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Burns: Post-9/11 leadership a 'failure'
By Michele Steinbacher
msteinbacher@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON — Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns had harsh words Thursday for the Bush administration’s handling of war policy in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“There was a gross failure of leadership” in the early days of the U.S. going to war, he said as part of a news conference at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

The filmmaker whose credits include “The War,” currently showing on public television affiliates, said U.S. involvement in World War II brought the nation together in a way different from what happened in 2001.

After the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, the nation quickly rallied together, he said. U.S. leaders encouraged people to enlist and quickly convinced communities to sacrifice in many ways.

After the 2001 attacks, American leadership instead sent a very different message, said Burns.

“We were told: Forget about it; go shopping” to restore the hit to the economy, he said.

“It was a squandered opportunity,” Burns said.

In World War II, sacrifice on the home front — real and symbolic — united the nation. But in the Iraq war, Americans back home hardly notice, he said.

“We’re being told the stakes are exactly the same,” he said. If democracy is as much at stake now as it was in World War II, “why are we not contributing more as Americans? If it is a great threat, where is the solidarity, where is the draft?”

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Reader comments on this story - 11 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Former BN Democrat wrote on Nov 2, 2007 3:17 PM:

" What you do as BN Republican is not satire. And it does not "do both sides". It is just poor attempts to slander Republicans. You think there is just one BN Democrat? Wake up I use that name and others use it now. Anyone can use the name BN Democrat to post what ever they want. Because this is a free world despite people trying to take away our rights. Long live BN Democrat may whom ever point out how laughable our political system has become. "

to Former BN Democrat wrote on Nov 2, 2007 1:35 PM:

" The true test of message board satire is if people respond to your message as if it were real. BN Democrat fools no one. BN Republican does on both sides. "

to FRED wrote on Nov 2, 2007 1:34 PM:

" That's called genocide. Ask your pastor what your Bible says about that one. "

FRED wrote on Nov 2, 2007 1:25 PM:

" Mr. Burns would not have liked it if GWB would have taken my advice either. I would have told GWB to NUKE EM ASAP. Or is that not democratically correct? "

Former BN Democrat wrote on Nov 2, 2007 12:40 PM:

" BN Democrat Welcome, you are doing a great job when they respond and try to insult you. But are unable to admit what they realy are. "

LittleMac wrote on Nov 2, 2007 11:20 AM:

" I took our President's post 911 advice seriously. And did the Patriotic thing. I went shopping. As I definitely don't want to be branded as un-Patriotic. Therefore, I think it's unreasonable that Mr. Burns thinks that so few of us are making any real sacrifice. I'll just bet ya' he's never tried negotiating the Eastland Mall parking lot on a Saturday. Try it, Mr. Burns. Then preach to me about 'sacrifice'. "

to BN Democrat wrote on Nov 2, 2007 10:56 AM:

" Thank you for proving once again that you have no idea what satire is. Hints: If you want to better impersonate a liberal, get the MoveOn, DNC, and Democracy for America emails... at least your talking points will be better. It still won't be perfect because few liberals agree 100% with those orgs and spout talking points word for word, but it'll be a heck of a lot closer than the RNC and Rush Limbaugh talking points that you use now. "

GOP wrote on Nov 2, 2007 9:59 AM:

" I agree with BN Republican. They better have a wiretap on that guy's phone. "

BN Democrat wrote on Nov 2, 2007 9:33 AM:

" Ken, you are SO right. And I'm so happy PBS gave your production a home. You're a wonderful middle-of-the-road journalist just like Bill Moyers and David Brancaccio! Thank you for sharing your politically neutral wisdom! "

BN Republican wrote on Nov 2, 2007 8:46 AM:

" Another treasonous Michael Moore Hollywood liberal. What else can we expect from people who hate freedom? "

Stinko wrote on Nov 2, 2007 8:15 AM:

" Don't you know GWB is so smart, he doesn't need any advice on what to do and when to do it. He' already shown us that and continues doing it on a daily basis. "
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