351 Oliver Stone Recants, under threat of Ban on Screening his Films-

Oliver Stone Recants, under threat of Ban on Screening his Films

(1) Chomsky cf Blankfort and Oliver Stone, on Lobby and Jewish media power
(2) Oliver Stone apologizes for saying Jews dominate Media & Lobby controls US foreign policy
(3) Stone’s apology confirms Stone’s argument - Gilad Atzmon
(4) Haim Saban to CBS: Cancel Oliver Stone's Showtime Series
(5) Haim Saban: An entertainment mogul sets his sights on foreign policy
(6) Oliver Stone "had to choose between defeat and dishonor"
(7) Oliver Stone's "grotesque, toxic stereotype"; his movie on Wall Street scheduled for release by Fox

(1) Chomsky cf Blankfort and Oliver Stone, on Lobby and Jewish media power

rom: Jeremy R. Hammond <jrhammond001@hotmail.com> Date: 29.07.2010 12:08 PM

Jeffrey Blankfort knows what Chomsky's true views are, yet chooses to deliberately mischaracterize them.

http://www.jeremyrhammond.com/2010/07/24/criticism-of-chomsky-asset-or-liability/

> Netanyahu himself unwittingly backed
> Blankfort, in bragging about how easy it was
> to manipulate the US

Also, Netanyahu said the U.S. could be "moved in the right direction", not "manipulated". And of course it can. This is not a revelation.

Comment (Peter M.):

This still leaves the issue of Jewish ownership/control of the major US media, as attested by Oliver Stone, demonstrated by Haim Saban, and ignored by Chomsky.

(2) Oliver Stone apologizes for saying Jews dominate Media & Lobby controls US foreign policy

From: Michael <RePorterNoteBook@Gmail.com> Date: 28.07.2010 08:39 AM

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/07/27/2740223/director-stone-repeats-anti-semitic-canards-in-interview

Oliver Stone apologizes for Jewish accusations

July 27, 2010

(JTA) -- Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone apologized for saying in an interview that the Jewish lobby controls Washington's foreign policy and that Hitler's actions should be put "into context."

Stone in an interview with the Sunday Times also had said that "Jewish domination of the media" has prevented an honest discussion about the Holocaust.

“In trying to make a broader historical point about the range of atrocities the Germans committed against many people, I made a clumsy association about the Holocaust, for which I am sorry and I regret,” Stone said in a statement released late Monday, the day after his remarks were published in the British newspaper.

Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, was among the Jewish organizational and Israeli officials to condemn the remarks.

Steinberg in a statement said Stone's apology "was necessary and we accept it.”

“But whether he acted out of sincerity or as a desperate response to the moral outcry at his comments is an open question," he added. "He must be judged by his future words and deeds.”

The article by reporter Camilla Long is not available online without a paid subscription to the newspaper, although British bloggers and other newspapers have printed excerpts.

During the interview, Stone said that Jews were dictating U.S. foreign policy and that the Jewish lobby "are hard workers."

"They stay on top of every comment, the most powerful lobby in Washington," he said, adding that Israel has "f---ed up U.S. foreign policy for years."

"Jews obviously do not control media or any other industry,” Stone said in his apology statement. “The fact that the Holocaust is still a very important, vivid and current matter today is, in fact, a great credit to the very hard work of a broad coalition of people committed to the remembrance of this atrocity -- and it was an atrocity.”

Stone, the winner of three Academy Awards, including as best director for "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July," has a Jewish father. He also directed such films as "Wall Street," "JFK" and "Nixon."

On Hitler, Stone said that the German leader “did far more damage to the Russians than the Jewish people, 25 or 30 million. Hitler was a Frankenstein, but there was also a Dr. Frankenstein -- German industrialists, the Americans and the British. He had a lot of support.”

Israel's public diplomacy minister, Yuli Edelstein, was among those who had condemned Stone's remarks early Monday.

"They are nauseating, anti-Semitic and racist," the Jerusalem Post quoted Edelstein as saying. "Not only is he showing ignorance, he is demonizing Jews for no reason and returning to the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion.'

"When a man of Stone's stature speaks in this way, it can bring waves of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment, and may even damage Jewish communities and individuals."

Stone recently completed a documentary on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and is working on a documentary series about American history.

