Christopher Hitchens and Newt Gingrich: What kind of war are we fighting?

Taped July 18, 2002
What kind of war is the war on terrorism? Ordinarily wars are fought against proper nouns-against Germany during the Second World War or against the Soviet Union during the cold war, for example. Now we're being asked to fight a war against a common noun, terrorism. Just how accurate and useful is the phrase "war on terrorism"? Is this a war? And who exactly is the enemy-Al Qaeda? Al Qaeda plus all other terrorists around the world? Al Qaeda plus all other terrorists plus all the countries in which the terrorists operate? In other words, just how good a job are the president and the administration doing, not just in prosecuting the war but in defining the objectives?

[@reanimated6]

Hitchens pulls names, dates and whole quotations out of his pockets like it's an ordinary feat. This man was the most important intellectual to walk the earth in the last 50 years. To deny it is only say that more time is needed for some to realise it.

[@ncktyu]

I wish my brain worked like Hitchens. Able to recall what seems to be almost all of the information he reads and obtains through experiences. I already like debating but I want to be able to debate like Hitchens.

[@dobbyisafreeelfandsoami3600]

Hitchens, you are very sorely missed. I wish that we still had your voice in the public arena, you're a huge loss to all the free-thinkers of this world.

[@richhenry7540]

Agree or disagree with either one, you have to admit it's a great discussion

[@Joe898100]

Christopher Hitchens is a journalist and an author and all round legend,

[@jasonbaber1526]

Two giant intellectuals. Didn't care much for Newt as a politician, but as a professor and intellectual, he is superb. Wish Mr. Hitchens we're still around to provide his intellectual analysis on the world events.

[@cruznewz3323]

I learned more listening to these two gentleman regarding Terrorism, Terrorist Groups etc. Then I learned watching 200 hrs of News programs . For that matter 3 administrations have not described our so called war on terror as well as Mr. Gingrich & Mr. Hitchins. MAGNIFICENT...

[@piazziolbers8984]

I think we need the extended version. The discussion is regularly cut off.

[@HooverInstitution]

Peter M. Robinson is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he writes about business and politics. Robinson spent six years in the White House, serving from 1982 to 1983 as chief speechwriter to Vice President George Bush and from 1983 to 1988 as special assistant and speechwriter to President Ronald Reagan. He wrote the historic Berlin Wall address in which President Reagan called on General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!"

[@HamIsDie]

17:40 Newt applauds the Administration for their job of "emotionally charging" the country. The attacks on 9/11 were enough to charge the country alone. To say the Administration did a remarkable job emotionally charging the country is a fawning diversion to the fact that they had done a very poor job informing the public of it's political objectives.

[@puppetsock]

It's really quite amazing that these two people could share an interview and remain so cordial and calm and rational. It would be hard to find two public figures in the political landscape with more different positions: Ginrich the conservative and Hitchens the Trotskyite. Yet the discussion was sensible, calm, in low tones, and fairly informative. Well done Hoover Institute. And well done Hitch and Newt.

[@samruttenburg7235]

2019 and the police state has gotten worse and worse, war on terror is without end, and American's attention span is even shorter...god we need a Hitchens now

[@PsychoHF]

This was a far better discussion than I thought it would be.

[@BillMcGirr]

Hitchens is Brilliant here... Gingrich is holding his own...AND... Christopher is ACTUALLY agreeing with him.... What an enjoyable clip.

[@chandruae]

Dear Hoover Institution, Thanks for uploading this fantastic discussion! Is there an unabridged edition of this discussion?

[@TheQuiescentSquall]

Great video and very professional! I enjoy the juxtaposition of different ideas and this did not disappoint.

[@100domathon]

This was a good video. Espicially watching 14 years later.

[@mixmastermeeks]

who, in say the 1990's, would have thought they would see an interview with Christopher Hitchens and Newt Gingrich where they were so in agreement?

[@rickw1100]

Thankyou. A great response. You have put it as best as it can be put. Thank you.

