Christopher Hitchens - [2006] - The axis of evil

April 8, 2005.
Journalist and author Christopher Hitchens lectures about Iran, North Korea and Iraq, otherwise known as the Axis of Evil.
Credit to tvo: ww3.tvo.org/video/163826/axis-...

[@evanclark4868]

Still coming back to listen at the end of 2023. His intelligence is timeless! Rip

[@trainerd1]

His voice is an intellectual lullaby. Soothing, salient, and inspiring.

[@elsiemarina2572]

Wonderful description.

[@OG.Stangs]

How I wish Christopher Hitchens was alive right now. I wish we could have gotten his take on current events. RIP to a great man of humanity and reason

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

Nobody dies, idiot: we're all immortals imprisoned in meat & bone by Satan & locked in a pit leading to hell [= his arse-hole] - what we do with this immortality gets impetus from actions in this abattoir of deadly impulses > be a good loving guy like me and meet CHRIST ALMIGHTY, the God of gods, cuz you'd have to be downright fucking insane to side with the pit and its ugly shit-house dung atheist limp-wads and the ferocious cunts they ally with. Only Almighty God wins this war.

[@yomilalgro]

@UCBH3dHlro30f8KUHL9IVi6w oh man you are one messed up moron 🤑🤓👽😵🙄 let me guess, this god speaks to you? There is help and meds for your condition. #thereisnoskydaddy #godsaremanmade #religionpoisonseverything #wakethefuckupsheople #theawakeningishere

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@yomilalgro Watch the BBC documentary on KZbin called The Lost Genius about the earth's highest IQ & maths super-genius. LEARN!

[@gregorypatriciaandjiyajais8819]

Imagine Hitch and his views on the madness of the Trump cult

[@maryannvitelli5818]

@@JimOverbeckgenius Thank you, my friend, for this absolute truth.

[@cobar5342]

Mr Hitchens remains an intellectual hero to those fortunate enough to have discovered his works

[@lumpheadthump]

Hitch’s death was our loss. His voice is needed today more than ever

[@Sxs0214]

Indeed

[@Paul_Ivanish]

This man was a diamond. We lost a gem when he died. Hitchens... the man, the legend.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

The vast stupidity of evil generated the psychosis of atheism.

[@rebeccaranger1566]

@@JimOverbeckgenius Aren't you the guy who played the creepy old preacher in the Movie "Poltergeist?"

[@ryandelp5048]

Jim Overbeck Do you have any evidence?

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@ryandelp5048 Inspect your bollocks, dear.

[@ryandelp5048]

Jim Overbeck I know sincerity can be hard, but wouldn’t contributing to a conversation be better than trolling?

[@Sxs0214]

I watch him over and over, the most accurate explanation of events one can hardly find anywhere.

[@yomilalgro]

The late great Hitch, the world has lost a wonderful genius of a man. Ty Hitch for teaching me so much

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

Genius arrives from meeting Christ Almighty. Anything less is an imposture.

[@kevins4815]

@@howardlovecraft750 Nobody gives a fuck what you think about him.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@gmoose7155 The kind of people listening to Peter Sutcliffe and-or Hitchens will be drinking hot shit.

[@aidanhall6679]

@@howardlovecraft750 care to explain how you came to such conclusions about a man you never knew personally?

[@yomilalgro]

@@JimOverbeckgenius #thegoddelusion #thereisnoskydaddy #breakthespell #allreligionispoison

[@canzuk4711]

Having attended UWO in London back in the 80's it was a pleasure to attend and hear this remarkable man that evening

[@archieduke9324]

We need a CH today sadly missed 🙏🙏

[@woodytheduke]

when the camera does pan the audience I find myself feeling very jealous of these people lucky enough to hear him speak in person. Great man!

[@godhatessinnotthesinnerhgf2659]

Hitchen is the greatest man of all time.

[@skyblue-7]

​@@godhatessinnotthesinnerhgf2659💯

[@shaunlaubscher2905]

Imagine a world where men like this lead.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

They did in Germany & Russia. Thank God for Christian Civilization.

