In Iraq, Colbert gets military haircut to show his solidarity

[kpete]

Source: CNN

In Iraq, Colbert gets military haircut to show his solidarity
From Jomana Karadsheh
CNN

<>
Stephen Colbert high-fives a serviceman after submitting to a military-style haircut in Iraq on Sunday.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- Stephen Colbert left no doubt about his solidarity with American troops when he taped the first of four Comedy Central shows he'll produce in Iraq this week.

Colbert, wearing a business suit made of the same camouflaged material used for soldiers' desert uniforms, submitted to a regulation military haircut as hundreds of U.S. troops cheered wildly Sunday.

The comedian, who satirizes conservative TV pundits on his "Colbert Report," began his "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando" USO tour Sunday in the Baghdad headquarters of the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq.

"It must be nice in Iraq, because some of you keep coming back again and again," Colbert said, joking about the multiple tour many troops have had in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. Some troops had accumulated enough frequent flyer miles to earn them a free ticket to Afghanistan, he joked.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/07/colbert.iraq/index.html

[Triana]

1. I love that he's doing this. And those troops NEED some R & R and laughs

GO COLBERT GO!

[siligut]

2. Colbert is a terrific person, love that he went to Iraq and cheered the troops..

I think the first show from Iraq airs tonight too.

[Captain Hilts]

7. I know Letterman went a couple of times. nt

[MADem]

3. Love the sport coat in camo material!

Al Franken is very big on the USO circuit as well--he has been over in the sandboxes several times, too.

[Sabriel]

4. I challenge Billo to do the same

"The comedian, who satirizes conservative TV pundits on his "Colbert Report," began his "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando" USO tour Sunday in the Baghdad headquarters of the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq."

(Sssshhh! Don't tell them it's satire!)

[Ganja Ninja]

11. Bill'o sends them copies of his lame'o books instead.

I'm sure more than a few have come in handy in the latrine.

[Kali]

5. I fucking LOVE this guy

he has the biggest balls in the entertainment world. He is so good that he (and Jon Stewart) ALMOST make me want to get some kind of tee vee again. Anybody that knows me knows that is serious praise, I hate tee vee.

[dorkulon]

39. Don't bother-- Hulu.com /nt

[Kali]

49. slow, no, freaking glacial dial-up

:( :cry: :argh:

I do download clips from crooks and liars although the last few have been links to the Comedy Central/daily Show/colbert website and I can hardly get the page to load, much less view anything.

[dorkulon]

54. I'm so sorry.

I don't think I could ever go back to dial-up. Almost forgot there are still people using it.

[RainDog]

6. Colbert is wonderful

He's one saving grace in this crazy nation at this time.

[wroberts189]

8. knr

[qb]

9. He looks cute in that do...

Then again, I've had the hots for him for quite some time.
:loveya:

[mduffy31]

10. As if there was any question that he is the man

This is a guy who plays a right-winger on TV, but actually does what they claim they do. Can you see O'Liely or Shameity doing this, I don't think so. Him and Stewart rule!

[PatrynXX]

45. more like Insanity Hannity

No... Bill and Sean are of the type of anchor that loves the camera. Not the work. Anderson Cooper tries, but the corporations shut out the last great news anchor. (dan rather) haven't watched CBS News since they hired Katie. Bob wasn't bad. But again he's part of the old way the news was carried.

Besides.... maybe Bill O Nuts and Insanity Hannity just aren't that popular among soldiers. :P

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ooglymoogly]

13. Colbert always has his finger of the pulse of the righteous. He is a hero in my book

Not sure what the writer meant when he said going commando.

[jfkraus]

16. Going Commando

..i.e. wearing no underwear. But when you have brass ones, who cares!

[donquijoterocket]

43. plus

Plus he's funnier than Bob Hope.His sort of humor ought to go over pretty well. My memory of what passed for humor in indian country is that it tended to be pretty wry and of the semi-gallows sort on the order of the frequent flier miles line which may end up being either a classic or too prophetic, or a classic of prophecy.I've heard the guys there in the sandboxes really like and appreciate Al Franken despite blowhardbillowlielly's attempts to smear him.

