, I want to go asap, but I'd like to know that they won't wind up in a civil war, because of what we've done. I think we have some responsibility to help them.

But, in any event, let's leave this because we are off-topic and actually, I fully admit I don't have the answer. I just want the "Mess" to be "Un-Messed".

Peace to you too.

:)

[Bridget Burke]

79. The sooner our troops leave, the less rebuilding is needed.

And we're already paying for it. (I'll bet she pays a large chunk.) Too bad so much of our money goes to bribes & US corporate fatcats.

What about saving some of that money to be paid to survivors of US soldiers killed over there? And benefits for those wounded? Hey, the sooner they come home, the fewer will become eligible for those benefits.

Just putting it in financial terms, so you'll care....

[RyomaSakamoto]

6. send them plane tickets

and secure the air port and they might just take you up on that...

[BraveDave]

47. I already do.

http://www.lbeh.org
Kicks off on Thanksgiving this year. Pass it on.

[saracat]

7. Shut Up Madonna. You only make us look bad.

That woman will use anything, even the war to promote herself. She is a living argument for censorship and I am adamantly opposed to censorship!

[DuaneBidoux]

23. Sorry-don't agree. I've been a Madonna fantatic all my life

and while she disappointed me by changing the American Life video at the last moment she came out strong for General Clark early on. Shes far from perfect, but no matter what I'd fuck her in a heart beat. Someone like Britney Spears makes me want to puke.

[saracat]

36. Agree about Brittany but Madonna leaves a lot to be

desired as well. The only thing she is really good at is self promotion. Before you get mad ,let me point out that that is no small talent. I do think however she is a has been and has been unable to reinvent herself that one last time but ,whatever!

[DuaneBidoux]

53. Hey, as a fanatic (although somewhat disillusioned) I do agree too.

But attitude for me is the one thing that does it in a women, and she has always had that. I think recently it's all mellowed out. But yea' she's having a change in priorities now (easy when you're that rich).

[Chimpanzee]

66. I'd fuck spears just to taunt her!

[VegasWolf]

67. I was a fanatic all the way up until she turned religious. Can't

handle her now.

[Moloch]

97. Not to mention.....

her new music is just AWFUL... As much as I loved the American Life video, the whole album was terrible and narcissistic (Did I spell that right?)

Her ego needs a bit of deflating...

[sweetheart]

30. Rather you make us look bad with comments like that

She's speaking out against injustice, and you're sounding very
repressive and unwise to demand she not exercise her civil rights.
I hope nobody ever says what you just said about YOU. I'm sure
you'd find it to be very violating that some blogger on the internet
demands you surrender your right to speak your mind.

[saracat]

34. Oh, Pluheeze, She can say whatever she wants but the fact that she

sounds like an idiot reflects badly on us. Where is it written that as a celebrity you must necessarily be bright? Madonna is an opportunist and always has been . So what ? How does that deny her free speech? I'm exercising mine by saying she is a under informed phony. I personally think she is talentless as well,except for self promotion, but that is JMHO. She doesn't have to surrender her right to speak her mind but I don't surrender my right to comment on whatever she says or does.

[girl gone mad]

46. Actually..

I thought she sounded pretty reasonable in that quote, though I usually find her to be grating.

Have I really gone mad? I know I wished she hadn't supported Clark. Michael Moore as well. They're just too polarizing and divisive.

[SemperEadem]

98. it doesn't reflect badly on us unless we're that devoid

of our own identity to begin with...

she doesn't reflect one way or the other on me..

[Forkboy]

48. What's this "us" stuff?

Got a mouse in your pocket?

[SemperEadem]

99. exactly

[mountainvue]

8. Buy us a tv network

Madonna. We need one.

[donachiel]

9. Way to go Madonna!

That is how a lot of us feel. Some of those extremists have really laid in to her during her career for being different. Not everyone may agree but everyone has the right to live their own life as long as it doesn't infringe upon someone else's directly.

[UpsideDownFlag]

10. good of her to think her opinion will be listened to.

go back to singing, imho.

[bhikkhu]

12. Will the RNC blackball her like the Dixies?

I doubt it - maybe things have changed a little in the past couple years.

[Bridget Burke]

80. Please, no--have you heard her singing lately?

I'd prefer more opinions.