[@BuzzKirill3D]

@@JimOverbeckgenius what were Christianity's greatest contributions to civilization, in your opinion?

[@BuzzKirill3D]

@@JimOverbeckgenius Ah, I see, thank you.

[@keving1122]

Jim Overbeck the mad ravings of a legit schizophrenic lmao

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@keving1122 Don't laugh your arse off - it's the best part of your face.

[@miriamspillane8842]

This wonderful man knew he was dying and still carried on.

[@mrloop1530]

Yes, but he didn't know in 2005/2006, though.

[@amulligan6302]

@@JimOverbeckgenius Go for a walk. Buy an ice-cream. Live your life.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@amulligan6302 Mention godless cunts and up you spring. I live in Italy and 30 yards away is an ice-cream venue. Vastly fattening but delicious. I've just walked through an olive-grove. Check out my art, blumpkin.

[@amulligan6302]

@@JimOverbeckgenius Enjoy your olives. Tuck into a gelato. God would want you happy.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@amulligan6302 No relation to stately plump Buck Mulligan hopefully and his patents for weird anal gadgets?!

[@maxleighgrace8858]

This could carry on for infinite time and I would still be here

[@BowBeforeTheAlgorithm]

Hearing this in 2022, it’s almost prescient. Amazing to watch

[@bbblackwell]

The principles at play are timeless. Mankind has been living under tyrannical slavery for thousands of years. It takes many forms, but it's all essentially the same: Steal the fruit of their labor, make up rules and punish them if they don't obey. That's every government in the world, and it directly contradicts the self-evident truth of all men being created equal with certain *unalienable* rights.

[@centaur0930]

Hitchens will always be my compass.

[@Jaryism]

That's sad.

[@ryanx3584]

@@Jaryism How so?

[@MattSingh1]

@@Jaryism Yes, how so? I can probably guess. Typical anti-Hitchens cretin.

[@Jaryism]

@@MattSingh1 It's sad that his moral compass is centered around a sinful person who's defiantly against God and truth, a man who asked "what do you live for" and his only ultimate he could say was a good drink of alcohol and "sex is sometimes good"... this is a man who lives a spiritually empty and vapid life, and died the same way preaching for us all to abandon any trancendental meaning for after we die, I can't think of a colder thing to preach especially when it's not true. While we can all agree with Hichens in the past evils of the Roman Catholic Church, I'm glad that he points out that human history through the Dark Ages of the church has done pure evil that is completely defiant to everything that Christ and Paul preached, which is an anti-Christ of its own, he's ignoring the overall message of the Gospel that Christians really follow which is love your neighbor and honor God among any material things in life.

[@woodytheduke]

@@Jaryism what is sad is that you come to watch this video and preach your your crap about god and a talking snake,,,wake up godboy!

[@mgmartin51]

This talk reminds me of some lines from Field of Dreams : a voice of reason in a time of madness

[@tech9110]

Everything he said, turned out to be 100% true. You can't predict the future so accurately without a tremendous amount of knowledge.

[@davidanderson6055]

​@cameroncameron2826He was pretty close with his estimate of how long the iraq insurgency would last. It lined up pretty well with the end of isis.

[@samuraijosh1595]

@@davidanderson6055 he also predicted the intervention in Iraq would be benefecial for the US and the rest of the world. But that certainly turned out to be terribly false.

[@davidanderson6055]

@@samuraijosh1595 in Iran?

[@samuraijosh1595]

@@davidanderson6055 typo. Iraq, I obviously mean.

[@joelmalone7922]

Sadly I can count myself among the many young people who have only discovered Christopher posthumously. I'm also among those who so deeply wish that he was still alive to give his enlightened thoughts/opinions on the current state of the world in this very day of 7/7/21. Sadly we can only guess but I actually believe he'd be happy to know that we are doing that thinking for ourselves and not having him do it for us.

[@willemsikkema3604]

@@Nour083Thoughtless and stupid post !

[@ahabkapitany]

The audience questions were awesome. What a rare sight.

