Best Of Tucson®

Best Courageous Commentary on the War in Iraq

Andrew M. Greeley, Arizona Daily Star

Over several weeks this spring, Greeley's periodic columns in the Arizona Daily Star really hit home. Calling the Iraqi invasion a "silly and dangerous war," the Catholic priest didn't pull any punches. He blasted Republicans for claiming God was on our side in the fight and claimed the war had corrupted them. He thought many Americans were obsessed with seeing dead Iraqis, "because they're Arabs and talk funny and blew up the World Trade Center." Greeley also sharply criticized reporters for being "cheerleaders for the United States" and for presenting a phony and fake picture of what was happening. He accused the media of turning killing people into a spectator sport. That was brave, tough talk in "wave-the-flag" war time.