According to Ted Turner, The U.S. invasion of Iraq:
“. . .will go down in history, it is already being seen in history, as one of the dumbest moves that was ever made by anybody. A couple of others that come to mind were the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia. . . It literally broke my heart. You don’t start wars just because you don’t like somebody. … I wouldn’t even start a war with Rupert Murdoch.”
But remember, that’s from the same genius who visited North Korea in 2005 and thought everything was just fine:
Ted Turner, just back from a visit to North Korea, declared his belief in the sincerity of North Korea and how the U.S. can trust the regime’s new deal to not build nuclear weapons. Turner rejected the “despotic” characterization of Kim Jong Il, insisting that “he didn’t look too much different than most other people,” or that he treats his people brutally since Turner saw the people “were thin,” but “they were riding bicycles.”
Turner: . . .”I am absolutely convinced that the North Koreans are absolutely sincere. There’s really no reason — no reason for them to cheat or do anything to violate this very forward agreement. I mean, I think we can put the North Korea and East Asia problems behind us and concentrate on Iran and Iraq, where, where we still have some ongoing difficulties.”
[. . .]Turner: . . . “I didn’t see any [starving North Koreans], I didn’t see any brutality in the capital or out in the, on the DMZ. We went, we visit, drove through the countryside quite a bit to get down to Panmunjom and Kaesong. We traveled around. I’m sure we were on a special route. . . I think they want to join the western world and improve the quality of life for their people just like everybody else. And I think that we should give them another chance. It doesn’t cost us anything. We already have agreements. And North Korea never posed any significant threat to the United States. I mean, the whole economy of North Korea’s only $30 billion a year. It’s less than the city of Detroit. It’s a small place, and we do not have to worry about them attacking us.”
Listening to him say it is even better.
Turner is undeniably very good at organizing media, but there is no reason for the media to give him such attention when he spouts off on politics.
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It’s ironic that you would do a post on what Ted Turner said while telling us to “plug your ears”.
What do you suggest, the title and a blank post? Some sort of reason needs to go with something like that, usually. The message that you seem to miss is this; don’t listen to his opinions b/c he’s a blithering idiot. Clear enough for you?
And Mi-hwa, can you make a comment without the word “ironic” misused in it?
Three words: bat shit crazy.
“don’t listen to his opinions”
…
“Listening to him say it is even better.”
“there is no reason for the media to give him such attention”
But you just gave Turner plenty of attention.
That’s ironic.
Looking at what he says to realize what a moron he is vice listening to his message for a serious political message was the point. One must realize what an ass he is, first. Comprende?
You need to learn the meaning of “context” so you don’t misuse “ironic,” again. And again. I’m not trying to by cryptic, but I think you’re not getting it.
I thought it was clear. Like “peninsula” when speaking about Korea. Apparently not for some people.
In my comment about your response to Cambria, I wasn’t talking about “peninsula”.
The irony is that you wrote: “the arms race that a US Forces Korea (USFK) likely would bring”.
Although it’s true that the USFK is part of the arms race.
You may not think that your writing is ironic, but I do.
I also find it ironic that you would give the link to an audio file of Turner speaking, after telling us to “plug your ears”.
You are unintentionally plugging for Turner by giving him free publicity.
As for the phrase w/o the word “withdrawal” - it is what I copied/pasted from ATol, but it is NOT the original text that I sent to them.
USFK has been getting smaller for years; how is that part of an arms race? [hint: it’s not] Also, the arms races that I refer to is one which would occur after a USFK withdrawal.
You need to read this, and understand it.
That’s called the noose. I hope a lot of people see what a moron he really is when it comes to his political positions and predictions. That would be great. The only people who would consider it positive publicity are too far gone.
I thought you were just playing at being dense, but now I don’t think so. Remember that all important word; context and that you cannot take individual phrases literally without considering the rest or you’ll get it wrong, again.
Um, Mi-Hwa, an arms race is a building-up of weaponry. In the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, each tried to build more nuclear weapons than the other, for example. But you knew that already, of course.
Mi-Hwa, the USFK is declining, not increasing. In ten years, finding any American soldiers (or pilots, or marines, or intelligence officers) at all in South Korea will be very unlikely. If this is an arms race, Mi-Hwa, it’s a race down, not up.
Also, Ted Turner isn’t getting “free publicity.” Any informed person knows who he is.
But we all know you’re just kidding!
Richardson, I’ll stop nitpicking your writing style.
In regards to the arms race, even though the USFK has downsized, it is still a part of the larger US military which is always supersizing. Therefore, the USFK is involved in the arms race between the US and China, along with NK. This is true as long as the USFK remains in Korea.
My last sentence above is not exactly correct.
Even if the USFK withdrew completely from SK and moved to Guam, it’s possible that it will still protect SK as well as other US interests in Asia. Therefore, the USFK in Guam would still be a part of the arms race in Asia.
What can one really say? Mi-Hwa, this has to be a joke.
Rhesus, opinions about an arms race in Asia can vary widely. Your guess is as good as mine.
Did someone hijack Mi-Hwa’s name on this last one? Anyway, this is pretty entertaining stuff!
Taking phrases out of the obvious context is neither “nitpicking” nor “ironic.” Just out of context.
There is no arms race in East Asia at the moment. China is building up, but one cannot race alone.
I still think you guys have \”Mi-Hwa\” on the pay-roll for light hearted effect. This person can not be real. Makes me smile every time.
The PRC sure is trying though!
Ted Turner was kicked out of my alma mater. But then when he became wealthy and famous, he bought his way back in and received an honorary degree, at which point he mounted the podium and yelled “This is all that matters.”
And that’s why I’ll never give a dime to my alma mater.