Who is winning the battle to be the most interviewed “outside expert” on the Iraqi crisis? Here is a tally of TV appearances (on the three morning shows, the weekend gabfests, MacNeil/Lehrer and Nightline) and of mentions in major print publications (as tabulated by the Nexis database) during the month of August.
Expert Les Aspin
House Armed Services chairman
TV 10 Print 275
Basic Wisdom
That the public may not support any military action that is not purely defensive.
Expert Sam Nunn
Senate Armed Services chairman
TV 6 Print 266
Basic Wisdom
That the taking of hostages “cannot be allowed to dominate our policy.”
Expert Henry Kissinger
Former Secretary of State
TV 6 Print 170
Basic Wisdom
That America’s national interests require forcing the Iraqis out of Kuwait and a long stalemate would be dangerous.
Expert William Crowe
TV 8 Print 65
Former JCS chairman
Basic Wisdom
That the U.S. could “clean the clocks” of Iraq in combat, but then warns that the operation would be bloody.
Expert Judith Kipper
Brookings expert
TV 4 Print 58
Basic Wisdom
That the crisis has ushered in a new era of belligerence over resources like oil.
Expert James Schlesinger
Former Defense Secretary
TV 2 Print 54
Basic Wisdom
That freeing Kuwait is unrealistic. “We should forget right now about that particular objective.”
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