Rick Perry Faces Backlash Over Daniel Pearl Comment

[Judi Lynn]

Jan 16, 2012 11:55pm
Rick Perry Faces Backlash Over Daniel Pearl Comment

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Rick Perry drew criticism from at least one reporter on Twitter who took issue with the Texas governor’s use of the death of Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was beheaded in 2002, to prove a point as he defended the Marines who urinated on Taliban corpses.

“Let me tell you what’s despicable, cutting Danny Pearl’s head off,” Perry said in the debate as he chided the Obama administration’s terming of the Marines’ actions as “despicable.”

John Harwood, a former colleague of Pearl’s at the Wall Street Journal, reprimanded Perry via Twitter, sending this tweet: “As someone who was a friend and colleague of Danny Pearl…Perry’s reference to Danny was irrelevant and gross.”

Katon Dawson, chair of Perry’s campaign in South Carolina, said Perry’s answer was effective and resonated with voters in South Carolina.

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/rick-perry-faces-backlash-over-daniel-pearl-comment/

[Odin2005]

1. Proof that Pukes have not advanced beyond "but they do it, too!!!".

[RKP5637]

2. I found it crude and not unlike something I would expect of Perry.

[elleng]

3. 'effective and resonated with voters in South Carolina,' eh?

Can we give them BACK to The Confederacy?? PLEASE!

[alphafemale]

4. His head was sawed off actually. Took a little while.

awful.

Referring to another atrocity to lessen another never really works though.

[RZM]

5. I made the mistake years back of watching the video the killers released

It really was truly awful. One thing that you sometimes see brought up in these situations is the fact that many of these nitwits think it's a good idea to decapitate somebody, but many if not most of them have no experience at all in removing a head. It turns into these really terrible scenes like what happened with Pearl.

Another striking thing about the Pearl video is that they forced him to talk about his Jewish identity and the street in Israel that's named after one of his relatives (his grandfather I think). Plus, buried in the demands the killers listed at the end of the video was the delivery of F-16s that the US government had apparently promised to sell to Pakistan but they reneged on, which I found odd.

But you're right. It's neither here nor there for Perry to bring this up. Kidnapping and beheading a reporter is an awful crime. I wouldn't say that what the Marines did is as bad, but it is still worthy of condemnation and there's no reason to conflate these two terrible incidents.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

6. Does he defend the cutting off of ears, noses and fingers?

Maybe scalping too?
So this is what a Republican presidential candidate looks like in 2012.
Really?

[truthisfreedom]

7. Let's analyze this.

He chose the wrong topic to address, and brought himself down to the level of "kids" by saying that pissing on the dead is ok if you're young enough to be in the military. Then he brought up sawing off someone's head to defend his poor choice of subject.

Seriously, Rick, rethink being President of the United States. We can't have you tripping over your own dick trying to figure out how to make yourself look OK to the American public, much less the rest of the world. Whatever drugs you're on to make you normal AREN'T WORKING.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. False equivalence, honestly

and pissing on the corpse of a dead enemy is not only an immoral and unconscionable act and a violation of the laws of war, it's a sign of disrespect and indicates that the enemy is seen as something less than human. It's troubling not merely for the act itself but for what it says about the attitude of some American soldiers and marines regarding the Afghans they're fighting; it could just be me, but if instead of Afghan Muslim insurgents the US were fighting against white Christians? You probably wouldn't hear of anything like this happening. There were recorded instances of American troops in the Pacific mutilating the bodies of dead Japanese; nothing like that, as far as I know, happened in Europe where the enemy was the Germans. So racism clearly plays some part in these actions.

[jberryhill]

9. What I find interesting

Is that any of "them" are interchangeable.

He states it as some kind of retribution, but doesn't care that those whose corpses were disrespected are not Daniel Pearl's killers.

But, hey, they're all the same anyway... That's what I get from Perry's remarks.

[The Traveler]

10. Let's get real

War sucks. For those of you who have not seen it close up, war sucks in ways you have not even begun to imagine. And when you are engaged in it, when you and your friends are fighting for your lives, the nice little conventions all you decent people live by just do not pertain. They really don't. Pissing on yer enemy's corpse ... heh. Small expression of the following thought: You tried to kill me but I got you first, motherf'er.

