Serj Tankian calls Howard Stern to explain his point of view about 9/11 (September 20, 2001)

After posting on System of a Down's website an essay entitled "Understanding Oil" tryind to understand and raise points about what led the 9/11 attacks, Serj Tankian got tons of hate from the public opinion and called Howard Stern to explain his point of view.
© Howard Stern
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[@khav11]

hahahahahaha how do you feel about trump winning again? also the drummer of SOAD is pro trump, suck on that lefty!

[@Malzanar2010]

Damn imagine how much better this would’ve been if Howard had actually let Serj complete a sentence.

[@marciamartins1992]

Howard's spider senses were tingling lol. Can't let this guy talk too much.

[@taxxzempt3576]

I hear the spider sense is kept up the nostrils of a handful

[@Picswisplosion]

That dude really called SOAD unoriginal. That was the craziest shit said during this entire conversation

[@ethancadle937]

He probably thinks about that call sometimes when he hears them on the radio

[@user-xy1pc5wv4d]

He sounds like such a moron 😂 Serj is more intelligent than anyone in this video

[@KuziemekK]

his abundance of patience is astounding

[@RealJugLY]

the bullying of people questioning the war in iraq in america post 9/11 was un fucking real ..

[@ploxjump5825]

Howard's unironic, "They just hate our freedom!", is nauseating.

[@derrickmcadoo3804]

Nah, he's Armenian, like the rest of his band, so they know a thing or two about countries being swiftly taken over, and the propaganda that comes with it. 🙃Look up Armenian genocide. It's not so much about patience, as it is, experience. And then, patience.

[@Etrius10]

This is coming from a life long system of a down fan. Never seen a more braindead comment section on KZbin, since it was created. Serj himself admits he couldn't say the things he says in a middle eastern country. Serj is a joke now, especially in the current state of the US where certain types of people are driving food resources out of their own communities listening to people like Serj. You people are destroying what good is left in this corrupt world, not us. You people are the problem.

[@alanduncan1980]

What are you talking about?

[@JFrohlichMusic]

Howard loves hearing himself speak

[@NFS305]

So do I!

[@NFS305]

Now I understand. You’re correct.

[@elijahwilliameby2030]

If he weren't so wrong I wouldn't mind how much he talks.

[@theskimaskboy]

So do I and I am a leader. Just like Howard is a leader. Someone has to speak

[@kingshittheturd683]

@@theskimaskboy sir do you have autism?

[@austinpigza]

Serj's take here aged so well... It just wasn't the right time yet being so close to the day when tensions were where they were. Such a cool time capsule.

[@playdiscgolf1546]

It was the right time, we just didn’t want to hear it. If we all thought this way, maybe we wouldn’t have been in the Middle East, killing innocent people, for 20 years.

[@PanteraRosa91]

so true @@playdiscgolf1546 . It was indeed the right time. I send you a huge hug from Spain! :)

[@PapaZannie]

@@playdiscgolf1546based

[@drownthepoor]

​@@playdiscgolf1546 And maybe when we criticize Russia today it wouldn't ring so hollow with the nation that has invaded and killed so many civilians half a world away is denouncing a country for actions on their immediate border. They sold us those wars, and quietly waged many others we never even knew about. The reality though is that we don't have the reigns over our own government.

[@NyanCatHerder]

It's kind of surreal hearing this now. From what I understand, Tankian was just making an honest attempt to process and discuss what had happened, which is actually an important thing to do in the wake of a disaster like this. People need to take a moment to grieve, but after a few days, they need to start thinking more seriously about what's happened. Otherwise, they'll act out in ways that aren't properly considered and are a craps shoot on whether they make things worse or better. At the time, though, his measured take (which most people now would see as almost banal and obvious) got him completely trashed by thousands of people. If anything, that's a good illustration of *why* what he said was important. If the population of the US had taken time to cool off before beginning their response, the world today would be a much better, safer place for almost everyone.

[@matthall7359]

“Our poorest people have tvs and food in their mouths” So does Howard stern not know about homeless people?

[@opart]

What he doesn't seem to understand at that moment that owning TV is not a measure of healthy society. I've just came back from a trip to Denmark, and let me tell you, coming back to US is like returning back to Wild West after a trip to the future. US is for young, healthy and rich, and that is its strength. But if you don't have 2 out of these 3, you are screwed, and nobody will care. Arriving in JFK terminal, being in line of 900 people and having one dirty bathroom for all them, really made me open my eyes (yet again.

[@stiiimes]

nope

[@marciamartins1992]

Lol this was in 2001, homelessness was just getting started. It wasn't the complete shit show it is now. But hey we spent Trillions on those wars.

[@matthall7359]

@@marciamartins1992 “homelessness was just getting started” >born 1992 yeah your opinion can be safely discarded

[@opart]

@@marciamartins1992 facepalm... look up new york city footage from the 70s

[@leonritchie3413]

Serj Tankian is so much more intelligent than anyone else on that show that he shouldn't have even lowered himself to feel like he owed them an answer.

