Christopher Hitchens on Jefferson & Bush (5 of 8)

Christopher Hitchens, one of the most highly-regarded political commentators in the U.S. today, visited Grand Rapids on October 3, 2006, to talk about President Thomas Jefferson's war in Tripoli and President George W. Bush's war in Iraq. He also gave a preview of his work in progress, "God Is Not Great."

Christopher Hitchens, one of the most controversial and compelling voices in Anglo-American journalism, has written twenty books, including biographies of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and George Orwell, as well as scathing critiques of Henry Kissinger, Bill Clinton, and Mother Teresa. Most recently, he wrote the book on atheism, "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything," and edited "The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever." A contributing editor to "Vanity Fair," he also writes regularly for "The Atlantic," "The New York Times Book Review," "The Nation," "Harper's Magazine," "Slate," and "The New York Review of Books."

Christopher Hitchens returned to the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies in 2007 to debate his younger brother Peter Hitchens on God and the Iraq War.

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[cizzio1]

Great words from a great mind

[combat524]

hitchens is brilliant, his words are so true, there are things in this world such as secularism that are certainly worth fighting for

[princez413]

The word is imperialism Hitch. And I don't believe for a second that Jefferson would agree with that.

It's NOT America's job to go around the world spreading Democracy. If we are attacked we should defend our selves, and the countries of the world should know that.

[PandaSloth]

Well that's all well and good. I have no issues with that. I'm personally pleased to see Saddam removed, and a chance for democracy realized in Iraq. I was just commenting on his word choice.

[GaiusIuliusTaberna]

@PandaSloth You don't impose democracy, you liberate people from tyranny and protect them while they vote for their new government, like we did in Iraq.

[KenMacMillan]

Part 3 is in this playlist twice & part 4 is missing.

[CrosshairJack]

Hey Hitchens... Love your suit!

[PandaSloth]

I am a fan of Mr. Hitchens. I enjoy his writing, and I agree with most of his views, but I find it odd that he would say "Impose democracy". How does one, Impose something of that sort? If you have a democratic system and the people vote in a totalitarian, Islamic leadership, we're back in the same place we were before actions were taken to depose them.

[FrankinHolland]

If killing defenceless Christian farmers were your glory days you are completely unprepared for this threat.

[infokemp]

The Danes and other Scandinavia countries have advanced militaries. They should build themselves some carriers and go and kick some ass bring back the viking days.

Go on Hitchens!

The European Union needs to kick some arse with our American brothers !

[rollotwomassey]

4:00-4:30- an unspoken yet fundamental truth that I kept waiting to hear from ANY admin. official these past 7 years.