It is ironic that John Oliver, the comedian, sounded more like the journalist than the journalists whose reaction bordered on orgasmic comedy. The clip Oliver played of Brian Williams glorifying the beauty of the missile firing is epic.
John Oliver, the thinking journalist?
John Oliver did not mince his words as he ridiculed the media for their giddy reaction to Trump’s war and politicians who are now singing Trump’s praises.
“A Syrian airfield this week was bombed by Donald Trump,” Oliver said. “Before we get into what we did and why we did it, it’s worth taking moment to acknowledge some of the reaction to the airstrikes themselves, particularly within the media which occasionally bordered on the orgasmic.”
Oliver then played a clip where Brian Williams seemed to be stepping over himself to flatter war.
“We see these beautiful pictures at night from the decks of these two US Navy vessels in the Eastern Mediterranian,” Williams said. “I am tempted to quote the great Leonard Cohen, ‘I am guided by the beauty of our weapons.’ And they are beautiful pictures of fearsome armaments.”
“What are you talking about,” an exasperated Oliver snapped in. “Is it a little ironic to see Brian Williams on MSNBC talking about the beauty of our weapons. Because that is not a phrase anyone would use if they had for instance ever been in a helicopter that was hit by ground fire.”
That latter statement was a stab at the lies Brian Williams told about taking fire in a helicopter he was traveling in as a journalist in Iraq.
Oliver pointed out that Trump is getting praises and support from Lindsey Graham and John McCain to Chuck Schumer. These guys were avid critics. Ironically, Alex Jones criticized Trump.
Oliver pointed out that there are serious questions that need answering about the strike. If Assad uses chemical weapons again with America intervene. Are we going to push for regime change.? Oliver said that while the bombing made some people feel good, the strikes really achieved nothing. The airfield is already operational.
Oliver said that while the bombing made some people feel good, the strikes really achieved nothing. The airfield is already operational.
But Oliver pointed out the most important danger of the reaction to Trump’s belligerence.
“There needs to be a tangible strategy acknowledging how difficult taking on Assad actually is,” Oliver said. “Because right now we have a president who feeds off praise. And he just got a lot of it for bombing someone. And that should make everyone very, very worried.”
Well said, John Oliver.