[tomreedtoon]

14. I know the Iraqis will kill him while he's there, but...

...I appreciate the fact that he cut his long, luxurious locks of hair to a military buzz-cut.

A genuine right-wing mouthpiece like O'Reilly or Limbaugh or Hannity would never make any similar gesture of solidarity with the troops.

No matter that I dislike this war, I have had nothing but respect and sympathy for the people who are fighting it. Colbert proved he did, in a very visible way. I will mourn when his body is brought back, and I will treasure the picture of the closed-casket remembrance service. (You don't show a body that's been blown to bits to the public.)

[Qutzupalotl]

15. You needn't worry.

He's as safe as the rest of them on the base. Safer, perhaps, since he won't be patrolling with them.

[ClusterFreak]

18. What are you talking about?

In one breath you're talking about supporting the troops but disliking the war...I get that totally...but Colbert "killed by the Iraqis"..."blown to bits"..."closed-casket"...


:wtf:

[tomreedtoon]

53. He's not a warrior. He's an entertainer.

And he would be a prize for the enemy to kill and humiliate America once again. And because he's just an entertainer, he won't get McCain-style protection surrounding him.

I think he's brave to go into the meat grinder like that, but he IS going into a meat grinder.

[create.peace]

57. the enemy nt

[redwitch]

20. Bizarre post of the day award to you.

wtf?????

[nichomachus]

28. Your "concern" is noted n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

35. How do you function in society?

[tomreedtoon]

50. I survive by ducking. It works. I'm stil alive.

And many others aren't. And as the philosopher Elias Canetti said, "the moment of survival is the moment of power."

[Starbucks Anarchist]

66. So how many USO entertainers were killed overseas?

[Regret My New Name]

68. billions

[mitchum]

74. Ya never see Joey Heatherton anymore, do ya?

[dorkulon]

38. I'll add my "WTF?" to the pile.

Is this supposed to be funny or what? You KNOW he'll be killed? Care to wager some money on that?

[tomreedtoon]

51. I wouldn't take your money on a sure thing.

He'll die because he's going into a war zone, he's a high-profile target, and he won't get Clinton-level protection because he's just an entertainer.

[dorkulon]

55. Oh right--just like Kathy Griffin, Scarlett Johansen, Robin Williams, Lewis Black, Toby Keith,

Carrie Underwood and Morgan Freeman. They all went to Iraq to entertain the troops and they were all killed. No, wait. That didn't happen at all. They were all fine. In fact, none of the many celebrity entertainers who have traveled to Iraq have been hurt at all. So basically, you have no fucking clue what you're talking about. Just so you know.

I'm still up for that bet.

[nxylas]

77. Just as well he didn't take it

You'd be looking pretty silly now, following Colbert's tragic death. Oh wait....

[Vickers]

41. Lay off the sauce, dude.

:thumbsup:

[Regret My New Name]

44. haha wtf?

[Initech]

17. Yet another reason why Colbert rules.

[DesertRat]

19. Colbert rocks!

:thumbsup:

[pepperbear]

21. colbert and kathy griffin-1 maher-0 n/t

[Cha]

22. Colbert is Awesome!

And, knows just the right thing to do..going over to Iraq and making even more of a statement with his hair and his suit.

[XemaSab]

23. Go Colbert!

(We get to see his funny ear now! :P )

[Puzzler]

24. Read Ken's comments below the article!

"Stephen Colbert is the most articulate, thoughtful right-wing TV pundant there is. He does not have to yell or call people names to get his point across. Instead, he carefully uses a blend of humor and common sense. He is a class act and he should be a headliner on Fox news. Compared to the other windbags on that network, Stephen is a breath of fresh air. He is a treasure to the conservative cause. less"

[Sabriel]

25. Klueless Ken

Renewing my faith in the density of the conservative voter.

[Puzzler]

26. And he's a "pundant" too.

.

[dorkulon]

29. "Pundant"

:rofl:

[ProudDad]

27. I've been bored with Colbert's schtick for months now

A one trick pony whose trick has worn thin...