[BeyondGeography]

13. WhatEVER

She's like a virgin, touched by a semi-profound idea for the very first time.

[VegasWolf]

69. LOL. Does semi profound idea = thought?

[JPace]

14. repugs won't be buying any Madonna music anymore....

they don't want to hear anyones opinion but their own.

[WhiteTara]

96. I didn't think they ever did! eom

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. A lot more people around the world love Madonna more than Toby Keith

or George Bush for that matter.

Good for her. I thought her comments were accurate and well articulated.

[jpgray]

17. She's also a lot smarter than Toby Keith

But her visits to various holy sites in Israel are wince-rich viewing, especially her public statements. Also I don't like her music.

:)

I don't think she should shut up, though.

[umtalal]

55. Who is Toby Keith? n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. In 46 years of life you would think she could have learned

something more insightful to say than, "My feelings are 'can we just all get out?"

[RyomaSakamoto]

18. it's like rove wrote the script

:crazy:

[rabid_nerd]

21. Precisely...

Playing the stereotype hollywood airhead liberal on foriegn land talking about troops - Madonna!

[eleonora]

19. exactly my thought

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. Well looks like a lot of DUers been

drinking Hatorade here.

What's wrong with what she said? Do you disagree with it? I don't. She's right. Why are we still killing Iraqis when it's been established that they posed no threat to us and did nothing to us?

You may take issue with HOW she says it, but she certainly CAN say it. I'm no fan of her "music" don't get me wrong. And I've never been a fan of hers.

But I'd like to hear a hell of a lot more stories like this in the media. More and more people every day calling out this lunacy. I would do it, but who's gonna listen to me? I'm no celebrity or well-known person.

[Dogmudgeon]

24. Why all the hate for Madonna?

She's against the war.

She's reasonably articulate.

She commands plenty of attention from the Press.

I am beginning to fear that we have suffered some "Kool-Aid contamination". The Right Wing hates entertainers and musicians for being "libbrul" -- do WE have have to hate them, too, for not being as astute as Noam Chomsky or as incisive as Michael Moore?

Entertainers have been presented to us as being unreachable "stars", but the unvarnished reality is that they are our neighbors. They have the same right -- and duty -- as we have, to speak out about what they consider to be wrong.

I'm not a huge Madonna fan by any means. But her unscripted remarks on the profound and criminal stupidity that is the war on Iraq are welcome -- and appreciated.

--bkl

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. Yeah..it's not like her speaking out will lose us an election or something

[Chimpanzee]

70. You just made me cry

[arikara]

33. Well said, bkl...

I appreciate her remarks as well. And like it or not, she was always a trend setter so which would we rather have her speaking out for... the _chimp? or against the invasion.

[Coventina]

54. I fully support Madonna!

Thanks BKL for your statement.

WHY all the hate for Madonna?
Geez!

If you don't like her music, fine.

But I would think we, as liberals, should be happy to have her in our court.

I love you, Madonna! Keep speaking your mind, girl!!

[sweetheart]

25. Good for you, Madonna!

I'm happy to se she spoke up. She lives with her family, and
has had quite a successful career. It strikes me that the people
on this thread who shit on her are just jealous people who are
upset that nobody interviews them to hear THEIR thoughts on
having an army murdering civilians in someone elses country.

She got her message on the air, and made it clear for anyone who
thinks in soundbytes (clearly as she's a sound and movement artist).
As well, she's a marketing genius, so by saying so, she feels that
the cusp has been crossed, and that the majority are behind her
views.... madonna is a consummate populist, and reads the public
taste better than most, for decades now.

It saddens me that people are so disparaging of a self made, hard
working artist who has spoken up for justice against a disastrous
war of cold war militarism against an army of ghosts, like uncle
ho's black pajama army.

[halobeam]

29. agreed

I haven't heard many people in the public eye, say on air, that it's absurd to think terror isn't around our own corner; debunking the most annoying republican talking point,IMO... fight them there so they don't fight us here.

[Chimpanzee]

71. The one to nuke one of our cities won't be doing it remotely

from Iraq or Afghanistan.

[West Coast Democrat]

26. Finally!

[tedzbear]

28. Good for you, Madonna!

You are living up to your name.

