Christopher Hitchens - 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-...

[@DaytakTV]

Anyone else watching this for their 2nd time or more? Gotta love The Hitch.

[@JTmate09]

+KZbinExplorer yeah me lol

[@EinerVonDenen]

+KZbinExplorer Yes, my friend. Same here. I guess we all miss him.

[@thomaswilburn6263]

+KZbinExplorer 1:03:48 Hitch predicts Boko Haram. wow.

[@kshitizsingh3834]

+KZbinExplorer Its like music for me..

[@matlord8799]

+KZbinExplorer 6th :> Need a dose every now and again to combat the forces of retardom that flow from that reactionary dwarf Chomsky :D

[@samuelcole7736]

I miss this man more and more everytime I watch one of his vids. Bittersweet I guess because we are so lucky to have mediums such as KZbin to carry on the memory and work of Hitch forever.

[@mindsprawl]

Amen to that.

[@43nostromo]

Couldn't agree more. One of the few benefits of social media. Hitchens has changed my thinking. I daresay, my life. His dissertations, one after the other, resonate with me in the following simple statement: "My God, what he says simply makes sense".

[@robertcottam8824]

@lifesshort6048 A pointless wish.

[@leozam]

This was over ten years ago. Yet it seems completely in the now. Who has since taken up Hitchens' mantle of fearless, searing insight?

[@jamaaldaynitelong8367]

That's why he was one of the GOAT's...unfortunately they don't grow on trees.

[@jamaaldaynitelong8367]

***** Douglas doesn't get the respect he should because he's gay but he's capable.

[@thomaswilburn6263]

+leozam 1:03:48 Hitch predicts Boko Haram. wow.

[@aqueous67]

+Mark Talbit I just looked that up...and your right! he did predict them.

[@sappy441]

+leozam I know I sound like a broken record but after doing research on his younger brother Peter, he has really taken up the mantle of the "hitch-slap". Peter is the only living writer now that has indeed visited the 'axis of evil' and lived for some time in "the evil empire" or former Soviet Union. Although conservative leaning, he is a amazing speaker and free-thinker who has really come into his own and his domination of entire panels of Liberal apologists remind me very much of Christopher. Peter is finally getting recognition in the UK for his unapologetic views and 'voice of reason' when it comes to world affairs and particularly British politics which as a American is very interesting. They only truly differed on the question of religion and Peter should be recognized as a amazing free-thinker and a love of liberty that can only rival Christopher's. Peter was asked on one of these British political shows what he thought was the most dangerous idea or thing humanity has faced and he actually said the belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God and how it can be used as a incredible force of evil which shows he is on another level when it comes to his contemporaries.

[@BlueBaron3339]

His response at 1:03:20 to one student, "Your analysis, as far as I can see, is flawless," will likely be the young fellow's most enduring memory of his University years :)

[@se5246]

Immediately went to the comments, at that exact moment in the video, with that exact thought.

[@fenriz218]

If I had been that student, and would go on to get an Oscar, a purple heart, and get knighted by the Queen, 1:03:20 would still be the moment, that I would want to show my grand-children..

[@WildPhotoShooter]

Fascinating, he is so engaging, I never get bored listening to him , wish he was still around.

[@johnp7903]

He is/was one of the greatest speakers of our time.

[@MrKrixpy]

of all time

[@ryandelmar7969]

... and a complete hypocrite. His dear, dear friend Paul Wolfowicz is one of the biggest criminals in the history of humanity. I, for one, am glad this propaganda spewing jackass has been silenced by the grace of God.

[@sidvishnu8813]

fuck you very much for that comment. who are *your* friends, who do you like? hitch wasn't silenced, he died, as we all will sometime

[@barracuda7018]

I agree !

[@dgmr22]

Ryan Delmar you bloody idíot.

[@reason162]

The Hitch is lucid and brilliant as usual, but what struck me was how intelligent the questions/questioners were. That is rather unusual indeed.

[@outdoormirrorist3404]

He had a good balance of liberal and conservative ideas, most welcome in a world so blinded by extremes. A freethinker. The left can't appropriate him & neither can the right. Kudos!

[@TheSenecaHighlander]

It takes a free-thinker to appreciate a free-thinker. The religious are prohibited from, and in many cases, incapable of free-thinking. Same goes for people on the extreme right or left... often because of the roots of their beliefs being in superstition of some sort. A free-thinker is also free to change his mind, should circumstances change, which they often do. Someone like Pauljones65 doesn't understand that ability, probably because he falls into one of the above mentioned categories.

[@wallysmith9162]

I agree with 99% of his ideas but it still boggles my mind why he agreed with George Bush Jr. on the invasion of Iraq based on 911.

