Harrison Ford blasts US Iraq policy

Post-9/11 Era Forum

At a safe distance from his homeland, veteran Hollywood actor Harrison Ford launched a broadside at US policy on Iraq, his country's gun laws - and the film industry for producing "video games" for teenagers.

"I'm very disturbed about the direction American foreign policy is going," said Ford, with US post-war casualties having exceeded those during the actual conflict.

"I think something needs to be done to help alleviate the conditions which have created a disenfranchised and angry faction in the Middle East.

"I don't think military intervention is the correct solution. I regret what we as a country have done so far," said Chicago-born Ford, 62.

The veteran star is in Madrid to promote his latest release Hollywood Homicide, a story of two moonlighting Los Angeles policemen, and receive a commemorative pin from Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid, city rivals of Real, the club having tied up a sponsorship agreement with Colombia films.

Twice-married Ford, who sidestepped questions about his relationship with actress Calista Flockhart, also slammed the film industry for in his view relying on hi-tech wizardry at the expense of thrilling plots - though he himself was involved in the early days of the trend with Star Wars in the 1970s.

"I think American films right now are suffering from an excess of scale. Lots of movies we're seeing now are more akin to video games than stories about human life and relationships," said Ford, while noting "12- to 20-year-olds are maybe the largest economic force in the US movie business".

Asked if his feelings were linked to his veteran status and a longing for the 'good old days', Ford countered: "I'm not a very nostalgic person - but I enjoy a good story".

He admitted that many recent releases, without specifying any in particular, were "not my cup of tea".

"It seems everybody is only going for the big hit, for the most return," said Ford.

However, he used the opportunity to announce he will shortly be back in a big hit of his own in revealing that Indiana Jones IV is now scheduled to hit screens in 2005 - despite reports of problems with the script.

"There is a script in preparation for Indiana Jones IV. It's come a long way. if we can get to be happy with the progress of the script we'll start shooting in the summer of 2004.

"I'm delighted to get back to that character and work with (director) Steven Spielberg again. I'm delighted to revisit Indiana Jones."

Although on screen Ford has starred in many action-packed, gun-toting thrillers - his Hollywood Homicide alongside 25-year-old Josh Hartnett is, in fact, more designed as a comedy - Ford abhors liberal US gun laws.

"I'm very troubled by the proliferation of arms, at the fact so many people in the United States carry guns. It obviously contributes greatly to the crime problems we have. I'm sure gun laws should be strengthened in the United States. I just don't know the correct mechanism."

Source: AP

Here's what cracks me up, guys: Musicians and actors, who know little about politics and the world in general, often with little education, running their mouth on an emotional level. Before you agree or disagree with an opinion, you have to consider the source and how valid the source is. Harrison Ford is an actor in Hollywood and has shown little knowledge in the area of politics or American foreign policy, so what I fail to understand is how his opinion can be so highly regarded.

But like anybody else he is entitles to his opinion, not his fault if some editor wants to print it.
But would your vies be diffrent if he said "yeah what we are doing in Iraq is great and Bush is the best leader the country has had"

Harrison Ford's opinion does count when it comes to movies---not politics. However, he sounds like a high-paid hypocrite when he mouths off on the sorry state of today's movies. A 62-year old Indiana Jones?! He didn't care about art or storyline when he accepted his multi-million dollar paycheck. I bet he'll even do Han Solo again if they offer enough money.

So if we are working on your logic then you are omly entitled to an opinion on what ever you do for a living. i.e. I am a teacher so I am only entitled to an opinion on education.
Dont be silly the policies ( foriegn) of a country like the US affects everyone wether they are a politician or a street sweeper everyone opinion is valid.

lod -- That was not the logic of anyone in this post. No one said that. You like to twist things around, eh?

Harrison Fords' comments are only published because he's widely known. The fact is, he is no more an expert on politics then I am. Why should my opinion be giving it's own spot on the internet? Why should anyone take my opinion seriousely? That's the law of free speech, people are free to completely ignore me when I talk.

We're free to ignore Harrison Ford too.

Harrison Fords' comments are only published because he's widely known. The fact is, he is no more an expert on politics then I am. Why should my opinion be giving it's own spot on the internet? Why should anyone take my opinion seriousely? That's the law of free speech, people are free to completely ignore me when I talk.

We're free to ignore Harrison Ford too. [/QUOTE] [/B]

Yeah you are free to ignore him but like Isadi he never asked for all this to be put in national papers, do you think any american needs the bad press of speaking about the actions of thier messiah.

