Kristol: Bush Might Bomb Iran If He 'Thinks Obama's Going To Win'

Think Progress:

On Fox News Sunday this morning, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol said that President Bush is more likely to attack Iran if he believes Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is going to be elected.

However, "if the president thought John McCain was going to be the next president, he would think it more appropriate to let the next president make that decision than do it on his way out," Kristol said, reinforcing the fact that McCain is offering a third Bush term on Iran.

"I do wonder with Senator Obama, if President Bush thinks Senator Obama's going to win, does he somehow think -- does he worry that Obama won't follow through on that policy," Kristol added. Host Chris Wallace then asked if Kristol was suggesting that Bush might "launch a military strike" before or after the election.

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[RRonin]

McSame chants "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb, Iran", Charlie Black opines that a terrorist attack would make McSame a shoe-in, and Kristol suggests Bush attack Iran to help out McSame. You can't say they haven't warned us.......

[SteveStephens]

FOX NEWS are just a bunch of Republican Stooges. They keep forgetting that the Republicans committed the biggest laspe in security in the history of our country on 911. We were warned, and the republican leadership failed us.We got hit harder than we ever have. So get off of Obama's back.

[Selbourne]

SELF PROTECTION
The real reason Bush and other neo-cons would probably want to bomb Iran before Obama comes to power is totally selfish. Just imagine that a President Obama sends an emissary to Iran and says "If you will stop your nuclear program etc, we can be friends. We understand you have concerns about our good intentions based on some of the things we have done in the past. But we are prepared to do what we can to meet your security concerns if you decide to deal with us in good faith. Do you want to negotiate with us on this basis?" Just suppose the Iranians accept and six months after Obama takes office he has negotiated all issues to a satisfactory status and we exchange ambassadors.
The utter stupidity of the belligerence of the Bush et al cabal would be exposed to the world. The Bush legacy would be an even larger minus than it otherwise would be. Even Fox News would no longer be willing to feature or pay Bill Kristol.

[Intelligentia]

You are right on the money! Great observation? They are terrified that Obama will accomplish what they have not been able to accomplish, i.e., bringing peace to the Middle East. Also, there are a lot of people who are getting rich from the Middle East problems. Find peace and their money will run dry. They don't want that.

[GeoNorth]

Our President is willing to go to war with Iran for political purposes. But going to war with Iraq was not a political move, right? How do we tell the difference? What is the matter with these so-called neo-cons?

They all remind me of the Looney Tune cartoon where Bugs is recruited to be the Easter Bunny. There is a kid who beats the snot out of Bugs because, "Iwantanea­stereggiwa­nnaeastere­ggiwannaea­stereggiwa­nnaeastere­gg." Our current crop of morons have that mentality. They want, they take. It's that simple. Who's going to stop them? Congress? No, they've said that they're too busy. (Pellosi will go down as one of the worst Speakers ever.)

[Durango]

The question is: Is Kristol sending up a trial balloon for the White House?

If he is then he would be implicated in the War Crimes Trials that should be held some time during the first Obama Administration if Bush attacks Iran.

Only Congress can declare war. Absent such declaration any attack would be a criminal act. As would an attack absent U.N. authority.

I think the fool will do it. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are just stupid enough to think they can get away with an unprovoked attack on a country that is no threat to the USA.

Remember Pearl Harbor? This would be no different.

Except the USA would be the outlaw nation.

[PatriotAct]

Kristol is their propagandist, he is not only sending up a trial ballon, but I believe he is making a terrorist threat, a threat to Iran surely, however the most indidious threat is to change Americans vote to McCain by threatening to murder your American sons and daughters by spilling their blood into the Iranian sands, and that will yeild oil for bush's friends.
So the threat is to influence your vote with the greatest threat of violence man knows, war.
Iranians are slaughtered and so are your sons and daughters if you elect Obama.
This is terrorism, bush is a terrorist and Kristol is his talking head on the video.
bush is in Felony Violation of the USA Patriot Act as he threatens war. The message is clear, either vote for McCain or I will murder lots of human beings with bombs and guns, a terrorist threat has NEVER BEEN MORE CLEAR.
bush is an imminent threat to peach, bush is a terrorist and a serial violator of the USA Patriot Act.
Impeach bush with felony violation of the USA Patriot Act.

Remember, the definition of terrorism under the USA Patriot Act is the threat of violence, or violent acts in order to change political and social behaviour or decisions.
The King may slaughter, and everyone else may only die. This is your great freedom America.

[Horus]

This is disgusting. Kristol supported and probably still supports the president. Knowing that the prez is the kind of person that will tear the flesh from the bones of thousands of people simply out of spite for the events unfolding in the political arena. If Kristol really believes that then he is more revolting than I had previously thought for supporting the president and if he is right then the president is a monster, which actually wouldn't shock me too much.

[Einstein44]

When will this madness ever end ????

[Vinca]

To Einstein44: This madness won't end until we get rid of GW BUSH, Some say he's a mad-man, I say he has his OWN REALITY, NOT THE SAME AS OURS,,I THINK THAT MAN ON FOX< KRISTOL I THINK> SURE IS RIGHT< I AM SURPRIZED< THAT HE SAID THAT

[beachbob]

The madness will only end when Barack Obama is inaugurated!

[rabprevent]

THESE FOX IMBECILES ARE DOING THE JOB FOR THE REPUBLICANS BY SPREADING FEAR!!
IF HE DECIDES TO BOMB IRAN, THE DEMOCRATS ALONG WITH SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS THAT MAY HAVE SOME BACKBONE WILL NEED TO QUICKLY IMPEACH HIM AND SEND BOTH DICK AND GW TO JAIL FOR TREASON!!!!!!!!!!

[Durango]

The Fox imbeciles ARE Republicans.

Fox News is a wholey owned subsidiary of the Republican Party.

[TLV]

Kristol is saying another illegal war may be started for entirely political reasons. Is there a legal way to punish this cretin?

[amcg50]

How can any sane person listen to Crystal and this lot of Fear Mongers?

The difference between Progressives and the Neo Cons is so clear!

[Phil123]

Actually, this is a great idea.

If Obama is going to sit down and negotiate with Ahmedinejad, bombing them first would make a wonderful conversation starter. It would also be a great way to set the tone for the negotiation. I'm all in favor.

[Durango]

And i suppose you think everything in Iraq and Afghanistan is going swimmingly?

[Phil123]

No. It's a mess, but it's improving. We should have done the surge a long time ago.

[Posterella]

Someone please explain to me why Bush is still in the Whitehouse!!! Why has he gotten a free pass after taking a wrecking ball to our country and to the foundation of our democracy? I agree with the poster who is concerned about an October surprise. I have felt for a long time that Bush will "capture" Bin Laden right before the election. Interesting that Bhutto said Bin Laden was dead. Now she is. Hmmmm..... Bhutto was too smart, too competent and too much of a threat to the Neocon World Order. Can't let someone into power that will prevent the exploitation of Pakistan, now can we?

[elr50]

Bill Kristol is a f'in piece of sh-t, and the NYT has lost whatever credibility they had when they hired this right wing creep.

[salidon]

George? Aren't you packed yet???

[damnadamson]

The man is just doing his job. Kristol and his neocon buddies are put in place to make insane comments so we publish and then argue over the ideas they espouse. They know it's not going to happen ... yet. They have however planted the seed of fear so we elect McDecider to protect us from those crazy terrorists. If McCain isn't elected I for one will be shocked ... repulsed, but shocked.