I get why people are shocked, horrified, disgusted. I get it. Don't want our boys falling to that level? Neither do I. So let's not send them to war unless we really, really need to. And the thing about these wars ...

Afghanistan ... we had our chance to snag Osama early. We didn't take it ... and I think the reason why is because if we had, that would have satisfied the public's understandable post 9/11 anger. So, we ... why am I saying "we"? None of us here are Bushistas. Those Bushista scum let him go so they could drag it out.

Iraq was a totally optional. Hell, our fearless leaders (who never saw combat) had to make up reasons for that one.

Iran ... well. We're in the opening movements of that dance, my friends.

So it is all well and good for those who have never endured combat to judge the deeds of those who have, to express their distaste and cluck profoundly ... but if you REALLY disapprove of this sort of thing, I'll see you in the streets. We have to stop this coming war. Or far worse horrors will be done, by soldiers of both sides. And we don't need to do this. We really don't.

See ya in the streets.

Trav

[trumad]

12. Really

Is that why every Senior Military analysis---most who were high ranking officers---have deplored these actions?

BTW: 2/504 11B1P here and knowing that this is not what you do is Soldier 101.

[VWolf]

21. I don't think Traveler is implying that the military condones this behavior.

I think the argument is that, once the decision to go to war is made, atrocities are inevitable. The solution? Apply pressure (by whatever means necessary) on our gov't to ensure we don't go to war in the first place.

That was my take on it, anyway.

[SemperEadem]

25. no, traveler is making excuses

where there are none that are acceptable.

those bodies being dead is more than enough vengeance .

[CRK7376]

32. Airborne!

[Muskypundit]

34. Most if not all high ranking officers and senior military analysts

Have never heard what a sniper round going past your head sounds like. Nearly all of them were groomed from the start, the most action they have ever seen was ordering a private to clean up a cup of coffee they spilt. They have no concept of war either; it makes it easier for them to move the pawns.

[lunatica]

15. Many millions of us around the world took to the streets objecting to these wars

And we did it more than once. We were ignored by the media and called a mere 'focus group' by Bush who assured us with his snorting and smirking dismissive tones that he didn't make policy based on 'focus groups'. I happen to believe that war is an obscenity. Obscene acts during war are not special or out of place. They are what makes up the wars, whether it's bombing cities and neighborhoods from the air, killing innocent civilians or pissing on corpses. They're all obscene. And what always happens is the young people of this or any other country are invariably made to believe their atrocities are a good thing and unfortunately, too late to make a difference, it leaves them and everyone involved scarred for life, which is also an obscenity.

This instance isn't of something bad happening in a good war. War is never good. The things that stand out in wars are when humanity and empathy are shown in spite of the propaganda that demonizes the enemy, whether it's someone who is truly trying to kill our soldiers or civilians too old or too young who just happen to be in the way.

War is waged by the few for their own interests. And in the first decade of the 21st Century war has blatantly been about oil. I challenge anyone to tell me what isn't obscene about that when it would take a very few years for humanity to implement alternate sources of energy.

[The Wizard]

18. When Bush started the Iraq invasion

with "Shock and Awe" (shocking and awful) a friend called me and asked what I thought. I said I was embarrassed to be an American, and that we'd be paying for this for the rest of our lives, never imagining it would have lasted this long (as long as we still have mercenaries there it's still going on).
Our grandchildren are going to be paying for the war crimes of the Bush cartel and its profiteers.
Essentially our selected president was/is a serial killer and encouraged the troops to do his bidding.
The United States is a sick culture that worships the psychosis that is blood lust.
If we were true to our creed the entire Bush cartel would be in the dock at the Hague. Instead, they are rewarded with spending their lives in the lap of luxury.
We currently have an Attorney General who refuses to act on crimes committed against humanity by the Cartel in our names.
Until there are tens of millions in the streets demanding justice the insanity will continue.

