Michael Moore: ‘Mr. Obama, you do not know war’

By Agence France-Presse
Monday, November 30th, 2009 -- 9:18 am
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 Michael Moore: Mr. Obama, you do not know warTOKYO — Filmmaker Michael Moore urged President Barack Obama on Monday not to expand the war in Afghanistan, as Washington prepares to announce a surge of US troops in the conflict-torn nation.

Moore, visiting Japan this week to promote his latest documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story," told reporters that he had sent Obama a message from his father, a World War II veteran.

"I passed on to him a personal request from my father and his Japanese friend: 'Mr. Obama, you do not know war. We both know war and want it no more'," he told reporters.

The activist director, whose latest movie targets corporate greed, held his first press conference in Japan at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where he passionately discussed freedom and protection for the socially weak, and dished out harsh criticism against former US president George W. Bush.

Moore repeatedly praised the traditional values of Japan, but he criticised Tokyo for supporting Bush's policies, including by sending non-combat troops to Iraq and adopting pro-market economic policies.

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Asked to offer a message to the Japanese public, Moore urged them to return to a "society of peace and respect."

"As much as I like America, quit being like us. Be Japan," he said.

Moore, visiting Japan for the first time, came to the press conference in a casual coat over a black sweat shirt and sweat pants, looking decidedly casual.

"The airline lost my luggage," he said, adding that one of his first stops in Tokyo was a clothing store popular with sumo wrestlers.

"Where are they going to find a store in Japan with clothes that fit me? I am partly in my pyjamas and partly in sumo attire," he said.

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Story comments are below...

  • Name
    Michael Moore: you don't know exercise or self-control. We do, and we want you to acquaint yourself with both.
  • Eyeball_Kid
    I don't watch Moore's movies or hear him speak because of his weight or physical appearance. I listen to him because of his ideas. So I don't know who the "we" is in your post. Do you represent a group, a constituency for whom you are speaking? Or are you three persons in one?
  • johntwodogs
    Michael Moore, with all his millions made through trying to enlighten the citizens of this country, could go further by perhaps banding together with other celebrities of means and begin buying air time on MSM outlets to promote their peace agenda. An occassional news conference, or high profile protest opportunity is not enough to get the jaded/ignorant Amerikan public's attention. There needs to be a coordinated effort to sway public opinion and spur the "sleeping giant couch potato" into action. I also encourage all draft age men(and women) to begin the protest now, and not wait for a draft to bring you into the fray. This anti-war effort begs for all to become a part.
  • erico
    Anti-war efforts are nice. But as long as we have money, there will always be war. Take away the money you take away the war. You can't keep one without the other. It's time we wake up and realize it's not fixable. Iraq was an effort to covet it's oil and install American business, that's it. Even more depressing, is the only reason we are in Afghanistan, is to keep the Opium trade booming. All the yelling and screaming will change nothing. This is bigger than Obama. Obama is just the manager.
  • johntwodogs
    There is also an oil pipeline that is proposed to run through Afghanistan. These wars and occupations are being waged on credit. There is no money to fund them, yet they are being waged. No money for health care, though, not even credit! Obama isn't even the manager. He is the "Queen of England" without the respect. He has NO power, NO authority, NO respect! The good ol' boys are treating him like a "darky" who has 40 acres and a mule, but isn't taken seriously in the community. He is an intelligent, decent man in the cesspool of politics; even worse, a black manager in a corporate world of white CEOs. He really needs to latch onto the "adoring" masses that elected him and do their bidding while he is still in office. He will never be re-elected the way he is going. His party in congress are a bunch of pussies, who can't even agree among themselves. They all had jobs before they were elected. I wonder why they are so afraid of standing for the people who elected them, worrying about not being reelected. There really is no choice in Washington. Anyway from what I gather from what you write, we have no way out. I say we begin to yell and scream and not stop! Publicity is EVERYTHING! If there is no coverage, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN! Those with money, and lots of it, need to put it where their mouths are. Brad and Angelina built houses in New Orleans, and that got a minute of publicity, but you never hear about it anymore. Ending these wars is infinitely more important and urgent and nothing is said about anti-war efforts, or the immorality of it all. Where is the "Christian" voice. They have been hijacked by anti-choice/pro capital punishment, anti-Single Payer, etc. Amerikan "A.D.D" has kicked in the attention has jumped on it's horse and ridden off in all directions. We need a new focus. Tuesday night Obama is going to give focus to the issue. He is going to mouth words from generals, and munitions corporations. Oil and Drugs are behind the curtain. There is NO good reason for continued occupations. Our troops need to return home and stay here unless we are actually attacked. If we are defending our borders, attack is highly unlikely.
  • billyblastoff
    I thought America had debt not money. The wars are main contributors to this debt. Obama will lose major support because of his flip flopping on ending the war. We need to concentrate on our infrastructure. End the war stop spending the money.
  • bayside1
    Love Michael Moore..He was the first one to expose what the neo cons were doing to us when it was not popular to go against bush ..Then Cindy said no more and that gave many more the courage to get the real truth and not be so gullible and trusting..The real truth of what the decade from hell did to us ,will come out in large part because of Michael..
  • moxaman
    Thank you Michael for all that you do promoting peace and sanity in an increasingly insane world. War is hell... unfortunately this is home to the Satanists running ours and many other governments.
  • CoyoteMan
    I never supported the Afghanistan or Iraq wars. I predicted both those wars would hurt the US alot. I still maintain the US will have to withdraw from Afghanistan like the Russians did.
    I always felt those wars were a DOD/US gov't effort to get mired in another Vietnam type conflict for other purposes.
    (Like Oil, Opium, permanent bases established there, you name it.)
    Seems to me that if any person flushes a toilet in Thailand the US Military goes to high alert!.
    Time to mind your own business and keep your nose out of other peoples business!
  • TheIncompleteProcess
    This link speaks volumes on how I feel about Michael Moore's piece on President Obama...

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/30/809130...

    Blog Reporters....Consumer Reporters or Corporation Exposurers shouldn't also believe that they are bigger than god and every word they say we all should follow....
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