Juan Williams: Kristol Is Pushing For ‘The Next World War’
Juan Williams: Kristol Is Pushing For ‘The Next World War’
On Fox News Sunday, right-wing pundit Bill Kristol continued to beat the war drums for a strike against Iran. “I hope the administration is willing to do what it takes to back Iran off,” he said, adding that “we may need to do stuff across the border.”
NPR’s Mara Liasson claimed that the Bush administration could politically “withstand” an attack against Iran, and that a bombing raid inside Iran would not count as “an all-out war.”
NPR’s Juan Williams noted that Liasson and Kristol were in effect condoning “the next world war”:
WILLIAMS: I think what Bill Kristol is saying is he wants some action against Iran in a way that Israel apparently took action against Syria. And I think what you’re looking at then is the next world war. […]
And if we now say the U.S. is going to take action against Iran, and it’s not as a result of some specific provocative action, then you’re talking about spreading war.
Kristol responded by citing the recent Israeli airstrike on Syria as evidence for his claim that a strike on Iran would not have deeper consequences. “Has the Israeli action against Syria spread war? Has that destabilized the region?” Kristol asked. Watch it:
Last year, Williams told Kristol: “You just want war, war, war, and you want us in more war. ”
Neither Liasson nor Kristol should fool themselves about the consequences of striking Iran. Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski recently said “that Iran would likely react to an American attack ‘by intensifying the conflict in Iraq and also in Afghanistan, their neighbors, and that could draw in Pakistan. We will be stuck in a regional war for twenty years.’”
Transcript:
KRISTOL: And Dave Petraeus and Ryan Crocker understand exactly that, and they are pursuing a very sophisticated political-military strategy of classic counterinsurgency. But Charles is absolutely right. It requires security.
You cannot get people to invest politically until they feel that we’re not going to betray them and they’re not going to be left in the mercies of Al Qaida on the one hand or Iranian-backed militias on the other.
That’s why the one thing — the only thing I now think that stands in the way of success is Iran, and I’m worried — General Petraeus is clearly alarmed by the degree of Iranian support, training, weapons providing, to the extreme Shia militias, to the extreme elements, the special elements, Jaish al Mahdi.
I hope the administration is willing to do what it takes to back Iran off. I think if the Bush administration does that, we’ll be…
HUME: Well, that’s the question. What will that take?
KRISTOL: Well, I think we’ve warned them. We’re being very aggressive against them in the country.
We have not done anything across the — we have not succeeded in getting them, apparently, to slow down the flow of advanced arms or the training of Iraqis in Iran, which is doing real damage to U.S. forces and which makes it harder for the Shia to do exactly what Charles is talking about…
HUME: What would happen…
KRISTOL: … to flip over to our side. We may need to do stuff across the border.
HUME: What would happen, Mara, in your judgment politically if the administration took action against Iran inside Iran?
LIASSON: I think it would depend on what kind of action. I mean, I think it would…
HUME: Well, sent a bombing raid on a training camp.
LIASSON: A bombing raid on a training camp?
HUME: Or a series of them.
LIASSON: I think it could withstand that. I think the that the Democrats — there would be some calls that this is war and you needed congressional approval. There would certainly be that.
But I think that if it was limited, if it wasn’t kind of an all- out war with Iran…
HUME: So you don’t think all hell would break loose.
LIASSON: No. I think there would be…
HUME: What do you think, Juan?
LIASSON: There would be criticisms, but, no, I think that…
WILLIAMS: I think what Bill Kristol is saying is he wants some action against Iran in a way that Israel apparently took action against Syria. And I think what you’re looking at then is the next world war.
LIASSON: That’s kind of different. Oh, striking nuclear facilities? I thought we’re talking about just training camps…
WILLIAMS: Well, no, but that’s what happened with Israel and Syria. And if we now say the U.S. is going to take action against Iran, and it’s not as a result of some specific provocative action, then you’re talking about spreading war.
KRISTOL: Has the Israeli action against Syria spread war? Has that destabilized the region?
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47 Responses to “Juan Williams: Kristol Is Pushing For ‘The Next World War’”
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That flat headed, chickenshit, chickenhawk, warmongering, coward, Willam Kristol, should have to serve in combat zone for at least one year to get his goofy head straight. He is an example of what happens to rich kids who were sent to rich schools to study under fascists and to avoid the draft…he is another coward who never served his country.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:45 pmThe only way the US should attack anybody is if the Neocons personally put themselves in harm’s way by leading the charge. Hmmm, I think I’ve come up with a plan for eternal peace!
October 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pmNPR’s Mara Liasson claimed that the Bush administration could politically “withstand†an attack against Iran, and that a bombing raid inside Iran would not count as “an all-out war.â€
Would not count as an “all out war” to whom? It certainly will count as that to the Iranians, the Russians and the Chinese.
