COSBY: Getting stories out of Iraq is not easy. Bruce Willis found
that out firsthand when he went over to visit U.S. troops serving in Armed
Forces.
Tonight, we are rejoined by an independent blogger who is bringing
back some amazing pictures and stories from Iraq, Michael Yon. And also
again with us is actor Bruce Willis, who is back with us on the phone. It’s great to have both of you here. You know, Bruce, I want to start
with you. Last night, we talked a little bit about what’s happening over
in Iraq. You said the media isn’t covering the full story. What are we missing?
BRUCE WILLIS, ACTOR: I am baffled to understand why the things that I
saw happening in Iraq, really good things happening in Iraq, are not being
reported on.
Michael has been over there, was embedded with the members of the
Deuce Four, you know, the battalion that actually won the battle for Mosul,
that — Michael, correct me if I’m wrong — these are the guys who allowed
the election to take place, the election that happened just, you know, a
couple months ago, to take place, which is, you know, just a monumental
thing. And it’s not being reported on.
COSBY: You know, Bruce, you know, let’s face it. A lot of
celebrities have not been over there. A lot of folks in Hollywood have
been very critical of what’s happening in the war. Do you think, if a lot
of your colleagues in Hollywood went over there, saw it for themselves,
they’d have a different opinion?
WILLIS: I absolutely think that. I think we live in a global world. And I think that — I think America is just too isolationist. And a lot of big choices are being made. You know, to say this is not our fight, when this is the same fight that this country fought 60 years ago and the entire world fought 60 years ago, for the same kind of terrorism, the same kind of thing.
This is not a new war. This is not a new kind of fighting. This is the same fight. And it’s back. And it’s time for it to stop.
COSBY: You know, we’ve seen some of these amazing pictures that we’re
showing here. You know, Michael, there’s a photo I want to show of a soldier and a baby girl, in particular. Here it is. Why is this photo so meaningful, Michael?
MICHAEL YON, EMBEDDED BLOGGER: Well, I shot that photo on a day when a suicide or homicide car bomber ran into one of our Stryker vehicles,
injured a couple of our soldiers, and, unfortunately, there were a lot of
children who had crowded around to wave at our people.
And the attackers had every opportunity to just wait a couple of
blocks and attack our guys later, without the children being around, but
instead chose to attack straight through the children.
And Major Bieger, who is in the photo, found the little girl — her
name is Farah — and decided he wanted to get her to the hospital as
quickly as possible. And so he picked her up, wrapped her in a blanket, and loaded her into one of our vehicles and started to take her to the hospital as fast as possible. And unfortunately, little Farah died en route.
We went back to that neighborhood the next day, and the people there
actually welcomed us with open arms. They welcomed us into their homes.
We got into a firefight there again the next day. And the people in
that part of the city began to give us more and more information about the
terrorists until it got to the point where — it’s very dangerous to be a terrorist now in Mosul, because…
COSBY: You know, it’s incredible to hear these stories, Michael. I
mean, it’s amazing what you went through firsthand.
And, you know, Bruce, you know, as you’re hearing these stories from
Michael, I understand why your jaw just dropped when you saw these
pictures. Are you thinking, maybe at some point, you know, playing a role with the Deuce Four? Is that something maybe you’d consider?
WILLIS: We are talking about that right now. But it’s not really
about the film. It’s about these guys. It’s about these guys who do what they are asked to do for very little money to defend and fight for what they consider to be freedom. And it’s not just for this country. It’s for the world. It is time for terrorism to stop. And the United States is the country that can stop it. And that’s what they’re doing over there.
And there is — I have no idea why this country is not getting the
information that Michael Yon has, you know, access to, is, you know,
showing people. It’s just not getting out, and it’s baffling.
COSBY: You know, Bruce, in 2003, you admirably offered $1 million for
the capture of Saddam. I have to ask you, because just last night we had
on our show so many of those pictures, those horrific pictures of what
happened in Jordan.