[@TheSenecaHighlander]

pauljones651 You obviously have a deep resentment toward him. It's too bad that you allow it to color your viewpoint so much that you discredit his work entirely. Hitchens wasn't the kind of person that anyone could agree with 100%. I"m a great admirer of Hitchens, but I don't agree with his sentiments on quite a few things. But even if I disagree, his argument still gets me to think, which was his main goal in everything he did. I think several best-selling books qualifies him as an "author," ...not just a journalist. His ability to dismantle just about anybody's argument, especially the best religion has to offer, ...and to get people to THINK (if they're able to)... qualifies him as both an intellectual and a philosopher. His use of the English language, whether he was "hamming" it up with his accent or not, was part of what made him such a pleasure to listen to. Not every British person possesses that quality. He said many times that he considered himself a journalist first and foremost, so your intended insult there is anything but. Nice try at smearing one of the few countrymen of yours that actually made you look good.

[@TheSenecaHighlander]

pauljones651 I'll try to address everything individually... Most American's are too damn proud to admit it, but the British generally are considered a reference in areas such as proper use of language, manners, and etiquette. Whether you appreciate that or not doesn't really matter. The politics are certainly not understood well. A lot of the people here still think England is an absolute monarchy. They think a prime-minister is a priest, like Cardinal Richeleiu to King Louis. Our education system is a complete joke. Like it or not, Christopher Hitchens was viewed by many as the voice of opposition to ANYTHING. It very well may have been the product of a particular attitude, provocative opinions, a passion for debate, and an extremely high level of skill in doing so, mixed with an elegant accent that many of your colonial cousins over here are a pushover for. You obviously don't share that appreciation for him because you're immune to a large part of that equation. If there is any particular accent you find appealing, you can understand the effect. The rest is that you simply don't agree with him on much, and view him as a hack. Maybe he was, but even a hack can make some good points now and then. He went against many Europeans, including Galloway, who I'm willing to bet you love. I think he tore Galloway to pieces in their debate, and made Galloway look like a pompous ass. Again, my perspective... my opinion. From an objective viewpoint, his intellect rose head and shoulders above most from that side of the pond, and his voice has nothing to do with that. Plenty of others agree with that sentiment who are no slouches themselves in the Brains department. I just happen to agree with much of what you listed. Some I don't. In addition, Hitchens hated the Clintons. I have a different perspective on that, and quite like them. I've never done as well personally as I did when Clinton was in office. Bush took over, and everything went to hell. I don't pay attention to party. I look at results. Even my European friends both in your country and in Sweden thought it was ridiculous that his Oval Office blowjob was such a big deal. Lewinsky was a grown up, and knew the deal. She ended up playing the victim, as if he forced her in some way, when she was obviously his biggest groupie. So I'm polar opposite of Hitchens on that topic. It doesn't lessen my appreciation for his work. I don't have to like every one of Led Zeppelin's albums for them to be my favorite band. I am still in the process of discovering Hitchens' work. I have a couple more books on the way now. I will eventually work my way toward his earlier works, but it's his work in religion that drew my attention to him. So I don't claim to have more knowledge of the man than you do. I'm sure you know much more, and perhaps you know things that give you a great reason to dislike him so much. I haven't found that yet, and I doubt I will. As for Wendy Williams, I don't know anything about her.

[@TheSenecaHighlander]

pauljones651 The only pattern I can see is that you simply don't like anybody who's British. You should give people from your country a little more credit. At least you don't seem to hold the same disdain for your musicians. One reason that I may hold Hitch above some others is that he is the MOST INTERESTING. At least to me, and if that's a knock on my "towering intellect," so be it. I am, after all, just a lowly musician myself. Again, I don't know about what Hitchens did NOT say. I'm sure you know more than I do. Maybe you actually knew the man himself. I don't know. If there is something you can reference as to why I should hate him as much as you, please do. At least it's something else for me to read. As I said before, if it's something I don't like, I'll chalk it up next to the other topics I disagree with him on (there aren't very many). If you told me he had a passion for torturing puppies, that might turn me away... but I realize that I'm not going to agree with or like everything about him. He came off quite arrogant at times. He sometimes answered people in a way I thought was very demeaning when it may not have been deserved. He might not have liked me at all... I don't care. None of that discredits his work in my opinion. What's wrong with being on TV when much of your work sends you in that direction? That's what being a "public" intellectual is about, and Hitch was consistently voted one of the top in the world, even by foreign media. He popped up on TV usually because someone else thought that his viewpoint was pertinent and substantial enough to give him a few minutes of that valuable airtime. I consider that a pretty strong case for his intellect AND his opinions. There is still a void where nobody has been able to take up his torch, at least in the fight against religious theocracy. Dawkins, Krauss, Harris, et al are all brilliant, but lack the fire Hitch had, and especially when someone DID deserve to be squashed. Naturally, Hitchens isn't the only author (in this country, having multiple best-selling books qualifies you for such a title), that I read. Neil Peart is also a brilliant author with several interesting books. He may not be a Habermas or a Luhmann, but he is also thought provoking and discusses topics that interest me.. and he also happens to be a pretty good drummer. I wish I had the time to read all day, every day... but I don't. That doesn't mean I won't take your suggestion and look at the work of those other men, but I choose those that attract my attention for various reasons, and Hitch is at the top of that list. ...and I seriously don't know what the Wendy Williams reference is about. She is apparently a talk show host. I've never watched her, and really don't care about the mind-numbing culture of talk shows in this country.

