Giuliani enlists Norman ‘bomb Iran’ Podhoretz.
By on Jul 10th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Giuliani enlists Norman ‘bomb Iran’ Podhoretz.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani announced his foreign policy team today, and included on the list as a senior foreign policy team member is Norman Podhoretz, who recently admitted with glee that his plan to bomb Iran would “unleash a wave of anti-Americanism all over the world that will make the anti-Americanism we’ve experienced so far look like a lovefest.
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
DADT
Economy
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Graham
Guantanamo
Hannity
Health Care
International Relations
Iran
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Limbaugh
Liz Cheney
McCain
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Rove
Sanford
Sotomayor
Steele
Supreme Court
Terrorism
ThinkProgress
Tiller
Torture
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
the pope will be next to join rudy's team
July 10th, 2007 at 5:04 pmCool.
So.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:04 pm....and the law of attraction at it's finest! One thug enlists another thug! Lovely, Rudy. Do you really want to tank your campaign that badly??
July 10th, 2007 at 5:05 pmMaybe if they add a few "rugs" to their heads, they can go on the road as THE BEACH BOYS REDUX??
July 10th, 2007 at 5:06 pmAdd McInsane into the group and you've got three of the 4 (with full wigs, of course).
July 10th, 2007 at 5:07 pmIf he really wants to mess up Iran, after the bombing he can take over the Emergency Clean-up Activities after. That should kill some more of them off.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:07 pm"Admitted with glee"? Would this be the "glee of insanity"?
July 10th, 2007 at 5:07 pmAnyone cursed with a name like "Pod-whore-itz" has to be a pure putz.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:08 pm#7 Glee of insanity, 'tis.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:08 pmHeard today that two or three of McCain's campaign team walked off. Guess they see the handwriting on the wall? McInsane is hitting the dirt.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:09 pmPodhoretz: the Iraq war has been "an amazing success.... There were WMD, and they were shipped to Syria. ... This picture of a country in total chaos with no security is false. It has been a triumph. It couldn't have gone better." He wants more wars, and fast. He is "certain" Bush will bomb Iran, and "thank God" for that."
July 10th, 2007 at 5:11 pmPodhoretz is a psychopath, and another of the utterly self-involved neocons. The following is a fairly old review, but still worth reading for some insight into Podhoretz.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Norman Podhoretzis right; BOMB IRAN'S NUCLEAR FACILITIES NOW so we don't have to nuke Tehran later.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:14 pmPfui. Link didn't show up for some reason.
Here it is: http://tinyurl.com/2dbwjd
July 10th, 2007 at 5:14 pmWhy does McCain even bother? He was mortally wounded by the Bush campaign back in 2000...
Remember how the Bush people smeared McCain--spreading rumors about his having gone over to the enemy when he was a prisoner of war?
If McCain ran for President, that dirt would come up again. So the Republicans have already soiled their own nest, so to speak.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:16 pmPodhoretz was on McLaughlin Report a few weeks ago - since I don't have cable it was the first time I'd seen him in years. He is a nasty piece of work - shouted over people, sneered and ridiculed them. And the whole time I kept wondering where he want to college, cuz he looks just like our resident conservative asshat in 1969 - pasty, chubby, zero social skills and kept talking about 'Mayo Test Tongue' in China.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:21 pmPodhoretz: " I think it is time we demonstrated the full power of this battle station. Set course for Alderaan."
22% Flunky: "With pleasure"
July 10th, 2007 at 5:27 pmPodhoretz's degree doesn't mean squat.
The neocons send one another through college, using their buckets of money. They give themselves bogus degrees, then go to work in bogus think tanks, churning out bogus reports--all of which prove incontrovertibly that the Right, despite appearances, has always been right. Conservatism is a fraud from start to finish.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:28 pmSweet! Rudy just blew his shot at the presidency.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:29 pmThe Case for Bombing Iran
by Norman Podhoretz
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.html?id=10882
Norman is exactly right. If we do not destroy their nuclear facilities soon, there will be a much worse - and very likely nuclear - war later.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:30 pm"Sweet! Rudy just blew his shot at the presidency."
Don't count on it. The 28%ers love people like Podhoretz. This serves to cement Rudy's reputation as being "tough on terror." And the public at large probably isn't really aware of just how batshit insane Podhoretz really is.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:33 pmHere's a better link:
The Wacky World of Norman Podhoretz
http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10973
The most absurd argument ever made in favor of going to war is made in this essay, wherein Poddy says that "no one really knows" whether or not the Iranians are about to go nuclear, and it's precisely on account of this uncertainty that we must strike, because it's better to be safe than sorry. By that standard, then, we don't need any intelligence-gathering process, we don't need any facts, all we need to know is that it's possible Iran might at some point threaten us with "weapons of mass destruction" – and that, alone, is reason enough to launch an attack in which many thousands will die, nearly all of them innocent civilians.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:33 pmGuiliani is an authoritarian neocon. Plain and simple.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:34 pmYou are wrong, Ringo.