[@rickpaul8012]

It wasnt stern the entire media was very different at the time.

[@leonritchie3413]

I see what you mean, but he didn't owe them an answer in my opinion

[@zacharybiddle853]

in all fairness it was a comedy show with a LARGE reach. I think stern gave him a solid platform (especially with the show being based in new york and stern having stayed on the air when 9/11 happened.) to say that he knew it was too soon for what he said and that it came from an emotional place.

[@nickyblackburn7091]

It was the number one syndicated radio show and they're probably never be a show that has a bigger audience live. And love them or hate them I would argue that Howard Stern's IQ is very high

[@youeverseethesehandsfly5334]

Acting "above it all" is a sign of low intelligence, he was just being a contrarian.

[@Maarttiin]

Poor Serj, dealing with this type of idiots.

[@opart]

The anger that people had after 9/11 got easily used by the Bush administration to start the biggest mess in the middle east, that is still rippling through today. Serj is being so patient here, wow. Howard and Robin just won't stop talking... wonder how they feel about this now. I remember the shock at the televised start of the Iraq war, and all the antiwar protests. (As a side note, I was in Manhattan on 9/11, and my stepmom worked in the towers (her company lost 358 people that day).

[@ianbaroni1137]

He gained blind support. Americans are the most belligerent culture and they were manipulated.

[@GregorioStyreco]

ISIS wouldnt have happened if the US wouldnt eff up Iraq.

[@gregoryallen0001]

wow... cantor? ❤

[@opart]

@@gregoryallen0001 Marsh Mclennan

[@gregoryallen0001]

@@opart ❤️

[@satcheldawg]

I hope Howard listens back at this and cringes. He was so wrong about all of this and serj was so right

[@MISTERspad3z]

"The poorest people have food and a television set" this statement shows how delusional howard is.

[@1981JollyRoger]

I totally agree. Though that Howard was a smarter guy. They didn't had any idea of reality.

[@MISTERspad3z]

@@1981JollyRoger That is howard's thing tho, he has hot takes on subjects he has a passing knowledge of, then when someone comes on the show who has analyzed the subject more or may be passionate about it, howard always ends looking like a babbling fool. Hoo hoo Robin 😀

[@JimmyORizzle]

@@1981JollyRoger it was very soon after the horrible attacks, emotions were still high. That said yeah I do hope he listens back to this and feels bad And fuck robin quivers

[@1981JollyRoger]

@@JimmyORizzle Yes I understand that, no one would want to say anything against the government at time, it would be probably considered anti patriotic or even communist. But I have take my hat off for Serj, for he was able to say what no one would.

When guest's IQ and wisdom of heart is double the hosts's combined.

[@indigohammer5732]

Wait! He’s got two hearts?

[@oui2611]

Serj handled this gracefully, didnt expect anything less than that from him anyways.

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

He retracted everything he said. Like a coward. Nothing graceful about that. Suddenly he couldn’t remember anything he wrote.

[@jazz96765]

what was graceful ? What did he even say during this airtime ?

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

@@jazz96765 grey point👍

[@canubeetquad]

Trump broke his brain. Apparently Trump is the only bad politician in the United States anymore and we can trust the Democrats and the "good" Republicans.

[@Rumplesti1tskin]

But think about what he said, and the reality of what happened. We ended up invading Iraq and taking on Al Qaeda, and killed millions of innocents and only created more enemies. Serj might not have said it clearly, but he was spot on in what ended up happening.

[@elquetecontaba]

Serj didn't get to say almost anything.

[@gabrielramiro1515]

How can Serj be so polite with these animals

[@romanadamenko6111]

Fear

[@kingshittheturd683]

Because that's just who he is as a person. The man just wants to love in peace and the same for everyone else. Dude really does just have a good heart

[@exterminateparasites3185]

Serj is normally calm and cordial,that's his shtick and he's good at it.

[@larrycrofttt]

hes always been really good at staying calm like that. if it wouldve been daron i think he wouldve gotten pissed off, but serj? hes willing to just listen.

[@Teeveepicksures]

He's afraid. He wrote a long piece but can't explain himself or answer questions in person.

[@johnhardenroberts6270]

Serj was too nice to these idiots

[@khav11]

most leftists are usually cowards who cant back anything up face to face, charlottesville showed that LMAO

[@marciamartins1992]

They were all rabid dogs at the time, if he even hinted at truth on the air, they would have torn him apart. Cancel culture goes way back.

[@thepangwin902]

It is wild how emotions got so high at that time that someone like Stern who has been fighting the U.S. gov his whole life became an apologist.

[@stinghouseproductions8502]

To be fair Serj became one too when Obama came into office. Then drone bombing civilians was trendy and progressive.

