LF: Tony Bennett in bizarre rant as he claims 'America caused 9/11' and 'George Bush told me he regretted the war in Iraq'

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: 46020
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.

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.

'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

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.

Glittering occasion: Bennett at his 85th birthday gala in New York on Sunday, joined daughters Joanna, far left, Antonia, far right, and friend Susan Crow

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.
But he also admitted that his two years of service gave him enough time to witness the horrors of war.

The big guns were there: Former President Bill Clinton joins Bennett on stage at his 85th Birthday Gala in New York on Sunday

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.