O'Reilly on possibility of Arab-Persian warfare: "[L]et them kill each other"
On the April 2 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, while discussing the British soldiers recently captured by the Iranian government, Nancy Soderberg, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, stated that "the Arab Sunnis are uniting against Iran" and said: "[I]t's going to be the Arab world against the Persian world. And that's a fight we don't want to have played out in Iraq." Host Bill O'Reilly responded: "Well, I'd like to see that fight with us out of it. That's what I'd like to see." O'Reilly continued: "I want -- let them kill each other."
O'Reilly has previously expressed his indifference to the prospect of further violence and death in the Middle East. As Media Matters for America documented, on the December 5, 2006, edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, O'Reilly commented on the sectarian violence in Iraq: "Do I care if the Sunnis and Shiites kill each other in Iraq? No. I don't care. Let's get our people out of there. Let them kill each other." Further, on the January 24 edition of his radio program, O'Reilly maintained that "the Sunni and Shia want to kill each other" and added: "They want to blow each other up. They want to torture each other. They have fun. This is -- they like this."
From the April 2 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: Yeah, I mean, I don't see any EU presence at all. But look, this is a big win for Iran. And it hurts me to say that. Because Iran is basically humiliating Great Britain and the United States by saying, "Look, we're going to grab those guys any time we want to grab them. We're going to do whatever we want to do. Look at them. They don't have any power left. We're the power in the [Persian] Gulf." That's what they're saying, Ms. Ambassador. "We're the power in the Gulf. Iran"
SODERBERG: That's not -- they're not-- what's going on right now is we flipped the power balance in favor of Iran and Iraq. And they are trying to increase their power around the regions, not through taking these hostages. That's a dumb move, but through the whole Iranian nuclear crisis. That's not going to work either.
And the Arab Sunnis are uniting against Iran. So it's going to be the Arab world against the Persian world. And that's a fight we don't want to have played out in Iraq.
O'REILLY: Well, I'd like to see that fight with us out of it. That's what I'd like to see.
SODERBERG: Exactly.
O'REILLY: I want -- let them kill each other, you know?
SODERBERG: Unfortunately right now we're in the middle of it.
O'REILLY: I know.
SODERBERG: Right now we're in the middle of it.
O'REILLY: I know.
SODERBERG: And that's one of the big problems.
O'REILLY: Unintended consequences galore.
You know, we could have just let the Iraqis kill each other instead of invading on their own behalf. Now they're killing us, too...
O'REILLY: Unintended consequences galore.
Your father's exact words to your mother.
Billy a.k.a. "Defender of Baby Jesus" thumbs his nose again at the core beliefs of Christianity.
Hey Bill, I wish I could see the look on your face when you're greeted at the Pearly Gates by howling laughter and a kick in the a$$. Maybe they'll reincarnate you as an Iraqi so you can experience hell on earth for yourself.
They bring this onto themselves. To blame anyone else is stupid. I feel bad for the woman and kids. But damn, if they want to blow themselves up, so be it.
Then why are we there?
Anyone with any knowledge of the Middle East knows (and knew before we invaded) that the Shiites and the Sunnis have hated each other since the 7th Century AD.
Unfortunately, for the more than three thousand Americans who given their lives so far, our president, the history major, and Bill O'Really (another history major) weren't aware of this.
Anyone who thinks it best that the Iraqi's just kill each other should get his ass out for the next anti-war rally and should also petition their representatives to bring our troops home immediately.
Can we count on your support?
I think its an easy answer. This isn't just sunnie and shia. Its also two (so far) countries that veiw each other with considerable suspicion. Also Iran is a big seller of oil to China. Which would be very concerned if it should be unable to continue doing so. If you really want WWIII thats a good place to start.
The men you mention attended classes and most likely cheated to get their "history major" degrees!
However, and like the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania ave didn't know the names of 5 US allied prime ministers, like wise these "learned" do these analysts know about the religious missguideness of Middle Easterners !