[@jekk23]

I would love to watch more lectures by Mr Hitchens. Fuck religion, fuck totalitarianism, long live secular humanism.

[@jwu1950]

+jekk23 Our beliefs in God is evidence based, logical, and rational. In view of the overwhelming evidence and logical proofs for God, not believing in God is irrational and illogical, and believing that there is no God is outright delusional. WTF is humanism anyways ? And why is it a good thing ?

[@jekk23]

+Jackie Wu your statement, sir, is entirely self refuting. There is no evidence at all for the existence of any God or supernatural creative force. It is an unfalsifiable argument and therefore can be dismissed. Using words like logical and rational to describe your faith is somewhat disturbing.To quote the man himself "once you assume a creator and a plan it makes us objects in a cruel experiment whereby we are created sick and commanded to be well". How you square your belief in God with the pitiless extermination and annihilation that is the natural order I do not know. Is God able to prevent suffering and not willing? The he is evil. Willing but not able? Impotent. You cannot just claim that God works in mysterious ways when thousands of children starve to death every day and then say There must be a god because I can't conceive of there not being one. Your own credulity or emotion has zero empirical merit. You involved logic, rationality. Those methods dispose of the supernatural

[@jekk23]

+Jackie Wu ...as to humanism. It is a simple assertion of innate human solidarity. We realise we have and are nothing without collaboration based on mutual respect and gain. This, I think, demonstrates to us how superfluous religion is. The fact that morality relates to human wellbeing completely disposes of any supernatural explanation for its origin or operation. Humanism is superior to any religious belief because it makes no unprovable claims, excludes no one and seeks only to maximise human happiness and flourishing. Religions make huge improbable claims to every persons life and even promises punishment after death. I fail to see any use or good reason for religious belief at all. You are welcome to your belief sir, that right is inalienable. Do religions recognise the right to non-belief? No. That is what inquisition, kuffar, infidel, heathen and hell are for.

[@jekk23]

+Jackie Wu and you are to be commended on not matching the vulgarity of my first comment.

[@jwu1950]

jekk23 Thank you. But WTF do you mean by "once you assume a creator and a plan it makes us objects in a cruel experiment whereby we are created sick and commanded to be well" ? How can God the creator be God if God is not both good and evil ? WTF is God's plan ? WTF knows God's plan ? No one knows the Will of God, not even Jesus. This is the truth. You said, "Your own credulity or emotion has zero empirical merit.". WTF are you referring to ? What empirical merit is there in the claim that there is no God, that our existence comes from nowhere and nothing. ? All you have is credulity or emotion in such a ridiculous claim. Everything that exists is caused to exit. This is the law, and this is the truth. You said, "as to humanism. It is a simple assertion of innate human solidarity." WTF is innate human solidarity ? And how is that humanism, and why is it a good thing ? If animal herd instinct is your only guide to life, you are no more civilised than wild dogs and hyenas. You said, "Humanism is superior to any religious belief because it makes no unprovable claims," God is not a religion. My comment was able believing in God, not in any religion. Your so called humanism is a form of religion and its claim that there is no God is unproven. Just like any religion, it is not the religion that is disgusting, it is the people who twisted the truth to suit their own agendas that is disgusting. Humanism is no exception and is more prone to such abuses for Humanists follow the rules of man, not the laws of Nature as given by God. Give up your superstition and learn the truth. May the love and the peace of Jesus be with you.

[@dprague]

I have undergraduate degrees in Literature, Physics and Economics. I have a masters degree in Economics. I am currently enrolled in Law School. And of all my education, I have learned more from Christopher Hictchens about reading books, then reading the reference materials, then reading all of the footnotes, and then reading all reference materials cited in the footnotes, and digging deeper, digging very deep, reading criticisms and criticisms of criticisms to being to understand.

[@CPLTarun]

Well whadya know? At long last, a Hitch video that I haven't yet seen! :D

[@james_games9684]

in my time in south korea i met a homeless man i thought he was asking me for money. he just wanted to speak to an american and told me (he claimed to be a defector ) that being homeless in south korea is better than being a citizen in the north

[@fenriz218]

No doubt he was telling the truth. As "demeaning" as it may sound, but every single trash can we have, would literally be a treasure box for people, who are reduced to eat grass. Hitches was wrong about one thing: NK didn't emulate Orwell's 1984, but have "perfected" it to a point, where Orwell's dystopia would almost seem like an utopia to those people..