[@shinybeast8946]

and being an apologist for terrorism is better?

[@bigchedds8389]

​@@shinybeast8946I don't understand. Serj points out terrorism committed by the US and somehow that means he supports terrorist?

[@shinybeast8946]

He's justifying it.@@bigchedds8389

[@Raydaruckuz]

And fast forward to today, Howard has only gotten worse...100% establishment shill .. whatever counter-culture elements he still embodied in 2001 have been long since abandoned...sad..I used to listen to him religiously. Now, looking back I just cringe at interviews like this, where it seems like the whole studio are NPC's reading from a script, with not an original or critical thought between them....I wish Serj unloaded on them, but I'm simultaneously happy he took the high road, because obviously America wasn't ready for the truth, and was hell bent on turning the middle east into a graveyard

[@camdenkahl4778]

the way howard just yelled at serj ab shit someone paraphrased for him is sickening. serj is nothing like any of the things the media were saying at the time

[@AarosConcerts]

Howard didn’t yell once in this entire piece

[@PaintballVideosNet]

​@@AarosConcertsya he did

[@islamokhazarian366]

Semitic behavior

[@scary_terry1745]

sheesh@@islamokhazarian366

[@austinrhoads]

Wow this really shows Serj's patience, intelligence and understanding. Howard on the other hand sounds exactly like a narcissist i know personally.

[@JPX64Channel]

wow this was lost media , he was rude with serj thats for sure

[@WastedVUler]

true. I think there was a short snippet of the interview (might be on a different date) in Serj Tankian's "speak the truth"

[@midabe01]

It's Howard Stern, he's notorious for being an asshole.

[@oui2611]

stern was rude with everyone back then

[@mikolajpaluch4927]

Serj Is So Calm

[@andresgonzalez407]

OMG! This is a real piece of history! Thank you very much for finding this and sharing it🙏

[@PaintballVideosNet]

You're welcome

[@rolfyman9153]

Understanding Oil By Serj Tankian 9/13/2001 "The brutal attacks/bombings this week in New York, and Washington D.C., along with threats of attacks there and elsewhere in the country have changed our times forever. While the mass media concentrates on the details of the destruction, and the blanketed words of politicians, I will attempt to understand and explain the events from the fence. BOMBING AND BEING BOMBED ARE THE SAME THINGS ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE FENCE. "Terror is not a spontaneous human action without credence. People just dont hijack planes and commit harikari (suicide) without any weight of thought to the action. No one in the media seems to ask WHY DID THESE PEOPLE DO THIS HORRIFIC ACT OF VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION? "To be able to understand the answer to this, we must first look at our U.S. Mideast Policy. During most of the 20th century, U.S. businesses have worked on attaining oil rights and concessions from countries in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. After WWI, secret back door deals by our State Dept. yielded oil rights from then defeated Turkey to fields in what is now Iraq and Saudi Arabia, in return for looking the other way at a crime against humanity, the Genocide of the Armenians by the Turks. Oil profits have been the motivating factors behind many attempts at counterinsurgency of democratic regimes by the CIA and the U.S in the Middle East (such as Iran in the 1950s, where the Shah replaced the Prime Minister who refused to give up oil rights to the U.S., and since the people couldnt deal with the Shah, an extremist government headed by the Ayatollah Khomeini ultimately prevailed). During the Iran-Iraq war, America supplied both sides with weapons and advice. These are not the actions of a rich superpower wanting peace. Lets not forget that Saddam Hussein, before being Americas vision of the Anti-Christ, was a close ally of the U.S., and the CIA. So what was the firm belief system of consecutive American administrations that caused all this to occur ? PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST WILL LEAD TO HIGHER OIL AND GASOLINE PRICES. Lets not also forget the power of the Arms industry, disguised as defense, that still sells billions of dollars of weapons to the area. Therefore it has not been in the short-term economic interest of the U.S. to foster Peace in the Middle East. Using the above reasoning, the U.S. has encouraged extremist governments, toppled democracies, as in the case of Iran to replace it with a monarchy, rigged elections, and many more unspeakable political crimes for U.S. businesses abroad. Lets not also forget the Red Scare. During the war between the then Soviet Union and Afghanistan, the U.S. armed and supported the Taliban, a fundamentalist Muslim organization, and allowed them to export opium and heroin out of their country to pay for those weapons. Therefore the Taliban rose to power and control with the help of the U.S.A. Today, the bombing of Iraq still continues, no longer covered by the media, the economic embargo still remains, killing millions of children, and recently, while the world and the U.N. General Assembly have cried out to bring in peacekeeping forces into Israel and Palestine, to end the escalated war and recent assassinations, the U.S. has vetoed the rest of the Security Council and has halted the possibility of peace, there, in the most volatile place in the world. "People in Serbia, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, and Afghanistan to name a few have seen bombs fall, not always at military targets and kill innocent civilians, as the scene in New York city yesterday. The wars waged by our government in our names has landed smack in the middle of our living room. The half hour of destruction closed down all world financial markets, struck the central headquarters of our military, and had our leaders running into bunkers, and our citizens into fear and frenzy. What scares me more than what has occurred is what our reactions to the occurrences may cause. President Bush belongs to a long generation of Republican Presidents who love war economies. The media has only concentrated on the bombings, if you will, and what type of retaliations are looming for the perpetrators. What everyone fails to realize is that the bombings are a reaction to existing injustices around the world, generally unseen to most Americans. To react to a reaction would be to further sponsor the reaction. In other words, my belief is that the terror will multiply if concrete steps are not taken to sponsor peace in the middle east, NOW. This does not mean that we should not find the guilty party(s), Bin Laden, or whoever they may be, and not try them. Put simply, as long as a major injustice remains, violence precipitates to the surface of life. "Native American folklore, the Bible, Nostradamus, and many other major religious beliefs point to this era with the visuals of yesterdays disasters, and conditions of ecological disasters we experience daily in our lives today. War, rumors of war, famine, long burning fires, etc., are at our doorstep. We can prevail over this possible vision with the power of the human spirit, understanding, compassion, and peace. ITS TIME TO PUT OUR NEEDS FOR SECURITY AND SURVIVAL, ACHIEVED ONLY THROUGH PEACE, ABOVE AND BEYOND PROFITS, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES. SOLUTION: "The U.S. should stop sidestepping the U.N. Security Council, and allow U.N. Peacekeeping troops and missions to the Middle East. Stop the violence first. "Stop the bombing and patrol of Iraq. "With today's gains in the use of alternative fuels, develop them to full usage with autos and other utilities, to make the country less dependant on an already depleting natural reserve, oil. By initiating peace, we would have already shaken the foundations of support for Bin Laden, and/or all those that sponsor activities like those we saw yesterday, and break the stronghold of extremists on the world of Islam. On the other hand, if we carry out bombings on Afghanistan or elsewhere to appease public demand, and very likely kill innocent civilians along the way, wed be creating many more martyrs going to their deaths in retaliation against the retaliation. As shown from yesterdays events, you cannot stop a person whos ready to die."

