Richard Engel Of NBC News Calls The War On Terrorism 'A War Of Fear' (VIDEO)

NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel had some critical words on Sunday's 'Meet The Press' about the war on terrorism.

SCROLL UP FOR VIDEO - Engel's comments begin at the 7:47 mark.

Speaking during a panel discussion, Engel described the term "global war on terrorism" as "a terrible misnomer." He went on to say that "in many ways it has been a war of fear."

Engel explained that the U.S. has "ignored other national priorities" due to the money and focus spent on the fight against terrorism.

Comments

[bealebkk]

09:42 AM on 07/11/2011

nice hair, I think

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:44 PM on 06/22/2011

Richard Engel is one of the most courageous men I know.

[bellamom]

04:28 PM on 06/22/2011

Yesterday, I went to a talk by Richard Engel, Saad Mohseni and Tom Freston about Afghanistan & during the talk Engel spoke about this "war on terrorism"/"war of fear" concept in a bit more detail - apparently it is the topic of his upcoming documentary (no release date info, unfortunately) and book. Since this one statement on MTP has attracted so much attention, I can only guess as to the amount of controversy the documentary will stir-up. Looking forward to it, actually. Engel is definitely at the top of his game.

[turkpol]

01:58 PM on 06/22/2011

Engel is right. As a side note, I can say I'm more reluctant to fly because of the terrors inflicted by the airlines rather than by would-be terrorists.

[Old Yaller Dog]

11:42 AM on 06/22/2011

To conflate the words "war" and "terror" only confuses what we're up against. We are fighting wars against insurgencies in both Iraq and Afganistan. The insurgency in Afganistan seems to be moving to Pakistan and we're winding down our involvement in Iraq.
Terror is fought by small, tightly-focused groups and a lot of intelligence gathering.

[AgingLady]

10:33 AM on 06/22/2011

War of Fear. Yes. Been a growing war. Oh well, TSA provides us a lot of jobs.

[Grinling Gibbons]

08:53 AM on 06/22/2011

Use of fear is one of the warning signs of fascism:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:JvdcWrCLZRwJ:www.rense.com/general37/char.htm+fear+signs+of+fascism&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

"7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses."

Running through that list, you can see most of the current Republican party's agenda, especially with their skillful use of rightwing media.

On a different note, it's good to see Richard Engel out of the war zone for just a little while. I always feel so nervous for this guy when I see him on tv. He takes a lot of risks. (understatement)

[dowl]

12:34 AM on 06/22/2011

IMO, fear runs deep in the hearts of GOTP'ers (gentle teapeople and baggers alike) because the mongering is the agenda of FoxNews and right-wing radio host. Why? Fearful people are easier to manage and it is a wonderful distraction for the not so subtle (anymore) machinations of Rupert Murdoch and his Saudi prince, the Koch brothers ownership of a least a couple of SCOTUS justices, et al.

Grifting for gold in the name of God, and with guns works! Fear mongering appears to pay well, does not necessarily require advanced degrees, and one does not have to love this country or at least, specific portions of it.

Again, IMO, it seems that it is easier to get frightened people to vote against their own best interests because it is almost always certain that frightened, deliberately dumbed-down individuals believe in salvation from the scary 'others' who do not look like themselves. Terror in the mirror is indeed frightening...

Lord have mercy on us all.

[cphill]

10:52 PM on 06/21/2011

I, as a Dem, am mildly concerned about terrorism. But. many of my friends (most of whom are Repubs) tend to be paranoid about it. I try to tell them that they would have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than to be victims of a terrorist attack. They think I'm nuts. I guess fear runs in the Republican Party.

[Westof405]

08:39 PM on 06/21/2011

For those who don't know and that seems to be many of you, Engle has spent years in the Middle East and speaks and reads fluent Arabic. If anyone has a good sense of what is going on there, he does. He has spent years in Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan, not a day or two like most "correspondents" who spend their time in Kuwait or Dubai hanging around the pool bar reading wire service reports and talking to each other.

If you don't agree with him, that's one thing, but unless you've got the time in country like he does, I'd take his word over almost anyone who claims to know what's going on over there.

[lvdragonlady]

08:26 PM on 06/21/2011

Heck I figured this out years ago, so tell me something I do not know.

[Michael G Malloy]

08:08 PM on 06/21/2011

Why are the HuffPost's headlines so sensational and misleading. This is just a passing analysis by a war correspondent. I guess you gotta keep us all on the edge of our seats to keep those advertising dollars coming in.

[biketowork]

10:35 PM on 06/21/2011

I'd say it's related to the new ownership. Since the acquisition it seems as if HP headlines have become more sensationalistic and inaccurate than they were earlier.

[ThinkGlobal]

01:53 PM on 06/22/2011

Yes headlines are 90% off putting or a complete joke...maybe they hired someone who was fired from the NY Post.

[ThinkGlobal]

06:18 PM on 06/21/2011

Have always found Engel's reporting from the front lines excellent. Glad to hear he knows what really happened and this was a made up war to line military industrial complex pockets of F A S C I S T Chaney the great fear monger spewer.

As Dwight D. EIsenhower said "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

[Robert Cantor]

05:43 PM on 06/21/2011

you mean, GWB and his 8 year neo-con agenda was bad for America?

[Highly Opinionated]

05:34 PM on 06/21/2011

Heck Yeah, I am pretty "fearful" of having my head cut off or buried to my shoulders and being stoned to death and viewed on you tube. Silly me. Silly silly. Not a big brave pompadour wearing manly man like Richard the Lionhearted Engle.

[Robert Cantor]

05:43 PM on 06/21/2011

wow, krazy has a direct link to your mind.

[cardiaccare]

09:58 PM on 06/21/2011

Highly opinionated wrong. Engle has lived in the Middle East, and knows what he is talking about. Unlike others.

[turkpol]

02:00 PM on 06/22/2011

Relax. Based on your comment, you have nothing to fear about having your head cut off.