[@tbomber]

fascinating re-listening to this 10 years later. they make some excellent points

[@SkaIathrax]

I would be in love with me if I had Hitch's voice.

[@ThaiChinaMalay]

How refreshing to listen two an intellectual discussion where truth rather than politics is the motive.

[@Clifton100]

Very interesting watching this conversation unfold and realizing that we're a decade removed knowing just how endless a war on 'theocratic fascism' really is because crazy religious groups will never go away. It's a lot like my marijuana stash: it somehow keeps replenishing itself.

[@marlineharrold1937]

great. Thank you for this.

[@clingwraphero1]

Thanks for the clip. Yes,Hitchens is truely great.Who can ever replace him?

[@johnjsal]

Gingrich: "I don't know that there was a huge intelligence failure." I hope he knows better by now.

[@Kenneth1238]

He sure did carry an air of elegance and refinement with him where ever he went.

[@marystephenson6402]

I agree it's a myth...having read his articles in Vanity Fair for years, it's very clear to me that this man of exceptional intelligence had chosen his positions carefully and honestly. What I do believe is that he served his readers and fans until the very end of his life...encouraging that we learn, question, discuss, and wake up to the world we live in. Conversion would be a betrayal of his life's path and work. I can't accept he would face death without acceptance, honor, and composure. RIP.

[@naybobdenod]

My heart goes out to your loved ones Christopher

[@liampezzano]

retitle it Christopher Hitchens has a conversation with fellow journalist and Newt Gingrich gets to sit in and learn something about how words are employed.

[@heatrayzvideo3007]

It would be a more accurate but less catchy title.

[@MorphingReality]

Gingrich is actually quite intelligent for a politician hahaha Peter Robinson wrote the 'Take down that wall' speech for Reagan. Hitch does end up being the most memorable regardless of who's next to him

[@alexandrujohann2355]

Surprising how coherent Newt Gingrich is.

[@RevanGabriel]

Wow, this was recorded in 2002. Its so interesting to see the type of talks that was going on in the lead up to the Iraq war.

[@mastertheillusion]

Very valuable video, thank you

[@SuperMathewson]

Why couldn't Newt Gingrich be like this during the Presidential debates?

[@SuperMathewson]

More like he was exposed as an asshole and wasn't a serious contender for his own party's nomination.

[@themsmloveswar3985]

Because this was an intelligent discussion. Unfortunately, discussions like this never occur on Television. There is a way to improve the quality of discussions is to view discussions like this one, and ignore the debacles on TV. So as to show appreciation for quality.

[@mattcat83]

I would've appreciated an unedited version to hear the continuation of each of these guests' thoughts. Anybody have a link?

[@Treebark1313]

Ten years from now, we look back on the war on terror as something we're still fucking doing.

[@Chronoecho]

Hitches has a larger vocabulary than my dictionary... He is awesome.

[@l337pwnage]

Well, when people started using words like "war on poverty" and "war on drugs" that pretty much messed up keeping definitions simple, easy, or I would even say accuracy.

[@thekeeler846]

Unfortunate this was edited

[@alongsleep]

The more important question is why was it edited?

[@emmetwhitey]

this is the best 360p video I've ever seen ! !

[@logicshouldprevail5646]

Stop the editing please

[@jq747]

Unfortunately this video was tarnished, for me, by the desire to punch the monitor whenever Newt Gingrich was onscreen.

[@thewintersessions]

I would love to get the unedited un over dubbed version

[@alban1959]

What on earth could have happened to Newt Gingrich to change him from the balanced, rational personal he seems in this interview, to what he is now?

[@yharyhar8]

I've never heard him argue weakly or get caught out in any of the vids I've seen him in.

[@gcgrabodan]

Is there an uncut version? the cuts are really weird

[@ianmcmath92]

Please share the uncut version!

[@mucklesandwich]

does anyone know if the other bits of this discussion are available on the world wide web?

[@disqotube]

@adamk4747 i like the way you use caps to get your point across. very persuasive.