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

I can see on the faces of the audience members the respect Hitchens got from so many people around the world. Not the kind of respect that comes from fear.

[@d-c4918]

Hitchens taught me a lot.

[@calumlittle2]

Even with a tough crowd containing some sceptical young intelligent intellectuals the Hitch still reigns supreme. What a brilliant man.

[@francisj.opolko3728]

Thanks to the great man Hitchens who taught us all why History and Logical reasoning are so important in order to arrive at truth. Will we ever see another like him?

[@SuperPunchout3]

The man was prescient on the developments of current Middle-eastern and Baltic geopolitics because he had the balls to actually visit the places that he talked and wrote so extensively about. Whether or not you agreed or disagreed with his opinions, the ones he had were serious and backed with serious facts. You're missed Christopher every day, and we could sure as hell use your penchant for culling the bullshit from popular rhetoric.

[@user34rL]

I can't express enough how much I miss Christopher Hitchens

[@mackdanny170]

Hitchens been gone 2 years today. What a Great Man.

[@Fallon144]

Man, I could listen to him for 10 hours straight!

[@darlingtonboobam4107]

I love Christophers beard he is so distinguished and decorated by it....

[@sandgrownmanc6614]

I miss Hitch so much, the man of the millennia.

[@sappy441]

+SandgrownManc I am trying to recommend his younger brother Peter to as many people as I can who although being conservatively leaning, is actually a incredible free-thinker and only differ with his brother on the question of religion. The way he handles entire panels of Liberal apologists reminds me a lot of Christopher and he is finally getting recognition in the UK for his 'voice of reason'.

[@sappy441]

Thomas Dauphan it's a shame you decided to write so much about someone you clearly know nothing about and im afraid you just made yourself look like a huge fool. Peter is none of those things and even the simplest of mind would understand that. please return when you arent so ignorant.

[@sappy441]

+Maria Callous to say Peter has 1/100th of the talent as Christopher was pretty rude. It shows he has no idea what a incredible free thinker he is and how insightful he is on current affairs that Christopher unfortunately can no longer comment on.

[@alastairhunter353]

brilliant journalist....and intellectual

[@123UncleRuckus]

I wouldn't be surprised to hear he was drunk while giving this lecture. What a legend.

[@crankymcstab]

Thank you for posting this.

[@darlingtonboobam4107]

Christopher Hitchens.. is a mix of brilliance masculinity and elegance

[@alderosa4195]

Extremely well spoken. Great literary mind

[@ambassador8524]

This is one of my favorite speeches by him.

[@stevewright8992]

Has helped me immensely, I was almost on board with this but his eloquent argument completed it,

[@thevegandragon4676]

Superb CH, as usual. Such a great loss to the world

[@sappy441]

I did some research on his younger brother Peter and was very happy to know he might be the last living writer to have visited the entire 'axis of evil'. They don't ever mention in their separate speeches but they were actually in North Korea but Peter went in 2006. Peter has really come into his own and I find him the new holder of the "hitch slap". Even though he is conservatively based, his objection to political correctness and corruption as well as his love of freedom and America really show they were only separated on the question of religion. I highly recommend Peter's appearances on the British show 'Question Time' where he takes on entire panels of Liberal apologists with the same beauty Christopher would have.

[@afcjonny1]

Totally agree mate, there is much to admire about Peter also. He's by all means an old school conservative, he had his flirtations with Trotskyism but snapped out of it. Peter speaks his mind and won't apologise for it, we need a hell of a lot more of it in this day and age.

[@anthonysmith1617]

peter is useless a Jesus licking crypto-facist. The good Hitchens died and what is left is worse then excrement. His followers seem to be shit aswell.

[@anthonysmith1617]

Fuck you.

[@WildPhotoShooter]

His hunger for world knowledge and understanding made Christopher Hitchens one of the greatest speakers who ever lived. On every subject on which he spoke he was superbly prepared, he has left a massive void in the debating platform. Although his "peers"good I fear they are not in the same league, hitch's delivery was magnetic and entertaining and he is missed.

[@cwocwoc]

Nonsense he's just a one-sided propagandist who can be easily rebutted with truth and reality. He uses selective extreme examples divorced from their context to make his case. That's what all racist/bigots/ prejudiced people do.

[@trstenik100]

Safdar Shah And yet, you provide no rebuttals or examples of truth and reality just qualifications. Seems legit.

[@cwocwoc]

trstenik100 I have rebutted him by telling the truth. What he is saying is generally untrue. He is taking rare extreme examples and views.

[@trstenik100]

Safdar Shah You're supposed to present an argument. I'm referring to this: "extreme examples" - quote some, so others know what you're talking about. Stating opinions just doesn't cut it.