[@creamydistortion]

Thank you for posting this in it's entirely. These guys were huge when I was in high school, and I highly doubt any of my peers who bought their albums ever even saw or heard anything about Serj's essay. I certainly hadn't heard of it until today...

[@jherring3889]

I wish he actually read this on the air. Even a few pieces from it. That would of been a very historic moment in general and would go down. It's just buried sadly

[@statisticalcomputing]

Definitely a bit of an insensitive statement to make so soon after the attacks. Trying to explain why killing thousands of innocent people makes sense from the aggressor’s point of view is definitely going to get some pushback when people are still trying to recover and grieve from such an incident.

[@minneolamatt1]

He knows his history. Great piece of writing! As far as it being "too soon"... No. If something horrific happened to you and someone was able to give you a better understanding for why it happened I think that's ok. There were comedians making jokes soon after this happened just like they always do after tragedies and they get a pass.

[@AiphTheDJ]

This was a fun read. Serjs portrayal hits different, especially with hindsight. Dude nailed the coffin shut and said "please let's have peace". Cheney tore that shit right open, said "bomb the east".

[@devonscannell996]

"How do you talk to people, you can`t talk to" Serj Chuckles...

[@TomSomniac]

He laughed cause he could barely get a word in lmao

[@eklipsta]

They were hypocrites on that

[@sasquatchofadown6869]

Man, barely let Serj Speak eh? Man I'm not a fan how they handled this

[@Chopper140]

Stern is a fluke

[@NFS305]

Ok I see now. It’s a bit much.

[@kevinrutkowski3034]

The same religion that howard belongs to is the same that run the media. And banks. And Hollywood.

[@tapetwo7115]

It's also stern post divorce and early 9/11 rage. Howard shifted a lot around 2003-2004. He became more antiwar later. Tho now I bet he would support the Ukraine war and then stop supporting it when everyone else takes a hint....better late than never usually with Stern.

[@gurusheat3506]

"The exact statement was 3 pages long" says enough .. Serj put in alot of thought and work into that statement.

[@penceypeach7178]

serj is so patient i could never

[@viviennekilloren4678]

howard doesnt know how to take turns 💀

[@connorbrooks4817]

Good lord I wouldn’t have been nearly as patient as Serj was during this interview. The woman is just intolerable. Serj handled himself well considering who he’s talking to.

[@LinkMaster5555]

Yeah she was acting very disrespectful 😒

[@unropednope4644]

@linkmaster5555 robin is very extremist and right wing unfortunately. I don't know why howard keeps her around this day and age.