It would be better if there were no nukes in the Middle East. But as long as Israel has them, Israel's rivals will seek them as a deterrent.
You wingnuts have been telling us that North Korea was going to nuke us for years now. You just want a war, but you're not going to get it. It would ruin what's left of our military, our national standing, our fiscal solvency and would mean the extinction of the GOP as a political party. Bush overreached and now it's all over but the waiting around.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:35 pm#23: Exactly what this nation needs.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:36 pm"Norman is exactly right."
Is he? Then why is there not one verifiable fact in that entire bit of tripe you liked to? Not to mention that Normy badly overstates Ahmadinejad's actual authority and ignores Ahmadinejad's current problems.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:36 pmTroll Hater,
Rather than having anti-war.com tell you what to think about Podhoretz's essay, why don't you read it for yourself and tell me what's wrong with his argument.
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/ cm/ main/ viewArticle.html?id=10882
July 10th, 2007 at 5:38 pmThe Podhoretz come in twos, too:
Norman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Podhoretz
John the son: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Podhoretz
July 10th, 2007 at 5:39 pm21,
I'm sure this will endear him to the 28 %ers, but as cynical as I am, there's no way the rest of America is going to vote for four more years of Neocon insanity. It would destroy the nation and even the zombified electorate knows it.
Of the remaining candidates, Romney still has a chance if he can pretend to be a moderate. No one really knows who the hell 'ol Fred is, but when they find out he was Nixon's waterboy, he'll be finished as a serious contender, too.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:40 pmRudy should show off his bra every time he talks to the press. Americans need to know that Rudy is a sick pervert.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:41 pmGiuliani and Podheretz are definitely kindred spirits and not-so-strange bedfellows. After all Giuliani's ties to organized crime are legion and probably fit right into Podheretz's personal philosophies.
This is very sweet! Giulian's flagging, sputtering campaign will tank at about the same time as McInsane's. Who's left? I like Ron Paul but I don't believe the hardened criminal Rethugs will ever support him. Guess they'll have to go with a bona fide actor with a trophy wife who is certain to tank his campaign when her dirty laundry is aired. Heard she's got some pretty nasty stuff in her closet.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:49 pm#30 I've heard them calling on his campaign trail: Show us your bra, Rudy! Show us your bra! A cross dresser we definitely do not need right now. Things are scary enough.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:50 pmGiuliani showed us where he will be taking America should he win...another Neocons filled and staffed government,whose dreams are to continue fighting the endless and futile wars in the Middle East in accordance with PNAC book plans.
Podhoretz is nothing but a war monger who thinks that only guns can solve all problems. We are living that mess now in Iraq .
Podhoretz eyes now are on Iran,and Giuliani lack of knowlege about military,foreign policy makes him the right president for Neocons to push their agenda.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:50 pmRudy IS Bush's "evil twin" - totally and unequivocally.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:51 pmYou wingnuts have been telling us that North Korea was going to nuke us for years now.
War4Sale
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I haven't......North Korea is Hell on earth for those who live in that Marxist Utopia but they have no rational reason to use their nukes against us. On the other hand the religious fanatics that run Iran have every logical reason to aquire nukes...and that reason is to blackmail Europe into doing nothing while Iran via Syria and Hezbollah (as well as Hamas) attack and attempt to destroy the state of Israel. I know many of you Lefty Jews haters....er I mean anti-zionists...would love to see Israel wiped out so I assume that is why you are always so quick to defend Iran.
Anyway you slice it, war with Iran is coming...even under a President Obama.
The only thing that can prevent it is a complete change of power in Iran...a coup or a revolution.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:52 pm#24 - oh, yeah, they want a war - as long as other people are dying. Just as they are 'tough on crime' until it's time to cover their crimes by overruling the courts and whining for forgiveness. I say, 'Jesus may forgive you, but don't count on me.'
July 10th, 2007 at 5:52 pmI see that Rudy is playing it up to his Zionist base.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:57 pmWell said, Powkat.
War is always a good idea as long as fat, lazy balding sociopaths at AEI or the PNAC don't have to do any of the fighting.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:57 pmof all the the conservative freaks he could have picked, he went and picked Podheretz? Damn, we're screwed.
