05 April 2008

Multi-Billionaire Imbecile, Ted Turner, Says the Military Sucks

The Thurston Howell of nutty liberals and founder of CNN, Ted Turner, recently made some ridiculous claims about mankind degenerating into cannibalism because of global warming (despite this winter being the coldest in years, brrr). From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals," said Turner, 69. "Civilization will have broken down. The few people left will be living in a failed state — like Somalia or Sudan — and living conditions will be intolerable." One way to combat global warming, Turner said, is to stabilize the population. "We're too many people; that's why we have global warming," he said. "Too many people are using too much stuff." Turner suggested that "on a voluntary basis, everybody in the world's got to pledge to themselves that one or two children is it."

Whether or not Ted suggests a Stalin-like purge of the unwashed masses remains in the realm of speculation, but I find this typical of obscenely wealthy people who don't practice what they preach. Ted's wiki says he is the biggest land-owner in the US and an avid yachtsman, which proves he's not jumping on the conservation bandwagon anytime soon.

Speaking of land ownership, the US military is sworn to protect the property of American citizens, even if they are loudmouth jackasses. You'd think he'd be grateful that someone protects his vast, sprawling estate. But Ted says we're doing a crappy job, despite the tax dollars invested (which I'm sure he avoids paying due to loopholes and offshore bank accounts):

He said that despite the United States' huge military budget, "we can't win in Iraq." "We're being beaten by insurgents who don't even have any tanks, they don't have a headquarters, they don't have a Pentagon, we don't even know if they have any generals," Turner told Rose. Turner called the Iraqi insurgents "patriots" who "don't like us because we invaded their country and occupied it. Nobody likes to be invaded."

Even a cursory analysis of the Iraq war would reveal that the US has never lost a major military engagement. Rather, Iraq's problems stem from a history of underlying sectarian hatred that has been accentuated by foreign terrorists, a crippled infrastructure under Saddam, and a lousy plan for reconstruction by the neo-conservative architects. Ted must have spent too much time getting his political opinions from his ex-wife, Hanoi Jane.

I write this not because there hasn't been "We Don't Support the Troops" opinions in the past, but I've never seen this meme from someone with this much money and influence. The best way to counteract this disinformation is through a combination of refuting the argument with logic, humiliation of the perpetrator, and publicly ostracizing them to a pariah status. I will not sit idly by as political elements in America take their frustrations out on the US Armed Forces, since direct democracy does not have the impact they desire (much like what happened to our Vietnam Vet predecessors). Stay vigilant and don't put up with this crap from any ugly side of American politics.

10 comments:

Jason said...

Now that I am home and a civilian again, I will do my part. I will boycott TNT. Sacrificing the NBA playoffs is the least I can do.

madtom said...

Hey you wouldn't know where one could email Ted?

Nixon said...

Jason,

I think the dude owns everything, so a boycott would be tough.

Madtom,

Not sure...

Wek said...

It amazes me how 'Grateful Ted' became so rich.

Caroline said...

He was married to Jane Fonda what do you expect!

madtom said...

I was going to try ted_turner@aol.com, but it just seemed too easy

Bag Blog said...

I have run into a couple of these craziness geysers, but none so famous as TT. Unfortunately, my husband usually grabs me by the collar, drags me out, and gives me a lecture on arguing with idiots.

Nixon said...

Bag Blog,

TT is definitely in a world all his own...

Anonymous said...

well he's just an idiot..I had to force myself to read it..but I did so out of respect for LT..ok, and because how can you have an opinion if you haven't read the stuff..
~P~

Anonymous said...

But as for LT:
"Even a cursory analysis of the Iraq war would reveal that the US has never lost a major military engagement."

I'd like to believe that but it seems difficult to define "major military engagement" in terms of this war. I think of Mosul, Fallujah, Sadr City...are those major engagements? How do we define what warfare has become there? The engagements often seem ephemeral...and remember Paul Rieckhoff's book, CHASING GHOSTS? and my personal fav HOUSE TO HOUSE, by SSG Bellavia?

I'm open to enlightenment so fill me in...I want to believe we can accomplish something positive in Iraq, tho I wish we'd never gone there in the first place. I'd have been a lot more comfortable about the war on terror if we'd finished the job in Afganistan first.

I just reread the statement above. Can you elaborate? give me some examples...please!
~P~