Imus touted Giuliani as willing to "drop [a nuclear weapon] on Mecca"

On the February 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus claimed that "if we're gonna be fighting these terrorists through the lives of [8-year-old son] Wyatt Imus' children," then "it might be good to start with somebody who is willing to take three big ones and drop one on Mecca, one on Jeddah, and one on Saudi -- one on Riyadh," all cities in Saudi Arabia. Imus made the point in response to co-host Charles McCord, who claimed that Imus had "Leon Klinghoffered John McCain ... in favor of Rudolph Giuliani" during a private conversation they had the previous evening. Imus has previously claimed that he is voting for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in 2008.

Leon Klinghoffer was a wheelchair-bound American passenger on the cruise ship Achille Lauro when it was hijacked in 1985. He was shot by a hijacker before being thrown overboard.

From the February 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning:

McCORD: That doesn't cover the fifty percent of the conversation last night in which you Leon Klinghoffered John McCain --

IMUS: I simply said -- no, no, I simply said --

McCORD: -- in favor of Rudolph Giuliani.

IMUS: -- I made the observation, I think Chris Matthews or somebody made it, one of those mouth-breathing cable nitwits. I think -- I think the observation is, that if we're gonna be fighting these terrorists through the lives of Wyatt Imus' children, then, you know --

McCORD: Well, unfortunately that seems to be true.

IMUS: -- it might be good start with somebody who's willing to take three big ones and drop one on Mecca, one on Jeddah, and one on Saudi -- one on Riyadh. Right, Chuck?

McCORD: Well, that would get their attention, probably.

IMUS: Yeah. And say "now what?" Eight minutes after the hour. Please welcome to the Imus in the Morning program chief White House correspondent for NBC News David Gregory. Good morning, Mr. Gregory.

GREGORY: Good morning, I-man.

—R.C.