Do these people even think of the possible repercussions of their actions? Now..that was a dumb question, the answer is obviously NO. If they had thought about the repercussions of invading Iraq we would not be in the mess we are in today.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pmBloody Billy The War Whore. He’ll support sending someone elses children to fight till the bitter end.
-GSD
October 14th, 2007 at 12:52 pmComment by kasinca — October 14, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Lets send him now, along with the rest of the neocons…
October 14th, 2007 at 12:53 pmThe war in Iraq can be contained simply by letting war be war. There is no genuine good news coming out of Iraq. There won’t be as long as the United States is there. As callous as it sounds, let the war establish the news cycle, and let the reality of war serve to contain it. The surge has failed. Congress may not act decisively to bring the troops home, but it is highly unlikely that Congress will idly approve any massive expansion of an unpopular war that continues to fail so publicly.
The highest priority for the antiwar movement in America today must be the prevention of a war with Iran. The strategic objectives should include getting Congress to repeal the war-powers authorities currently on the books, thereby forcing the president to seek new congressional approval for any new war. Likewise, a concerted effort must be undertaken to counter the disinformation being spread by the Bush administration and others about the nature of the Iranian threat
from Scott Ritter’s “Iraq will have to wait”
October 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pm“Has the Israeli action against Syria spread war? Has that destabilized the region?†Kristol asked.
does he really think that’s OVER???
…
i can’t take any more right now…
October 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pmlater…
Hey Mara,
If someone dropped any number of bombs on my backyard, they’d have a war on their hands.
It counts, you stupid cow.
October 14th, 2007 at 12:57 pmLets send him now, along with the rest of the neocons…
Comment by Left Coast Mike — October 14, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
I have this vision of bombs with warheads removed.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:13 pmNeocons strapped on like Slim Pickins in Dr Strangelove, riding the bomb down the chute.
YeeHaawww
We’ve seen people like Kristol before in recent memory, but they were on the other side, wore uniforms with death’s heads on the lapels, and we hung them at Nuremberg.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:15 pmThe sad part is that many of our officials listen to Kirstols’s push for war.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:17 pmIt is the duty of every citizen to expose these fake war mongers who have no respect for lives lost in these wars, and dollars spent , as long as they achieve their PNAC goals.
I like to see the Kristol’s gang kids fight in these wars they are pushing for.
China gets half of its oil from Iran.
China was the magic ingredient that cost America the war in Vietnam, and North Korea.
America owes China a lot of money.
China is a nuclear power.
See where I am going here?
October 14th, 2007 at 1:23 pmSomeone needs to “do stuff” to Kristol !
And I mean some painful, rear end stuff.
∞
October 14th, 2007 at 1:28 pm“NPR’s Mara Liasson claimed that the Bush administration could politically “withstand†an attack against Iran, and that a bombing raid inside Iran would not count as “an all-out war.—
I expect Kristol Meth and Brit Fume to enthuse about the wonderful, cost-free benefits of attacking Iran, but Mara Liasson displays a degree of blithe ignorance that is certainly competitive with those two nitwits.
“Could withstand?” Doesn’t that entirely depend on the consequences of an attack? Does she think that the Iranians will not retaliate in any way? Has she inside information that proves the Iranians have no ability to launch cruise missile attacks on our ships in the Gulf? Close the Strait of Hormuz? Mine the Gulf? Send the message to the Iraqi Shia to attack American troops?
And what impact does she think an attack will have on the segment of Iranian society that is deeply hostile to the mullahs? Has she really downed so much Kristol Koolaid that she thinks an attack will precipitate a spontaneous popular uprising and overthrow of Ahmadinejibberjabber? Does she really think that the sight of dead and dismembered Iranian women and children in the aftermath of an American attack will not inspire a literal pogrom against the Iranians who oppose the mullahs?
For chrissakes, NPR used to be at least one place where we could expect journalists and commentators to display a deeper understanding of the world than is typical of the commercial networks. Liasson really ought to leave NPR and join FoxNews—if nothing else, the Kristol Koolaid is a free employment benefit there.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:36 pmBill Kristol beats the war drum cause it turns him on.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:44 pmMara ‘Liarson’ also needs some stuff.
She is a phony, lying, propaganda catapulting, wide bug eyed, b¡tch.
∞
October 14th, 2007 at 1:44 pmIt’d be nice if, when Billy appears, there’d be a notice of his batting average, perhaps, to be fair and balanced, with a disclaimer like, “past performance is no indication of future performance; just cuz he’s been wrong in every single prognostication thus far doesn’t mean he won’t someday be right.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:48 pmChina gets half of its oil from Iran.
China was the magic ingredient that cost America the war in Vietnam, and North Korea.
America owes China a lot of money.
China is a nuclear power.
See where I am going here?
Comment by Bruce Gorton
I sure do.