July 10th, 2007 at 6:15 pm#27 - Rather than having anti-war.com tell you what to think about Podhoretz’s essay, why don’t you read it for yourself and tell me what’s wrong with his argument.
I read it and Poddy comes out as a bit coocoo. There are no arguments, because the antecendents are wrong. It starts off with "We are in World War 4, PHEAR!11!!" and it does not get better.
Some examples:
- Norm thinks that Ahmadinejad has some kind of real power in Iran?
July 10th, 2007 at 6:15 pm- Norm thinks that the citiation of "wipe Israel off the map (with nukes)" is actually correct?
- Norm thinks that Reagan and "dissidents behind the Iron Curtain" won "World War 3"?
- Norm thinks that "Finlandization" is somehow relevant to Middle East politics?
- Norm thinks that it is 100% clear that Iran is capable of acquiring nuclear weapons, make them work, be able to make them small enough to put on ballistic missiles (still to be developed) in a resonable timeframe? Cite: " In early April, at Iran's Nuclear Day festivities, Ahmadinejad announced that the point of no return in the nuclearization process had been reached. If this is true, it means that Iran is only a small step away from producing nuclear weapons." He must be smoking something fierce.
- Norm thinks that Iran acquiring nuclear weapons is such a clear and present danger that "kill them now instead of kill them later and damn the consequences" is somehow a good idea?
- Norm thinks that ignoring the nulcear tipped elephant in the room - Israel - is appropriate?
- Norm paints Iran as the big soon-to-ownZor-everyone bully while ignoring generally terror-powered but otherwise reasonable behaviour over the last 50 years? (unlike terror-powered unreasonable behaviour of other nations...cough)
- Norm does not give any reasonable timeframe of development of nukes, cost/benefit analysis of attacking, risk analysis or anything? Just vague fearmongering? Norm is channeling the Führerbunker!
- Norm has not learned ANYTHING from the mess in Iraq (and Iraq did not even have tradition of sponsoring terrorism, unlike Iran)? Norm does not introspect? Norm does not reflect?
#7 Damn, we’re screwed. Karim
And don't forget......Rudee has better legs and looks better in a dress than Hill, so that might be worth 20% of the trolls votes.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:09 pmwRongo you are the lowest form of human slime immaginable, I hope you die an awful lingering death, like from radiation or something like that.
Satan has your seat reserved.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:12 pmThis is really about Israel. And whatever Israel wants the pukes will give. But it turns out the Israelis really don't want a "bush solution". Because like always there is "no solution." The status quo is as long as "You" take it.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:15 pmRudy's got a good plan as Bush lied to Americans about Iraq and the public believed the lie. This could work as the US would continue to invade countries with oil as thousand of US soldiers die. Look it's about business not lives. Americans would love to have another Liar-in-Chief to follow. Let's hope Rudy ask Cheney to stay of Vice President and Gonzales remains Attorney General. If we get real lucky maybe Karl Rove could be Vice President. Americans really don't care their more interested in voting for the next American Idol. I sure Jack Abramoff will be glad he can get out of jail and continue robbing Indians and other minority groups. All hail the Republicans who show religious, family, morals and God's values.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:15 pmRudy's got a good plan as Bush lied to Americans about Iraq and the public believed the lie. This could work as the US would continue to invade countries with oil as thousand of US soldiers die. Look it's about business not lives. Americans would love to have another Liar-in-Chief to follow. Let's hope Rudy ask Cheney to stay of Vice President and Gonzales remains Attorney General. If we get real lucky maybe Karl Rove could be Vice President. Americans really don't care their more interested in voting for the next American Idol. I am sure Jack Abramoff will be glad he can get out of jail and continue robbing Indians and other minority groups. All hail the Republicans who show religious, family, morals and God's values.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:16 pmThe Republican Self-Demolition derby is in full gear. Every candidate tries to out-insane the others. A majority of Americans are saying enough is enough and that these wars just aren't working. In response Mr. Bush says, yes I'm listening to you and will keep on doing what I'm doing, shut up. Mr. McCain's campaign is going so well that his campaign manager and chief assistant bailed. Remember how every candidate jumped on the torture band wagon at the Republican debate? I can't wait to see how they out-stupid themselves over the bombing insanity. What next, bomb the Vatican 'cause the Pope wants world peace?
July 10th, 2007 at 7:31 pmImpeach Bush and Cheney and Save the Constitution.
Satan has your seat reserved.
Comment by Buck Fush
------------------------------------------------
I wish you a speedy recovery from your current state of mental illness.
