Yesterday, Bill O’Reilly said that Joe Lieberman’s defeat in the Connecticut primary was “a chilling indication of what lies ahead in American politics.” O’Reilly said, “Iran’s betting we Americans have no will to restrain their jihad.” According to O’Reilly the results of the Connecticut primary shows Iran “might be right.” Watch it:
[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2006/08/oreillylamont.320.240.flv]
Lieberman was defeated in large part because of his support for the administration’s policy in Iraq. Having 130,000 troops bogged down in sectarian warfare in Iraq, has distracted the nation from dealing with the Iranian threat. For years, we essentially outsourced the entire effort regarding Iran to the EU.
Changing course in Iraq means taking the threat from Iran more seriously, not less.
Transcript:
OREILLY: I do not believe that Ned Lamont and his fellow travelers understand any of this. The far left continues to believe the USA is the root cause of the terror war, and that Iran is not a major threat. The far left mantra goes, “Why shouldn’t the Iranians have nukes? Israel has them.”
“Talking Points” understands that geopolitical analysis is difficult, and that the Bush administration has not fully explained the grave danger we face from Iran. Joseph Lieberman and others do understand that danger and did not — he did not sell out his country to pander to the anti-war vote. For that, Lieberman was defeated.
Now, I believe this is a chilling indication of what lies ahead in American politics. Iran’s betting we Americans have no will to restrain their jihad, and judging from the Connecticut vote last night, they might be right. And that’s the memo.