[@tombryant52jumpscoach]

I've listened to this today, Sept 12, 2021 and am so happy and grateful that I could hear it. Thank you to this channel and to Christopher. I remember thinking, in 1990, and saying out loud "No war for oil"! Remembering living during the Vietnam war and naively comparing it to the first gulf war and worrying that it would repeat, I attained sight. Seeing the video of Saddam purging the party that Christopher describes in this talk and thinking that we definitely should have continued in 1991 and removed him reminds me that we must be always vigilant. The turnabout was complete and correct in my thinking.

[@bbblackwell]

I was a "No War for Oil" guy myself. Little did I know how deep this stuff really goes. I probably still don't.

[@tech9110]

He was 100% right about the Iraq war and I praise the USA for eliminating that hideous dictator and freeing the people of Iraq from its cruel grip. I praise the USA and its people for providing humanitarian aid in several poor, underdeveloped countries through donations and other kinds of help. I always do.

[@JonniePolyester]

Just been listening to his brother Peter on the current Middle East situation and whilst they both differed greatly politically it is their collective depth of knowledge which is enthralling and always worth listening to.

[@maxleighgrace8858]

Great man. Fucking hell, we could all do with a hitchslap right now

[@karyldavidkidd7111]

Hearing an early draft of his next few years is a brilliant treat. Thank you. And, what a beautiful man. I hope my existence is 1/10 as beneficial to humanity.

[@zeljjko70766]

Hitch forever in his debt..

[@zinzan123123]

15th December 2011 Christopher left us…12 years ago today…much missed

[@mariaavery1212]

His books will be part of my reading material this year.❤❤

[@alanwilson4860]

Love listening to him

[@alanwilson4860]

@@howardlovecraft750 everyone is to someone.

[@johnruggiero4205]

I echo the feelings of Shaun Laubscher, if only men like this were world leaders. What a world it would be, & what a brilliantly unique and independently minded academic, journalist, novelist, & essayist. Rip Hitch.

[@tahu1349]

A great intellect. Sad we lost him.

[@StinFriggins]

I hope to be as well read as Christopher one day.

[@woodytheduke]

I won't hold my breath

[@thejanitor50]

A scholar whose shoes will never be filled. Rest easy friend.

[@chickencharlie1992]

This is absolutely fascinating this many years later

[@alexander.the.average3657]

I love that they occasionally flash "Axes of Evil" as a banner through the video. If only it was just the axes we had to deal with...

[@dianahill7239]

Interesting and informative.

[@TheGreatIndoors1979]

I loved the 'Hezbollah-approved' appearance. The beard looked absolutely fantastic.

[@MultiCappie]

Gross. Beards with crumbs and grease in them.

[@Beatyoutoit34]

I agree, it’s badass!!!

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

Yes and the shorter tidy hair was nicer too.

[@truthdefenders4694]

Calm down, I don't think he was gay.

[@truthdefenders4694]

@Greg Brown "bicurious" haha... that's a new one. He definitely dabbled.

[@MoralScienceEducation]

A brilliant and "on point" lecture for our discerning global leaders - as for us, since all may learn a thing or two about the aspects of evil minds which are oermitted to rule, - which unfortunately, every adolescent, adult professional and global leaders should be made aware of. And herewith in the end we do say may God bless him, this man of rrason, of logic, of genius. Experience counts🙏

[@gingernightmare9152]

I miss the Hitch. 🦎

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

Scratch elsewhere, stupid.

[@sunshine3914]

@@howardlovecraft750 That was such a great comeback... For someone who had no evidence whatsoever.

[@onepoorguy]

Interesting that Christopher mentions Nigeria back in 2006. Today Boko Haram is causing much mayhem in Nigeria. Looks like he was right again.

[@virgilmccorgray1656]

Except that soon after this the US began its full scale move out of Iraq

[@abloke8834]

@Jazzkeyboardist1 YAWN. Paste.

[@mandanabank2081]

He was merely wrong about the necessity of the invasion, though it is true that Saddam Hussein’s overthrow had long been overdue. It was giving to caesar what was caesar’s due.