[@Demianwulf]

I can't begin to tell you how enlightening and riveting this speech was.

[@tortuga324]

What a great loss for humanity. He told it like it was without mincing words.

[@pessimistpojken]

He thought that this was so. He was an interventionist in many of these issues but he wasnt blind to the complications that many of these interventions would cause, and he tried his best to weigh the moral pros to the cons.

[@gregvinson1]

Had he lived I believe Hitchens would have made a great Sec of State. At least he is the type person who should be in that role. Someone who really understands the world through years of observing it first hand and studying its history.

[@fishysnake1]

+ Greg V. Ah Greg, you dreamer. An atheist Secretary of State? Not gunna happen in the "One nation before God"- trademark 1954.

[@gregvinson1]

a man can dream though. lol

[@jonashermans8691]

lol "The babyboomerang" brilliant!

[@HVAC356]

As an iranian i can testify to the truth in his words. As u see iranians have risen against mullahs

[@everduring]

It's not a dull crowd, it's a polite crowd with intelligent questions. He does seem a bit unwell, sounds like he had a cold. He is still missed, wish he was here today to comment on Syria, etc.

[@DawkinsTools]

Need this vid with higher volume. My headset is turn all the way up and it's barely audible.

[@vitoloso]

great video. thanks

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

The number of irrational comments on here are amazing. A lot of irrational hate towards Hitchens and Dawkins. Scary how much anger there is out there. Some people seem to love to hate. How incredibly sad.

[@jeffreyc.mcandrew8911]

What a brilliant, articulate man. He wasn't afraid to tell us what he thinks.

[@Zerg121]

A very good talk and event made even better by a thinking audience.

[@AdurianJ]

There was a defector from North Korea (don't remember the name) who decided to escape to South Korea after getting one of those UN food bags. What pushed her to do it was that the bag had a "best before date" and she couldn't imagine someone throwing food it wasn't in the orbit of possible ideas in her world. It's because of small things like this that despots and dictators fears the western societies not because of the governments per say but because the culture is so corrosive to the societies they want to build

[@greenassgrass]

I am always wondering what Hitch would think of this or that,,, He will be missed . such a great mind

[@MrTanorton87]

the dude in the second row at 16:15 who's brain can't handle that much Hitch

[@AndySmith606]

What a brilliant man!

[@garrethdavis]

Hitch was a legend. But man I don't know how much I align myself with him on foreign policy...

[@garrethdavis]

***** Stupid ass atheists? I too am one of those people who doesn't believe in imaginary people, so there you go! Ok now you're jumping to extreme conclusions. I don't support what he's saying, but he justified it in his own way. Bush should be at the very least locked away for treason and war crimes. Comparing Bin Laden (who worked for the CIA) and Hitler (who was funded largely by the federal reserve) To Hitch is one of the most illogical things I've heard in a while.

[@vapourmile]

***** That is not entirely right. He was a buffoon on the subject of religion too. The irony of it is that most of the speakers again religion have done precisely no academically viable study into the social pros and cons of religion. All they want to do is try to discover links between religion and wrongdoing and then slap a gullible audience on the back for believing the links are true of the religious in general.

[@garrethdavis]

Crescendo Well, I think he was a boss on the subject of religion, to be honest. And I've watched what must be days worth of debates over the years. Every single one of which he has won, embarrassing the other side with logic and reason. That's just how I see it, you can disagree.

[@vapourmile]

Well, I don't know about that. Although with that remark you have catapulted yourself into the top half percent of KZbin users for respectful disagreement. Ok. How do you feel about how persuasive Christopher is in those debates? Do you not suspect that his popular success is owed somewhat on his taking of public forum to espouse an opinion which reflects and supports the view of people who already largely sympathise with his aims and beliefs? Moreover, do you think the religious people who he opposed find his rhetoric as convincing as you do? What instances can you name of somebody who shared his stage, or listened to his talks, actually agreeing with him and conceding his point of view to be the correct one having begun from an opposing view? Is he genuinely persuasive or merely the thrower of bones to others who share the outlook he championed? How do you feel about modern viewpoint of 'Darwinian Society' which illustrates that the winner of a conflict is often the aggressor and often the victory is not better for society at large? To take an example from history, we now stand to learn little from or about the Mayan and Aztec civilisations because of the success the crusades had on discovering them of touting their rituals as a source of evil and claiming the moral right to burn and destroy all trace of their culture. Egyptian history suffered much the same. Chistopher Hitchens on the other hand, if successful, in his aims wants to achieve precisely the same fate of destruction upon the religious and, in particular, vehemently Supported attacks on Iran which have killed tens of thousands of Iraqis. Estimates for how many people the action has killed reach in excess of one million people. Are you convinced this is a way on terror? Do you believe a revenge massacre is the real reason behind the action? Making an entire faith, and then the faithful of the world, responsible for the actions of an organisation with a global membership of only 2000 people. In essence, do you think society at large would benefit greatly from the outright extinction of Christianity or religion? Also, before becoming diffused in too many separate accessory issues, you say you believe in Hitchen's reasoning. What do you think we learn from his reasoning process? And what, in a nutshell, has he actually demonstrated through his reasoning to be true?