They bring this onto themselves. To blame anyone else is stupid. I feel bad for the woman and kids. But damn, if they want to blow themselves up, so be it.- WhereIsMiddleAmerica
Do you feel that same indifference towards anyone who puts themselves into combat situations? Does it matter if it's because of their ideology, lies they've been told, or just desperate circumstances?
What I mean is, would you say the same thing about our troops? It's a volunteer army, WIMA.Do you feel that our troops dying doesn't concern you at all because they decided to enlist? That's pretty damn cold.
They don't want to kill each other. They want, like everyone else, to live in peace. But then you have countries like the US that feel one dictator or monarchy would better service their interests, even if that means a couple million dead. We love to export freedom, but only if it does not stand in the way of our major interests. So we fund some terrorists here or a violent overthrow there and get what we want. And can you imagine the audacity of the people to be angry that those we supported killed their friends and family to get what we wanted?
Same thing happened in iran/iraq. One group was supported and they killed those of the other groups. Naturally they are not very pleased at that and not only hate the groups we supported, but also us.
We supported the bloody overthrow of the democratically elected government of Iran because they kicked out British oil comps. needless to say the new & us-friendly monarch was very brutal and that ended in a revolution that resulted in a theocracy. Since we did not like that and had already gained a new friend, some military dictator in Iraq called Saddam Hussein. Through secret channels and meetings between our Government, represented by a Mr Rumsfeld, and theirs we supported them in their border dispute with Iran, where among others, chemical weapons were used. Naturally, someone willing to use such weapons is also not known for running a nice Government. Heck we liked the guy so much, we turned a blind eye when he used the CW against his own people. Even an invasion into Kuwait was not a problem. But then he did not want to share the newfound oil wealth in Kuwait and so we had to 'liberate' them and install a monarchy in Kuwait.
We have screwed around with other peoples countries and killed millions just to protect our interests.
If we are hated around the world it is our own fault.
Anyone who thinks our goals are admirable is hopelessly disillusioned.
Youre a naive fool if you think everyone has the desire to live in peace, some people live to fight. Just look at the army, there are sooo many low class fighters there who just join so they can shoot people. Soldiers only feel useful on the battlefield.
Please Colonel, turn off the Game Cube.
I know you talked to a relative you was in the service with some "slack jawed yokels" as you so colorfully put it, but whatever you think about these guys, they're over there in Iraq dying in our name.
It's not a game. When it's over, more than 3,000 people didn't get to see their high score and start a new game, they were put in body bags and sent home to their loved ones.
I don't understand why you cons treat real warfare like a game and games like real warfare. And most of you only know the latter.
It is totally false to say they brought it on to themselves. The United States invaded Iraq and removed Saddam. The United States then abolished the entire Iraqi government. This action of the United States created a power vacuum resulting in a power struggle amongst the people in the region.
If that wasn't bad enough the United States guaranteed a civil war by creating a weak central government in Iraq. This created an issue between the tribes.
The oil issue is an issue between a weak or strong central government. The issue of weak vs strong central government is crucial to the Sunnis, Kurds and Shias and none of them agree on this issue.
Al-Sadr is a Frankenstein created by the Dr. United States because of the invasion. Al-Sadr is allied with Iran.
Israel thought they could win points by blowing up Lebanon. Like a cartoon show that gun blew up in their face.
Now O'Reilly comes along and just wants to ignore the fact that it was Bush that stirred up the hornets nest.
SAVE DEMOCRACY, VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!
Ok, Fox News Senior Political Analyist thinks a competant American foriegn policy is to promote a racial/religious/secular uprising throughout the Middle-East between the Arab/Sunnis and Persian/Shias!!
Will somebody please pull these maniacs plug??
Bring the Fairness Doctrine back before these guys promote an thermal nuclear war!
Happy Thought the religous fanatics;
Dan Grady
i heard it first hand last nite! incredible. this guy is gone! ko should and probably will filet him tonight on countdown but holy cow, how does anybody, even ailes, think this foul ogre passes for an editorialist? billo is the rosey o'donnell of the CONserve ideology. o'reilly literally does not seem to believe facts need be part of any of his rants. i believe he is a black eye on the "news business".
