Quantcast
 

Angelina Heads to Iraq to Talk Humanitarian Aid, Not Babies

Thu, 02/07/2008 - 11:01am by Molly
14,672 Views - 87 comments

For the second time in the past seven months, Angelina Jolie is visiting Iraq to meet with top officials and, apparently, share a little lunch with the troops. She is there on a humanitarian mission to talk about getting aid to the thousands of people displaced by conflict. She sat down with CNN to talk about her reasons for returning to the area, the problems she sees, and what she hopes to accomplish through her work with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees). You can watch her whole interview below, but what got cut off is that the interviewer couldn't help but try to ask about those pregnancy rumors. Whoops. In the full transcript you can see how Angelina responded:


Damon: There are reports out of Hollywood that . . .(laughs)
Jolie: Oh don't. Stop it. (interrupts I had to ask) Stay true to your tradition. You're CNN. Don't do it!
Damon: I know that's why I have to . . .(Laughs)
Jolie: But I don't have to answer. OK?
Damon: No you don't. I completely and totally . . . you're right and will not press the matter.
Jolie: Thank you.

To see the video of Angelina enjoying (oooor, not so much enjoying) lunch with the troops just read more


View Photos: Angelina Jolie
Read Related:  

Related Pop Stories

Related Network Stories

 
 
 

87 Comments Add a Comment

  • ilanac13's picture
    ilanac13
    2

    ugh - she's so annoying. it's like she wants to talk about it when it's good for her...ugh! go away!

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • hotstuff's picture
    hotstuff
    3

    Our society/world is so sick sometimes. How are you gonna talk about so many misplaced Iraq people who are suffering and then go 'Oh by the way are you pregnant'?! Priorities please!

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Pheefs's picture
    Pheefs
    4

    Gawd, she's wonderful!! Talk about the proper use of fame! Smiling
    & I luv-luv that she shamed the CNN reporter into NOT asking about her family plans.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • mswindang's picture
    mswindang
    5

    they just really had to focus on her food! she looks so pretty albeit worn out and weary but she looks good even without make up or fixed up hair.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • pinkprincess1101's picture
    pinkprincess1101
    6

    i have to say that, that was crossing boundaries by asking, still rocking that bumper forehead

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • marcella's picture
    marcella
    7

    at least she takes time to do these kinds of things. for those that think she only does it for publicity, you can't argue that she is there and true to her word about spreading the UNHRC message. she's in iraq for christ's sake!

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • nyaradzom2001's picture
    nyaradzom2001
    8

    made me laugh when I read about the people she had met, yes I am sure the leaders of the world are sitting up and taking notice, in fact I sure they are burning up free minutes right now talking about AJ has brought to their attention a pressing issure they didnt know about. now that a beautiful woman has swooped in to take charge where they have failed we can all rest easy, Osama be afraid be very afraid!! Gimme a break. NEXT!!!

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Pheefs's picture
    Pheefs
    10

    oh 'cmon ilanac13 -
    it's her right to talk about or NOT talk about whatever she wants whenever she wants (she IS an american after all)

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • mswindang's picture
    mswindang
    11

    oh and she's the pregnant lady, so she has the option to blurt out the news anytime she wants. the comment about her talking about her pregnancy whenever she wants to is lame... of course she has that choice.. its HER pregnancy. the whole purpose of the trip was for the awareness with Iraq people, not her. focus on the issue at hand.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • hotstuff's picture
    hotstuff
    13

    Shoot all I know is you couldn't pay me to be in Iraq. I think anyone who is there especially if you don't have to be is BRAVE!!! Let's hope this war ends soon!

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • nyaradzom2001's picture
    nyaradzom2001
    14

    And as for that CNN, stay true to your tradition crap this is the same new channel that rubbed Paris, Anna nicole and Britastupid in our faces. CNN is really not as grand as it was. If it wasn't for the Amanpours of the world well...

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • tiabia's picture
    tiabia
    15

    "it's like she wants to talk about it when it's good for her...ugh!

    Who is that NOT true for? Are you telling me Nicole Kidman didn't just do the same thing a few weeks ago...ugh!!!

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • peepshow's picture
    peepshow
    16

    She really looked like she wanted to be eating with the troops....

    They should have given her an MRE, and told her to pack sand.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • nyaradzom2001's picture
    nyaradzom2001
    17

    i don't know if i was in the green zone like AJ was with hundreds of troops protecting me I wouldn't be so worried. I wouldn't want to be in Kenya or Chad right now thank you very much.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Imabeliever's picture
    Imabeliever
    18

    How much news have we heard about the 4 million refugees from Iraq that poured into Syria and Jordan? I would say very little.

    Thats why UNCHR uses people like AJ to go into the areas and raise awareness..

    If more people heard about Darfur and saw pictures of what was happening.. if more people were aware of the children, babies, mothers living in tents(if they are lucky) in the poorly funded refugee camps in the desert than maybe enough people would generate enough interest for politicians to do something about it..