[@who8468]

Crescendo Hitchens was a polemicist, not an academic, not a social scientist. Why would he lock himself away doing research studies when he was so gifted with fluid argument and oratory. Even with research and data and focus groups and polls at your disposal you still need eloquent presentation to be heard, understood, and seriously considered. Religion can be such a private and subjective subject, research results remain hard to defend either way. Lastly, it's open to opinion wether Hitchens won all of his debates. But you'd be hard pressed to find any of his opponents calling him a buffoon on the topic of religion.

[@43nostromo]

God I love Hitch. Sorry for saying "God".

[@football1610]

unreplacable ,a beacon of thought and.reason, a debater of immense importance.sadly missed by me,...

[@frankieaglow]

Predicted Boko Haram at 1:03:47

[@thomaswilburn6263]

+frankieaglow Bro, i just saw that. Fuckin wahhabis.

[@FB2K6]

+frankieaglow Boko Haram already existed at the time.

[@TomLogical]

Christopher died on December 15 2011 Kim Jong-il died on December 17 2011 I bet Christopher would written about Kim Jong-un taking over as his next piece of work if he was alive. It would have been interesting to hear his views and predictions.

[@Flemmi]

What would hitchens say about the ISIS?

[@Lethoras]

He was sorta right on the Kurdish, too. I am pretty sure he would think that we left Iraq before the job was done.

[@PointLarusso]

It's always ill-advised to speak for the dead, so I'm quite hesitant to pretend to know what he would say, but the good thing is that we don't have to guess as to what Hitchens would say about ISIS. We know what Hitchens thought of ISIS, because Hitchens was writing about ISIS his entire life. Everyone seems to suggest that ISIS is somehow special, but they're really not. They're just another group of Islamo-fascists, and Hitchens was warning us about them for decades. If anything, I see the existence of ISIS as a testament to Hitchens ability to know an enemy when he saw one. Theocratic fascism was alive before ISIS and it will be alive after ISIS. ISIS is just a particularly violent form of theocratic fascism, but they're exactly like every other theocratic fascist Hitch warned us about.

[@Flemmi]

PointLarusso Thank you, for you answer.

[@EP3mentalist]

There is a talk Hitchens gave in 2005 that you can find on youtube predicting the formation of a movement such as isis, its worth a look

[@polkaringo]

Flemmi He’d connect Obama at the hip to it, I should think… he doesn’t carry water for any party, he never did…

[@allannielsen1546]

It's a tragedy that the world will never know the thoughts of Hitchens regarding the Trump "presidency", Xi Jinping - and the dictatorship of Putin.

[@MarshallWilkinson]

Without notes, fantastic analysis and oratory from Hitch. Don't read the comments, nobody listened.

[@nateellenberger6043]

Chris looks like he has a hangover in this lecture when they do a close up 1:35. hahahh I Wish I could have had a beer with him (even though I don't drink, I'd still get drunk with Chris Hitchens!) RIP C.H., he will always be one of my heroes!

[@user-bg3bb8kh5h]

He'd have to forgive you for calling him Chris first ;)

[@SuburbanoidMisfit111]

Anyone who has been to Iraq back in the early 2000's knows how easy it was to get whatever you needed from the civilian contractors or even the gut truck dude. Special merchandise was often just a request away...stuff like 6 pks and tall boys of Carlsberg, *cheap Hajji liquor (*also could be found on roadsides sold by street kids), cigars, cigarettes, weed and yes dope too. Hustling is a universal thing, just supply the conditions and a black market is created.

[@trytwicelikemice7516]

Can someone tell me what he is saying around 20:00? the thing he doesnt want to mention in prague at risk of being cliche? i'm fairly new to learning about this stuff, and i guess that if something is cliche then i should probably know about it

[@danielweldon9920]

+LayZ K1D Here he talks about Franz Kafka, one of the most influential writers in history who was of German/Czech origin. Hitchens is mentioning how any journalist who would spend time in Czechoslovakia would inevitably mention Kafka in their writings, and how incredibly cliche it was to always drop that name.

[@trytwicelikemice7516]

thanks, i'll check him out

[@MBCthunderstruck]

+LayZ K1D Check out The Trial. Although I haven't read Kafka's books, I think the one he was referencing the most was The Trial, in which a man goes through a trial without even knowing the charges.

[@TheGroucho66]

The Q&A starts at 35:05 btw.