The difference is, Rosie O'Donnell speaks for Rosie O'Donnell.
Bill O'Reilly speaks for millions of conservatives in this country. (And you know it.)
As a new reader, I hope to find up-to-date information about world affairs, however, I dislike unfairness and unbalance in reporting the news.
Good Joirnalism News should be pure, unadulterated and unbiased NEWS!
"When an entrepenuering" man from Orlando, Fl named Zells is paying 8 + billions to purchase The Chicago Tribune to privatise it.....
Who is kidding whom?
WTF are you talking about dude?
Begone troll!
The power of Christ compels you! The power of Christ compels you!
I am a servant of the Secret Fire, Wielder of the Flame of Anor, You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun. Go Back to the Shadow!
You cannot pass!
An estimated 4 million Iraqis have been displaced by the violence that ensued after the removal of Saddam Hussein, almost equal to the population of Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, in right wing wacky world, O'Reilly and all the other idiots at Fox Nothing Channel continue to wipe their behinds with the dignity of Middle Eastern people. These slimy chicken hawks talk big when it comes to creating mayhem and endless violence in the Middle East, proving their right wing ideology has desensitized them to the horrors of war and human suffering.
How these people can look at themselves in the mirror with any hint of admiration, I have no idea.
Love, O'Reilly Style, Truer than the Red, White and Black. Love, O'Reilly Style, Let's all, attack! And on a Reichskristallnacht my love, (Bring my gun to me). You can pay me for my protection. As long as you're the right color, my love I may let you stay alive. Love, O'Reilly Style, Zeig Heil to you!
Either TVLand has added a new rerun to it's lineup, or you're even older than me.
TV Land just updated the old one to modern times. I hope I'm not that old, but I did watch the show as a teenager. =0
I KNEW I was missing something when I would go off and read!
Turns out it wasn't a lot after all?
I don't per se agree with Swill-O on this, but it's hard for me not to point out that RELIGION is at the epicenter of this internal conflict. It's not as if the average Sunni can differentiate the average Shiite by skin color or manner of dress or economic status. Strictly by where they LIVE, knowing what believe system haunts that territory. Eliminate religion and poof! instant peace...till the next sortie of bombs, one of the LAST things made in the good ol' USA, rains down from the heavens like the righteous sword of God.
Did I mention how religion is to blame?....
Randy
The Iranians suspect MI-6, the UK version of the CIA, of sponsoring Arab seperatist terrorists in the province that borders Basra in the south of Iran. Been a few more bomb attacks there lately.
The US currently support the MEK, an anti-Iranian terrorist group.
The MEK are on the US own list of terrorist groups.
But since the MEK are only terrorizing people in Iran, that seems to be ok.
For the really slow: The US herself supports terrorist groups.
When MEK agents were kidnapped in Baghdad, the US stated that these people fall under the GC.
For the really slow: The US states that terrorists fall under the GC
Well except for the ones in Guantanamo it seems.
Double standard hypocrisies at it's best.
Doesn't it sound like Bill is repeating himself every 3 months or so. Seems to me that he wanted these Arabs to kill one another last year. Has he run out of topics? No fires in NY with dead kids to blame on illegal immigration? We need a war with Iran so these people have new "news" topics. Hell, lets go today. The advertisers will be happy, Bill/Rush and the rest of the desk warriors will be happy, Geo. Bush will be happy and Cheney will be happy......strike that nothing can make that man happy!! Except maybe a new heart...he went to the Doctor for a heart transplant but the doctor told the VP that they don't come in black so he has to keep his original balck heart.
"Well, I'd like to see that fight with us out of it. That's what I'd like to see"
unless an actual plan to do just that is proposed by a Democratic-led Congress.
I wonder if O'Reilly will still refer to his own "pro-life" values and the respect he has for human life after this comment.
Doubtful. It would spoil his fun.
Although I find o'reilly to be a dispicable person, I find myself muttering the same thing under my breath at times.