[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PETER ARNETT, TRAITOR

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to comment on and express 
outrage over the recent actions and words of journalist Peter Arnett. 
In fact, I hesitate to even use the term ``journalist'' when referring 
to Mr. Arnett. This word implies a certain degree of objectivity and 
balance which this man knows absolutely nothing about. ``Traitor'' is a 
better word to describe Mr. Arnett.
  This past weekend Mr. Arnett appeared on state-controlled Iraqi 
television. With a uniformed Iraqi anchor translating, Mr. Arnett told 
the Iraqi people that the American war plan had failed due to their 
continued resistance and that coalition forces were in the process of 
drafting new battle plans. To quote Arnett:

       Clearly, the American war plans misjudged the determination 
     of the Iraqi forces.

  Saddam Hussein couldn't have written his script any better.
  Clearly, Mr. Arnett has no idea what he is talking about. This is the 
same man who reported in 1991 during the first gulf war that the United 
States had blown up a baby milk factory. Military sources confirmed 
that this target was in fact hit. The fact that Mr. Arnett conveniently 
left out was that this ``baby milk factory'' was actually a biological 
weapons plant.
  I will never understand how and why Mr. Arnett always thinks he knows 
so much more than our military and intelligence officials. I am pretty 
sure our military leaders on the ground and civilian leaders in the 
Pentagon, who are briefed around the clock, know a whole heck of a lot 
more than Mr. Arnett. I hope Mr. Arnett is not getting his info from 
the same source who told him that U.S. forces used the nerve agent--
sarin gas--against villagers in Laos during the Vietnam war.
  This story, reported in 1998 by Mr. Arnett, could hold no water and 
CNN rightly fired Arnett for his reckless words and actions. Now, 6 
years after that bogus claim, Peter Arnett has once again found himself 
in search of employment.
  Both National Geographic Explorer and NBC News have fired Arnett for 
this latest stunt by Peter Arnett on Iraqi-controlled television. I am 
trying to figure out why these entities even hired him in the first 
place with his pathetic track record of recent years.
  We all firmly believe in the first amendment which protects the 
freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly. However, no U.S. 
citizen should be allowed to provide aid, and comfort, through false 
information, to the enemy during wartime.
  Of course the media doesn't mention the word ``treason'' like many of 
us have over Mr. Arnett's comments. That would be an indictment of one 
of their own and a pock on their profession.
  Mr. Arnett can apologize all he likes for being a ``useful idiot'' 
for Saddam and his barbaric regime, but that's not enough for me and 
it's certainly not enough for our soldiers and many Americans. I think 
Mr. Arnett should be met at the border and arrested should he come back 
to America.
  I dare Mr. Arnett to take a good look at our soldiers in uniform and 
tell them they have failed in this mission and objective.
  These men and women embody everything that is great about America and 
freedom. They come from small towns and big cities. They come from 
families both rich and poor. They come from all religions and races. 
The one thing all these Americans have in common is their love for 
America and freedom.
  They love this Nation and cherish its very idea so much that they are 
willing to sacrifice their own lives to ensure that we can live in a 
country free of government tyranny like that under which those in Iraq 
have lived.
  This war has lasted almost 13 days. Thus far we have lost about 50 
U.S. soldiers and have 17 missing in action.
  As I stand here today, our coalition forces are surrounding Baghdad 
and will bring about the demise of Saddam Hussein and his regime. We 
will help liberate the Iraqi people from deceit and hopelessness and 
tyranny.
  Mr. Arnett, you need to retire or think about a second career as a 
fiction writer. I understand you are looking for work and that the 
socialist, anti-American Daily Mirror in the United Kingdom has already 
picked you up.
  To those news organizations that have already picked up Mr. Arnett, 
and others that may hire him, I have two things to say: One, you have 
every right to hire him. Two, we have every right to call your news 
organization a joke and a sympathizer to traitors.
  I believe it is about time we made an example of Mr. Arnett's lies 
and deceit and let the media know we are watching.
  While we are giving the media top access and protection in this war, 
we must demand that they not hang out to dry our soldiers and 
Americans. If they do so, there should be consequences.
  Some believe freedom of speech is an absolute right and that 
journalists have the right to say and report anything they want. I, and 
many others, do not believe this. I do not believe journalists should 
be allowed to lie and opine and aid our enemies in the time of a war.
  There is a line journalists are not meant to cross, and Mr. Arnett 
crossed this line many years ago, and he continues to do so. It is time 
we held this man accountable for his actions.

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