Cronkite Calls Iraq a Terrible Disaster, Is Still Alive

Like Jane Fonda, Walter Cronkite is suffering from an acute Vietnam protest flashback and treating us to his well-worn antiwar sensibilities, apparently believing his influence to be as pronounced as it was 40 years ago.

[Cronkite's] pronouncement that the Vietnam War was unwinnable led to such a shift in public opinion against the war that President Lyndon Johnson said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost America."

The 90-year-old Cronkite was in San Jose on Friday addressing the Commonwealth Club. In an exclusive interview with CBS 5, he weighed in on the situation in Iraq.

"We should have gotten out a long time ago. This is a mistake, this entire war there, its a disaster. And the earlier we get out the better," Cronkite said. "It's a terrible disaster. Look at the loss of lives of our young Americans there and those who have been maimed for life, for what purpose? No purpose we can define."

Until now, the most influential jawing "the most trusted man in America"  has done in a generation was the narration for Epcot's suitably underwhelming Spaceship Earth ride in the mid 80s.

But those who make it to the bottom of the article detailing this antique windbag's condemnation of America's foreign policy will learn that his substantive contributions to the media landscape continue even today.

Cronkite is still active at CBS, with his voice on the introduction of the "CBS Evening News With Katie Couric." He retired from the anchors desk in 1981 at the age of 65...

Wait for it:

...a decision he regrets.

I bet.

No worries though.  I smell a nonagenarian comeback, now that Cronkite's taken such a courageously fashionable stance on the Iraq War.  His immediate successor's anti-Bush bona fides are certainly beyond reproach, but let's see Katie Couric parrot Congressional Democrat talking points with such seasoned aplomb.