(3) Stone’s apology confirms Stone’s argument - Gilad Atzmon

From: Dennis Zackrisson <dennis.zackrisson@comhem.se> Date: 29.07.2010 04:42 PM

Gilad Atzmon makes a clear stand in the "OliverStone-discussion"!

http://gilad.squarespace.com/writings/gilad-atzmon-oliver-stone-apologized-for-telling-the-truth.html

GILAD ATZMON: OLIVER STONE APOLOGIZED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2010 AT 9:58AM GILAD ATZMON

There you go, Oliver Stone apologized for suggesting that the Jewish lobby controls Washington's foreign policy and that Hitler's actions should be put into context.

In fact, Stone’s apology confirms Stone’s argument. We are subject to constant assault by Jewish and Israeli gatekeepers who insist on controlling the political and historical discourse and defy any possible criticism of Jewish national affairs.

“In trying to make a broader historical point about the range of atrocities the Germans committed against many people, I made a clumsy association about the Holocaust, for which I am sorry and I regret,” Stone said in a statement released late Monday, the day after his remarks were published in a British newspaper.

JTA reported today that Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, was among the Jewish organizations and Israeli officials to condemn the remarks.

Steinberg in a statement said Stone's apology "was necessary and we accept it. But whether he acted out of sincerity or as a desperate response to the moral outcry at his comments is an open question," he added. "He must be judged by his future words and deeds.”

Steinberg demands “sincerity” and future subservience. I would actually expect him to join Stone and be slightly more enthusiastic about historical research and contextual thinking.

Israel's propaganda minister’, Yuli Edelstein, was also among those who had condemned Stone's remarks early Monday. "They are nauseating, anti-Semitic and racist, Not only is he showing ignorance, he is demonizing Jews for no reason and returning to the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion.'

Interesting indeed. Stone doesn’t refer to race. There is nothing anti Semitic in his remark whatsoever unless telling the truth is a form of anti Semitism. Moreover, Stone didn’t demonize Jews for being Jews, he described some actions committed by Jewish institutional lobbies, actions that are now academically documented and studied. He did it for a good reason. Stone is probably patriotic or pragmatic enough to gather that peace is important.

"When a man of Stone's stature speaks in this way”, said Edelstein, “it can bring waves of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment, and may even damage Jewish communities and individuals." Edelstein is almost correct. Stone was brave enough to tell the truth about Jewish power, he probably wasn’t courageous enough to stand for it, which is understandable. However, Edelstein and other Jewish leaders better realise that Stone is far from being mad, anti Semitic or racist. Stone told the truth as we all see it.

Instead of silencing criticism, Edelstein, Steinberg and others better look in the mirror because the time is running out for Israel and its supporters

Update: Haim Saban to CBS: Cancel Oliver Stone's Showtime Series

http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/exclusive-haim-saban-stone-should-join-mel-gibson-retirement-19614

The New Yorker reported  last month that at a conference last fall, Saban described his pro-Israeli formula, outlining “three ways to be influential in American politics…make donations to political parties, establish think tanks, and control media outlets.” ...

(4) Haim Saban to CBS: Cancel Oliver Stone's Showtime Series

By Sharon Waxman & Brent Lang

Published: July 27, 2010

EXCLUSIVE

Update at 10:30 p.m.:

http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/exclusive-haim-saban-stone-should-join-mel-gibson-retirement-19614

A furious Haim Saban has mounted a campaign to get Showtime to cancel its planned airing of Oliver Stone’s 10-part series, "A Secret History of America," in the wake of anti-Jewish remarks by the outspoken director.

Stone's apology “is transparently fake,” Saban said in an interview with TheWrap. “He has been consistent in his anti-American and anti-Semitic remarks. I respect his First Amendment rights. I hope he respects mine.”

The billionaire and outspoken media mogul told TheWrap he had contacted CBS chief Leslie Moonves to urge him to pull the series.

He said that WME chairman Ari Emanuel had also called CBS privately to urge the series be pulled. update: WME had no comment.

Stone has previously said the 10-part "Secret History" series would put Hitler and Stalin "in context," and offer an alternative crash course to the "grossly inadequate history" taught by American schools and proffered by mass media.

CBS, Moonves and Emanuel did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Saban also said he had called CAA partner Bryan Lourd, Stone’s agent, to follow the example of Emanuel, who recently dropped Mel Gibson in the wake of the actor’s latest racist tirade.

Saban said he considers Stone to be "clearly an anti-Semite and an anti-American."