And who do you think Russia will side with? They have more Nukes than Israel and the US together. England will run for cover, as will Germany, France, and Japan. Either people like Kristol are completely insane or they want Apocalypse and World War.
October 14th, 2007 at 1:55 pmIran is not only aligned with Shite militias…but with the centralized Maliki government…which we helped set up. If the U.S. attacks Iran, you can expect the guns of the Iraqi army and police to be aimed at our troops. In addition, you can expect both China and Russia to provide support to Iran. China holds the most U.S. debt, second only to Japan. They could easily topple our economy by calling in that debt. Both China and Russia have long-range missles and nuclear weapons, and could also easily point them BACK at the U.S. and Europe. Without discussing the other players on the planet this would drag in, we lastly have a neurologically damaged President and a conscienceless Vice President with exclusive access to the nuclear button. World War III? That’s such an understatement of what this could bring.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:03 pmSEND ALL NEOCONS including BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, ALL SIGNATORIES TO THE PNAC, and ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ON RECORD FOR ITS SUPPORT (Kristol, Will, Negroponte, Rice, etc, etc) TO THE HAGUE FOR SOME U.S. BASED “LAWFUL INTERROGATIONS”
October 14th, 2007 at 2:12 pmTHEN HANG ‘EM
I have this vision of bombs with warheads removed.
Neocons strapped on like Slim Pickins in Dr Strangelove, riding the bomb down the chute.
YeeHaawww
Comment by RUCerious — October 14, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
ROTFLMFAO…What a visual…YeeHaawwwww
October 14th, 2007 at 2:41 pmNot so long ago I was sure that Bush was going to attack Iran. But now I am not so sure. War agitators like Kristol have been defecating out of their mouths about this for a while now, but action within the administration seems to have slowed down a lot lately. Attacking Iran would be crazy, and at least some of the military brass must know it. Bush is getting weaker by the day, and I have a feeling that the military leadership has been pushing back behind closed doors.
October 14th, 2007 at 2:45 pmKrystalboy looks into the camera and like a little boy talks of more war with all the glee that folks have when doing cock fights or dog fights or gladiator battles.
Evil Poet is right.
Krystal is one sick boy!
October 14th, 2007 at 3:08 pmWhy should anyone take seriously anything Kristol says. If he says there will be very little fall-out from an attack on Iran, then we should believe the precise opposite. Kristol’s the one predicting imminent success in Iraq from day one. Forgive me if I doubt the predictive quality of his Kristol Ball.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:17 pmThat flat headed, chickenshit, chickenhawk, warmongering, coward …who never served his country.
Bloody Billy The War Whore.
Nazi
one sick boy!
These are all APT descriptions of Kristol!
I’d like to add one more: Media Putz of the Week for July 19, 2007:
October 14th, 2007 at 3:23 pmhttp://mediaputz.com/07/07/putz0719.html
Why would any American want to belittle this honor, or disrespect it? Why would any American want to take away from this honor from the world community, and bash not only our Vice President for recieving it, but bash the award itself?
Do they hate America?
Comment by BARTLEBEE
You do notice the Neo-Cons NEVER mention Kissinger?
October 14th, 2007 at 3:30 pmI volunteer William Kristol into the US Military pronto!
October 14th, 2007 at 3:34 pmKrystalboy looks into the camera and like a little boy talks of more war with all the glee that folks have when doing cock fights or dog fights or gladiator battles.
Evil Poet is right.
Krystal is one sick boy!
Comment by natisman
He was on William Bennett’s staff, and Dan Quayle’s Chief of Staff. Right there that should tell you all you need to know about this Smirking Crap-Face.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:35 pmDisrespecting the Nobel Peace prize only illustrates their profound lack of intelligence, finesse, class, and decorum. They all look like shitheels personified.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:35 pmNeo-conservatives = Fascist Pigs
October 14th, 2007 at 4:38 pmSo is Juan Williams by being on FOX, which is State Sponsored TV.
October 14th, 2007 at 5:19 pmIt’s about time Kristol gets a punch in the mouth from one of his hosts or another guest pundit, but none of them have the balls to do it.
October 14th, 2007 at 5:50 pmLet’s air-drop little billy kristol on Iran and see what happens. Maybe we could drop ALL the neo-SCUM and their enablers and adherents at the same time.
October 14th, 2007 at 6:57 pmIt’s a cinch Kristol and his fascist friends won’t be fightin’ the war they want will they.
October 14th, 2007 at 7:07 pmReminder….Bill Kristol is the founder of PNAC…… when will the media announce that publicly? Never.
CLICK HERE
http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/kristol_clear.html
October 14th, 2007 at 9:38 pmA new world war is the only hope that AIPAC and PNAC have of taking control of the Oil Rich nations, before the oil runs out and they miss their ’share’ of the wealth that God seemed to not want them to have!