[@mandanabank2081]

Jazzkeyboardist, are you by any chance against dissonance?

[@brianwilson49]

@Jazzkeyboardist1 bless you jazzy Jeff. I'm still divided as to the necessity of the second Iraq war, but, unlike you, I listen to both sides of the argument and formulate my own opinion. Hitchens makes a case for Iraq 2 based on UN conventions which is hard to ignore if you value international law. which you clearly do not. your seeming obsession with homosexual acts would also lead me to surmise that you are religious in some shape or form which would then logically lead to the conclusion that your unhealthy interest in hitch stems from your displeasure at his attitude to theocracy and totalitarianism. the fact that Hitchens is recognised by anyone with a brain to be one of the most important intellectuals of the latter part of the 20th century and you do not says rather more about you than it does him. thus, my original conclusion that you re a clown still stands.

[@forlornhope9769]

love the "Axes 🪓 of evil" that keeps popping up.

[@silvergalaxie]

love the "Axes of Evil" cartoon plaque shows up every few minutes

[@brianlamey7291]

What didn't Mr Hitchings know, a great man RIP

[@5ynthesizerpatel]

Christopher's first lines remind me of a song by a relatively unknown nerdfolk band called MJ Hibbert and the Validators. The song was titled The Fight For History and it described, quite preciently how history would be re-written to credit the old cold warrior politicians - like Reagan and Thatcher - for ending the cold war When the truth was far more visceral - it happened because, in Christophers words "so many millions of people, in so many countries and societies, simply by folding their arms and adopting an attitude of defiance...." or in Hibbert's words "the cold war was ended by East Germans in Berlin, not politicians"

[@b00gi3]

Nice recommendation. They are a funny band.

[@cordeg]

It's quaintly narcissistic to imagine that it was "the people" and not the leaders who trigger such things -- it makes is feel better about ourselves -- but the simple fact that the same people failed to act in the same way for years puts the lie to this fantasy. At the time of the Soviet collapse, of course, we had not had time yet to concoct such a fable in hindsight -- indeed, the very same "people" recognized that it was the leaders who gave them in that moment both the belief that their oppressors were not as powerful as they had come to believe and to believe that outsiders would aid them if they rose against those oppressors. When Reagan said "tear down this wall", it became clear that the West was no longer to be understood to be cowed by the Soviet power into silence on the subject -- this was so novel a notion at that time that even Reagan's foreign policy people thought he was crazy to say something so provocative and impossible. His willingness to say it out loud in the very shadow of the wall is what made "the people" believe that it might be possible. And the Pope's pronouncements that their oppressors authority was not tenable even in the temporal state allowed "the people" to believe that a rising up against those oppressors would have supernatural support as well. As long as "the people" believe their attempts (for whatever goal) are likely to fail and not be supported, they tend to remain willing to keep their heads low and just survive another day. It's why American slaves left en masse from plantations only once their emancipation was proclaimed by the government (even though that government didn't have the power to enforce it yet). It's why soviet block nations remained in chains until certain "cold war leaders" made it clear the status quo was not presumed to continue. When leaders leave "the people" to believe there is no hope, they acquiesce. When they show them there is hope, they feel empowered to act. "The people" wanted freedom for 70 years of Soviet rule; it was only when leaders gave them hope that "the people" became empowered to free themselves.

[@lizgichora6472]

Thank you.

[@MALEXI10]

He was spot on about Putin and Nigeria. His power not only scares me, but the seemingly sound support he has across the world, including Europe to a large degree. Why is it that if a world leader was a member of the SS or SA, we wouldn't give them as much air time and sympathy as Putin receives? The West has been fooled into thinking that Soviet oppression was much lesser than National Socialism, and for some reason, subject to indifference.

[@danielbrett247]

does anyone have a link to the footage referenced?

[@bobsmith9177]

It’s sad watching this in 2020, not just because hitch is dead but because many of his pessimistic predictions came true, so few optimistic predictions came to mass and much has remained the same

[@victoriapence6725]

The talk WAS in 2005, published in 2013.

