My letter to N.Y. Times, re: Tom Friedman

[Flying_Pig]

Sent to the N.Y. Times 8/24/03:

Editor:

My nephew is a Marine, now serving in Iraq. Mr. Friedman would like my nephew, and many other people's sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, and cousins, to stay in Iraq to complete the Israeli Likud and American neocon vison for the Middle East. How easy for this sanctimonius excuse of a writer (Friedman) to advocate these things from the saftey of his office, similar in action of course, to deserter-in-chief, G.W. Bush, a man too lazy, and too priviliged, to serve his nation during the Vietnam War.

Plain and simple, Thomas Friedman is nothing more than a propaganda spewing mouthpiece for the pro-Likud neocons in this country. Why does the N.Y. Times allow him an unfettered platform to disseminate propaganda, straight from the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) playbook? Could it be that the Times supports this vision as well? If this is the case, you could at least have the honesty to tell your readers of your position.

I have an idea. Let's put a uniform on all of these neocons, chickenhawks, and military-industrial supporters, give them a gun, some MRE's, and a bottle of water, and ship them all to Iraq. I wonder how quickly their tune would change, having to do the dirty and dangerous work they so easily advocate for other people's children?

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXXX

[GR]

1. Excellent Letter...

Friedman is "In The Matrix" on Iraq....

See American Matrix by Robert Parry on http://www.ConsortiumNews.com

[hadrons]

2. Thomas Friedman is nothing more than a propaganda spewing mouthpiece

you can add William Safire to the propaganda spewing mouthpiece list ... man, I hate those two; nice of old Tommy to be brave for your nephew, huh?

[Flying_Pig]

6. Over the years, Safire...

has gotten a few choice e-mails, and a few compliments (like when he protested the Patriot Act, and, the FCC's recent media conglomoration ruling) from me as well. Unlike Friedman though (chickenshit that he is) Safire posts his e-mail address to his columns. Friedman though, can only be reached through a closely monitored (read: censored) "forum", or by letter. I wonder what he's scared of?

[sinkingfeeling]

3. My thoughts exactly....

I think it's only fair for the neocons and their supporters to take up the slack for the military in Iraq. Besides it looks like most (Wolfie and Perle, for example) could use sweating off 40 or 50 pounds!!

[ewagner]

4. I really like this part

" It is a world born anew each day…in which there is nothing to be learned from the lessons of the past …a world where logic holds no sway…where up is down and black is white…where reality itself is a malleable thing…subject to constant revision. In short, it’s their world.”

The Bush administration doesn't understand history; doesn't learn from history; defines history as yesterday's press release. In a sense they are counting on our national malaise, a type of mass attention deficit disorder to absolve them from previous lies and provide a fertile ground for new ones.

[pansypoo53219]

7. you forgot

that the simian DOESN'T KNOW history.

[ewagner]

9. True and also true

he probably can't even spell it!

[wtmusic]

5. I wrote a long letter to Friedman

You might as well be talking to a wall. I think at the time he was gloating about the "success" of our capture of Quaghdad.

If the Times had a liberal voice to balance it then fair enough.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Kick

good piece.

[Eradicate_Tyranny]

10. Only one point of view desired?

Flying_Pig writes:

"Why does the N.Y. Times allow him an unfettered platform to
disseminate propaganda, straight from the Project for the New
American Century (PNAC) playbook? Could it be that the Times
supports this vision as well?"


Why the outrage, shouldn't an op-ed page represent multiple
points of view? Would you stifle all opinions that differ
from your own?

I think Friedman wrote an interesting piece.

And your reference that 'Jews control America' is repugnant.

[Flying_Pig]

11. Pray tell "Eradicate",...

where did I ever say, anywhere, that "Jews control America"? What is repugnant, is your unevidenced insinuation. As to your protest that media whores like Tom Friedman be allowed a platform to spew propaganda, I happen to disagree. It is one thing to have opinons, and express them, but quite another to be a propagandist, without attribution or honesty. What makes it worse, in Friedman's case, is that he tries to pass himself off as a liberal, thereby increasing my distaste for the man.

[Eradicate_Tyranny]

12. Diversity of ideas is a good thing, not bad...

Flying_Pig writes:

where did I ever say, anywhere, that "Jews control America"?

Here:

"...to stay in Iraq to complete the Israeli Likud and American
neocon vison for the Middle East."

What does the Israeli Lukid party have to do with America going
to war?


"As to your protest that media whores like Tom Friedman be
allowed a platform to spew propaganda, I happen to disagree."

I'm still not following, Friedman should not be allowed to voice
his opinion in an opinion/editorial article?


"It is one thing to have opinons, and express them, but quite
another to be a propagandist, without attribution or honesty."

It's his op-ed article, he can write whatever he likes. And you
have yet to indicate in your original letter, or here, what you
found dishonest or propaganda in Friedman's article.

Your complaint letter had no substance, only accusations and
anger. You might have tried to rebut his article, and provided
some solid examples to support your rebuttal.

The NY Times probably deleted your letter and moved on...