Spring Break
The Daily OrangeNew York Times columnist offers election, other insights
By Krista Seymour
Posted: 10/4/02, 12:50 AM EST Section: News
Safire said that the Bush administration isn’t effectively using the media to present a convincing argument for a war in Iraq, but feels that there is ample evidence to support it. He referred to the discovery by weapons inspectors that Saddam Hussein was at one point a mere six months away from developing weapons of mass destruction, and that since the weapons inspectors haven’t been allowed for some time, he could be just as close now.
“If we wait to go to war, (Saddam) could develop weapons of mass destruction and decide to blow up New York City, or Washington (D.C.),” Safire said. He said weapons inspectors will be irrelevant when the time comes that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction and decides to blow up cities whenever he wants.
“He criticized the administration for not using the media as well as they could,” said Amy Widestrom, a first year PhD student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. “I was glad that he said that they haven’t presented a good enough case, but he didn’t talk about an exit strategy. He talked about democratization, but not really how we get to that point.
“He was very enjoyable, though. Very eloquent and funny.”
Patrick Farrell, SU’s Academic Affairs information officer said having someone with Safire’s stature speak on campus allows many students to get an interesting take on current events.
“Safire is a wry, compelling and sometimes controversial observer of the American political scene,” said Farrell. “Having him appear in person as part of the University Lectures affords the entire university community an opportunity to hear first-hand about the current climate in Washington from a true D.C. insider.”
Safire admitted that he is indeed an SU drop out, but encouraged students to continue in their studies.
“I could have stayed in school for two more years,” he said, referring to his decision to quit and work for the Syracuse Herald-Journal. “I could have waited to go to work for two more years. If I had stayed in school for two more years, I just would have won my Pulitzer two years later.”
“If we wait to go to war, (Saddam) could develop weapons of mass destruction and decide to blow up New York City, or Washington (D.C.),” Safire said. He said weapons inspectors will be irrelevant when the time comes that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction and decides to blow up cities whenever he wants.
“He criticized the administration for not using the media as well as they could,” said Amy Widestrom, a first year PhD student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. “I was glad that he said that they haven’t presented a good enough case, but he didn’t talk about an exit strategy. He talked about democratization, but not really how we get to that point.
“He was very enjoyable, though. Very eloquent and funny.”
Patrick Farrell, SU’s Academic Affairs information officer said having someone with Safire’s stature speak on campus allows many students to get an interesting take on current events.
“Safire is a wry, compelling and sometimes controversial observer of the American political scene,” said Farrell. “Having him appear in person as part of the University Lectures affords the entire university community an opportunity to hear first-hand about the current climate in Washington from a true D.C. insider.”
Safire admitted that he is indeed an SU drop out, but encouraged students to continue in their studies.
“I could have stayed in school for two more years,” he said, referring to his decision to quit and work for the Syracuse Herald-Journal. “I could have waited to go to work for two more years. If I had stayed in school for two more years, I just would have won my Pulitzer two years later.”