:bounce:

[paulie5]

35. I don't like her music BUT

Bless her for speaking out. Even if it's a no brain-er.Like war is bad.
Of course it is. At least she's not totally out of touch.(no pun intended )

She doesn't own a cent of my money. However using her celebrity status to make a statement is a cool thing to do especially if you're right. And she's correct here. We should get our collective asses out of their country and fast. But that won't happen. Our electorate has lapsed into a coma. And the guy at the controls is a run away caboose with the wheels lose.

[d_b]

32. That topic almost made me shit

[Chimpanzee]

72. We'll alert the media !

I'm glad you managed to hold it in. :puke:

[donheld]

38. You all are Pissing me off with this one

Right now we need all the help we can get. So what if she's into Kabbalah, So what if she ate a tamala. Maybe you don't like Madonna's music, maybe you don't like some of the publicity stunts she's pulled in the past. Politically Madonna has always been there to fight for us. She's never claimed to be Einstein, but she's always been there to fight the religious reich. What Madonna said in this interview in no way was promoting herself, nor did anything to hurt our cause. You should all be ashamed of yourself. She has as much right to speak as Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Bruce Springsteen, etc.
:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

[rabid_nerd]

59. The only one there with common sense is Bruce Springsteen

She has as much right to speak as Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Bruce Springsteen, etc.

TRUE, but there's saying your mind and there's giving the other side ammunition.

This is leaving a warehouse full unguarded.

If she wants to do this, have her be a talking head.

THATS what Madonna needs to do. Stop firing off from nowhere and start going on MSNBC and CNN and start being part of the discussion.

This isn't being part of the discussion.

this is just a pure, cheap publicity ploy unless she backs it up.

[donheld]

60. She gave the otherside no ammunition here

Maybe her past stunts gave them ammunition, but i hardly call pissing them off ammuntion.

[Chimpanzee]

73. To set the record straight - I know your just dying to know...

I like Madonna. I liked when she wore those pointy golden boob cones. I don't care for alot of her songs but absolutely love some of them. She has not only every right to speak out, but I encourage anyone to speak out againt this war and the administration that strapped us with it.

And I'd fuck her if I ever had a chance. :bounce:

[2Design]

39. global terror is in the wh

[K8-EEE]

41. Not A Fan, But Good For Her

I definitely respect what she's saying here -- I sense a lot of Madonna jealousy!

[Tight_rope]

42. Does she have that much clout?

[nebula]

43. Madonna is smarter than Bush AND Kerry

the latter two of whom would have escalated and prolonged the war indefinitely.

[ausiedownunderground]

44. The rest of the world wants to know?? - Who the fuck is Toby Keith??

This is not another "hillbilly" American your trying to "flog" on us!!!
In your dreams America!! We'll accept Hollywood still, but your "Popular-Red State" music rubbish no WAAAAAAAY!

Anyway, i repeat who is Toby Keith?????

Down here in Oz we've heard nothing, especially from the 12-15 year old lady crowd, who tend to tell us when the next American music idol is here!!!

[Chimpanzee]

74. "Popular-Red State" music rubbish man

[Swamp Rat]

45. Kick ass Madonna! I'll take you over Ann Coulter ANY day!

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!!!

[demokatgurrl]

51. Oh well then I guess they're on their way home. n/t

[Lucille]

52. She didn't "call" for anything--but that's how it was characterized

The report was written to make her look foolish and grandiose.

There is quite a contrast between her actual words and the way the report characterized them.

She described her "feelings," about wanted the troops out, and phrased as a question. She then went on to say why she thinks the war cannot contain terrorism. "My feelings are 'can we all just get out?'" doesn't sound to me like she's trying to give advice to the joint chiefs or issue a proclamation--but you wouldn't know that from reading the headline or the statement--from the reporter, not Madonna-- that she was "calling for her home country to withdraw its troops."

The reason it's difficult for any figure from of popular culture to comment on the War or any political issue is because it is so easy for our media to look like pompous twits. I notice the media generally reserve this practice to left-leaning celebs. Some of the biggest idiots--like Toby Keith, Kid Rock--get a pass. Ron Silverman, a b-movie and tv actor, actually gets portrayed as heroic for going against the "Hollywood elites." Where is the headline, "Britney Spears calls for loyalty and faith in the Presidency, or "Toby Keith endorses attack on Falluja, urges Troops to stay strong"?