[@blackpearl8439]

The Hitch at his best.

[@patrickwilliams6143]

55:00 to 58:36 We probably should have paid a bit more attention to this at the time.

[@JAC82]

What I would give to hear the actual question at 48:09. It must have been much more suggestive than its open-ended phrasing in the green box implies, because Hitchens drops the gloves in epic fashion.

[@T1tmouse1]

OMG he came to my university in my second year?! how did I not know this!!!!

[@ApocalypseGuy1]

Can anyone link me a direct source for the 4 criteria for humanist intervention that Hitchens cites? I've been googling for a while, but couldn't find anything that lists them like that.

[@AdamSmith-kl1rs]

Giganthrax any chance you remember what time he mentions that? And it's likely that's just a datum of him own creation.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Year and location?

[@RazaSid]

Trivia: what Latin term does Hitchens use here?

[@ddtphoenix1265]

What year was this ???

[@presidentbabyhands8479]

Damn, heavy heart, I miss Hitch...

[@koalanectar9382]

"Axes of evil" YOU HAD ONE JOB

[@GrungeyDude]

Anyone else notice the beginning of the video said "Axes of Evil"?

[@grazzer88]

It's funny, this is my first time watching this particular Hitchens' speech and to think he predicted in 2005 exactly what is happening between China, US and NK right now. It's eery how i've stumbled across this right now as i almost felt like it was published in the last couple months, despite him having passed 6 years ago.

[@Terlin1466]

id have to admit that Hitchens was right to agree with bush on this one issue. Iran could be saved thought I do think the people them self's can do it. If any outside help is given it should be given in a peaceful way not in military forces. Hitchens says that will get crushed most likely. Maybe it would but if military action was ever done it would have to be UN sanction, Which makes the likely chance of that very unlikely.

[@davet1990]

a damn good man and fine speaker. i developed most of my views bar a couple from the hitch. he looks like tearing up at the beginning. poor guy.

[@thescribbler5300]

Hitchens predicts Boko Haram @ roughly 104

[@georgioskosmidis6845]

Indeed!

[@yvesbernard8114]

*islam/cancer!*

[@nodeal4791]

Love the Hitch facinating free mind hes a boss. Over 10 years yet where hes talking about North Korea is so relevant to todays current affairs and war mongering.

[@RespectWong]

Christopher is true man of God. What he wants is justice, an opening of eyes. Very radical in his view, which is very good, he is integer with himself! I totally respect him, and I also think (I know this statement is going to cost my head) he is not fighting God, he is fighting the works of the Enemy, Satan, which are: separation, enemicity, hatred, blindness, closure of mind and spirit, hatred for life and all its fruits. I respect him. Bless you Christopher.

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

You could easily say the devil is in the details. I wouldn't. There are details in the (not so holy) bible widely overlooked and glossed over as figurative that would likely be repulsive to you. Try reading the bible as if you were not a superstitious person. The very fist line in the bible and the first of ten commandments assumes you are. The first four commandments is not about being a nice person.

[@DeepPackChopra]

***** That is absolutely true. The actions of many religious leaders have also served to encourage people to reject religion. For instance, Joseph Smith (the Mormon prophet) was a polygamist who, on numerous occasions, sent men away on religious missions, and married their wives while they were away. Martin Luther (founder of protestantism) hated Jews with a passion. The Catholic church has covered up the torture of children in recent years (among a litany of horrendous crimes), and Muhammad (the Muslim prophet) was a polygamist who married a six year old girl when he was middle aged, and decapitated people with swords. This kind of immoral behavior coming from religious leadership causes people to question the sanctity of their dogma.

[@MaxHarden]

“AXES of Evil” at 1:05? I thought those captions just looked dumb, but no they actually are dumb.

[@donlee8920]

holy shit this was at my school

[@thehorrorification]

Axes of evil, wicked woodchoppers.

[@foxtrot6612]

I listen to this in the armchair with a nice red and cheese. Pure sensual bliss

[@WildPhotoShooter]

Safdar Shah, apologies for the spelling of your name in my last post, I read it but forgot the spelling. As I said I understand what you said about the 9/11 attackers being dead and gone so no more attacks on the west from them ? Let's hope so .........we will wait to see if this is so.

[@tahahormozan]

And about ozirak neucler reactor it was bombarded twice first by IRIAF Iranian air force which wasn't complete success but caused enough damages to halt it's progress and maybe without vital Intel gained by Iranian air force Israelis would never could achieve coordination of reactor to attack it

[@JWMCMLXXX]

Very concise explanation on the NK / China relationship.

[@Isaiahahahaha]

Uhh he didn't talk about Saddam's axe at all. Nor Kim Il-Sung's fine axe, nor even the ayatollah's legendary Axe of Muhammad. Really misleading.

[@magistrumartium]

Stop pretending to be Mark Wahlberg.

