I’ve gone out of my way to avoid the absurd flap over Kerry’s support from unnamed world leaders — I just find it too dumb to even comment on — but Salon noticed a great exchange on the matter that I’d like to pass on.
Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and architect of the Dayton Accord, appeared on CNN Tuesday, looking for a substantive discussion with Wolf Blitzer about international affairs. When Blitzer instead wanted to engage him on the nonsensical charges from the White House, Holbrooke rejected the foolishness out of hand and took Blitzer to task for even spending time on it.
The exchange was a real gem.
Blitzer: Ambassador Holbrooke, thanks very much for joining us. A little revised version of what John Kerry said. He said, “I’ve met more leaders who can’t go out and say it all publicly, but boy, they look at you and say, you got to win. This you got to beat this guy, we need a new policy, things like that.” So there is enormous energy out there. The president today said, if he makes an accusation, he has a responsibility to back it up. What do you say?
Holbrooke: John Kerry committed an unpardonable crime in Washington: he spoketh the truth. What he said is self-evidently true. There’s a new poll out today by the Pew Institute, a worldwide pool, which shows massive and growing anti-Americanism around the world. Now American voters need to make up their own mind who they prefer, George W. Bush or John Kerry. But they also ought to know this administration is isolating us in the world, weakening us. Recent events in Spain, this election are another example.
John Kerry said something everybody knows is true. And, Wolf, you know it’s true. And why don’t I say just one other thing. Why don’t you, instead of staging a silly he said/he said between the White House, which is throwing all this mud at John Kerry after he said something true. Why don’t you poll your foreign correspondents on CNN. And ask them who the population and leaderships in the world would prefer to see elected? Very simple.
Blitzer: That may be for future course of action.
Right. Sure it will.
Actually, the more Blitzer parroted the Bush administration talking points, the more Holbrooke smacked him around.
Holbrooke: I have been in the last six months in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. I have met with leaders and members of the leadership that lead in every one of those countries.
Blitzer: Be specific.
Holbrooke: Look, Wolf, if you want me to say that such and such a foreign minister…
Blitzer: I do, if that’s what they said to you.
Holbrooke: Wolf, you’ve been a foreign correspondent for many years, you don’t reveal your sources when they’re said in confidence. And it would be inappropriate and wrong — these foreign ministers — and you know this perfectly well as a very distinguished foreign correspondent.
These foreign leaders say something to you in confidence. They have to work with the incumbent administration. The Bush administration knows that you as a journalist have protect sources. It is self-evident.
John Kerry simply said the truth. Everyone knows it. Look at…
Blitzer: Let me interrupt. When I interviewed Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary on Sunday, he pointed it out there’s an unprecedented coalition of the willing. Ninety countries have backed the president in the war on terror. And there are 30 or 40 countries with the U.S. in Iraq right now.
Holbrooke: Mighty allies like Palau and the Marshall Islands. Let’s get real.
Note to Kerry campaign: Put this guy on more often.