[@conradmusicofficial586]

@@unropednope4644 I just cackled out loud! wtf are you saying? If you think Robyn Quivers is a "right-wing extremist" you need to be committed for therapy!

[@kevinrutkowski3034]

​@@unropednope4644Robin is right wing?! Hahaahahah you fucking dope!

[@playdiscgolf1546]

@@unropednope4644right wing my ass

[@joemoody2626]

Serj was not wrong

[@dasaniishotdogwater8518]

And Azerbaijan is not wrong either yet he cries about them all the time

[@ecoRfan]

Tough pill to swallow, but true

[@PedroKing19]

Going to war is bad actually

[@kingshittheturd683]

4 minutes in a Serj has them looking stupid as hell but that's not a surprise

[@kingshittheturd683]

@Jamie DeLorenzo lol fuck America. You want to talk about warhawks but act like America isn't the biggest warhawks of all? Which is literally part of Serj's work and point

[@admez2680]

Serj allowed "whats wrong" play out in that interview. Whats wrong is that many in this world refuse to listen or reign themselves in. Stern is a prime example of a person who loves to hear himself talk, pretend to be interested and then proceed to project all over those he interviews. You can find those people everywhere, but we have a large number of them here.

[@cooley1521]

Israel owns him. Installed purposely to spread propaganda and misinformation on subjects so that Israel can get a free pass. It was the first thing that he mentioned in the interview also that’s not a coincidence, it’s never a coincidence

[@foleynj86]

That caller was an even bigger idiot. These were all government talking points that have not aged well at all. Serj hung in there and I give him credit.

[@idiotidiot5821]

I seriously hate watching sociopaths succeed when I actively try to sabotage my own sociopathic tendencies.

[@missilemedic]

⁠​⁠@@idiotidiot5821 not much has changed in the way of overly confident pundits shoving their unfiltered thoughts through the media landscape unfortunately

[@ethanmessinger4798]

This is how it feels to have a conversation with my grandfather

[@ethancadle937]

Ask him about the Germans

[@Michael-be9gu]

@@ethancadle937 oh he loves the germans

[@tedohenderson]

I love that such a massively larger than life singing voice and artistic persona exist in the same man with that calm, thoughtful, jovial speaking voice. So effin cool

[@FUCKINGDOUG]

"how do you talk to people you cant even talk to" is the only good point robin has ever made in her life and it was complete irony

[@tetsuoshima7385]

Serj calls in to listen to Howard Stern talk.😂

[@ComradeGiru]

"It's not our fault they have a dictator". Literally has been untrue in sooo many instances. These people are brain dead. How serj kept his composure is beyond me.

[@kyleolin3566]

“You’re not a communist Serj, are you?”, as they put him through a Maoist struggle session.

[@glengamble526]

You’ve been watching too much Jordan Peterson. Try having original thought…for once.

[@kyleolin3566]

@@glengamble526 How about refuting my statement instead of devolving into ad-hominem attack? Do you even know what a Maoist struggle session is?

[@DONKEYKONG260]

​@@glengamble526 L+Ratio loser

[@brettshrekington]

@@kyleolin3566he doesn’t, because JP is bad because his tv told him so.

[@cuteasxtreme]

@@glengamble526try watching some Jordan Peterson bro he’s really smart

[@egfunction5641]

Very interesting now as an adult, when I was in 6th grade during 911, to look back on way people acted after the event.

[@rickpaul8012]

complete paradigm shift

[@razkable]

Back then they were so naive they thought Indians were Arabians just cause of turbans....lots of Indians got their names dragged through the mud because of ignorance back then...

[@playdiscgolf1546]

“Bomb em” “nuke em” Are things I heard daily. And they were talking about an entire country, that had nothing to do with 9/11.

[@posthawk1393]

We definitely had the war fervor.

[@drownthepoor]

@@playdiscgolf1546 Yes, but they were being manipulated by both parties and the entire news media. People think of republicans as the evil war party because of both Bushs, but Obama expanded all of the war efforts, and started new military action in Syria and several African nations. Trump tried to pull troops back, but also continued to help Saudi Arabia destroy Yemen (still happening today). Both parties and all of the news media are pro-war.

[@richspizzaparty]

And now years later lots owe Serj an apology.

[@John6-40]

Nah. The comments were insensitive and the timing was terrible. Not to mention they're still wrong today. To suggest we deserved 9/11 was a ludicrous and evil statement.

[@shanefelle9385]

He said the opposite actually, go back and listen

[@stephenrobinson8244]

​@@John6-40he never said USA deserved 9/11 🙄

[@tobysgamingworld1550]

@@John6-40timing is everything. When the US (the citizens not government) is reeling from deaths on a massive scale maybe it’s not the time to say “they’re like evil maaaaaaaaaannnn!!” It’s politicians. As Americans we didn’t want Vietnam. We weren’t a fan of Iraq. He’s talking in circles.

