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August 04, 2006
Why won't they listen?
Hugh Hewitt interviewed Martin Peretz on his radioshow, and Hewitt highlighted the willful blindness amongst the media and those opposed to the war to the clearly-stated threats from our enemies.
HH: Tell me, on Monday, Ahmadinejead compared the Jews to cattle, and threatened that America and England would be held accountable, and talked of his nuclear technology. Yesterday, the Ayatollah Khamenei talked about justice for America and Israel and England, and the clear value of jihad. And today, or yesterday, Ahmadinejead in Malaysia said the solution is the elimination of the Zionist regime. Is anyone paying attention, Martin Peretz, outside of a couple of writers at the New Republic, the Weekly Standard, and a few conservative op-eds around the country?
MP: Well, I think people have gone into a defensive mode by thinking to themselves, and persuading themselves that he's not really serious. And forgive me the analogy, but that's what people said about Hitler. And Hitler was dead serious, and the president of Iran is also dead serious. And he can make many countries' lives miserable. The Russians, for example, have in their territories, Muslim populations. There's nothing that can prevent, unless we act now and act decisively, the Russians included, there is nothing that will prevent Muslim fanatics and Muslim separatists from lobbing rockets and missiles into other people's neighborhoods, cities, region, just as Hezbollah is doing now.
What's really interesting is the exchange they have about Peretz' long-time role as an active backer of the Democratic Party, and his concern over the rise of anti-Israel sentiment amongst the left -- as well as what Hewitt calls the cut-and-run wing of the party.
HH: Well, that's okay. But in our limited time, but you're very pro-Democratic Party. And if the Democrats triumphed, we just concluded what will happen. Doesn't that make you an accomplice, ultimately, to a disastrous policy for Israel if they get what they want?
MP: Well, I...my whole...I'm not sure who I'm for in two and a half years. We don't know who the candidates will be.
HH: Do you want the Democrats to win majorities in the House or the Senate, Martin Peretz?
MP: I'm...I'm appalled by some of the people who would become head of Congressional committees.
HH: Is that a no?
MP: Uh, but I'm also appalled by some of the shenanigans...
HH: But is that...I've got five seconds. Is that a no, Martin Peretz?
MP: It's a cowardly refusal to answer.
HH: (laughing) Okay. We'll carry it on, later. Martin Peretz, thanks.
Amazing how much is said by refusing to say anything at all.
Posted by Mike Lief at August 4, 2006 03:09 PM
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