[green917]

28. From a veteran who has seen combat...your comment is assumptive and pedantic

I've fired my weapon in the service of this great nation and, yes, war is, indeed, hell. And, yes, there is some amount of blame to be placed on the shoulders of those who sent them, erroneously, to this particular conflict. That does not excuse the reprehensible behavior elicited by these soldiers in any way shape or form. What they did violates not only the human rights of their enemy but the Law of Armed Conflict (something all military members are trained on extensively before deploying to a forward area and also something one can be given a Court Martial for violating). I hope that these young men are brought up on charges because they give the rest of their brethren who perform their duties honorably a bad name. As to stopping us from going into Iran, I couldn't agree with you more and I will see you in the streets.

CJG
Veterans For Peace

[ScottLand]

11. I'm confused. How do they know they peed on the guys who cut off Pearl's head?

[VWolf]

22. Didn't you know?

Thay're all the same "over there"

[ScottLand]

36. OK, I get it, it's like those isms. Socialism, Communism, Fascism, all the same thing.

[hobbit709]

13. Speaker-To-Mannequins opens mouth again.

[DCBob]

14. Good for John Harwood to speak up.

Perry is an idiot.

[Ganja Ninja]

16. Leave it to Rick Perry.

He is absolutely the dumbest MF'er left in this election. This guy makes Dubya look presidential. When he was praying to God for guidance about getting into the race ... well, all I can say is God must have been in the mood for a practical joke. I can imagine his answer. "Sure go for it Rick!" then under his breath "This should be good for laughs."

[LynneSin]

17. Matthew 5:38-42 is that even in your bible Mr. Perry?

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
—Matthew 5:38-42, NIV

[era veteran]

19. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE U. S. FIGHTING MAN

American soldiers follow the code, the ones that don't are criminal.
Check this out; Governor Dipshit. You are unfit to command.


6. I will never forget that I am an American fighting man, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

"responsible for my actions"

[DFW]

20. "Danny" Pearl?

As if Rick Perry were chummy enough with a Jewish guy to call him "Danny."

I'd say "nice try, Ricky," but it wasn't even that.

[graywarrior]

23. So now he's resorted to pornographic shock & awe to win votes

What a loose canon.

[SemperEadem]

24. of course perry's comment resonated with thug voters in SC

this kind of act is about their speed... in fact, I'll bet many of them with whom this resonates have done it themselves... and their ancestors have done it too, right after the guy they lynched died--they all whip out their little penises and pee on the corpse in a weak fit of "that'll show 'em".

Reminds me of the premise behind the Samuel Jackson movie "A Time to Kill"--that after raping the 10 yr old child, they pee'd on her, too. It's an act of depravity and devilry that has no place or purpose in a so-called "christian" person except to prove that they aren't christian, they have no true morals but that of an animal.

Ask these thugs "would jesus welcome your behind into heaven when you get struck down dead with 3 fl oz left to empty out of your bladder?"

[MinervaX]

26. Parris Island is in S.C. of course Perry is going rah-rah the Marines

[sinkingfeeling]

27. Yeah, those 'kids' were just foolin' around. It's not like there's any law or

code of conduct or anything that would have told them how to act.

[DallasNE]

29. In A State With 9.9% Unemployment

Perry's irrelevant and gross comment was effective and resonated with voters in South Carolina. That being the case, I say let them eat cake. They deserve no better.

[callous taoboy]

30. You can always count on Perry to not follow a thought to a logical conclusion.

[McCamy Taylor]

31. Troops peeing on corpses suggests that troops need some psychological help dealing with the horrors

of war. It also makes me worried that stressed troops might snap and do worse things---like hurt the living.

Not at all the same thing as the calculated murder of a civilian to garner international attention, which is what the Pearl killing was.

Those guys may have been smiling as they desecrated the corpses, but they were crying inside.

[marias23]

33. Perry is having Turkey for dinner.

[Marnie]

35. Just another Perry stupidism.

Both acts can be despicable.

Despicable isn't an either/or type of description. It can be an "all of the above" type of multiple choice answer.