[@ttdttd4211]

​@dericandkhristy, he never said that. Stop twisting serj words . Stern kept cutting him off as well. Howard is a piece of crap anyways

[@HTRism]

This woman can’t even point Iraq on the map and she’s talking like she has two phds in world affairs.

[@octavecrush]

serj is so down to earth

[@michaelantonio2702]

He’s a System of a Down to earth

[@effdonahue6595]

@@michaelantonio2702hoo haa!! 🚀

[@Fivedaysncounting]

lolllll@@michaelantonio2702

[@martimoliveira9155]

I hope the hosts realize that they barely gave a chance for Serj to speak. I know he had a lot more to give.

[@salamon90]

So basically a bunch of people yelled at Serj for 10 minutes straight without even letting him to defend himself and express his thoughts. Why doing an interview if you're not even interested in hearing what your guest has to say? They were so rude. I mean, they even made fun of his name by saying "Serj" with mockingly heavy accent. Poor journalism.

[@ggagoots]

It's Howard Stern bro. And the world wasn't so soft back then....the good ol days

[@connorbrooks4817]

Exactly haha you said it perfectly. Serj was way more patient than I would’ve been

[@rickpaul8012]

its not journalism it was shock jock radio. It was huge at the time

[@NEEDLESALAD]

@@connorbrooks4817 He was more patient than ANYONE could of been here. The amount of respect I have for him is HUGGEEE.

[@NateCraven318]

@@rickpaul8012 I don't know about you, but Howard Stern is NOT a shock jock. That’s just what the MSM called him in order to make him seem less important. He’s always been very smart and funny. Now yes, there was a period during the end of his marriage when most of his talk show was mostly striking strippers and interviewing porn stars about their experiences with sexual assault. But after his divorce, he took his show in a different direction. Once he was without the restrictions of the terrestrial radio format (multiple commercial breaks every hour) and he was able to talk to a guest for as long as he wanted without interruption, people started to realize that he was a great interviewer. Because he could take all the time he wanted and he has a good research team, he has been able to prove over and over that if you want a great, memorable interview, 6 minutes on Fallon is not going to do it, it may not even get anyone to see your movie or buy your book. But an hour on THSS on SiriusXM and you will have many new fans at the end of the segment. I'm not disagreeing that this was a terrible interview. It was. I'm just disagreeing that he's not a shock jock.

[@stentor9640]

Serge was 22 years ahead of everyone

[@mindlander]

Yeah, no one else said this back then. Foh

[@ethancadle937]

@@mindlanderas a prominent popular public figure ? Yeah he was one of the few nobody was even making bush did 9/11 jokes cus shit was so new ffs

[@mindlander]

@@ethancadle937 I like how you know other well known people were saying this. That's why you said one of..not the only one.

[@Im9002glorious]

I was searching for this audio years ago, thank you very much

[@justsomeguy1141]

Wow this aged incredible well for Serj

[@Shawn-Leider]

Yes. But really aged well sucks. It means we missed the ball for a long time. Even while people like him sat there and explained it to us

[@justsomeguy1141]

@@Shawn-Leider to be honest very few people agreed with the wars in the Uk. A million people even marched on parliament to protest. It’s still happened anyway and we just accepted it. Short of political revolution i am not sure how we could have stopped it.

[@marciamartins1992]

​@@justsomeguy1141Yes, it's really hard to convince people to not trust their government. I guess it has to be experienced individually.

[@Cancellator5000]

I think more like it aged terribly for Howard. I was like 12-13 at the time and even I was questioning the war. It made no f'ing sense and unfortunately the majority of people driven by fear and a desire for vengeance just bought the lies.

[@joshuafult84]

Finally I've found this interview, I swear I couldn't find it for years.

[@grahfkarate1799]

OMG Howard is wrong on this.. they hate us because we have TVs.. 😂

[@FOERTYFIVERS45]

Jealousy

[@Jestinace]

this was the narrative that the media was pushing at the time. "the terrorists hate our freedom"

[@DanFedMusic]

Howard had him on so he could explain himself while being interrupted by Howard.

[@Mr-ed5ep]

"Everyone's looking to be passed at someone"... yeah, Howard, you're proving thay also.

[@patriotj]

Who else is here from down with the system

[@soldierofscience2888]

Howard obviously didn't know anything about America attempting regime change in Iran, resource domination in the Middle East and a myriad of other factors.

[@Shawn-Leider]

He knew what the news told him. Strait from the White House publicists to every news desk in America, this is what happened. We are not immune to what happens in North Korea and Russia and china. Have u seen the montages of White House press releases being spoken at hundreds of news stations verbatim yet is told by an anchor as if it is a local report on what is happening in the world. It’s wrong and we still let it happen

[@blanefabin3492]

Surj is intelligent, everyone else speaking....not so much. They should have listened for a change.