(Also read our update: "Oliver Stone Apologizes Again; This Time, the ADL Accepts" <http://www.thewrap.com/deal-central/article/oliver-stone-apologizes-adl-again-19657>)

EARLIER:

Israeli-American billionaire and media mogul Haim Saban isn’t buying Oliver Stone’s apology.

In venting his outrage, Saban has become the first big Hollywood name to publicly criticize Stone for his controversial remarks about the Holocaust.

“This guy should be helped in joining Mel Gibson into the land of retirement, where he can preach his anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism in the wilderness where he belongs,” Saban told TheWrap in an email.

Stone kicked off a media firestorm over the weekend for telling a reporter from London’s Sunday Times that Adolf Hitler, the subject of his upcoming documentary, did more damage to Russia than he did to the Jews. He also stated that the U.S.'s support for Israel is the result of Jewish domination of the media.

Stone apologized Monday afternoon saying his comments were “clumsy” and that contrary to his earlier remarks, Jews didn’t control the media or any industry for that matter.

That wasn't good enough for Saban.

“His love of [Venezuelan president Hugo] Chavez has always bothered me, but here he went too far, and his apology is sooooo transparently fake,” Saban wrote. “He should be embarrassed by it, and has certainly done nothing to calm my outrage at this guy’s positions.”

Saban, a major stakeholder in Univision and chairman of Saban Capital Group, said he is spreading the word among his Hollywood friends to avoid working with Stone.

(5) Haim Saban: An entertainment mogul sets his sights on foreign policy

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/05/10/100510fa_fact_bruck

THE INFLUENCER

An entertainment mogul sets his sights on foreign policy.

by Connie Bruck

MAY 10, 2010

One afternoon in late October, Haim Saban, seated in his wood-panelled library, contemplated the results of a fourteen-month renovation of his estate. It consists of a main house and two smaller buildings—one for guests and entertaining, one for his wife’s parents. He lives in Beverly Park, a gated community above Beverly Hills that is popular among Hollywood celebrities and moguls for its security and its exclusivity. With the help of an architectural firm, Saban’s wife, Cheryl, had transformed the interior of the twenty-three-thousand-square-foot French-style country manor house. “Only the outer walls were left—it looked like an airplane hangar!” Saban told me. The large foyer opened into a vast space comprising a living and a dining area, with minimalist modern furniture. Near the white upholstered sofas was a floor-to-ceiling display case filled with antiquities from Israel, and large Chagall paintings hung on the walls. “We have only Chagalls,” he said.

Saban enjoys playing the part of a man exasperated by his wife’s extravagance. “She left only the Jerusalem tile in the guest bathroom, and she left this room, but she made the wood darker, and she put leather on the ceiling,” he told me. He pointed at the ceiling high above us. “I said, ‘Why do we have frigging leather on the ceiling? You can’t even see that it is leather!’ But then I stopped myself. Marriages break up over renovating a house. Really, they do. So I decided, I will not say a word.” Minutes later, he heard music blaring from the outdoor sound system. “What is this, a bar mitzvah?” he declared, and went to investigate. “New speakers?” he said to the technicians. “What was the matter with the old speakers?” He shrugged, and gestured toward the “back yard,” which had been his project—an expanse of emerald lawn adorned with nine hedges, many trimmed in the shapes of life-size animals (a horse, a hippo, an elephant). He murmured, “My Versailles.”

Saban is not given to modest ambitions. Sixty-five years old, with a broad, dynamic countenance and slicked-down wavy black hair, he is known in Los Angeles as the man who brought the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Japan to America; the chairman and part owner of Univision, the nation’s leading Spanish-language media company; a staunch supporter of Israel (he has dual citizenship); and one of the largest individual donors to the Democratic Party. “Haim is a force of nature,” his friend Barry Meyer, the chairman and C.E.O. of Warner Bros., said. As a youth in Israel, Saban attended an agricultural boarding school where, he says, immigrants like his parents sent children they could not afford to feed. When he was expelled for being a troublemaker, he began attending a night school, where the principal told him, “You’re not cut out for academic studies; you’re cut out for making money.” The prediction seemed to come true in 2001, when Rupert Murdoch and Saban sold their joint venture, Fox Family Worldwide, to Michael Eisner, the C.E.O. of Disney: Saban made one and a half billion dollars. It was—and still is, he points out—the biggest cash transaction by an individual in the history of Hollywood. In March, Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.3 billion.