[@OnTheGoFilms]

If I saw more of this intelligence and openness out of Newt during the campaign, I might have supported him!

[@Imsleazy666]

I have a great deal of respect for both these men

[@victoke]

13 years ago...a good one

[@isaiahgarcia]

Wow, here I am in 2020 kind of seeing where Newt Gingrich is coming from. 2002 was a very different time

[@411American]

Ron Paul is the only person I know and seen who already changed the world no matter what the media wants - Thank you Ron Paul for bring light where there is darkness, no punt intended.

[@supermonkeywtf09]

Brilliant!

[@hudsontoo1212]

Hitchens. Proven right time and time again.

[@deadshot1995]

I may not like Newt, but he's definitely highly intelligent.

[@JasonManners]

He is extremely intelligent.

[@XenoverseComics]

I skipped the part where Gingrich was speaking and went straight to Hitchens.

[@elfred1980]

@BrotherAtticus You talking about Newt and Hitchens or the host?

[@MindFlowersDotNet]

I did not always agree with Hitch, and rarely do I agree with Newt. It is very fun to see the two men together sharing ideas and seeing their civility and respect for each other.

[@DoctorTenacity]

@Hooverinstitution thanks for posting this. Was interesting, gave me some insight into what people might see in Gingrich. Too bad he's a chump. But, that said, thanks anyways! I enjoyed it. :D

[@jangofet555]

yea newt has no equal, every sentence is clarifying and enlightening, he is a light cutting through our darkness, thank you. and that part of fumbling not being negative but being perceived as good, changing perception is the whole key to any kind of war, conflict, or unpleasant feeling. and i like newts way of thinking, of tracing things to their patterns.

[@MicDoane]

Newt is a windbag who bends history to whatever argument he is trying to make. As has been established, he is a stupid person's idea of a smart person.

[@jangofet555]

MicDoane usually these things boil down to only a few disagreements which you don't seem inclined to be open about, instead you ridicule.

[@mnichols2011]

22:12 - "I don't know that there was a huge intelligence failure". - whamp whamp whaaammmp....

[@cyberbehrens]

good upload Hoover ! good description. nailed it !

[@Topmercs]

I find myself using my dictionary a lot when listening to Christopher. He had such a strong command of the English language.

[@mvies77]

Actually, as to the host who wrote Reagan's speech at the Berlin Wall. He did not pen "tear down this wall". Reagan added it to the speech and was immediately advised by everyone not to say it since it might antagonize the Russian's. Reagan ignored their advice and said it anyway, explaining it was the right thing to do.

[@asidaniel6789]

After ive heard all the politics intellectual people in the world. I can tell that hitchens is the most intelligent of them.

[@lftice12]

Where is the full, unedited interview??

[@VisionXray23]

Hitches it right. Lots of people should have been fired for the failure of 9-11.

[@dneuens]

It's true Hitchens had a conversion before his death. In the waning hours of his life, he called a priest to his bedside and after a short discussion had converted the priest to atheism.

[@modernpanther]

Nailed it.

[@rationalthoughtandlogicple5392]

For those criticizing Newt Gingrich, you are mistaken. He is an accomplished historian and most definitely an intellectual the likes of which you don't often see in American government these days. He is, however, a politician and thus he is more careful with his rhetoric. That being said he never won the office of the president because unfortunately American voters aren't attracted to logic and rational but rather emotion and bombast...thus Trump.

[@rationalthoughtandlogicple5392]

And unfortunately he was so wrong on Iraq lol

[@dansofe0r]

OH CHRISTOPHER I HARDLY KNEW YEE

[@HerrMichaelKohlhaas]

@folkhippy Very well put.

[@greendogg83]

Hitchens was an intelligent man indeed, the best of men, i could listen to him talk all day.

[@RapsAlive]

Support Ron Paul. Google "Political positions of Ron Paul" And look at the Wiki links or ThePoliticalGuide Less government spending, less taxation to American Citizens, a budget plan that works. This man has been fighting for your personal freedom and the separation of congress from big business for years. He is a man who stands against the war on drugs, the foreign wars, and corporate bail outs. Vote for liberty this year. Vote for real change. Vote up and spread the message!