[@LSmallCatL]

If anything, listening to his arguments, counterpoints and immense insights in literature as well as world politics, it seems difficult to start any serious discussion without stripping to the bone. Let go of any statue and really discuss an argument in full instead of tip toeing around other peoples feelings. Only by acknowledging this will we ever be able to look at problems and solve them to the best of our abilities. In fact it is dangerous to consider feelings in most discussion that revolve around the attempt to find a rational solution that works.

[@TheNightOcelot]

OMG, How he was right about "next (religious) confrontation in Nigeria"

[@yashsandhu8366]

what was hitchens ' view on the "WMDs that were never found in Iraq in 2003" ?

[@ghostpowers278]

I was a freshman in high school when this was happening and knew nothing about it. Now islam has to be accepted in almost every country. Madman Hitchens.

[@jamesjahavey1681]

Is C, Hitchings the solution to the world problem if not what use is he?

[@fakemadereal]

Scratch that. Hitches is the only conservative I agree with and understand his reasoning.

[@EpicMRPancake]

Interesting that you call him a conservative, when he for most of his working life referred to himself as a Marxist.

[@tahahormozan]

There are two grad sons of Khomeini and he mixed them up together nice work by this genius Hossein Khomeini is son of elder son of Khomeini Mostafa Khomeini who died in Iraq before iran revolution while Khomeini was in exile in Iraq and yes it is Hossein Khomeini who is against the mullahs but he is not living in iran Another grandson of Khomeini is Hassan Khomeini who he is living in qoum(iran) he is son of Ahmad Khomeini who died in very suspicious way but he was much more blood thirsty than his father

[@takerdust]

Hitchens was vocally opposed to removing Saddaam in 91'. Some of the blood is on his hands too.

[@comanchio1976]

WOW!! You can hear AND type?? Is there no beginning to your talents? ;-)

[@WildPhotoShooter]

Safdah Saha, Ok I understand now , I hope to see no more attacks.

[@cwocwoc]

You are either dyslexic or name calling childishly.

[@FURYCHAOS184]

Completely agree with Hitchens on Saudi Arabia. This needs to dealt with soon.

[@OmegaKent]

Hitchens was right on so many issues, but his view of the Middle East was far too simplistic and he totally miscalculated the invasion of Iraq. Afterwards he seemed pretty embarrassed to talk about Iraq on stage as it continually undermined his credibility. He tried to defend his unrectifiable position at times, but to little avail - administering a self 'hitchslap' in the process which seemed to reverberate the more louder in the presence of inexplicable silence from the audience. The never-ending bloody consequences of the Invasion of Iraq is one of the worst things to happen in human history. George Bush Jr. was a religious nut believing God contacted him privately to give blessing for the on-coming war. This one-dimensional baboon for a President, and together with war hawks at his ear, proved to be a disastrous combination. Hitchens on the other hand, who should really have know better, was a sincere dreamer on Iraq.

[@fenriz218]

Almost 15 years ago... can you imagine Hitchens talking at a university today? I mean, without a crowd of blue-haired harpies, soyboys and future-cat-ladies screaming "racist!!", "nazi!!" and "Orange Man BAAAD!!" from the top of their lungs...?

[@benaffleckisanokayactor]

please stop

[@Amphioxys]

Good grief, what a shame Hitchens passed away before the Arab spring. I would really have loved to hear his take on it.

[@bo0tsy1]

Well, if any of you were thinking of sending your children to the University of Western Ontario, so can't ignore the horrible misspelling of "Axes" of Evil splashed every five minutes.

[@bo0tsy1]

At the time and place there was only one axis of evil, so common sense would dictate only one axis.

[@grazzellian]

"AXIS" is a collective noun here, so it is perfectly used in singular. The Axis of Evil consists of the nations mentioned, just like you'd say, a herd of cattle.

[@bo0tsy1]

***** None of those countries, by themselves could ever be considered an axis. In this video Iran, North Korea and whatever the other christian opponent are never discribed in terms of the the "unholy" triumvirate of ww2, of which Italy and Rome were a member. Thats my bitch. It was intended as a joke, didn't realize you were alumni.

[@richardbuxton3546]

***** Axis of Evil was a phrase coined by David Frum for a GW Bush state of the Union address - a shorthand way to describe three entirely separate countries with no commonality of purpose other than each of them - independently and separately not friends with the USA. The phrase plays to our emotions rather than to common sense. It links together three countries when no link exists - part of a War-On-Terror propaganda initiative - painting the bogey man as terrifying as possible. A common theme in American politics - scaring the population and manipulating them into following the leader against a common enemy... any enemy will do. Axes is just plain silly and obviously a mistake. One joins things together and the other chops wood

[@outdoormirrorist3404]

Evil people use all manner of weaponry, not just axes.