Tuesday March 24, 2009
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 24, 2009
Canadian defense minister takes aim at Fox News
Defense Minister Peter MacKay on Monday blasted US broadcaster Fox News for mocking Canada’s military for needing a rest after its Afghanistan combat mission ends in 2011, after nine years.
He was referring to Fox late-night host Greg Gutfeld’s ridicule of a Canadian general’s suggestion that his troops would need a year-long break in operations to regroup and restock equipment after Afghanistan.
The episode appeared on March 17 at 3:00 am, but a segment has since circulated online, provoking angry reactions in Canada.
“I think it is an uninformed view,” MacKay told CTV. “It is crass. It is insensitive and it is in fact disgusting given the timing, when Canada is just receiving back four fallen heroes today.”
“There should be an apology to the families in particular and to the Canadian Forces and to Canada generally, given the sacrifice and the commitment that we have demonstrated in Afghanistan,” he added.
Some dismissed the segment as bad humor.
Others called for a boycott of the US network.
Gutfeld said in a statement his show “Red Eye” is satirical and topics are “addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner.”
“It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize,” he said in an email to AFP. (Source: AFP)