January 26, 2002

James Woods, Rumsfeld Guy

That Damian Penny-- he really finds the links no one else can reach (or is it the other way round?) A case in point is this article about some controversial remarks on terrorism by actor James Woods. The transcript is quite funny, especially since they've meticulously noted every "y'know." (Many an interview with yours truly has been tainted by mischievous over-accuracy in the "y'know" and "like" departments-- it's like, the Californian's worst nightmare, y'know?) But at least Woods, who describes himself as "more of a Rumsfeld guy than a Powell guy," bless him, doesn't roll out the usual touchy-feely kiss-kiss Hollywood rhetoric:

There's only one thing these people understand, one thing and one thing only: Abject, unbelievable, horrifying, terrifying fear.

And until we're ready to strike that deep in their hearts and souls we are going to be at war. And once they realize that they have to understand how powerful we are, not in our actual physical power, but in our heart and soul commitment to that power, only then will this terrorism stop.

There's only one way to stop a terrorist: cut his head off.


It's hard to argue with that.

Jean Abinader, managing director of the Arab American Institute in Washington, said "only a lunatic would speak like this," and advised Woods to "start dealing with reality." This analysis may lack nuance and tact, but it's as close to "dealing with reality" as any Hollywood actor ever comes when discussing politics, or anything else, for that matter. I guess I'm more of a Rumsfeld guy than a Powell guy, too, maybe. But it seems like Hollywood is mostly populated by Powell guys (Richard Gere, Alec Baldwin, Robert Altman, et al.) What's wrong with a little diversity of opinion down there?

Anyway, I'm not sure what a "formal Action Alert" is, but that's what the Arab American Institute "may consider" after reviewing this transcript. If Woods really is the Rumsfeld guy he claims to be, though, it'll take more than one of those, whatever they are, to shut him up.

What we really need is for the Rumsfeld guys and the Powell guys and the Arab American guys to team up to beat hell out of the bin Laden guys. Is that too much to ask?

Posted by Dr. Frank at January 26, 2002 12:09 AM | TrackBack