# Fox News show mocks soldiers in Afghanistan... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548 "2009-03-24T03:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/41 "2009-03-24T14:07:25Z")
My initial reaction was much the same as **Diogenes’**. But, on reflection, the poor choice of words by an obscure or unnamed Canadian general suggesting our military needs a year long break to recover is so at odds with how Americans see that opportunity for their military, and sounds so candyass, that our military was left wide open for the dig. And the follow up comment regarding the relatively unknown Canadian participation in Afghanistan is on the mark with most Americans as well as the concept that Canada is the place to go to when you want to chill. These were legitimate satirical comments of our military and the general American view of our participation. The resulting uproar is certain to reinforce the negative Canadian stereotype with regard to our military among some quarters, but it will also raise the profile of the sacrifice of our soldiers in helping out our neighbours to the south. So, I really don’t see anything to pit here. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/42 "2009-03-24T14:09:27Z")
Just for the record, German officers regarded the Belgian military as a tough opponent, for its size. And anyone making fun of Canadian soldiers should go read about [Dieppe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieppe_Raid). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/43 "2009-03-24T14:11:07Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > All in all, it’s still some minor 3:00 in the morning “look at me I’m funny too” show that no one cares about. It’s not like anybody is taking this yutz seriously in the first place. You have a point that it’s a relatively insignificant host on an insignificant show, but Fox News as a network is not insignificant and the network is ultimately responsible for the messages of its on-air personalities. Having said that, I hope they keep hiding Glenn Beck’s meds, though. That guy is a stitch lately. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/44 "2009-03-24T14:13:28Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I can’t believe I’m agreeing with **magellan01** but this is my take: are you fucking kidding me? It was a joke. If John Stewart had said the same thing we’d be holding our sides laughing about it. Difference being Stewart has a show on a little network called **COMEDY** CENTRAL. You want to poke fun and ridicule whoever or whatever have at it. Good taste or bad it can still be passed off as an attempt at comedy. But Gutfeld has a show on a network called FOX **NEWS**. Once you call yourself a news channel I would think you’d hold yourself up to a higher standard. If Stewart’s show aired instead on CNN he’d be slamed just as harshly and just as often. Snarky political commentary for comedy’s sake should be kept away anyone considering themselves a legitimate news channel. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/45 "2009-03-24T14:16:28Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Yeah. Just ask Jim Cramer or Tucker Carlson. Yeah, it’s totally a good comparison–two people who for personal gain harm the public interest vs. people who put their lives on the line to help fight a war to assist an ally. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/46 "2009-03-24T14:25:09Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Yeah. Just ask Jim Cramer or Tucker Carlson. If I may redirect your attention to my post: > [@Bosstone](#): > > Besides, these days the Daily Show tends only to go after people who’ve deserved a punch in the head in some way. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/47 "2009-03-24T14:45:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > If I may redirect your attention to my post: Yup, I agree with you. I simply provided two examples that fit your criteria, and showed that S&I was wrong that ‘Stewart would never do the latter’. He does all the time. They may very well deserve it, but he still does it. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/48 "2009-03-24T14:51:12Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Yup, I agree with you. I simply provided two examples that fit your criteria, and showed that S&I was wrong that ‘Stewart would never do the latter’. He does all the time. They may very well deserve it, but he still does it. You’re right; I stated my position badly (and probably thought it badly to start with). When Stewart goes on the attack, it is clearly not always light-hearted fun. But I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t do it to soldiers who are helping us fight our war. He seems to confine those attacks to people who are assholes and who deserve it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/49 "2009-03-24T14:53:21Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > Yup, I agree with you. I simply provided two examples that fit your criteria, and showed that S&I was wrong that ‘Stewart would never do the latter’. He does all the time. They may very well deserve it, but he still does it. All the time? No. Stewart rarely treats anyone like that, and his interview with Cramer and visit on Crossfire were not meant to be funny. He wasn’t mocking Cramer or Carlson either time (though I think he did say a few funny things); at one point Carlson told him to tell a joke and he said “No, I’m not your monkey.” On those occasions he was seriously telling them “Stop what you’re doing, it’s hurting people.” > [@Sophistry and Illusion](#): > > When Stewart goes on the attack, it is clearly not always light-hearted fun. True, but I don’t think it’s ever mean-spirited fun, as Gutfeld had. Stewart, as far as I can tell, is either serious (rarely), or teasing (usually). Gutfeld obviously wasn’t seriously saying that the Canadians were weak of will and body, but he clearly didn’t have much respect for them either. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/50 "2009-03-24T15:06:28Z")