[roguevalley]

30. how sad for you

[ColbertWatcher]

31. Why do you hate America? n/t

[Vickers]

42. Your concern is noted.

:rofl:

[ProudDad]

52. I much prefer Keith or Rachel

Something with substance.

Not just an egotistical clown pretending to be an egotistical clown... :shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

61. I'm beginning to sour - the glorification of war and schmoozing with General Officers ...

why couldn't the Sergeant Major of the Command give Colbert his haircut?

After all, he's the ONE along with most other senior Enlisted Troops and a smattering of Company Grade peon officer (not the Field Grade or General Officer Ranks) who actually LEAD and WORK for a living. :evilgrin:

[Thothmes]

72. Those field grade and general officers

also were company grade officers in places like Vietnam, or in Gulf I.

[ProudDad]

73. Yep, it takes a while to suck your way to the top... (n/t)

[Thothmes]

76. Not all of those that get to the top suck their way there. Some of

them earn it the hard way.

[ColbertWatcher]

32. Pic of actual shaving from NYT ...

[roguevalley]

33. how awesome is that set? LOL! He is so adorable and that general

must have earned more props for that act than his whole career! :)

[Nostradammit]

46. Is that a flying monkey coming over the wall on the backdrop?

Looks like one of the monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.
What else could it be?

Love the sandbags!

[ColbertWatcher]

47. LOL! Could be a statue, but I like your idea better! n/t

[ShortnFiery]

56. Yeah, just what we need, Generals with more props.

They are part of the problem. :thumbsdown:

[Lifelong Protester]

34. love the dyed sand bags

I assume that is what they are, in front of his desk? Making the flag? Aren't those protective?

[ColbertWatcher]

48. I think they're sandbags, but I don't know if they're "protective." n/t

[dalaigh lllama]

65. Funny thing is, Odierno DOES look like Shrek

I think he has a new nickname now. :D

[Hatalles]

36. When will this be on TV? Tonight?

nt

[UrbScotty]

37. Not short enough - I want him bald!

[roguevalley]

40. check tonight. someone mentioned they weren't sure if it was this

week or next so to check tonight to be sure.

[ClayZ]

58. Great Show! Wooo Hooo!

K and R

[pjt7]

59. I don't want to be a killjoy, but I think

it's f-d up that we have our troops still in Iraq & Colbert is having skits w/ our President & Generals. I get that our soldiers need to de-compress, but considering we are still occupying a sovereign Nation, I think it's F-d up.

[lame54]

60. killjoy

[psychopomp]

63. Sounds like you were out of the room during the "Word" piece

His premise is that the time has come to declare victory and get out of Iraq. In fact, he "declared victory" for just that reason. You can watch it again at Colbert Nation, it's streaming now.

[pjt7]

64. I just watched this clip

thanks for clueing me in on the whole episode.

[CrawlingChaos]

70. I had the same reaction

It was the appearance of Obama that made me turn off the TV. Chalk it up to years of watching Bush attempting to make jokes and lame comedy about the whole nightmare - I don't want to see any president mining the situation for laughs. Especially at a time when wars are being escalated with no end in sight. I couldn't watch the whole thing, even though I ususally enjoy Colbert.

[ClayZ]

75. I think it is f'd up, too!

I am glad Colbert is there! He is on our side!

It is long past time to BRING THE TROOPS HOME!

[psychopomp]

62. Great show! Best Colbert in years

I'm very surprised by the brief cameo by POTUS. :bounce:

[vanlassie]

67. Colbert Owns Television

Just the best. I love him!

[underpants]

69. "No my ears are that big" LMFAO

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/229768/june-08-2009/obama-orders-stephen-s-haircut---ray-odierno

[skip fox]

71. Can you imagine Hannity getting his hair cut for such an occasion??

Much less going through with the waterboarding he said he'd go through.

He's too much a pretty boy to get a haircut. Even though he says the troops are extremely important to him, his appearance trumps their importance easily.

[Big_Mike]

78. Many comics have gone to the desert

But what I can't beleive is that no one here has mentioned Sen Al Franken. I think he did more than one USO tour there. He is definitely one of the best!