[@samuellopez9633]

bruh this interview was so badly handled.

[@bidhrohi12]

Serj handled this brilliantly, especially given the moment this call is happening in. Truth is, the US did a LOT that made 9-11 a consequence. Bin Laden's "beef" is that the US has military barracks in Saudi Arabia, his homeland. We have tentacles in their government. Does that justify 9-11? Of course not. Bad diet doesn't justify a heart attack, but as adults we can recognize cause and effect. It's pretty shitty how Stern and his Mini-Me background vocal uses this opportunity to defend every US policy. This audio really brings me back to the confusion of that time.

[@johnp82]

Did he though? He said he wrote a 3 page piece on why 9/11 happened but when asked why it happened he said he really didn't know.

[@Teeveepicksures]

The dude didn't say anything though.

[@marciamartins1992]

Saudi Arabia's royal family kept all the oil money for themselves, the peasants didn't like it, and we didn't give a shit. In a nut shell.

[@WillyoDee]

"the fact is, we had planes fly over here and knock down our building". Wonder how many buildings the West have knocked over in the middle east at this point...

[@feargm]

I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS JUST 2 DAYS AGO!! THANK YOU

[@nikolson2335]

Here after reading the opening to the memoir! Fascinating (and a little sad) hearing this after hearing Serj’s firsthand experience.

[@kingos69]

In his recent book Down with The System Serj talks about this exact moment in the prologue. Its amazing hearing this and really picturing what he weny through

[@purplemicrodot58]

I never was a big SOAD fan but I listened to this because I'm bored. I gained some newfound respect.

[@Etrius10]

This is coming from a life long system of a down fan. Never seen a more braindead comment section on KZbin, since it was created. Serj himself admits he couldn't say the things he says in a middle eastern country. Serj is a joke now, especially in the current state of the US where certain types of people are driving food resources out of their own communities listening to people like Serj. You people are destroying what good is left in this corrupt world, not us. You people are the problem.

[@marcjacobscontinued9411]

A perfect example of a conversation between an intelligent and respectful person and, I think, a quite ignorant interviewer.

[@obsoleteelite8258]

Anybody who spoke out at that time was singled out and called UnAmerican or a Terrorist. I can’t even listen to this because it’s just going to piss me off.

[@Warriors2022...]

The lyrics to that System of the Down album, Toxicity, are VERY interesting and IRONIC, being number 1 on September 11....There are "eerie" similarities to what happened on Sept 11 that are literally said on that album....

[@nogrecords]

The idiots on Howard Stern's show were saying "well we didn't do anything to deserve to be bombed" in one sentence, and then said "you're got damned right we're bombing Iraq" , we're fxckin 'Murica!" "What about, what about, what about?". This was depressing to hear. They had Serj on, to hear his perspective and then kept cutting him off to tell him what he said.

[@francoforte-67]

It was certainly very daring of Serj in the immediate period of the attacks, that is beyond question. I mean how tense the situation was, wow man. But what he said is true, you can twist and turn. It is simply true.

[@drownthepoor]

How about The Dixie Chicks? They were a huge country group, and they were completely cancelled because they were against the wars.

[@KGB_5]

Serj’s take aged well. Howard and his group sound like crazy boomers

[@Funkadelic2]

Why don't ask Howard who supported Iraq and Saddam during the war with Iran.

[@Lamtitude]

He looks like Screech in that pic.

[@DLiotine]

this is the kind of thinking that led to 2 unjustified wars and the current state of affairs.

[@John6-40]

Unjustified? I think it's highly debatable on whether we should've involved ourselves, but to act like Iraq and Afghanistan were innocent is asinine. Afghanistan in particular was not only housing Bin Laden and massive organizations of terrorists, they were actively hiding them while also producing much of the world's heroin. You may want to rethink your stance and do more research.

[@marciamartins1992]

More like 22 wars.

[@demite5267]

Wow good find, i was struggling to find this interview and you did!

[@ChachiTelevision1979]

I’ve always really like Serj. We probably disagree on some things here and there, but I’ve always appreciated him.

[@LinkMaster5555]

Damn Serj is a class act human being i would have lost it lol 😆

[@johnp82]

Serj: "the media wasn't addressing why these events took place so I decided to write this 3 page piece" Robin: "so why are these things taking place?" Serj: "I really don't know" Serj is a smart guy and might have a good point but he was being too contradictory and vague here.

[@El3m3taL]

he had to..or there was not been released the memorized album

[@tsg_frank5829]

I get where he's coming from here, considering the context of this being literal days after the attacks with the shock and fear and anger running rampant, him releasing that statement with probably fresh thoughts on his mind, makes it hard to recall in the moment while speaking to people who were closed off and on the defensive.

[@rhysm.5915]

People forget how huge Chop Suey blew up during that time. That video played like 30 times a day on MTV.

