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Walter Cronkite Dead
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Paul M Offline
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Walter Cronkite Dead
Love him or hate him, all of us old guys grew up with him. He was the news. Then as now, to often the news creates the news and he played no small part in the outcome of Vietnam. How did he get Tet so wrong?

Quote:WALTER CRONKITE'S "WE ARE MIRED IN STALEMATE" BROADCAST, FEBRUARY 27, 1968




Tonight, back in more familiar surroundings in New York, we'd like to sum up our findings in Vietnam, an analysis that must be speculative, personal, subjective. Who won and who lost in the great Tet offensive against the cities? I'm not sure. The Vietcong did not win by a knockout, but neither did we. The referees of history may make it a draw. Another standoff may be coming in the big battles expected south of the Demilitarized Zone. Khesanh could well fall, with a terrible loss in American lives, prestige and morale, and this is a tragedy of our stubbornness there; but the bastion no longer is a key to the rest of the northern regions, and it is doubtful that the American forces can be defeated across the breadth of the DMZ with any substantial loss of ground. Another standoff. On the political front, past performance gives no confidence that the Vietnamese government can cope with its problems, now compounded by the attack on the cities. It may not fall, it may hold on, but it probably won't show the dynamic qualities demanded of this young nation. Another standoff.

We have been too often disappointed by the optimism of the American leaders, both in Vietnam and Washington, to have faith any longer in the silver linings they find in the darkest clouds. They may be right, that Hanoi's winter-spring offensive has been forced by the Communist realization that they could not win the longer war of attrition, and that the Communists hope that any success in the offensive will improve their position for eventual negotiations. It would improve their position, and it would also require our realization, that we should have had all along, that any negotiations must be that -- negotiations, not the dictation of peace terms. For it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. This summer's almost certain standoff will either end in real give-and-take negotiations or terrible escalation; and for every means we have to escalate, the enemy can match us, and that applies to invasion of the North, the use of nuclear weapons, or the mere commitment of one hundred, or two hundred, or three hundred thousand more American troops to the battle. And with each escalation, the world comes closer to the brink of cosmic disaster.

To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. To suggest we are on the edge of defeat is to yield to unreasonable pessimism. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion. On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemy's intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiations. But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.

This is Walter Cronkite. Good night.
07-17-2009 08:23 PM
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steer Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
Quote:How did he get Tet so wrong?

If you lived through those days, you can understand how he reached his "analysis that must be speculative, personal, subjective." I'm not sure, even today, he was right, or wrong.
07-17-2009 10:06 PM
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smn1256 Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
RIP
07-17-2009 10:25 PM
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WoodlandsOwl Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-17-2009 10:06 PM)steer Wrote:  
Quote:How did he get Tet so wrong?

If you lived through those days, you can understand how he reached his "analysis that must be speculative, personal, subjective." I'm not sure, even today, he was right, or wrong.

This is what you get when you have a civilian newscasters making commentary on military affairs. They hardly get it right on conventional war.. Vietnam, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom....

And if you think they can explain how Counter-Insurgency conflicts "work" I'll sell you a large bridge in Brooklyn.
07-17-2009 10:40 PM
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
I care about as much as I cared about Pedobear dying.
07-17-2009 10:46 PM
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Paul M Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-17-2009 10:06 PM)steer Wrote:  
Quote:How did he get Tet so wrong?

If you lived through those days, you can understand how he reached his "analysis that must be speculative, personal, subjective." I'm not sure, even today, he was right, or wrong.

He was wrong.
07-17-2009 10:59 PM
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TheDancinMonarch Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
The man who set the newsmedia on the path that led them to where they are today, cheerleaders for liberal causes. Thanks Walter, for the disservice you did to your profession and your country. R.I.P.
07-18-2009 12:28 AM
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RC Horn Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
Aw c'mon now, I know that Walter Cronkite was a liberal like many of my fellow UT alums(I am not by the way). However, I really didn't think that outside of Vietnam really showed his personal views that much during his broadcasts. I really loved his "We're Texas" commercial spots in the earlier part of this decade. Those commercials really pissed off a lot of Aggies as well as a lot of other assorted UT haters. RIP, Walter. You were very good spokesman for the University of Texas. You will be missed. :-(
07-18-2009 01:24 AM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-17-2009 10:46 PM)Rebel Wrote:  I care about as much as I cared about Pedobear dying.
And as much as I cared about Raygun dying.
07-18-2009 02:42 AM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-17-2009 10:59 PM)Paul M Wrote:  
(07-17-2009 10:06 PM)steer Wrote:  
Quote:How did he get Tet so wrong?

If you lived through those days, you can understand how he reached his "analysis that must be speculative, personal, subjective." I'm not sure, even today, he was right, or wrong.

