The Cronkite Moment of the Iraq War

The Museum of Broadcast Communications notes that on February 27, 1968, news anchor Walter Cronkite closed his "Report from Vietnam: Who, What, When, Where, Why?" by "expressing his view that the war was unwinnable, and that the United States would have to find a way out." The museum notes that "Lyndon Johnson's aides have recalled that the president watched the broadcast and declared that he knew at that moment he would have to change course." As history looks back on the Iraq War, I (optimistically) predict we will see today as the Walter Cronkite moment of the Iraq War.

Today's moment, of course, does not feature Walter Cronkite. It features Republican Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), one of the most loyal and devoted apostles of President Bush. Yet, as the Associated Press reports, even Santorum is now questioning the war. Here is the excerpt:

"In a speech in Philadelphia, Santorum criticized how the war has been presented to Americans — both by the media and the White House. Afterward, Santorum said the war has been 'less than optimal' and 'maybe some blame could be laid' at the White House. 'Certainly, mistakes were made,' Santorum said."

Back in 1968, Johnson knew that if he lost Cronkite, it meant he had lost the public on his Vietnam policy. Similarly, if President Bush has lost a neoconservative lunatic dittohead like Rick Santorum, it is clear he has lost not only Democrats, but Republicans and thus the entire country. Let's just hope that it doesn't take another number of years to get out of Iraq, as it took another few years to get out of Vietnam after Cronkite's statements.


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