And right now, we’ve got three thorns in our side. We’ve got
Zawahiri, of course, who is Osama bin Laden`s right-hand guy. You’ve got
Osama bin Laden himself. And then you’ve got al-Zarqawi, the Iraqi who
everyone believes is behind the mastermind of the attack, just those horrible
attacks on three hotels just last night.
Are you prepared even right now to maybe offer $1 million for one of
them?
WILLIS: Well, that was a conversation I was having with members of
the military. I’ve since been told that military men and women cannot
accept any reward for the job that they’re doing. It was more about my passion for trying to stop Saddam Hussein.
COSBY: Would you offer that if somebody else, let’s say a civilian,
is willing to turn one of them in and finally put this to an end?
WILLIS: Yes, I would. Yes, I would.
I want to live in a world, and so do the Iraqi people want to live in
a world, where they can move from their homes to the market and not have to fear being killed. And, I mean, doesn’t everybody want that? Who doesn’t want that?
COSBY: You bet. And, Michael, I’m going to give you just a few seconds. What are you most proud of? I mean, your pictures just really show the heart and soul there.
YON: I’d actually like to say something about Bruce Willis. He’s one
of the men who has had the courageous to stand behind the troops. And the troops absolutely respect and love Bruce Willis. He came out to the Deuce Four redeployment ball in Seattle. And I wonder if he realizes just how much they appreciated that. And it’s just so good to see a man of his stature throwing his entire weight behind our people who are in harm’s way.
COSBY: It’s terrific.
WILLIS: Thank you so much, Michael.
COSBY: And hats off to both of you guys, not just Bruce. And, Bruce,
thank you so much for being with us. And, Michael, keep up the great work you’re doing. Those pictures are amazing. And please come back, both of you, anytime. Thank you.
Fabulous post Kate, I will never miss another Bruce Willis Movie.
With all the weasals in Hollywood it’s really refreshing that there is at least one man who has his head on straight.
I’ll bet there are a few others in Tinsel Town who simply don’t want to risk their careers by standing up and telling the truth. Too bad about that. It could make a big difference to war effort.
You took the words right out of my mouth, Duke.
In fact, I’ll go so far as to say I’m going to buy a DVD of Hudson Hawk if I ever see one….
Excellent link, but how long do you think it will take steve to say it is all propaganda ?
Another embedded milblogger:
November 12, 2005
On the Radio with Dom G.
By Bill Roggio
I’ll be on the radio with one of my hometown favorites, Dom Giordano, on 1210 AM. I am scheduled for 2:00 Eastern. Unfortunately The Big Talker does not have live audio feeds. But if you are in the Philadelphia area, take a listen. Also, I will provide updates for Dom on the situation in Iraq while I am in country.
Posted 12:23 PM |
http://billroggio.com/
The Fourth Rail
Bruce Willis versus the panty waist Euronasties?
You couldn’t write a script better than this.
Yippy kayaaa….
I will never again slag a crappy bruce willis movie.
Good for Bruce, and his, well..ah entertaining movies. Love that shoot from the lip…
I hope he meets with Salmon Rushdie asap.
Entertaining for all…
Y’all know… I see Bruce Willis differently now. I realize he thinks for himself.
Good for Hollywood actors who refuse to allow their peers to tell them what to think.
BTW, I read somewhere recently that Sean Connery has had enough of Hollywood and won’t make another movie, ever. Good for him… sometimes I think everyone in Hollywood who writes, produces and directs movies and most TV shows is a leftist hellbent on brainwashing the population into believing what the left wants them to. And it’s been working, unfortunately.