[@Philusteen]

Boy, the part around the 14 minute mark where he explains that Hussein was a) delusional, and b) had surrounded himself by people who wouldn't tell him that he was making grave mistakes. Juxtapose this with people like Trump and Putin today. The inability to engage with critical voices, regardless of whether or not you're a tyrant (Trump doesn't qualify as a tyrant, just emotionally and intellectually stunted), leads to ruin.

[@miriamspillane8842]

Knowing now that he was an alcoholic makes him still so important , his memory, articulation and so on, genius

[@pauloshea3741]

@Stacy Caruso Who did he con?

[@cyberhawk80]

@@pauloshea3741 stace is probably believing in the invisible man in the sky..

[@hunterthompson4459]

you can sum up this man's career in a few feeble words . you fail to convince. your parents hate you by the way.

[@Beatyoutoit34]

hunter thompson if that’s the case with Christopher Hitchens, imagine what people would say about you and your inconsequential career and existence

[@williampoag3704]

Joel and lis

[@nadinejoyce1203]

What a great thought💞💥💞💥💞💥💞💥💞💥💞💥

[@yomilalgro]

The late great Hitch, what a loss for humanity

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

His brother said Hitchens is a Stalinist. Stalin was a sub-human shit, like Hitchens. Of course, Stalin hated liberal Marxist Jews like Hitchens & would have murdered him outright. The freedom to speak is only possible in the Christian West.

[@nonstickpansexual4540]

@@JimOverbeckgenius Sweden has freedom of speech and isn't a christian country.

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@nonstickpansexual4540 That's why Islam expects to take over.

[@jamesdettmann94]

@@JimOverbeckgenius you know your hatred of Islam? Christianity is incredibly similar to it

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

@@jamesdettmann94 Islam is similar to atheism in that it was brewed in the shit-sty of hell & it will return there with its adherents. I hate nothing & no-one and, indeed, feel sorrow for misguided swine infected with the spiritual rabies of eiter ghastly ideology, both of which deny the Godhead of Christ. I pity your stupidity.

[@leecarney4373]

He was wrong on Iraq but at least unlike so many others he was wrong for the right reasons

[@matthewscott7198]

Damn, the question at 48:06 really sets Hitchens off! Notice how much he's looking up, directly into the eyes of whoever asked such a stupid question. This is barely-controlled hellfire and brimstone preaching from one of the great minds of the last century.

[@-AndAllThatJazz..]

most thankfull to the TheHitchensArquive for this shiny little piece of a Hitchens memoir . really filled my neuron upper belly for the night .

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

It’s great that Hitchens didn’t have to read all dates and the salient facts,as close to the truth as possible.RIP Hitch.

[@cristianmicu]

watching this in may 2023 future is unpredictable because future is made by people decisions who are indeed unpredictable, RIP CH

[@joelmalone7922]

I'm sure that he was happy to have been able to see Slobodan Milosevic convicted of war crimes as well as crimes against humanity in the International Criminal Court by being sentenced to life and actually dying in prison as well. It's one of the few times that that legislative body has actually been put to it's proper use.

[@csaracho2009]

And we wont see Henry Kissinger trial as a war criminal. Ask Hitchens.

[@pietroaretino6390]

I love Hitchen's but it saddens me that he makes no mention of WHY there is presently a theocracy in Iran. No mention of US and British instigation, funding and intervention of the 1950 coup that lead to what is now present day Iran. Ironic that the people are asking for US intervention to remove the theocracy, when it was US and British intervention to install it.

[@MALEXI10]

But surely, even if what you say is 101% true, those who want intervention to remove theocratic fascism didn't necessarily support its installation? There's no doubt, and it's sickening to say, that western interventions have helped the maintenance of Islamic fascism across the region. It is a disgusting thing to say (not that you have) that Islamic fascism didn't exist from Islam's very beginning.

[@nad1ax2]

He has spoken about and written about the '53 coup at length

[@asdfjklol]

49:12 - "If resisting them makes them more active, we might as well give up now. They've won haven't they?"