Read this: > **[Canadian Forces casualties in Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan)** > > The number of Canadian Forces' fatalities resulting from Canadian military activities in Afghanistan is the largest for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. A total of 159 Canadian Forces personnel have been killed in the war since 2002. > The first casualties occurred in the Tarnak Farm incident, in which four Canadians were killed and eight seriously wounded when a United States warplane dropped a bomb on a training exercise in the belief that the Ca... Then explain why you think insulting the Canadian military on the heels of the deaths of 4 brave soldiers this month. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/51 "2009-03-24T15:07:36Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > The Belgians - the people who gave us the FAL (the “right arm of the free world”) and the M-249 machine gun that the United States Army uses to this day. This stupid bastard should read a book or even a Wikipedia article about the history of firearms, then he might not make such an idiotic remark. With all due respect to Fabrique Nationale, Belgium is eminently conquerable. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/52 "2009-03-24T15:10:26Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > All the time? No. Stewart rarely treats anyone like that, and his interview with Cramer and visit on Crossfire were not meant to be funny. He wasn’t mocking Cramer or Carlson either time (though I think he did say a few funny things); at one point Carlson told him to tell a joke and he said “No, I’m not your monkey.” On those occasions he was seriously telling them “Stop what you’re doing, it’s hurting people.” > True, but I don’t think it’s ever mean-spirited fun, as Gutfeld had. Stewart, as far as I can tell, is either serious (rarely), or teasing (usually). Gutfeld obviously wasn’t seriously saying that the Canadians were weak of will and body, but he clearly didn’t have much respect for them either. Well-said. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/53 "2009-03-24T15:17:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > With all due respect to Fabrique Nationale, Belgium is eminently conquerable. Well, sure but… why ?! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/54 "2009-03-24T15:20:35Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Well, sure but… why ?! Waffles. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/55 "2009-03-24T15:22:20Z")
Ahh. Waffles. Both the reason that they are conquerable, and the reason to invade. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/56 "2009-03-24T15:23:51Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Ahh. Waffles. Both the reason that they are conquerable, and the reason to invade. Precisely. Now assemble the troops! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/57 "2009-03-24T15:24:18Z")
> [@Greg Gutfeld](#): > > “Isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army!” he quipped. If Greg Gutfeld wants to invade Canada, then, by all means, let Greg Gutfeld invade Canada! 🙂 (Is there a clause in the Geneva Conventions that would allow us to bribe an enemy to detain our POWs indefinitely?) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/58 "2009-03-24T15:25:58Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Well, sure but… why ?! Usually because you want to invade someplace else and you have to cross Belgium to get there. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/59 "2009-03-24T15:37:54Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Read this: > > [Canadian Forces casualties in Afghanistan - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forces_casualties_in_Afghanistan) > > Then explain why you think insulting the Canadian military on the heels of the deaths of 4 brave soldiers this month. …is an incomplete sentence? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/60 "2009-03-24T15:46:07Z")
> [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](#): > > It depends on how Stewart did it. It is one thing to poke lighthearted fun. It is another think to make clear that you have contempt for the object of your mockery. Stewart wouldn’t do the latter, but it sounds like Gutfield did. Did you watch the clip? It doesn’t sound like you did. I provided a link to it upthread. This is the most dopey pitting in a while. Knee jerk, lame and pathetic even by pit-thread-by- **Dio** -standards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548.md?page=4)