Perhaps Saban’s greatest asset over the years has been his remarkable ability to cultivate, charm, and manipulate people. “Being charming and analytical is quite a combination,” said Shimon Peres, the President of Israel, who has been a close friend of Saban’s for more than twenty years. “Charmers from time to time get lost.” But Saban, he continued, “isn’t floating in the air.” As a way of disguising his shrewdness and his mental agility, Saban is often self-deprecating; he describes himself as a “former cartoon schlepper.” English is one of his six languages, and his adversaries are sometimes disarmed by his linguistic stumbles, but he uses words very skillfully.

Although Saban has lived in the United States for nearly thirty years, he remains deeply connected to Israel. He watches Israeli news shows, via satellite, throughout the day, and is a devout fan of the Ha’gashash Ha’chiver (Pale Pathfinder), a popular Israeli comedy troupe that performed for decades. “He knows every sketch of theirs by heart, and he uses their language very often when he speaks Hebrew,” his friend Dan Gillerman, the former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, said. His hundred-year-old mother and his brother live in Israel, and Saban travels there frequently. Through the years, one of his closest advisers has always been an Israeli and, in business meetings with others on his team, the two would occasionally slip into a side conversation in Hebrew.

He remains keenly interested in the world of business, but he is most proud of his role as political power broker. His greatest concern, he says, is to protect Israel, by strengthening the United States-Israel relationship. At a conference last fall in Israel, Saban described his formula. His “three ways to be influential in American politics,” he said, were: make donations to political parties, establish think tanks, and control media outlets. In 2002, he contributed seven million dollars toward the cost of a new building for the Democratic National Committee—one of the largest known donations ever made to an American political party. That year, he also founded the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C. He considered buying The New Republic, but decided it wasn’t for him. He also tried to buy Time and Newsweek, but neither was available. He and his private-equity partners acquired Univision in 2007, and he has made repeated bids for the Los Angeles Times.

(6) Oliver Stone "had to choose between defeat and dishonor"

From: Paul Eisen <paul@eisen.demon.co.uk> Date: 28.07.2010 07:44 AM
Subject: RE: [altahrir] As Expected: Oliver Stone apologizes for Jewish accusations

Poor Oliver Stone. To paraphrase Winston Churchill: He had to choose between defeat and dishonor. He chose dishonor but he will still have defeat.

A very accurate observation, Sami! Your last questionmark is rhetorical, I suppose. Irony is a hard bargain on the web, though!

It really is not so very strange. In fact, Mr Stone's apology must be seen as a definite proof that he was completely right the first time he spoke. As we all can see, he does not deny the real facts! The word "obviously" reflects that his new statement comes from hard pressure.

We must learn to read not only between the lines but also to read what is behind the lines!

Warm Greetings!

DZ

(7) Oliver Stone's "grotesque, toxic stereotype"; his movie on Wall Street scheduled for release by Fox

From: Michael <RePorterNoteBook@Gmail.com> Date: 28.07.2010 06:44 AM
NYT Arts, Briefly - Oliver Stone Controversy

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/movies/27arts-OLIVERSTONEC_BRF.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=Oliver%20stone&st=cse

ARTS, BRIEFLY

Oliver Stone Controversy

By BROOKS BARNES; Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF

Published: July 26, 2010

Oliver Stone found himself the catalyst of an online brush fire on Monday after he made comments published in The Sunday Times of London that were interpreted as anti-Semitic. In an interview with The Times to promote his documentary “South of the Border,” which is about South American politics, Mr. Stone defended Hitler. “Hitler was a Frankenstein, but there was also a Dr. Frankenstein,” he said. “German industrialists, the Americans and the British. He had a lot of support. Hitler did far more damage to the Russians than the Jewish people.” Mr. Stone then proceeded to discuss what he called “the Jewish domination of the media,” adding with an expletive that Israel had messed up “United States foreign policy for years.” Bloggers quickly picked up on the comments, and the American Jewish Committee issued a news release condemning him. “By invoking this grotesque, toxic stereotype, Oliver Stone has outed himself as an anti-Semite,” the committee’s executive director, David Harris, said in the release. Mr. Stone, whose next Hollywood movie, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” will be released by 20th Century Fox on Sept. 24, has stirred controversy with his comments in this arena before. In January the director told a gathering of television critics that “Hitler is an easy scapegoat” while discussing his Showtime nonfiction mini-series, “Secret History of America.” At that time the Simon Wiesenthal Center harshly rebuked him for the remarks. A spokesman for Mr. Stone was not immediately available to comment.