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Return to (ab)normalcy:
How about those Mets?
more on the DOD v.POWell
Someone sent this by email--I don't know the source and haven't verified it. Has anyone seen this?
Thursday September 20 09:31 PM EDT
Maher Causes "Cowardly" Flap
Allow Bill Maher to rephrase: It's the politicians who are cowards, not the
American military.
That sums up an apology Wednesday by Maher, the normally unrepentant, sporadically funny and always outspoken host of ABC's Politically Incorrect, who angered some viewers and advertisers Monday by condemning past U.S. military actions as "cowardly."
Both Federal Express and Sears, Roebuck and Company have pulled their ads from the late-night political forum after Maher condemned recent U.S. missile attacks, during his first episode since last week's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.
"We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away," he said. "That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
On Tuesday night, ABC and Maher defended the show as one that "celebrates freedom of speech." But by Wednesday, after both FedEx and Sears pulled their ads, Maher apologized and sought to clarify.
"In no way was I intending to say, nor have I ever thought, that the men and
women who defend our nation in uniform are anything but courageous and
valiant, and I offer my apologies to anyone who took it wrong," Maher said
in a statement. "My criticism was meant for politicians who, fearing public
reaction, have not allowed our military to do the job they are obviously
ready, willing and able to do and who now will, I'm certain, as they always
have, get it done."
From the Times of London, a map showing the international scope of the loss.
Retired CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite called for the immediate appointment of a censorship board to monitor the strict secrecy that Ashcroft has announced. Cronkite said that secrecy is necessary in the war against terrorism, but that the government should immediately appoint a board of journalists and historians that will be aware of all the government's plans and actions. Secrecy must not be used to protect political decisions or government failures, but only for military purposes, Cronkite said.