[@silvergalaxie]

2005, "if we knew then what we know now...." 1995, "if we knew then what we know now...." 2021

[@joelmalone7922]

To any Iranians on here, whether you live inside the country or are a member of the large diaspora; If people knew that Mohammad Reza Shah had been fighting lymphoma since at least 1974, as we all know now, would people have been more willing to accept a government headed by Shapour Bakhtiar and waited Pahlavi out until he died of his cancer just a year later? After all, the first thing Bakhtiar did was to forcefully disband and deligitimize SAVAK, the despised secret police. After all, it's well known that Bakhtiar hated Pahlavi for the very legitimate reason that Reza Shah had his father murdered. He was also one of the leader's of the National Front, the same group that Medhi Bazargan belonged to. Or was it simply too late in the game for all of this to happen? The final question I'd like to ask is this; Do any of you regret the Islamic Revolution happening and if so why?

[@yingyang1008]

I think they regret the US and the UK destroying their democracy

[@totall2952]

hitch is class

[@yomilalgro]

High Class

[@totall2952]

@@yomilalgro i agree

[@totall2952]

@@howardlovecraft750 you talk shit

[@isaacward1824]

I agree with his thinking and have learned more about the world’s problems. Cristopher Hitchens has spoken openly about humanitarians main problems political, religious, scientific, and social. Christopher has the ability to say what he thinks, why he thinks that way, and why you should to. If you are human. Those thinking that some man created savior is going to solve humanity!s problems are brainwashed or insane.

[@freedomofspeech2238]

I remember 1989 at 18 years of age but had no clue what was happening. I knew it was important but thinking it was normal for big things since apollo missions just finished and new space station being built challenger spacecraft ect ect. Epic times I wish I had gone through those times with my current state of conciousness

[@carlajenkins1990]

We were too busy congratulating ourselves for "winning" the Cold War. Everything was supposed to be just perfect.

[@franciscomap75]

But boy did we feel hopeful. I don't think I'll ever have that feeling again

[@doctorwoohoo1152]

29:26 - *_Within the carapace of the theocratic state,_* an almost completely secular society is being created... Christopher Hitchens, Ladies & Gentlemen!

[@Jimi_Doom]

The message of Hitchens must be preserved in todays world especially

[@573Muhammad]

Ah i love that look... Almighty love

[@theklaus7436]

I miss him, but I always say- continue with your skills. I write and this is my way. Other can do what they do best and I think he would have wanted us to do our best. For science and search for the truth and not just believe

[@thorsvenson3530]

Such an important speech. Unfortunately, it will never grow old. I write this as Putin mindlessly invades Ukraine without any internal opposition to tell him he is wrong, and after successfully interfering in US politics to the point that he was able to help elect an American President. But Hitch's words are as timely now as they were a year ago, ten years ago, and unfortunately will continue to be.

[@woodytheduke]

just imagine what his thoughts would be about trump?

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

I can assure you Putin did not invade mindlessly . The US has been arming vicious rightwing shit aha in Ukraine since they staged a coup in 2014 in kiev. If you struggle with this try looking up John Mearsheimer for your education

[@BrucknerMotet]

Particularly apt for comparison with Vladimir Putin's approach to taking counsel from others, is Hitchens' comments re Saddam Hussein's 100% loathing of any non sycophantic, non-yes man lickspittle agreement with his policies and loans. The chronic inability to be able to handle any criticism of any kind is one of the hallmarks of the clinically insane, and Vladimir Putin appears to show those same hallmarks.

[@hadawson72268]

Listen to this in the context of what is happening in the US presently 2016-2021... it’s definitely systematic but you must never know you are safe...at about 12:18 .. loyalty tests present today in the ousting of Ms Cheney. Confusion reigns and even those most loyal can’t be certain they are safe. I fear this is only the beginning not the end of our own fascist experiment.

[@swarming1092]

36:00 has aged far more profoundly than anything else here, when so much was so utterly profoundly correct. Look at Afghanistan, Iraq, Hamas, etc.

