Oliver Stone: Bush has, "set America back 10 years"

**voivod** · 09.29.06, 05:52 AM

Oliver Stone Says He is 'Ashamed for My Country'

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain — Filmmaker Oliver Stone blasted President George W. Bush Thursday, saying he has "set America back 10 years."

Stone added that he is "ashamed for my country" over the war in Iraq and the U.S. policies in response to the attacks of Sept. 11.

"We have destroyed the world in the name of security," Stone told journalists at the San Sebastian International Film Festival prior to a screening of his latest movie, "World Trade Center." The film tells the true story of the survival and rescue of two policemen who were trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, after they went to help people escape.

"From Sept. 12 on, the incident (the attacks) was politicized and it has polarized the entire world," said Stone. "It is a shame because it is a waste of energy to see that the entire world five years later is still convulsed in the grip of 9/11.

"It's a waste of energy away from things that do matter which is poverty, death, disease, the planet itself and fixing things in our own homes rather than fighting wars with others. Mr. Bush has set America back 10 years, maybe more."

The director of blockbusters such as "Platoon," and "JFK" said the U.S. reaction to the attacks was out of proportion.

"If there had been a better sense of preparation, if we had a leadership that was more mature," he said. "We did not fight back in the same way that the British fought the IRA or the Spanish government fought the Basques here. Terrorism is a manageable action. It can be lived with," said Stone.

Stone rejected allegations that U.S. authorities may have known about the attacks in advance and said the real conspiracy came after.

"I think that conspiracy-mongering on 9/11 is a waste of time," he said. "The far greater conspiracy occurred after 9/11 when basically a neo-cabal inside our government hijacked policy and went to war. That was as broad a conspiracy as we can get and it was about 20, 30 people. That's all, they took over and all these books are coming out and they are pointing it out," said Stone.

"This war on Iraq is a disaster. I'm disgraced. I'm ashamed for my country," he said. "I'm also ashamed that America has attacked itself with its constitutional breakdowns. I'm deeply ashamed."

In the United States' favor, Stone posited that it's not responsible for all the world's problems.

"You can't see that the United States is responsible for all the evil in the world because you can see so many dictators and so many bestial acts all over the world now. .... There is something in the human heart, the international human heart, that is evil," said Stone.

"That's the evil that turns its mind and ears on humanity and is able to say `I can kill a person in the name of God or religion.' This is not a human being, this a fanatic. And I fear that fanaticism is the result of our overreaction to 9/11," said Stone.

**ZORBA5150** · 09.29.06, 06:21 AM

What an idiot. Who takes this guy seriously?

**ZeoBandit** · 09.29.06, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by ZORBA5150

What an idiot. Who takes this guy seriously?

Not me!

**vistadelrey** · 09.29.06, 07:45 AM

As if we had a hold on "poverty, death and disease," ten years ago.

Fuck Stone.

**weesfreewheelin** · 09.29.06, 07:59 AM

I wish he could set it back 25 years. The we would have the original Van Halen again

**voivod** · 09.29.06, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by weesfreewheelin

I wish he could set it back 25 years. The we would have the original Van Halen again

**Scotty** · 09.29.06, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by weesfreewheelin

I wish he could set it back 25 years. The we would have the original Van Halen again

LMAO!

**ziggysmalls** · 09.29.06, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by scotty5150

LMAO!

25 years would be good.

Reagan in office
Fair Warning getting released
I could see Ozzy with Randy Rhoads and prevent him from getting on that plane.
AIDS was not known outside of the homsexual commnity
Political Correctness was a pipe dream
We were heading to an ice age instead of global warming
PMRC was non existant
MTV played music videos

Yes lets get that time machine ready.

**chefcraig** · 09.29.06, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by ziggysmalls

AIDS was not known outside of the homsexual commnity...

Yes, it was better when it was only killing homosexuals.

**Axxman300** · 09.29.06, 12:12 PM

Well, I was getting laid regularly in 1996. If we play the "Adjusted for inflation" game they play with gas prices I should be up to my ears in poontang, which is a great place to be.

**YO!Edward** · 09.29.06, 03:08 PM

I respect Stones opinions. He is a Vietnam Veteran who saw combat so therefore we must listen to him.

If you dont listen to the guys that have been gettin killed and done the killing then you lose touch with the reality of the whole situation.

-Then again it isnt my country that he is saying he is ashamed of!

**voivod** · 09.29.06, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by ziggysmalls

25 years would be good.

Reagan in office
Fair Warning getting released
I could see Ozzy with Randy Rhoads and prevent him from getting on that plane.
AIDS was not known outside of the homsexual commnity
Political Correctness was a pipe dream
We were heading to an ice age instead of global warming
PMRC was non existant
MTV played music videos

Yes lets get that time machine ready.

**SactoFan** · 09.29.06, 05:41 PM

That's great except the fact that Clinton was on tv bragging about attempting to assassinate Bin Laden which is clearly against U.S. law and has been for decades...