But in all honesty you would be singing his praises if he said he backed the policy on Iraq.

Do you seriousely think you could (in all honesty) predict that I'd be singing anyone's praises? Look around, I haven't been singing anthing. I sing what I think, and that's all.

I don't take Harrison Ford's comments seriousely. I don't take anyone's commens seriousely. Unfortunately, some flakey people in this country do. That's the only reason I even addressed it, to remind people that he can and will be ignored even though some people think he deserves to be put in the paper for his little opinion.

I usually don't believe it until I see it. Yes, that even translates over to the war with Iraq -- I can't sit here and tell you that the Iraqi's are generally happy that we did what we did, and I can't tell you that we didn't kill a lot of people. However, I can tell you that I know the evil things Hussein has done from many sources, and I know about the W.M.D. he had from many sources as well. Bill Clinton himself addressed them, so it's not like they were fabricated by the Bush Administration.

I have no messiah.

So you don't believe it until you see it, but you believe about the WMDs because you sya you have sources. B.Liar and Bush said they had sources as well

I don't believe anything until I see it. But I'm leaning towards the weapons of mass destruction since the entire world can aknowledge the fact that hussein did -- at one point -- admit to having them. He admitted not accounting for them too, he just expected us to take his "word" for it, that he'd gotten rid of them all. Bill Clinton BOMBED Iraq because of those weapons.

Ok but the one point that a lot of people keep saying and fail to acknowledge is that Sadamm HAD these weapons not has.
Iraq is the most explored area in the universe and all you have found is a few defunct jets and a couple of cans of fly spray, nothing to incrminating and lets face it the weapons inspectors cant find them and the US/UIK army cnat find them desoite having "reliable" intelligence about the wereabouts of these weapons.

lodgepole- why aren't you more concerned with finding the wmd's , whether they be in iraq, syria, iran,etc. why are you so flippant about weapons that can kill millions. is it because you live in scotland, which has no value other than to scots? are lives in other parts of the world unimportant to you? just one, yes, one little ole weapon could wipe out your town, family, friends, country! yet, you belittle any effort to find them! that is most disturbing. where is your humanity?

Saddam failed to comply with the resolutions that said (in lamen terms):

"Show us the scraped weapons. Show us the evidence that you destroyed them. Show us documents accounting for them. Or we will kick your ass"

He didn't. And look where it got him. Case closed.

Grets open your eyes and your tiny little mind and re - read what I said. I am not belittleing any attempt to find them my point is this The US said that they knew where the weapons were but they cant find them, why would that be, Iraq has been searched over and over buy specialists, and soldiers and secret service agents and they cant find them. you see my point is that maybe there were no weapons, maybe they had been destroyed. Or maybe it is that what I wrote maybe brought up mad you realise that the UK/Us got it wrong.

Sayzak Bush and Blair said they would show us the weapons if Sadamm didnt so why dont they?

Look again at what I wrote and instead of hitting me with your anti - american bulls**t ( which it seems is all some of you have left) tell me what buts are false.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by scottc


Lets now go after a country which does not deny having WMD's. (bear in mind that WMD's mean NUCLEAR weapons).

Hey, cockroach, WMD = chemical, biological and/OR nuclear weapons.

So, lets get the nation which has admitted possesion of such a weapon. Lets get Israel.

OK, moron. We will.


______

IN REMEMBRANCE OF 9/11/01

'Tough tooties for you foreigners who don't like Bush. If he gets voted out of office by Americans, so be it — it is the will of the citizenry. Non-Americans simply have no say in the matter.'

We will always remember.
We will always be proud.
We will always be prepared
So that we may always be free!

http://www.ddaymuseum.org

Yeah well I took offence at what you said about my country and saying I don't care about humanity. so I guess we are even then huh.

1. touche- although after reading what you say about america everyday doesn't even compare to one comment about scotland. 2. i asked where is your humanity, i did not say you didn't have it

See it proves what I said, that are not really readin what I am writing I do not have a go at the US as a country I have a go at US foreign policy which I am perfectly entitled to do, you want to have a go at the policys of the Scottish/British governments foreign policies fell free your a foreigner they may affect you.

Lodge- btw, i meant no slam on the country of scotland. although i have never been there, my son has several times and loves it and the people. i meant to say it has no real strategic value, not that is has no worth. having re-read my post, i see why you would take offense... my apology! it's not an issue of getting even, it's an issue of idea exchanges. sometimes words come out in the wrong order from what the mind is thinking. i hope you can understand that.

I do understand that. I also apolgise for calling you small minded

slow minded is probably better!