[@playdiscgolf1546]

Yeah that caller was a moron. I vividly remember toxicity exploding, immediately

[@worldofdoom995]

From 2001 to 2006 SOAD was the number one band in the world full stop

[@EvolutionIX219]

They were huge around this time.

[@adelacelle]

I love the US, but when the anchor started saying "our way of life is so fantastic" i couldn't help but laugh.

[@arthurbrown4984]

The world flees to America you dope

[@rocknroll_jezus9233]

Compared to other countries he's right. Can't own guns in Canada and you face criminal charges in alotta countries for saying a racial slur. A word. Nobodies as free as us

[@joshythehand2960]

Why.. it is

[@atalantiesoterica4061]

@@joshythehand2960slavery

[@TheMarksman0415]

The US is great. The government is very corrupted and has secrets that have been exposed but some people don't open their eyes.

[@Very-Tired]

It sounds like serj is in the principals office trying to get himself out of trouble lmao

[@lordmeruem9164]

Serj was ahead of his time

[@joesephkroll2056]

Howard is famous for not shutting up

[@peaceandwealthseeker4504]

Howard sounding like a shill

[@FOERTYFIVERS45]

He is...a liberal shill now

[@puremadness2010]

Still waiting for Howard to shut up and let Serj get more than one word out at a time lol

[@joekopsick1540]

This is hilarious because America armed Saddam Hussein from 1985 to 1989; and because the World Trade Center had a police fusion center inside of it, so it was not strictly civilian

[@SnozberriesTasteLikeSnozberrys]

US armed Osama Bin laden's army, the Mujahedeen to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan.

[@user-xy1pc5wv4d]

Serj is just so down to earth and kind I’ve been reading his book and he says he was so nervous about this interview because his band and everyone else were so upset about what he wrote, he played it safe the whole interview Why do people like Howard have such big egos, Im HOwArd sTErn I GoT a POdcAST I GeT EGO

[@Beanjolie]

Wow, never thought I’d get to hear this

[@olmr.bananahands5431]

Ah, post 911 blind patriotism.

[@ecoRfan]

911core Nationalism

[@cxr111]

This aged like fine milk.

[@anubs1786]

Lol, how Americans portrays themselves as The Saviour/ The Heroes just to get oil xD

[@ibtunesoriginals2629]

Ikr 😂 bunch of fools

[@cccCCCccc123ccc]

“We aren’t a bully”🤣🤣🤣🤣

So weird to listen to how blood hungry they were after 9-11 and how they talked about Iraq and Afghanistan right before USA ripped the middle east a new one.

[@l3loodyfingers]

They. Howard's religion

[@marciamartins1992]

​@@l3loodyfingersMaybe that's why he bungled the interview.

[@ea11111]

Howard and crew sounded very narrow-minded, even for 2001 standards.

[@ibtunesoriginals2629]

Yeah, they're bigots

[@3bomb]

What an amazing piece of history from a very patient and perceptive man.

[@luke9947]

I want to have the patience and lucidity of Serj

[@SharkVac]

Imagine a bunch of privileged American radio hosts questioning a survivor of a genocide…

[@edpoe1108]

I didn't realize Serj was that old.

[@haroutunsarkisyan8050]

howard has a point here though. and im from the same background as serj

[@oz1330]

American: What’ve we done wrong? Rest of the world:😒

[@thegrandpencil4374]

Just bad timing, which he admitted to when asked. There's a time to complain, but during a wake is not that time.

[@justinklink1588]

Serj was right, Stern and his minions were wrong.

[@Dragoon960]

You could practically hear that caller crapping his pants he was so angry. “Rage Against the Machine is the only band who is ever allowed to be angry about injustices on stage!!!!”

[@JohnpaulDejoria666]

Rage for the machine…….bunch of commies

[@giuliomartini5523]

Serj is so sweet, he, always so self-confident, in this situation is clearly in trouble. Stern and the co-hosts are grilling him and he doesn't have the courage to go all the way (perhaps on the advice of his friend and producer Rubin) and reacts like any politician, talking about periphrases written by others and saying things like: "I didn't say this, I didn't write that..." and so on. Anyway, we'll see if the co-anchor got it right when she said Tankian should enter the government… 2024 is approaching…

[@alt-tiztik]

It sickening the way Howard cries out in pain as he strikes poor Serj.

[@turnmeondeadman4221]

Sounds like Muslims to me make up boy

[@CrowdedIsolation11]

wtf did i just hear?

[@WastedVUler]

Political arguments and a hater saying that their unoriginal. even after system released their magnum opus before the magnum opus(s) and a cover that might be Funny if it was uploaded on April Fool's Day. or something else....... lol

[@mikerotch2889]

I would have lost it on air lol. Watching this video made me angry. I definitely wish I was as calm and collected as Serj. Maybe I’ll get there someday.