Helen Thomas - Repairing damage done abroad

[paineinthearse]

"It's all part of the administration sales plan to try to repair the American image that was badly damaged as a result of the invasion of Iraq." God bless Helen Thomas!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/212971_edcol1.html

Repairing damage done abroad

By HELEN THOMAS
HEARST NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON -- President Bush should look into the mirror before giving orders and threatening other nations. His militant foreign policy reeks with piety and is selectively threatening to several nations. Fortunately he is still guided by the art of the possible, and that does not include Iran and North Korea at this time.

Syria is another story -- weaker and more vulnerable and easier to push around. At a news conference Thursday, Bush demanded that Syria end its occupation of Lebanon but he stopped short of accusing Syria of assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. An investigation to assign blame is under way. It would also help if Bush were to practice what he preaches. His orders to Syria might carry more weight if the United States were not occupying Iraq, digging in for the long haul with reported plans for more than a dozen permanent military bases there.

He also is denouncing Iran and North Korea for nuclear arms while the United States is studying a new generation of nuclear battlefield weapons and bunker busters. Further, Bush decries the terrorists who "target innocent civilians" while conveniently forgetting that the United States has dropped tons of bombs on Iraq since launching its invasion nearly two years ago. The refusal of the Bush administration to count the Iraqi dead makes it easier to overlook that sad toll.

Syria has been on the administration's radar screen for a long time with U.S. officials delivering everything short of ultimatums. Bush said Syria is "out of step" with the Middle East -- assuming of course that the definition of "normal" requires a massive U.S. military presence in the region. Backed by Congress, Bush has imposed economic sanctions on Syria after accusing it of harboring terrorists and former Saddam loyalists. Meantime, Bush has warned Damascus it risks further isolation unless it plays ball.

more.....

[JDPriestly]

1. Thanks for posting this.

[paineinthearse]

7. Maybe I should have posted in MEDIA? nt

[Arkana]

2. Helen Thomas...

wasn't she bumped from the press circle in favor of Bulldog...er, Guckert?

[paineinthearse]

6. Close, but no cigar.....

See full bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Thomas

"In 2003, President George W. Bush stopped the tradition of allowing Thomas to end Presidential news conferences by saying “Thank you, Mr. President.” Additionally, she has been moved from the first chair of the front row of the conference room to the back, and is rarely called upon in press conferences. Bush is thought to have instituted these changes after taking exception with some of Thomas' writings regarding his presidency."

[saltpoint]

3. I agree -- thanks for posting this and may Helen Thomas --

-- reign forever.

I love this woman.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Where's The Talon News Coverage? LOL

Helen is an American hero in many ways. If anyone deserves to get vindication due to the "Progannon" scandal, it's her!

The corporate media's attempt to make this into a Kennedy goes to Berlin...ooops...Raygun goes to Bitzberg (more like it), is so embarassing I can't imagine even Faux takes what they say as serious. This is just going with the script...ignoring the reality.

I emailed with a friend in Malta...who initially favored the invasion (almost ended a friendship) but now is more critical of this regime than I am. His take is that Bunnypants is doing MORE damage, not mending fences. His arrogance and inability to admit mistakes in Iraq are pissing people off and could fracture NATO in the near future. By messing around more in the Middle East, it'll backlash not in the freeper's covens, but in these citites.

How this regime has destroyed decades of international cooperation and alliances will be one of it's greatest dark spots...among many.

[riverwalker]

5. send her some thanks

Hearst News Service - Helen Thomas, 82, White House Correspondent [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Address: 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006

[paineinthearse]

8. Coulter's most recent offering - WARNING....DO NOT READ ON A FULL STOMACH

WARNING....DO NOT READ ON A FULL STOMACH

=========================================

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=108&ncid=742&e=10&u=/ucac/20050223/cm_ucac/republicansbloggersandgaysohmy

REPUBLICANS, BLOGGERS AND GAYS, OH MY!

2 hours, 5 minutes ago Op/Ed - Ann Coulter


By Ann Coulter

<snip>

Press passes can't be that hard to come by if the White House allows that dyspeptic, old Helen Thomas to sit within yards of the president.....

more.....

:puke:

[DemonFighterLives]

9. And Annie is not dyspeptic

She is not even close to 1/10 the woman Helen is. She should just shut her stupid trap.