    I wish the news channels would report more news and less 24 hour coverage of Ledger's death or Hilton prison watch.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Honeylamb's picture
    Honeylamb
    20

    While I think what she's doing is admirable, the fact still remains that she is a Hollywood Celebrity, and that's what she's known for. That's all I've known her for. I think if she wants to stop being treated like a celeb, she should quit doing movies altogether and do this only for a while, then maybe she'll be taken more seriously.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • rpenner's picture
    rpenner
    21

    Good for her. CNN is not where we are supposed to hear about the latest hollywood gossip.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • nyaradzom2001's picture
    nyaradzom2001
    22

    Ima we live in a selfish world, a lot of people now know about tDarfur but still nothing is being done, people are more concerned witht hemselves and with subprime being the word of the year in 2007 I don't blame them. People who see her in Iraq now probably aren't going to think about the refugees for more than a fleeting second and then it will be back to the pregnancy watch, which is the sad part.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Jude C's picture
    Jude C
    23

    Bravo to her. I know this is just wishful thinking, but I hope that by now people will stop questioning the sincerity of her commitment to her charitable work. It seems obvious to me that she doesn't just do this kind of thing for the publicity. She doesn't just slap on some pretty makeup and show up for an hour-long photo op like many other celebrities do for their favorite causes, or adopt a cause without knowledge of it or hands-on involvement in it.

    She has traveled to and spent a lot of time in many dangerous or at least impoverished and unstable places around the world to do her charity work. She has invested plenty of her own time, money, and intellectual and physical energy into promoting what she believes in. She has spoken out intelligently and with dignity about her cause. And she has very clearly made her charity work a real priority in her life. You don't do all of that just for publicity--the travel alone should prove that.

    Even if she never makes another good movie again (and to be honest I don't think she's made very many good movies at all), I'll still always respect and admire her for the good work she does around the world, and always hope she remains famous so that she can continue to use her celebrity for good causes.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • autumn wild's picture
    autumn wild
    24

    The goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 32, is there on a U.S. government mission with the State Department to Iraq. She is accompanying Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky "to learn more about the humanitarian crisis and the 4 million displaced people, 58 percent of whom are under 12," says her philanthropic adviser, Trevor Neilson.

    ...

    Jolie met with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi migration officials, says the American Embassy, the Associated Press reports.

    AP Television News also showed her socializing with American troops over lunch at a dining facility in the high-security Green Zone, where the embassy and Iraqi government offices in central Baghdad are located. In the afternoon, she visited internally displaced people.

    "Angelina is trying to urge everyone to develop a plan to address getting these people home," Neilson adds.

    http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20176664,00.html

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • nyaradzom2001's picture
    nyaradzom2001
    25

    She could wal on water, turn water into wine, get the stigmata and i still wouldn't be able to stand her. I am one of the few people she completely rubs up the wrong way.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • autumn wild's picture
    autumn wild
    26

    Why does Angelina have to stop being an actress or celebrity to be taken seriously?

    From UNICEF's website:

    UNICEF’s celebrities have a wide range of talents and achievements, but they all share a commitment to improving the lives of children worldwide. And in each case a celebrity’s association with UNICEF comes about because he or she has already demonstrated that commitment.

    Fame has some clear benefits in certain roles with UNICEF. Celebrities attract attention, so they are in a position to focus the world’s eyes on the needs of children, both in their own countries and by visiting field projects and emergency programmes abroad. They can make direct representations to those with the power to effect change. They can use their talents and fame to fundraise and advocate for children and support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child’s right to health, education, equality and protection.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Liss's picture
    Liss
    28

    I think if she wasn't pregnant she would have simply said "no i'm not"

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Deba's picture
    Deba
    29

    damn... I would like to see how many people would go and endanger their lives....

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • loveallstar's picture
    loveallstar
    30

    our news channels are not going to report on darfur like they should and that has alot more to do with our government than people know.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Imabeliever's picture
    Imabeliever
    32

    Sad but true about people these days, Nya!!

    And yep.. some people will never like her or give her the time of day even if she cured cancer and single handedly captured Osama Bin Laden doing the dance of the seven veils..

    everyone has their personal celebrity aversion... mine is the Paris Hilton/Jessica Simpsons of the world..

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Honeylamb's picture
    Honeylamb
    33

    Hey autumnwild, it's my opinion. As I stated in my comment "the fact still remains that she is a Hollywood Celebrity, and that's what she's known for. That's all I've known her for."

    I know all about her contributions, appearances, etc. I repeat, I do think what she is doing is admirable. I don't need cutting and pasting from articles.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • blob's picture
    blob
    34

    "Stay true to your tradition. You're CNN."

    Oh please b*tch, CNN is no better than any other media outlet. They cover all the scandals also. Mangie's an ass.

    28 weeks 1 hour ago Report Comment
  • Deba's picture
    Deba
    39

    Guy sitting right next to her is HOT .... hehehe

    28 weeks 28 min ago Report Comment
  • Xena's picture
    Xena
    41

    damn... I would like to see how many people would go and endanger their lives....

    but deba since you asked....

    Everyone that enlisted in the US Military!

    28 weeks 15 min ago Report Comment
  • Xena's picture
    Xena
    43

    when she was talking to that one soldier from Austin TX, did any of you catch how she gave him that look and tried to make her lips look sexy when he was talking to her...LMAO

    28 weeks 2 min ago Report Comment
  • benna's picture
    benna
    44

    Lets see should we worry about other countries problems right now, or about our own failing country?? Sorry not that I don't care. But we have millions here living on the sreets , no food, dying of aids, children living in poverty........and on and on and on.And don't give me that crap that they are helping New Orleans, because we have heard from plenty of our popsugar friends that live there and hear other wise.

    28 weeks 1 min ago Report Comment