Comments on: Mike Wallace Says Ahmadinejad an Impressive Fellow

By: Richard Mottsman

Richard Mottsman — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:07:53 +0000

Mike Wallace has a history of being a self hatred Jew. He praised a Jew hating, America hating cruel dictator of Iran. It is not unusual for Wallace to criticize Israel. He did not ask hard questions, especially about Iran's desire to destroy the Jewish state. Frankly, I am surprised that CBS gave us such a revolting program. I have met Wallace and will celebrate the day he dies.

By: Soccer Dad

Soccer Dad — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:26:37 +0000

Haveil havalim daily edition 08/11/2006...

Haveil Havalim is the weekly Jewish/Israel blogging carnival. The most recent edition is here. Since I originated the carnival, I've adopted the name for a daily edition that I will try to produce during the war against Hezbollah, Mondays through Thur...

By: Fight islam Now

Fight islam Now — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 03:22:25 +0000

mike wallace, dan rather, cbs, the msm, these are people and organizations that would give hitler a blow job if it meant they got the interview.

If I have to hear one more time that mr hitler is such a nice gentle person and loves animals I'll puke.

ARE WE STUCK ON STUPID? How do we tolerate this propaganda SHIT and still watch, and still buy the product their advertisers are pushing?????

WHY ARE THESE people and organizations NOT SCORNED and OSTRASIZED?

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:58:57 +0000

So far all we've seen are Mike's personal reactions to the guy, - not the entire content of the interview. I'll give Mike the benefit of the doubt for the moment and assume he asked a pointed question or two. I don't think you get to a position of leading a sizable country without having a thing or two going for you. It's probably some combination intelligence, charisma, and connections. The fact that Mike discovered one or more of these characteristics in Ahmadinejad shouldn't surprise anyone. I also agree with Tano that a good reporter draws a person out. They don't immediately put the person being interviewed on the defensive. I want to know what make people like Ahmadinejad tick, what's important to them, what they think they know about us, and what they think we've got wrong about them, etc. Why do they think the way they do? What put them in power and what's keeping them there? Too many people just want to label somebody as "evil" and leave at that. You are much better off negotiating (or fighting) with an enemy you understand.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:26:16 +0000

Tano: Fair enough. But then don't gush about what a smart, sexy, charismatic fellow the guy is, either. If that's all one says, one gathers that one finds him unobjectionable. Whatever shortcomings Wallace might have, surely that's not among them.

By: Tano

Tano — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:18:54 +0000

I do understand, and appreciate, and respect the journalist who puts their professional responsibilities above all else. It is probably good that most journalists would not take things to the extreme, but it is also good that some do. If the cost of getting all the information that we can is to tolerate a few journalists who lack the patriotism gene, well, so be it. Free people need access to all information. Free people resist, instinctivly, being told that some subjects, or interview subjects, are beyond the pale. I dont need Mike Wallace to tell me that he is disgusted by Ahmadinejad. I need him to get the guy to talk, and I can make my own conclusions.

By: LJD

LJD — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:52:24 +0000

I know. Just too funny to resist.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:40:59 +0000

LJD/ZRIII: I said "inane" not "insane."

By: Zelsdorf Ragshaft III

Zelsdorf Ragshaft III — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:41:51 +0000

I see Walter 666 thinks Saddam was not worthy of removal from office on his own merit. Ole 666 is convinced President Bush was easily maneuvered into doing the bidding of the Iranians. I understand what James means by insane now. The President of Iran is no fool, he is a religious zealot who has some apocalyptic beliefs that he intends to facilitate, if given the tools. They cannot win, overall, but the toll in lives will be high unless something is done soon.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:31:32 +0000

Walter: Every mention of any facet of an issue of public policy does not require a discussion of every other aspect. Indeed, that would be just silly. Wallace's statements here --which I largely defend, aside from questioning why he leaves it at that-- have nothing to do, whatsoever, with Bush's relationship with Chalabi, US-Iraq policy, or US-Iran policy. They are analyzable as a discrete instance. There will, doubtless, be plenty of threads where those discussions are applicable. (Indeed, last night's post by Alex Knapp comes to mind.)

By: walter66

walter66 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:10:10 +0000

I would think that an important part of this story would be what part Ahmadinejad played in our invasion of Iraq.

we know Ahmed Chalabi was a consultant to the President
we know Chalabi had Iranian contacts
we know that Chalabi was accused of spyig for the Iranians
we know that most of the information from Chalabi about Iraq was false
we know that "curveball" was a Chalabi plant and that information was false
we know that according to Wolfiwicz(sp), the plan was to turn the whole thing over to Chalabi after Saddam was gone....what happened to that plan, somebody woke up?

and you guys pick on Mike Wallace

MIKE WALLACE ISN"T THE PROBLEM HERE PEOPLE

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:32:19 +0000

I think the references to Hitler or Stalin's 'personal magnetism' is most apt. We've seen this play before.

By: Stormy70

Stormy70 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:26:38 +0000

I guess Mike didn't get around to asking about all the hangings of gay and "fiesty female" teens. I suppose he was too charismatic for such pedestrian questions.

By: walter66

walter66 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:07:09 +0000

Deleted and ~~banned~~ sternly warned.

By: Old War Dogs

Old War Dogs — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:56:15 +0000

Mike Wallace Says Ahmadinejad an Impressive Fellow...

James Joyner: Mike Wallace came out of retirement to interview Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Wallace found him to be “an impressive fellow.” Indeed, he might have a little man-crush on him, remarking, “He’s actually, in a strange way, ...