I can't stand Madonna myself, but her music and celebrity are a separate issue from the media's consistent effort in presenting left-leaning celebs' contrary opinions as bloviations.

[MADem]

61. What a good point you made

It's the old "divide and conquer" strategy. Make sure the headline evokes strong emotion, and force people to defend their position ALONG WITH the celebrity spokesperson, whether you like the person or not. Opposed to the war? Well, you must just LOVE Madonna!!! Push the issues aside, and focus on the tit cones!!! If you want the troops out, you must support tit cones and nasty books!!!! Wimmens kissing wimmens!!! Oh, fer shame! See, that's what is wrong with 'Murica--anti-war punks and MADONNA!

I'll admit, my first thought when I saw the headline: Did she use her middle America accent, her NYC accent, or her irritating faux Brit accent?

She needs to just stop, she's not really HELPING--she is a lighting rod, a joke, at this point, with her Kabbalah crap, red strings, nonsensical proclamations--the situation is too serious over there, by injecting herself into the debate, she trivializes it, unfortunately.

Madonna did a lot with pure drive, pure chutzpah, and not much innate talent, she pumped out a good, overly mixed, but so what, product that kept people dancing, she worked hard to learn to sing so she could deliver a credible performance in Evita, but she's done. Retirement has its rewards...maybe she should mentor a younger person, so we could see someone with actual talent on TV for a change? She does know what works, what sells, and she does understand the business--it might be good for her to start bringing along some new people and using her clout to help them out, instead of trying out for the role of dilettante-stateswoman, or heiress to the Streisand legacy.

At this point, we need to go for mega-gravitas, and she doesn't really advance the debate.

[Bat Boy]

68. That ought to take care of it. Thanks, Madonna.

I feel so much better about things now.

[Karna]

81. thanks hollywood.

no we don't need hollywood talking for us. brad pitt is about as useless talking about stem cell research as anyone. how about havinga nobel laureate come out for STR? why hollywood bimbos and idiots?

[donheld]

86. Welcome to DU

:hi: but i disagree very much. :spank:I'm quite thankful for Brad's or any other help we can get.

[Darranar]

83. Good for her. n/t

[renegade000]

84. Good for her...

but i forsee that this comment would probably be more damaging than helpful...

[MrSlayer]

87. Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe Madonna?

The music is bad enough but as a person she is crap as well. Phony, thy name is Madonna.

[donheld]

89. would you all rather she fight for the other side?

Phony thy name is MrSlayer

[Voltaire99]

90. Cool!

Doesn't matter to me who advocates quitting Iraq. It's the right position; the more, the merrier.

[quiet.american]

91. So, does she still get to kiss Britney?

[Divine Discontent]

92. ICK!!!!!!!

Madonna (Esther) or Britney (El Trampo)? Come on... no question there - MADONNA!

"Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens. " - BRITNEY

you know what TWIT interviewed her when she was asked this right?

TUCKER!

I just vomited in my mouth... sorry, the mention of Tucker's name right after Britney's, OHHHPPP, did it again.

[mortimer_az]

95. Madonna, Thanks for the sentiment

and publically saying what a lot of us are thinking. However, please remember that you are an entertainer, and may not be qualified to talk to adults. So, just sit back and let us find some one who can speak English like they actually finished high school.

I'm sorry, Ms. Ciccone-Penn-Ritchey, did I offend you?. Too bad, after "Swept Away" and "Shanghai Surprise" your credibility is pretty low.

Thanks again, but STFU. You don't represent anything about me or my party.

Sincerely,
Someone who thought you hit your peak 19 years ago.

[donheld]

101. Mortimer_az, Thanks for the sediment"

But why bash Madonna? just because you don't like her movies? I'm glad she spoke up. This is not about movies or music it's about men and women dying based on a lie. :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

[SemperEadem]

100. So many people let themselves be diminished

and intimidated by those they never have known or never will know.. that is so sad, especially when one believed they were dealing with rational adults.

a bunch of haters... any argument a hater has is negated by their personal attacks on the subject of their hate. Immature.