STORM2K

Cher enters Iraq debate

Pop icon Cher has waded into the debate over the war on Iraq, saying she was shocked by a recent visit to a hospital for wounded American troops.

Cher unexpectedly phoned a US TV talk show without saying who she was and condemned the way maimed soldiers were being "hidden" from the public.

She said a recent visit she made to see injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington was "the most heinous thing I have ever seen."

Speaking on C-Span Cher, 57, said: "The thing I was most shocked by as I was walking into the hospital, the first person I ran into was a boy that was about 19 or 20 years old who had lost both of his arms.

"Everyone had lost either one limb or two limbs. A couple of the boys told me it was because their vehicles - the rockets pierce their vehicles so much - it's like being in a kind of tin can.

"These boys had the most unbelievable courage, they felt it was their duty. And it took everything I have as a person to not, you know, break down."

She asked why President George Bush and senior administration officials were not "taking pictures with all these guys."

"I don't understand why these guys are so hidden," she said.

The interviewer, still unaware he was talking to Cher, just after 7am yesterday, asked why she had been at the hospital.

Cher: "I was invited."

Interviewer: "Invited?"

"I'm an entertainer."

Interviewer: "What kind of entertaining?"

Cher: "I really don't want to go much past that. But ...

Interviewer: "Is this Cher?"

Cher: "Yeah."

A station spokeswoman said: "Cher came in like just another regular caller with something on her mind."

sounds like a set up to me. a horrible situation though

Go to any burn unit...and you will unfortunately see the same terrible things.

WHO CARES WHAT CHER THINKS! She and all the other Hollywood celebs are just out for publicity! Pres Bush is doing the right thing...The sad thing is that it WILL COST LIVES for us to obtain our goal. This is NOTHING NEW! Look at the past wars. This campaign is a success and will continue to be one.
As for hidding the soldiers War and campaigns are hell and there is NO NEED to get the public upset over this. Yes its sad that they are injured and dying but this is what we were called to do Lay down our lives for our country and to HECK with the Media and the Glory its all about selflessness and honor.

Aaron

I basically just posted this topic for grins, but I agree with Aaron.

:Cheer:

I see no reason to call this a set up. I'm sure that what she saw was heinous. Who thinks war injuries are anything except a nightmare?

By the way, the public is upset over these poor people losing limbs and being maimed for the rest of their lives.

In her defense, she didn't say she was against Bush, the troops. or the war in Iraq. She was invited and it wasn't a press event, so she wasn't going for publicity. Whoever invited her (must have been the military) obviously didn't think she would try to push any "liberal Hollywood" views during her visit. When she called the talk show, she didn't identify herself, but she answered honestly when the interviewer guessed who she was. The only thing some could try to argue was "anti-Bush" was when she asked why the injured guys were being hidden. I'd like to know why also. Why can't the public see what those Iraqi monsters are doing to our guys, while our guys are over there risking their lives, trying to free that country from a tyrannical, torturous beast.

Like the headline says, she voiced her concern. We're concerned, too, aren't we? Not all of Hollywood is liberal and not all of Hollywood is anti-war. I'm not saying Cher is not liberal because I believe she is. But we can't paint everyone with the same brush. A whole lot of people were angered by 9/11. I believe there is a silent group of liberals who are in support of W and his effort in the war on terrorism, even if they aren't in agreement with him on things like gun control, abortion, or taxes. Cher sounds like one of them.

Shawn, if she were not anti-war, then why would she contact a TV talk show?

Lindaloo wrote:Shawn, if she were not anti-war, then why would she contact a TV talk show?

I've heard plenty of pro-war advocates call TV and radio talk shows also (mostly I listen to Sam Donaldson's show at work). From what the article says, she voiced her concern. Unless there's something missing from article and the entire conversation wasn't relayed, I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that she's anti-war. Do we not get mad also when we get news of more of our guys getting killed?

I think that she's just expressing her opinion as well. I don't think that the soldiers are hidden and forgotten.

Yes it would not be normal if we did not get emotional when one of our soldiers are killed. BUT, do I call a TV talk show? NO. She is just trying to get it into mainstream media to further her cause.

give me a break is all i have to say. that is why i dont watch tv anymore, just fox and a few kids shows..........

sunnyday wrote:By the way, the public is upset over these poor people losing limbs and being maimed for the rest of their lives.

So are the people whose family and friends worked in the WTC. They didn't even get something back to bury. It is very sad but a job that has to be done.

I don't know where she stands on the war, but the hollywood set people are so far removed from war that I can only imagine how freaked out she was..their children don't have to enlist to get a education,or join because they can't find a job. And it is very frustrating when every day more of our troops are dying.

Lindaloo wrote::Cheer: