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Title: Tony Bennett in bizarre rant as he claims 'America caused 9/11' and 'George Bush told me he regretted the war in Iraq'
Source:
Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... ed-Iraq-rant-Howard-Stern.html
Published: Sep 20, 2011
Author: Daily Mail Reporter
Post Date: 2011-09-20 23:28:17 by Sebastian
Keywords: None
Views: 49726
Comments: 64
Tony Bennett spoke about 9/11 and the Iraq war on Howard Stern's Sirius radio show Legendary singer Tony Bennett said in an interview with Howard Stern on Monday night that 'we caused' the 9/11 attacks. He also went on to say that President George W. Bush confided in him that the war in Iraq was a mistake. Speaking on Stern's Sirius Radio show, Mr Bennett, who describes himself as a pacifist, said: 'They flew the plane in, but we caused it. 'Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.' Stern had asked the singer, a World War II vet, how the U.S. should deal with the terrorists responsible for the World Trade Centre attacks. 'But who are the terrorists?' Mr Bennett said, according to ABC News. 'Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists? Two wrongs don't make a right.' The 85-year-old spoke of the night in 2005 when then-President Bush made that astonishing statement. Mr Bennett said: 'He told me personally that night that, he said, 'I think I made a mistake".' The event was in honour of Mr Bennett and he said he believed Mr Bush made the admission because he liked the singer. Mr Bennett said that his experiences as a teenager in combat in the Second World War forever changed his position on war. Haunting: Bennett said his views on war and 9/11 are shaped by his time in the U.S. Army during the Second World War 'I'm anti-war,' he said. 'It's the lowest form of human behaviour.' He was drafted by the U.S. Army in November 1944 and served as an infantryman in Europe, moving across France, and later into Germany. He said: 'The Germans were frightened. We were frightened. Nobody wanted to kill anybody when we were on the line, but the weapons were so strong that it overcame us and everybody else. The day before his controversial remarks Bennett celebrated his 85th birthday gala in New York on Sunday, joined daughters Joanna, far left, Antonia, far right, and Susan Crow Mr Bennett credited the Army with allowing him to study singing. He said: 'The first time I saw a dead German, that's when I became a pacifist.' He told Mr Stern that he was left forever shaken by the sight of death. The big guns were there: Former President Bill Clinton joins Bennett on stage at his 85th Birthday Gala in New York on Sunday Mr Bennett said: 'It was a nightmare that's permanent. 'I just said, "This is not life. This is not life".' That's why, he added, that he agrees with Mr Bush. He said: 'To start a war in Iraq was a tremendous, tremendous mistake internationally.' The night before, Mr Bennett, who is currently promoting his new album, Duets II, enjoyed a star-studded party in his honour at his 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at The Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Guests included Bill Clinton, Elton John and Robert DeNiro.
But he also admitted that his two years of service gave him enough time to witness the horrors of war.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 14.
#7. To: Sebastian (#0)
'Just shut up and sing' comes to mind. Of course he has the right to say anything he wants - that has absolutely nothing to do with military service - but this just makes him look like a kook.
I wouldn't have phrased it that way - "America caused 9/11" - but I've tried to get past the sound bytes and consider what is behind this train of thought. You can easily dismiss it when it's a statist whacko like Michael Moore or a religious whacko like Louis Farrakhan saying it, but it's more difficult when it's someone like this. Bennett has seen the horrors of war up close and personal - I tend to give more weight to what people like that say. Putting right or wrong motives aside for a moment - the truth is the US HAS interfered in other nations' political affairs. That is an indisputable fact. And, when a nation does that, it is not unreasonable to expect blow-back. I AM NOT SAYING THE JIHADISTS WERE JUSTIFIED IN ATTACKING US ON 9/11. What I am saying is this: when nation #1 is perceived as meddling in nation #2's internal affairs, it is not surprising that perceived meddling will create resentment by lunatic factions in nation #2 and they will attempt to retaliate. Ron Paul is accused of being a {{{shudder}}}} isolationist (he's not), but this is the point he tries to make and gets shouted down for it. We are not minding our own business here at home (or have we already solved problems like illegal immigration and a crappy economy?).
Not only that,but he has been mostly apolitical his entire life. Not saying he hasn't voted or supported different candidates,but he has never been out there promoting one party or national candidate over another. BTW,he was just on tv a few minutes ago saying he had been misunderstood,and that nobody loved America more than he does,and that he has a fuller explanation of what he meant on a web site. Presumably his own web site.
#17. To: sneakypete, Get Outta Dodge! (#14)
(Edited)
He has to clarify his statement for the FOX right wing whacko nationalists. Left leaners are not the ones being offended by Bennett's comments - its the right wing kneejerk tea party types that are jumoing all over this. It's the Dixie Chicks all over again - I guess the right wing whack job contingent (and this article is from a right wing leaning neocon rag in the UK) fears that these messages will filter down to their mind control right wing zombies and change their minds - and they can't let that happen.
I found it here I am so grateful to be an American and as a World War II veteran, I was proud to fight to protect our values, which have made America the greatest country on the planet. There is simply no excuse for terrorism and the murder of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of the 9/11 attacks on our country. My life experiences - ranging from the Battle of the Bulge to marching with Martin Luther King - made me a life-long humanist and pacifist, and reinforced my belief that violence begets violence and that war is the lowest form of human behavior. I am sorry if my statements suggested anything other than an expression of my love for my country, my hope for humanity and my desire for peace throughout the world. If you go to the link and read some of the comments, you'll see why this topic is pretty much left un-discussed. Too bad.
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#9. To: Badeye (#7)
Of course he has the right to say anything he wants - that has absolutely nothing to do with military service - but this just makes him look like a kook.
#14. To: Get Outta Dodge! (#9)
You can easily dismiss it when it's a statist whacko like Michael Moore or a religious whacko like Louis Farrakhan saying it, but it's more difficult when it's someone like this. Bennett has seen the horrors of war up close and personal - I tend to give more weight to what people like that say.
Replies to Comment # 14. BTW,he was just on tv a few minutes ago saying he had been misunderstood,and that nobody loved America more than he does,and that he has a fuller explanation of what he meant on a web site. Presumably his own web site.
#18. To: sneakypete (#14)
he has a fuller explanation of what he meant on a web site
A Statement from Tony Bennett (clarifying comments made on yesterday's Howard Stern program):
End Trace Mode for Comment # 14.
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