I’ve been looking for a transcript of Michael Moore’s interview with Ted Koppel, but I haven’t been able to find one. If anyone knows where to find it, please let me know. However, a friend of mine sent me a paraphrased excerpt that he recalls from watching it:
It was an interview done in an informal setting — looked to be seats at the convention center.
MM says something about Kerry pulling troops out of Iraq ASAP. TK informs him that Kerry’s position is to increase the number of troops there ASAP.
At some point MM says it all boils down to “Bush lied.” TK points out Bush had flawed information, MM offers some rejoinder, then TK says if Bush lied then so did the Brits, the Germans, France and Russia.
MM offers some platitude about Kerry being able to “Internationalize” the situation in Iraq. TK says that sounds nice, but while Kerry may be able to speak French, and might be able to wrangle a dinner invitation, they’re not sending troops. TK then goes on to say the Germans are not coming either, in fact, no armies are.
MM then says the only alternative is to pull our troops out. TK interjects to ask him if he seriously means that. MM says yes, what other alternative is there? TK says we could stay the course until the situation gets better.
MM then starts in with “you can’t deliver democracy at the point of a gun.” To illustrate his point, he brings up the American Revolution and Washington and other leaders of the day. He then asks, “What if the French had intervened?” TK interrupts to ask, “You do know they helped, don’t you?”
Michael Moore doesn’t even know that the French helped us during the Revolutionary War? Anyone who’s seen Schoolhouse Rock knows that. And people are actually believing F9/11 as literal fact? From someone that clueless? Unbelievable.
There is a lot of talk amongst Bush’s opponents that we should turn this war over to the United Nations. Why should the other countries of this world, countries who tried to talk us out of this folly, now have to clean up our mess? I oppose the U.N. or anyone else risking the lives of their citizens to extract us from our debacle. I’m sorry, but the majority of Americans supported this war once it began and, sadly, that majority must now sacrifice their children until enough blood has been let that maybe — just maybe — God and the Iraqi people will forgive us in the end.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-04-14
Quoting someone as debunked as Michael Moore doesn’t lend much validity to an argument.