Helen Thomas on war, civil liberty and the responsibility of the press

Truth, Fear and War

Excerpt from Helen Thomas' speech at her WiLL/WAND Torchbearer Award ceremony delivered at the Sewall-Belmont House in Washington, DC on Saturday, September 13, 2003.

". . . But now it is once more into the breach for us, and once more truth is the main casualty of war. In the brief five months of the Iraqi war, we already have learned that the human and financial costs are too high. But when will our leaders learn--war is not the answer. It's time for women to make their voices heard. Their silence on the subject of war and peace is deafening."

"We have lost our halo, because we represented the...best hopes and ideals of mankind and we have disappointed the world. To be a military superpower does not arrogate to us the right to invade countries, defy laws and dictate to other people. That is not us. It never was. We have no choice--it is imperative for us to take back the dawn." [Read Thomas' full speech at thenation.com}


Lap Dogs of the Press

posted March 15, 2006
"Of all the unhappy trends I have witnessed--conservative swings on television networks, dwindling newspaper circulation, the jailing of reporters and "spin"--nothing is more troubling to me than the obsequious press during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. They lapped up everything the Pentagon and White House could dish out--no questions asked." [Read complete article at thenation.com}

Helen Thomas on Wire Tapping

Thomas questions press secretary Scott McClellan about wire-tapping under the PATRIOT Act. Follow this link to video.