In my opinion, Tucker Carlson has proved that anyone who is loud, well-connected, and wearing a bowtie can appear on American television as a pundit, regardless of his/her idiocy.
Normally, this would not be worth a mention, but Carlson has exceeded himself in an interview with Fox News: "Iran deserves to be annihilated. I think they’re lunatics. I think they’re evil."
With this "analysis", Carlson may have unwittingly set back the drive for war. Even Jeffrey Goldberg, who has spent years predicting an imminent Israeli attack on Iran, was unsettled: "Language like this -- careless or premeditated -- is inhuman and sets back America's interests."
Carlson later compounded his folly in an e-mail exchange with Glenn Greenwald, initially rejecting criticism, "This is so dumb on so many levels I can't respond on my iPhone," and then explaining, "I think the potential affect [sic] on our economy is an impediment to attacking Iran. That's exactly the point I was (inarticulately) trying to make." He also told Goldberg, "Slow down --- just the opposite of what you claim I said. Watch the fucking tape."
That sequel is posted below. Meanwhile, let's tip our hat again to Jon Stewart of The Daily Show who single-handedly decimated Carlson's short-lived career on CNN's Crossfire in 2004:
TUCKER CARLSON'S E-MAIL EXCHANGE WITH GLENN GREENWALD
Glenn Greenwald
Hi Tucker --- I'm interested in the remarks you made today about Iran; specifically, that it "deserves to be annihilated" ( http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/02/22/430302/tucker-carlson-iran-annihilated/ ). I have a few questions about that:
(1) Do you have any specific ideas for how Iran should be annihilated? Do you favor a ground invasion, or a nuclear attack, or carpet bombing or something else? I realize you included the caveat that we should assess what effect it would have on energy prices, but assuming that's not an impediment, how should the annihiliation be achieved?
(2) Given your history of being a vocal proponent of American wars, have you ever considered enlistening and fighting in any of the wars you favor? I'm not suggesting that's an obligation for war advocacy: i'm just genuinely curious if you have considered it, and if so, why haven't you done it?
(3) When formulating your thoughts about annihilation, did you give any thought to how many Iranians would be killed from that? Do you have any idea of how many would die? Is there some number that's unacceptable to you?
Thanks
Glenn Greenwald, SALON
Tucker Carlson
This is so dumb on so many levels I can't respond on my iPhone. What's your number? I'll call.
Glenn Greenwald
I'm in Brazil at the moment - if you give me your number, I can call you.
Tucker Carlson
Don't bother. Here is my response:
1) I think the potential affect on our economy is an impediment to attacking Iran. That's exactly the point I was (inarticulately) trying to make.
2) I was opposed to the Iraq war and said so, beginning in 2003.
Glenn Greenwald
But in the absence of the economic impediment, what type of annihiliation would you favor and what method?
Tucker Carlson
Just write your dumb piece. Nothing I can say is going to convince you.
Glenn Greenwald
I'm really not looking to be persuaded of anything - I honestly want to know what you meant by "annihiliation."
Seems pretty uncharacteristic for you not to defend or elaborate on your own comments.
Tucker Carlson
It's my fault that I got tongue tied and didn't explain myself well last night. I'm actually on the opposite side on the Iran question from many people I otherwise agree with. I think attacking could be a disaster for the US and am worried that Obama will do it, for fear of seeming weak before an election. Of course the Iranian government is awful and deserves to be crushed. But I'm not persuaded we or Israel could do it in a way that doesn't cause even greater problems. That's the main lesson of Iraq it seems to me.
That's my sincere view, but I'd rather take some lumps and be misunderstood than seem like I'm reversing myself due to pressure from Twitter.
JEFFREY GOLDBERG OFFERS A SEQUEL
Here is an e-mail I received from Tucker shortly after I posted on the subject: "I was arguing that an attack on Iran might cause a massive spike in energy prices that could tank our economy. In other words, slow down -- just the opposite of what you claim I said. Watch the fucking tape."
For the record, I watched the fucking tape before I posted. On tape, Tucker did say he favors the "annihilation" of Iran. It is true that Tucker opposed the Iraq war, btw.