He was wrong.
Well, that settles it. If PaulM says he was wrong, that means he was actually correct.
07-18-2009 02:43 AM
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Tripster Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-18-2009 02:43 AM)RobertN Wrote:  
(07-17-2009 10:59 PM)Paul M Wrote:  
(07-17-2009 10:06 PM)steer Wrote:  
Quote:How did he get Tet so wrong?

If you lived through those days, you can understand how he reached his "analysis that must be speculative, personal, subjective." I'm not sure, even today, he was right, or wrong.

He was wrong.
Well, that settles it. If PaulM says he was wrong, that means I am Always Wrong Too.

Fixed it for you ......

AND YES, He Was Wrong little Robs, speaking to you, a person who wasn't even a Glint in anyone's eye back in 1968.

Not to trample a mans grave, but they called this guy "The Most Trusted Man In America" ???????

That goes to show just how low in who we respected had dropped, even in the late 60's, to give us the Unbiased and Straight Up news.

I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him and Jane Fonda in a Sh't Tossing Contest.

He can RIP with Ho Chi Minh, Tung, Pol Pot, and all the other Murders he so happily Upheld while bemoaning us as the bad guys.

Him and Barack Obama could have competed for the title of "Most Apologetic for America to the Rest of the World".

And oh yeah !!!!! He really helped SAVE SOLDIER LIVES when he mouthed off that "We have already Lost in Vietnam" 7 years before we pulled out of the Country. THANKS WALT !!!!!!!

.
07-18-2009 09:33 AM
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RC Horn Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
I agree that Cronkite was wrong on Vietnam and many other things for that matter. I would still take him over the many jokes out there in broadcast news these days especially at MSNBC. I remember reading the Democratic Underground the day Reagan died and being extremely pissed off. I truly wanted to put some of those DU posters out of their miserable existence. I would like to think that most on the Right are not like that. RIP Walter.
07-18-2009 10:53 AM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-18-2009 10:53 AM)RC Horn Wrote:  I agree that Cronkite was wrong on Vietnam and many other things for that matter. I would still take him over the many jokes out there in broadcast news these days especially at MSNBC. I remember reading the Democratic Underground the day Reagan died and being extremely pissed off. I truly wanted to put some of those DU posters out of their miserable existence. I would like to think that most on the Right are not like that. RIP Walter.
Yeah, but you righties from Texass think that Rush "I am an addict" Limbaugh is smart and fair and balanced. That just goes to show how UNBALANCED you righties are.
07-18-2009 03:15 PM
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Paul M Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-18-2009 03:15 PM)RobertN Wrote:  Yeah, but you righties from Texass think that Rush "I am an addict" Limbaugh is smart and fair and balanced. That just goes to show how UNBALANCED you righties are.

No one has ever said Rush is fair and balanced. He's very opinionated and doesn't care about your views.

And you fear man spoiling the vast reaches of space. That shows how unbalanced you are.
07-18-2009 03:32 PM
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Rebel
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-18-2009 02:42 AM)RobertN Wrote:  
(07-17-2009 10:46 PM)Rebel Wrote:  I care about as much as I cared about Pedobear dying.
And as much as I cared about Raygun dying.

...and you're stupid enough to think your comment bothers me. Reagan was in his 90's. Here's a newsflash, people in their 90's die. The day after he died, guess what, life went on. Do I miss him? Hell yes, however, I'm not going to start weeping and moaning for 2 GDamn weeks after he died. People die; get the **** over it.
07-18-2009 05:19 PM
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Tripster Offline
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RE: Walter Cronkite Dead
(07-18-2009 03:15 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(07-18-2009 10:53 AM)RC Horn Wrote:  I agree that Cronkite was wrong on Vietnam and many other things for that matter. I would still take him over the many jokes out there in broadcast news these days especially at MSNBC. I remember reading the Democratic Underground the day Reagan died and being extremely pissed off. I truly wanted to put some of those DU posters out of their miserable existence. I would like to think that most on the Right are not like that. RIP Walter.
Yeah, but you righties from Texass think that Rush "I am an addict" Limbaugh is smart and fair and balanced. That just goes to show how UNBALANCED you righties are.

Rush Limbaugh is an "Entertainer" that is Politically Oriented just like Art Bell is 'Nut-Job' Oriented and Rush is on as many Cable & Internet Outlets as he is on Public Airways.

Cronkite on the other hand, was Strictly "Broadcast News Baby" (on Public Airways only).

Makes a BIG BIG Difference to those of us who cared and still care.

I chose to watch the "Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on the Huntley–Brinkley Report" style of news and watched David Brinkley on 'This Week with David Brinkley' for years.

Cronkite never did it for me at all. The only time I can remember being in sync with Cronkite was when he announced to the World that John F. Kennedy had been killed.

.
07-18-2009 06:46 PM
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