Readers here may remember the uproar that happened when Heather Mallick wrote a nasty column for the CBC website about American politics which trashed Republicans, and Palin in particular. After some review, the CBC ombudsman apologised, stating it was an error in judgment for them to publish the piece on their website, as it contravened their own standards.
Something similar just happened with Fox News.
An obscure comedian, Greg Gutfield, who hosts a late nite Fox show called the Red Eye, has a passion for being outrageous. From what I’ve read, he prides himself on political incorrectness, and has offended many groups.
Last week he and his panel were talking about the fact that Canada had some time ago committed to pull out of Afghanistan in 2011, and that the chief of staff more recently has said they won’t be able to take on any more missions for a year, since the war has been hard on the staff and the equipment.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090323/national/fox_news_cda
From Canadian Press:
” The segment features American panelists suggesting Canadian soldiers need time off for “manicures and pedicures.”
The item aired after Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the Canadian Forces Chief of Land Staff, said the military would need a one-year break from operations after the difficult mission in Afghanistan winds down.
“The Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white capri pants,” Gutfeld said with a sneer, adding: “Isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army.”
Another panelist, Doug Benson, said he didn’t even know Canadian troops were in Afghanistan.
“I didn’t even know they were in the war. I thought that’s where you go if you don’t want to fight – you go chill in Canada,” he said. ”
So this may be tasteless, but the timing is even worse, as four more Canadians were killed last week, bringing the total since 2001 to 116.
The Defense Minister has asked Fox, and the comedians to apologise.
You know the manicure joke was tasteless, but a joke. Suggesting Canada be invaded, well that isn’t the first time some windbag has done that, not even the first time for Fox.
Unfortunately for the US, Fox’s timing sucks. Obama has skirted around the issue of asking Canada to extend their stay to support his drive to put more troops in Afghanistan. Canada has 2500 troops in Khandahar in one of the toughest areas of the fighting, and has been in that area for 4 years now (It will be 6 before they leave). The state department must be wincing.
Hopefully Secrtary of State Clinton will put some pressure on Fox to apologize to make this go away. If I had my preference, the apology would take place on the base at Khandahar in front of all the people who were mocked as they were risking their lives for their country and for the mission in Afghanistan.
James