[@MALEXI10]

It's very interesting to learn of the fine line between communism/socialism and fascism. If we take Mussolini and Milosevic for example; (the former being an ardent socialist and the latter being a self-proclaimed communist who used to lambast, correctly, Croatia for its endorsement of national socialism). I'm keen to hear any explanations or thoughts on this.

[@bendakstarkiller1270]

To put it succinctly: communism is international socialism; fascism is national socialism. The first wants to throw everything on the menu into the blender and serve grey, shapeless goo, whereas the latter wants to serve one, and only one dish. Both, however, think they should run all restaurants, you the citizen should just be thankful for whatever they serve...

[@franciscomap75]

@@bendakstarkiller1270 you sir win the internet today.

[@rickmacdonald5575]

What about democratic libertarian socialism?

[@wiretrap1035]

This was originally recorded in 2005. He died six years later.

[@lukematousek9201]

Wish he was still around...

[@timbarry4559]

Reincarnation is clearly off the menu. Brilliant man

[@ryanx3584]

@@howardlovecraft750 You sound hurt.

[@phille7861]

ISIS showed that his prediction of Iraq's future was way off. I always find it weird when he defends the Iraq war, it's like he's overly defensive and his confidence turns to a form of anger. Maybe he got too involved with the mechanics of geopolitics, but the hatred of Sadam is definitely a natural feeling.

[@ryanx3584]

He was never going to stray from that interventionist viewpoint. He flirted with this moral conquering of countries whom he felt need liberating, but I just do not buy the notion that you liberate peoples by flattening their villages and then leaving to give rise to a power vacuum. The post war planning was dismal and the main selling point for conflict was WMD.

[@ryanx3584]

@@gmoose7155 You are either wholly misinformed or downright lazy. The link between 9/11 and a 'global war on terror' commencing in Iraq is a frail one. Chemical agents yes, but you speak of a consensus on nuclear weaponry when there was such dissent within the intelligence community regarding this issue, unless you yourself are in ownership of knowledge that could have tipped the scales in favour of such a poorly planned conflict, this I doubt. The intelligence community sought to highlight parts of information that substantiated their wants and desires and left opposing parts out. This is blind imperial greed. Iraq halted their nuclear program in 1991 also. Plan for Iraq? You ask me this as though the possibility of leaving a nation to deal with its affairs its an absurdity. A crime. Unforgivable. And if you take the stance proposing a worldwide moral crusade of sorts then for fucks sake see it all the way through and be all encompassing in your view to 'liberate' and 'free' and do not leave parts out, ie; Rwanda or have zero post conflict infrastructure, socio economic planning etc. Laziness.

[@peteconrad2077]

The state of Iraq now is more to do with US military incompetence than political naivety.

[@djphlange]

I wonder what he would've said about Israel teaming up with Saudi Arabia and using their airspace

[@whitneylake2107]

Whoever it is who does the overlaid graphic which spells axis as A X E S is in need of education. Please, no phony outrage. Thank you for the footage.

[@user-uk5mb2wi4p]

he knew it all...

[@spencerkimble3824]

I loved Hitch, but the turn he took after 9/11 left him making predictions of which, none came true or have proven to be true. He became a bit too enamored with a militaristic response and stance toward the Middle East which the history of the last 15 years has shown to be mistaken

[@joelmalone7922]

The only thing that I don't always agree with is descriptions of some dictatorships as 'psychopathic'. I tend to think that slot of these are more 'sociopathic' rather than psychopathic. Psychiatrists often tend to think that some psychopaths can be treated in hospitals while a sociopath, or groups of them simply can't be treated, changed, or rehabilitated.

[@woodytheduke]

Saddam was a sociopath ??? I don't think so dude!

[@lesliephillpott8989]

Axle of Elvis ?

[@ryanx3584]

No.

[@krishnanunnimadathil8142]

47:20 Hitchens was proven wholly wrong with his predictions about Iraq's internal stability. He delivered this speech about a year before the civil war dawned in Iraq. As as admirer of his work, it is only correct to point out his mistakes as well.

[@JimSendre]

yes. correct on russia though.