October 14th, 2007 at 10:46 pmDemocrats and other levelheaded citizens have been trying for the longest time to offer-up some plan to get us out of Iraq that the Neos will accept as reasonable (we already caved in on timetables and explicit benchmarks, etc), but they refuse anything that’s put on the table. The reason for their stubborn refusal to “negotiate” anything short of permanent war, or permanent presence at the least, in the region is they want permanent war, or permanent presence at the least, in the region. If we get involved in Iran (”surgical” border strikes, taking out “terrorist” training camps, etc. which may or may not lead to actual war) so much the better. They don’t give a rat’s ass about public opinion, be it domestic or international (kinda reminds you of Israel, don’t it) … and they don’t care about retaliatory action, because they actually welcome it. The larger and more violent the reaction the better it is for corporate U.S. There’s money to be made in war, and there’s even more money to be made in nation building and rebuilding. The Neos have discovered in a big way that continual war is exactly the prescription for a) lining the pockets of corporate America and b) wasting away in degrees the social structures and social services that were put in place post-Depression (the New Deal), in other words taking Big gov’t and drowning it in brackish water.
So if you think that the Neos may be amenable to some negotiated peace and withdrawal of forces from the Middle East, think again. We’re there to stay. And if this provokes a regional or international conflagration - so much the better.
October 14th, 2007 at 11:41 pmToo bad for the republicans there isn’t a prize for warmongering.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:34 amI hope you all see that this is just a despicable ploy to get people to stop talking about the complete failure that is the Iraq war. It is the same ridiculous political strategy that is analogous to Bush nominating his personal lawyer for a position in the Supreme Court. When he then conceded his nomination and replaced her with his puppet ultra-conservative, suddenly the neocon didn’t seem that bad anymore… The thing is America FALLS for this. I don’t think they are serious about attacking Iran. That would be a catastrophic folly that would bring the downfall of western society as we know it by united the entire Muslim nation against us. They’re just waiving a shiny colorful war banner in front of our eyes while they’re other hand is busy murdering countless innocents for financial gain. WAKE UP
October 15th, 2007 at 6:54 pmKistol,
You and your kids will be on the front lines . . . defending freedom against “the Rapture.”
Yeah, and My kid’s a matzah ball.
Just set your head on fire and call Rudy . . . all will be right with the world.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:02 amOops,
Kristol’s kids may refer to Jews as “Matza Balls”, but to be honest, Kristol doesn’t have enough hair on his head to light a candle.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:08 amFYI, we’re not jewish . . . but there’s nothing wrong with that . . .
but “when they came, they came for me.”
October 16th, 2007 at 1:22 amFor those of you that are not familiar:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
October 16th, 2007 at 1:49 amthere was no one left to speak out.
Shocking actually.
One would think that at at least the Jews would respond.
“First they came…” is a poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.
. . . . .
October 16th, 2007 at 5:07 amThis is the Wickipedia (sp?) entry about one of the most profound poems of the Twentieth Century. “A Crime Called Hate”, which coined the term “genocide”, originated in this text, the possibility of a country called “Palestine” if not previously deamed of, found its realistic origins here. Why would you not be familiar with this text if you are at all interested in 21st Century politics?
I’m having a nightmare — and I can’t wake up. :o(
October 16th, 2007 at 11:07 amPessimistic_Realist-Optomistic_Idealist said:
Yes, the neocons are waging an illegal war and killing thousands of innocents, and corporate America is making big bucks from it … but you best believe they are very serious about attacking Iran, even if it’s “only” the “surgical” bombing of select strategic targets within the country. Providing the time and
October 18th, 2007 at 3:33 pmthe provocation is right, the neocons will go for it, and damn the repurcussions - the justifications and rationales will come later … the Israelis will defend and praise the action, most European nations will condemn it, Russia and China will seek U.N. sanctions condemning the incursion, and the regional nations will back Iran and unite against the U.S. politically, economically, and militarily. Yes, we’ll have a huge mess on our hands, but can you say “bring it on” or “the end of days” or “Armageddon“? Read the literature … this is exactly what the neocons backed by the Christian Right are hoping for …. read the literature …. this is what they want …. read the literature … there’s salvation to be had and money to be made in a righteous war - and according to them, the bigger the struggle, the better the rewards, financially as well as spiritually.
King George is once again on the march. I think he is trying to silence the problems in Iraq so that the american people will think its getting better and will be willing to take Iran on.
The regime in Washington is already ramping up the rhetoric against Iran, and once again going at it unilaterally. All I can say as a European is that if the World War II generation in the US was the “greatest generation” than the generation today must be the “brain dead” generation. Even in the 1960’s thankfully people protested when things were wrong. Today it is “what can we do about it?” I hope that the Americans will eventually get their head out of their asses and speak up.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:48 am