early and often

Giuliani Takes History Hostage, Makes It Do His Bidding

Rudy’s latest television ad in New Hampshire has the Republican candidate giving this short speech, over a backdrop of pictures and soft elevator music:

I remember back to the 1970s and early 1980s, Iranian Mullahs took American hostages and they held the American hostages for 444 days. And they released the American hostages in one hour. That should tell us a lot about these Islamic terrorists we’re facing. The one hour in which they released them was the one hour in which Ronald Reagan was taking the oath of office as president of the United States. The best way you deal with dictators, the best way you deal with tyrants and terrorists is you stand up to them, you don’t back down. I’m Rudy Giuliani, and I approve this message.”


Simple, effective message, right? It would be if it weren’t backward. As the Chicago Tribune points out, in 1981 “the United States freed the hostages by begrudgingly signing the Algiers Accords, which required the United States to pledge ‘that it is, and from now on, will be the policy of the United States not to intervene, directly or indirectly, politically or militarily, in Iran’s internal affairs.’” Which is, as we understand it, exactly the opposite of Rudy “Never take the military option off the table” Giuliani’s stance. Click above to see watch the short ad, and look closely. Did they digitally remake those hostage photos into 3-D? Wowza.

Giuliani TV Ad Questioned [Chicago Tribune via NYO]

Giuliani Takes History Hostage, Makes It Do His Bidding