Michael Savage blows Fox News report out of proportion
The country's Number 3 Right-Wing radio blowhard has a link on his
Web site pointing to a story on Foxnews.com concerning Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton's trip to Moscow.
Clinton and her
Russian counterparts discussed a successor treaty to the 1991 Strategic
Arms Reduction Treaty, which expires in December.
According to the Fox News report, the two sides "tentatively" agreed to a weapons inspection program that would allow Russian inspectors to "visit nuclear sites in America to count missiles and warheads."
This,
Fox News breathlessly reports, "would constitute the most intrusive
weapons inspection program the U.S. has ever accepted."
Never
one to let the thinnest of connections go unconnected, Savage on his
radio program this evening declared that the agreement is a done deal,
and that it would allow Russians into every US missile facility. he
compared it to a Las Vegas blackjack dealer showing his cards to the
players before they placed their bets. I'm still trying to figure that
one out.
But my point is, Savage once again apparently did
not read the story to which his Web site points. The agreement is
tentative, the terms have not been confirmed, and there is no mention
that the agreement includes every missile location in the country.
And
as far as Fox News' assertion about this being the "most intrusive"
weapons inspection program ever; says who? Is this Fox News' opinion,
or did it come from someone who actually knows what they are talking
about?
We don't know because Fox doesn't tell us (big surprise) and Savage doesn't bother to do any primary research (bigger surprise).
The world's laziest Ph.D. strikes again.
There is nothing new about on-site inspection. In fact, there was great joy in the US when the Soviet Union finally agreed to allow on-site inspection, which the US had been willing to undergo for quite some time. This meant we could verify their treaty compliance even better than with spy satellites.
This was implemented under President (wait for it) Reagan in the Intermediate Nuclear Forces agreement, then under the START treaty that is now being renegotiated due to its pending expiry.
It's just ridiculous how little these right-wingers know about history.
October 15, 2009 1:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
In order to understand the blackjack metaphor, you have to appreciate that Savage's audience is very prone to casino gambling, but they lack the capacity to play any game where one needs to be able to count past 21. Frankly, it's that lack of intelligence that enables Savage to retain their listenership. If one HAS the capacity to add numbers greater then 21 it makes no sense, BUT if one LACKS that capacity? Well, then it's perfectly understandable. It's an indication of intelligence it makes no sense to you. :-{)>
October 15, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is he still third, really Bill?
See, this is dangerous shit. You know this of course since you are one of the few that actually document what he says.
Madmen can make a difference.
October 15, 2009 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink