Investigative Journalist Seymour Hersh used his breakthrough and world-renowned evidence to deliver his fascinating and controversial perspective on the war in Iraq and the Bush administration in the UC Auditorium Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Hersh, who focuses his journalistic research on atrocities, performed in the name of national security, speaking against the War in Iraq.
"We're losing. It's going nowhere fast," he said.
Hersh explained that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are worse off with the Americans in control because they are starving, not receiving enough medicine and suffering from the growth of terrorist groups. None of these hardships were present during Saddam Hussein's leadership.
Hersh also spoke about the Abu Ghraib prison where U.S. Military men and women inflicted sadistic acts of torture upon Iraqi prisoners. Hersh spoke with a U.S. Military Cadet who was connected with Abu Ghraib.
"I've been in the army for 31 years. This is the first time I thought I was in the mafia," the man said about the hushed nature of what went on at the prison.
These inhuman acts that soldiers are being ordered to perform in and outside of the prison make it a scary time for young people who are in the army today, Hersh explained. He discussed the large amount of young soldiers in Iraq who are returning home mentally damaged. Hersh attributed such atrocities to the complete lack of moral leadership by the president.
Hersh had no good thing to say about President Bush. He said that Bush's decision to go to war was the single worst decision a president has made during his presidency.
He also said that neither Bush nor Cheney can see the whole picture, and he ended his attack on Bush by saying, in reference to the election, "I think that anything we get is going to be an improvement." Hersh delivered his controversial views with confidence and backed them with evidence.
Seymour Hersh is considered the most influential and commended investigative reporter of the past 40 years. He has earned numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, for his pioneering investigations of human atrocities that went unmentioned by the American government and unknown by the American people. His research into the war in Iraq gives him both credibility and a fascinating story.
Comments
James Baird commented, on February 7, 2008 at 11:11 a.m.:
His speech, as the last five years of his career, was an extended Bush-bashing. He's too caught up in criticizing the current administration and conservatives in general to come up with solutions to the problems in the Middle East, or to report without bias.
His 'credibility' is a joke anyways:
http://www.benadorassociates.com/article...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/10/h...
His claim that Cheney played a role in Benazir Bhutto's assassination is false, unverified and totally careless. The same is true about his claim saying Cheney likely had a part in the Tillman incident a few years back.
$50,000 down the drain, way to go UT!
Patricia commented, on February 7, 2008 at 12:11 p.m.:
Good call, James. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Gary commented, on February 7, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.:
Sey Hersh is one of the few with enough integrity and brave enough to stand up to sick minds that perpetrated the Atrocity this government has mired our nation into..
i pray many times a day there will be war crime trials for every member of our government involved in the lies and perpetuating the lies that started this war and that continue this war.. that have denied our troops respite, medical care, financial support, those that caused over 50,000 brain damage cases not providing helmet liners because they dont think our troops deserve protection, ... i want to see those responsible who were elected or appointed in prison for their crimes, with consecutive sentences for each individual they harmed.
maybe then wars for profit will end..
hmm commented, on February 7, 2008 at 3:49 p.m.:
Should the news be calling his perspective 'fascinating,' or saying he 'backed his views with evidence,' when clearly he did not? Many of his claims were blind assertions, and he noted so. Let the reader decide if he's credible, and kudos to James for uncovering this fraud.
Elizabeth commented, on February 8, 2008 at 12:54 a.m.:
Did UT seriously pay $50,000 to get Hersh to speak? You have got to be kidding me! I understand he's well-known, but $50,000?!?!
Bill commented, on February 8, 2008 at 7:08 a.m.:
Hersh cited a "U.S. Military Cadet who was connected with Abu Ghraib [who stated]: "I've been in the army for 31 years..."
I've been in the military for 28 years and can assure you that there are NO cadets who have been in for 31 years!
Where does he dig up these people and does this reflect the credibility of the rest of his sources?
Doug commented, on February 19, 2008 at 1:58 a.m.:
Did anyone happen to tape this event? I missed it and would love to see it...