[@ThatNateGuy]

I think you need to read more of his work because he was well aware of what a sheltered life he lived and wasn't afraid to admit it.

[@pesachshteper3458]

I am used to the more mature version of this host. Here he is so much more unnecessarily drawing attention, interventionist and dramatizing... Many thanks for his subsequent stellar work, as well as to the Institution.

[@occamsox5331]

How did Newt get his head so much tanner than his hands? Pretty impressive, if you ask me.

[@jimmy2k4o]

he wears gloves on the sunbeds, strange man.

[@Bucketheadhead]

Gingrich begins with a glaring error. This issue did not begin with 3000 Americans dying. It didn't begin in 2001. Islamic Jihadists didn't announce themselves to the world in 2001.

[@MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

too true. Pre Cole one could argue. Pre support to the Mujahadeen?

[@Bucketheadhead]

mounty27 Potentially even further yes. Although pre the 1980s it seemed most Arabs in the Middle East subscribed to pan-Arabism rather than Islamism. Either way, this issue definitely did not begin in 2001.

[@MorphingReality]

The Barbary wars happened like a decade after the US was a country. The Ottoman empire did declare WW1 a jihad.

[@bdkern]

In any case, the cut to Peter Robinson following Newt's answer is priceless.

[@liberphilosophus7481]

I think he was thinking in terms of _world issues_. Before 9/11, the world interest in Islamic terrorism was rather low; rather, they were focused on terrorism from right wing, communist, or anarchistic factions...

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

This is some good discussion. CH was fantastic.

[@aqoaq]

Mr. Hitchens = great as usual Mr. Gingrich = repect for you Sir

[@marcell11111]

I agree with stoopidfalo here. Gingrich is a very smart man and can be objective as he demonstrates here. His recent actions and his behavior on the public stage clearly demonstrates that he is willing to say whatever the people who pay him want to and cares about his career and power more than this country. It's sad truly that people listen to him more when he demonstrates brazen ignorance and spews hatred. He's a smart man. this is a great discussion, Hitchens is spectacular.

[@longlivecrow]

@tmfarg It says in the description July 18 2002.

[@stoopidfalo]

very honest discussion

[@MattieCooper10000]

Well, that was refreshing.

[@TheNorthernMike77]

He died holding his beliefs to the end. The man had integrity and always stood up for what he thought was right. If there is a paradise at the end of life I have no doubt that he would be welcome to it.

[@MrJonniNixon]

@TonsofFun777 how so? I only ask because he has been in many interviews with Hitchens, and have found his questions leading into many interesting conversations

[@carlberg1617]

FFS, there is no need for the interruptions.

[@Chemicalkinetics]

Gingrich has always been considered very bright and very articulate by people who like and dislike him. Gingrich's problem is that people view him as being rude, dismissive and arrogant.

[@romefox]

Hitchen's was an intellect of immeasurable knowledge, he may be controversial today but in the future, when man shuns all superstition and belief in false deities, Hitchen's will be revered!

[@ClumsyRoot]

Well put.

[@DrCruel]

He's always been that way.

[@Libohove90]

Hitchens was one interesting person. Some of things he said I completely agree with, and some of things he said I completely disagree with.

[@spencerkimble3824]

These arguments haven’t aged well as we’ve seen the military actions have failed

[@ricochet]

The interview was recorded in July of 2002. More info, including some anecdotes from Peter Robinson are at ricochet.com.

[@NotAG4yName]

Cool, thanks for giving more than just his name. Otherwise I would have never known his credentials.

[@ewyguewyboy]

Why is this in Frasier format?

[@Voxnulla]

"She turned me into a Newt"... "It got better".

[@domsanchez148]

@folkhippy Interesting thought seeing as how Hitchens later referred to Gingrich as "a very smart guy...very well read". I believe it was one of his c span appearances.