Good for the rebels of Hollywood. You go, guys! Tell ’em off, Bruce and Sean and whoever else has their own mind…
BTW, newly-self-declared left-wing extremist George Clooney has been caught publicly fiddling with himself. What a moonbat wanker…
The proof here…
http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/111693.html
Bruce Willis Supports Operation Iraqi Freedom; Ple
Tough-guy actor Bruce Willis has proven he has a mind of his own; no allowing the Michael Moores of the world to tell this real man what to think. Willis has ponied up $1 million US out of his own pocket for any civilian who captures top terror leade…
Bruce Willis is fine, and I certainly appreciate his support of the troops, but I think it’s a real mistake for Michael to link up with any Hollywood personality like that. I think Michael Yon has one heck of a brand built on being there for the real thing. Bruce Willis, bless his heart, cannot possibly help Michael Yon be Michael Yon. If he wants to make a movie about the real story, that’s great, but why mix up the coverage of the events in Iraq with a PR event from Bruce Willis? It adds nothing, and detracts from his being the real thing.
Well, John Kerry made the mistake over and over again hooking up with Michael Moore and all those Hollywood moonbats who’re too ignorant and stupid to realize what a horrible monster Saddam Hussein is towards his own folks and the Kurds in particular, not to mention the world. No wonder the majority of Americans rejected Mr. Kerry.
I suspect, Flatlander, that you don’t want to see anyone from Hollywood demonstrate intelligence and caring about real things like what Mr. Yon is doing. Perhaps you don’t want Mr. Willis, with all his popularity and credibility in the bank to publicly support the war in Iraq and Mr. Yon as you fear he’ll change the thinking of and draw away supporters from the anti-war side to the side of good.
It’s just my own suspicion. I also think you’re, if I’m right, quite smart and cunning to say it the way you did. Perhaps you’re a Liberal political strategist. You DO sound familiar, in fact. Most leftists would’ve just said terrible things about Messrs. Willis and Yon. Lefty or not, I take my hat off for you… for the moment, anyway.
One million? The US has so far spent about $500 billion with no result.
If a 50 million dollar bounty isn’t doing it, then I am not sure 51 will.
You miss my point completely, Sentinal. I support Mr. Willis’ efforts wholeheartedly, and welcome his activism on this front.
It is Michael Yon who is making the mistake. Maybe Michael is changing to a political activist instead of a journalist, in which case his public embrace of Willis makes all the sense in the world. If so it’s a sad day since we need more journalists of his ilk.
Steve, you must be deaf, dumb and blind to fail to see the amazing progress being made in the region after decades of decay.
That unless you count the establishment of democracy, free political affiliation, and the beginnings of a seachange in the region as a waste.
Kate: Thanks. It’s a bloody shame most of Hollywood isn’t w/ the USO (but Al Franken is) entertaining the troops. Just disgusting. Bill Clinton ought to prod them.
I do see your point, Flatlander. It’s perfectly valid. But I don’t see how exactly accepting Mr. Willis’s support necessarily makes Mr. Yon lose his fundamental credibility. It’s not always a mistake. But I do agree it’s not always the best optics to align with celebrities. The left does it all the time, and then it hurts both the leftist organizations and the leftist celebrities.
Still, it is refreshing to see that not all of Hollywood is stupid as a skunk.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think Michael Yon kissing Bruce Willis’ ass is bassackwards. It just isn’t interesting at all, adds nothing to the situation, and in my opinion detracts from Yon’s “brand” as an independent journalist reporting on the important events that he is uniquely positioned to report on. But I agree in the scheme of things it is not a huge deal – I just have so much respect for Yon I hate to see him make that move.
When I saw the Willis and Yon piece it cheered me up.. I passed it on to others and put a link to Yon’s site on my blog. Some of the people I alerted are also please and took some interest in Yon.
You know … Flatski, A lot of Americans hooked up with a real man hollywood figure a couple of decades ago and it’s brought down the Evil Empired of that time and precipated the biggest period of prosperity in the history of capitalism … the lefties got their due at the trough too.
If Willis helps Yon make his point (and that’s exactly what he did) and if Yon lifts the reputation of Willis … that’s all good isn’t it?
Forgive, my grammar and typos .. only had one coffee so far.
Duke, Cheered me up as well, and here are cheerful thank-yous from Kurds who no longer worry about airborn gassings from Saddam’s sadistic sons. [short video choice of 3]
http://www.TheOtherIraq.com
TG