Christopher Hitchens on Iraq and Iran (Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)

Christopher Hitchens is one of the most prolific and controversial writers in the English-speaking world. A prominent atheist, he is the author of "God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything," which became an international best-seller in 2007. He has also written books on topics ranging from the partition of Cyprus to Thomas Jefferson and the Anglo-American relationship; his most recent is the memoir "Hitch 22."

RFE/RL writer at large James Kirchick recently interviewed Hitchens at his home in Washington about his left-wing revolutionary past, his views on America, Iran's nuclear program, Turkey's Islamist turn, Putin's Russia, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sampled his views on a variety of international figures.

Hitchens, whose support for the war in Iraq angered many of his former comrades on the left, reaffirms his support for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and predicts that a military confrontation with Iran is likely.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Hitchens
• politics
• Iran
• Iraq

[BRtankbuster]

Damn it looks like he has aged 15 years in just a few months.

Please get better soon Hitch, we need you.

[Silhouette93]

@grimblebrumble17889

On topic of Iraqi's disapproval, polls have shown that even in the more developed middle eastern countries 15% to 30% of Muslims approve of the terrorists attacks against the United States! An even higher percentage had positive feelings for Osama. It is stupid to expect a warm welcome in such a country!

"Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis would disagree with you". This is actually very small amount - less than 3% of the population.

[saxengee2]

'Totalitarian, expansionist, fanatical regimes' 3:20 - says Hitchens-

eerrrm- America? Anyone?!

Have a look at America's history over the last 60 years invading and installing puppet dictators for expansionist, fanatical & capital benefit to the U.S & her allies.

Hypocrisy & denial is an easy and convenient delusion- But in NO way helpful to the planet I live on. I'm almost glad he's dead. He has had a hugely negative effect on world affairs in the long term.

[BreakerOfBoxes]

@verybloodybaron No, that doesn't make me an idiot, it just makes me a crude, asshole, a role Hitchens played every once in a while when he felt certain philosophical movements or ideologies such as Objectivism to be "beneath him".

[verybloodybaron]

@BreakerOfBoxes Attacking a guy based on how he fought cancer? Why not just admit you're an idiot and move on.

[BreakerOfBoxes]

Hitchens is so smart he uses radiation therapy to fight cancer. Destroy your immune system while destroying mutated cells. Why do you think Steve Jobs lived so long with one of the deadliest forms of cancer (pancreatic cancer)? This guy was the most overrated "social commentator" of all time, a drunk who would fight against "religion" (which, BTW, is the easiest thing to debate against of all time), then support the Iraq war based on the "Facts." the US government promulgated. Irony.

[Silhouette93]

@grimblebrumble17889

That means more than twice as many civilians died per year under Saddam (without a war in the country) than during the Iraq war. I'm not saying that the civilian deaths in Iraq are acceptable, everyone is tragedy.

You seriously prefer the regime of Saddam? This man caused the death of 80,000 in a day.

Continued...

[Silhouette93]

@grimblebrumble17889

I find it hard to believe that you are an Iraqi. Saddam was in power for only 24 years.

The maximum estimates from the Iraq Body count organisation put the number of deaths of civilians at around 120,000. Remember a high percentage of this isn't caused by US forces, but the resistance to it. Under Saddam estimates of 800,000 deaths are attributed directly to his regime, the actual numbers are probably much higher. Continued...

[grimblebrumble17889]

@Silhouette93 Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis would disagree with you. Oh no thats right, they cant. How about the 4 million Iraqi refugees. The Iraqi Christian community that has been forced out perhaps. My family has lost more sons and brothers and cousins in 8 years of American occupation then 40 years of Saddam. Out of 40 men in my extended family 11 are dead, 5 are missing and 3 have been locked up without trial. One of whom is 69. Their is no democracy in Iraq. There is Vichy.

[Silhouette93]

@grimblebrumble17889

too much*

You're right, the occupation of Iraq is worryingly suggestive of Imperialism. Especially given the US presence still in the country. War profiteering is disgusting, I agree.

But it is madness to say that the eight years we spent in Iraq, attempting to give them a stable democracy, is worse than the 20 years Saddam had left and then the rule of his equally ruthless heirs.

Don't forget; hatred of the US is catalyzed by their religious views of the infidel too.

[grimblebrumble17889]

@Silhouette93 No it has not. It has helped turn even more millions of normal Iraqis and Afghans and their neighbours against us. And it was never to save lives but to aggrandise those who already have to much. It is imperialism nothing more.