[@patrick4662]

He was pro Iraq war. It’s not hard to see that was the wrong take

[@thedoctor.a.s1401]

Wdym wrong

[@thedoctor.a.s1401]

​@@patrick4662 what do you know anyway

[@krishnanunnimadathil8142]

@@thedoctor.a.s1401 America left Iraq an unmitigated disaster and an ungodly mess from which it is still to redeem itself twenty years after the invasion. For all Saddam’s faults, he kept a tight lid on the festering problems within that country. He especially kept a lid on radical Islam; and his departure saw that can of worms being thrown wide open. His fall, and the moronic US decision to disband the Iraq Army forms the genesis of so much of the misery afflicting the place today. Saddam was no angel; but he was way better than what followed his forced departure. At least the man shaved and kept a clean chin. Even when recognising the positive influence of US policy in the region, including the setting up of so many American universities, this was just bad.

[@sabzehsabz666]

#love you

[@timothyrand7372]

I watch all Hitch content annually and I always cringe when I hear him cough or clear his throat, he didn’t know it at the time but I wish he got it checked. He does say his cancer was so specific it would’ve needed a doctor to actually be looking for that specific cancer to have found it. RIP Christopher.

[@paramidge8935]

He was clearing his throat in that way back in the 1980's. A polyp that went nasty later perhaps but just as likely a nervous habit.

[@JackerEMPilate]

Hollywood should make a movie on Christopher hitchens' s life.

[@normsky5504]

The baby boomerangers as Hitch named them, are now leading the revolt in Iran. As usual he was right on the money in both his assessment and prediction.

[@davidanderson6055]

16:55 oh man Hitchens was so funny. He knows how to call out his audience.

[@thortessem271]

RIP

[@2nostromo]

I wish I could have explained Saddam the way Chris did. My Oregon "friends" wouldn't have a bar of it. That was then. Now there is no conversation in the whole of the USA that I am aware of.

[@thomasdunham5427]

just imagine if he was around to experience the donald,whew....

[@kantraxoikol6914]

i don't think he would have waited 2 minutes to call the orange turd a moron

[@andrewwebb604]

Axes of Evil is one of my favorite NWOBHM bands.

[@willh1970]

Is there any chance that there's a ouija board somewhere? His thoughts on Putin and Russia was 100% correct.

[@JulyAries817]

Gone too soon 😢

[@alittleofeverything4190]

Anyone who disses Hitch hasn't read his works. Try his "Arguably" collection of essays.

[@donwilliamson7733]

Imagine Hitch’s take on 2021... instead we have Idiocracy meets The Handmaids Tale meets Brave New World.

[@OhUiginn]

He was right about everthing.

[@royseibel511]

even booze

[@OhUiginn]

@@howardlovecraft750 How so?

[@OhUiginn]

@@howardlovecraft750 Billy Graham was a snaikeoil Salesman and a fraud. Screw him and all those other TV Evangelicals

[@florantunespereira9596]

November 2023: Unbelievable to listen to Q&A and see that we are dealing with the same questions almost 20 years after this. What he told about Russia and about 4 things that might be a reason for UN to intervene in a sovereign country are totally met in Russia case, after 7 October 23 we can also add sponsoring of a terrorism due to support of Hamas. None of our international institutions are able to deal with the evil among us, like they weren’t before.

[@cmonman6609]

You don’t even know how wrong you are… keep your head in the sand and don’t embarrass yourself with such statements. Who is the force for the good in the world who point to them.

[@tedgrant2]

Jesus said some silly things that everybody can safely ignore. For example, in Luke 12:22 he gave this advice to his followers.. "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, neither what ye shall wear" I suspect that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't take that advice literally.

[@andrewharper1609]

Actually the Gospels were anonymous texts that got attributed to the apostles so we have no good evidence of anything Jesus said. The bulk of modern Christians seem to just make it up as they go along anyway.

[@lisainger6751]

Or the pope

[@tedgrant2]

@@lisainger6751 Or the Queen

[@tedgrant2]

@@andrewharper1609 I agree, but I'm glad Jesus said lots of silly things according to the gospels. It gives us plenty of opportunities to criticise.