May God bless you.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:34 pmGiuliani enlists Norman ‘bomb Iran’ Podhoretz.
Gee I can't help but wonder if this will encourage more people here to vote for Rudy next year.
Because, you know, zero people would have yesterday so the only real point must be to improve than number.
Meanwhile the policies of the Democrat candidates take a back seat to everything right-wing. I guess your readers will have to go to a right-wing blog to hear about those and make a decision about who they should vote for.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:39 pm"Norman Podhoretz, who recently admitted with glee that his plan to bomb Iran would “unleash a wave of anti-Americanism all over the world that will make the anti-Americanism we’ve experienced so far look like a lovefest".
Just what we need, another freaking idiot being led by another freaking idiot.
July 10th, 2007 at 8:35 pmGiuliani picks only the best. Oh, I only hope he is the rethug choice. Can you say Landslide?
July 10th, 2007 at 9:32 pmComment by Kilo
Poor, lazy Kilo.
Go back to the Alexander thread. Your loopy reasoning has been highlighted for all to see.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:35 pm"Rather than having anti-war.com tell you what to think about Podhoretz’s essay, why don’t you read it for yourself and tell me what’s wrong with his argument."
Um, the fact that not a single assertion in it is supported by anything even remotely resembling logic, reason, or fact? That it's nothing but wild speculation? That it ignores the consequences of an attack? That it ignores the history of the past four years? That it overstates Ahmadinejad's authority and ignores his problems? That'll do for a start.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:01 ami think i read a couple of days ago that al qaeda publicly threatened to go in and slap the iranians about - so i guess if that happens,then iran will be calling on chimpy to help fight the terrists? - i mean,surely he has to take the stance that he wants to eradicate al qaeda everywhere and they've pretty much announced where they will be - and if chimpy helps iran and al qaeda start getting slapped,what will israel do? - help the iranians as well? - but mind you they've done sweet f**k all to help anyone in iraq - and that'll f**k dodgy dick and liebernator's plans for bombing iran because al qaeda got there first - the joker is right - it will make for fascinating tv
July 11th, 2007 at 12:19 amComment by ipod — July 11, 2007 @ 12:19 am
Getting even crazier isn't it? If AQ goes after Iran what does Bush do then?
July 11th, 2007 at 1:02 amSure, unleash the anti-Americanism, but don't come whining when it comes in the form of a mushroom cloud, proliferators! O, how I love to not be American, I feel so smart, thin and reasonable.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:35 amOk. So we have a total fanatic that will have nukes. He's so fanatical, so insanely hateful, he's willing (he said previously) to kill 1/2 his own population to get rid of Israel.
Sooooo, I see no solutions mentioned here. Prehaps one of you would like to go over and have a chat with whats-his-name of Iran?
Personally, I'd rather a fat little EMP exploded over Iran, that would set them back a few decades. Probably wouldn't kill anyone (other than the odd vehicular accident.) And they'd be where they want to be, in the 3rd Century. Presto! Poof! ya ha allah and allathatshit.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:15 pmThere are some amazing comments on this board!
Just for starters...those of you who think Ahamadinejad `doesn't have any real power in Iran'..do you seriously think he'd be saying what he's saying if it wasn't approved by Khamenei and the mullahs, the `Council of Guardians' who rule the country?
Iran has been in a defacto state of war with us since 1979, by their own admission. As Steven Emerson and others have documented, there are already Hezbollah cells here in America...If Iranis successful in acquiring nuclear weapons, do anyof you have any doubts that Iran will pass nukes on to them as soon as they're able?
As for AQ `slapping Iran around'...why would they do that when Iran is allowing al Qaeda functionaries like Imad Mugniyeh free range of the country and helping supply them and the Taliban with arms and IEDs to use in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Feel free to ostrich out as much as you like. That's pretty much what president Bush, with his lips firmly glued to the posterior of the Saudis and the wahabist institutions in America wants.
But war IS coming, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. And right now, Iran would be fairly easy to stop.
We're not `at war with al-Qaeda'. They were always just subcontractors and shock troops to use against the West. The real game involves confronting, one way or another,the nation-states that fund, harbor and support jihad against the west.
Just because we got sidetracked into Iraq to protect the Saudis doesn't change that reality.
What I like about Giuliani's team is that it's filled with people that appear to understand exactly the type of war we're in.
Like your freedom? Be prepared to fight for it.
July 12th, 2007 at 3:51 amhaha. you're a bunch of leftist sissies
July 12th, 2007 at 11:41 pmcouldn't agree more with 57. very well-said
July 12th, 2007 at 11:45 pm