Quote from Scott Ritter vs Christopher Hitchens Debate

Scott Ritter vs. Christopher Hitchens debate ^ | 12/20/2005 | Scott Ritter

[Popman]

“I would for one.. prefer to be an Iraqi under Saddam than an Iraqi under a brutal American occupation “

Link to other thread

I listened several times to the audio and it is word for word quote.

[Popman]

As far as I can tell there is no transcript from the debate documented. I wanted to have this go on the record.

It doesn't surprise me he said it, but I thought it was very telling.

He held his own against Hitchens, but this quote in my opinion disqualifies him from any cogent discussion on the topic.

I am surprized Hitchens didn't walk out after he said it.

[proudofthesouth]

WTF? I've long suspected he was working for the terrorists and this just confirms it.

[Lurker]

Ritter would probably find it easier to meet 14 year old girls under the old regime and that's why he thinks it would be better.

The only problem would be a lack of Burger King restaraunts.

L

[ExcursionGuy84]

"...an Iraqi under a brutal American occupation."

Like baby Noor and 17 year-old Ibitisam???

[vbmoneyspender]

Of course Ritter would prefer living in Iraq under Hussein given that he was on Hussein's payroll. To find out where Ritter really stands, the question that needs to be asked of him is which Iraq would he prefer living in if he were offered the same amount by both sides.

[vietvet67]

Agree. Think Hitchens picked up on it and said he could not believe it was said.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Oh, that some hacker could intercept Ritter's Direct-Deposit bank accounts....

[wakes up in a cold sweat]

[finnman69]

Too bad this was held before the recent Weekly Standard article about Salman Pak and Saddam training terrorists just came out.

[marmar]

Heads up, Pappy.....

[jennyjenny]

“I would for one.. prefer to be an Iraqi under Saddam than an Iraqi under a brutal American occupation “

If he thinks it would be preferable to be under Saddam, maybe a visit to his cell is in order. I'm sure Saddam would enjoy the company.

[new yorker 77]

Scott Ritter is a useful idiot of terrorists.

The only people who like him are leftists and terrorists.

[angkor]

Yeah, that's pretty much what he said, and Hitchens called him on that specific comment.

[cricket]

Did Sandy Burglar stuff Scott's records in his pants as well. . .or some other Demrat pal? I mean. . .WHY is this man allowed to have ANY credibility whatsoever. . .

This guy should be a registered sex offender. . .and beyond his warped politics; it is clear to see why U.N. work for this man is so satisfying.

[Popman]

Amazingly, when I was trying to find a transcript of the debate, I keep running into liberal left wing loon websites with several good Ritter quotes from the debate and lame Hitchens quotes.

No mention of Ritter proclivities for underage girls in all their praise.

Amazing. Not really.

[Popman]

Of course Ritter would prefer living in Iraq under Hussein given that he was on Hussein's payroll.

I have heard that . Do you have a link to source it?

[Popman]

Who do you think won the debate?

The audio really sucked and it was hard to hear Hitchens at times

[Mike Darancette]

“I would for one.. prefer to be an Iraqi under Saddam than an Iraqi under a brutal American occupation “

That is a quote for the ages and would probably be seconded by a majority of the RAT Caucus.

[vbmoneyspender]

Not offhand, but the money that Ritter got to finance his movie on Iraq came from a supporter of Hussein. Ritter would argue that technically that meant he was on the supporter's payroll and not Hussein's. I think reasonable people would disagree though with that argument.

[Popman]

Scott Ritter is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer.

I know there are no ex Marines, but this ass hat certainly quaflifes to be one.IMHO

[vbmoneyspender]

Al-Khafaji first came to public notice after revelations that he gave former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter $400,000 to produce a film that criticized the United States for its role in the inspection process. Al-Khafaji, who is listed as a "senior executive producer" of the film, arranged meetings for Ritter with high-level officials in Saddam's government, a feat New York Times magazine writer Barry Bearak found "impressive." Ritter had previously been an outspoken critic of Saddam Hussein, and issued dire warnings about the status of the Iraqi dictator's weapons of mass destruction. His sudden flip--he is now a leading apologist for Saddam's regime--and revelations about Ritter's 2001 arrest for soliciting sex with minors have fueled speculation about the nature of his relationship with al-Khafaji.

Al-Khafaji has long claimed that he cares only about the Iraqi people, an assertion too preposterous even for Ritter, who told THE WEEKLY STANDARD in 2001 that his patron was "openly sympathetic with the regime in Baghdad." That stands to reason. The Falcon Trading Group, a company that al-Khafaji founded in 1993 in Johannesburg, South Africa, has done nearly $70 million of business with Saddam's regime.

Al-Khafaji told Baghdad Radio on June 14, 2000, that he hoped to arrange a delegation so that members of the U.S. Congress could "get acquainted with the Iraqi people's suffering as a result of the unjust embargo clamped on it." He got his wish two years later, when he accompanied Reps. Jim McDermott, Jim Thompson, and David Bonior to Baghdad last fall.

See Link

[snarks_when_bored]

It's all-too-easy for somebody who lives the good life in America to say something like that...all it requires is a certain lack of imaginative sympathy for the plight of others and a big mouth. Ritter would appear to qualify on both counts...

[Popman]

His sudden flip--he is now a leading apologist for Saddam's regime--and revelations about Ritter's 2001 arrest for soliciting sex with minors have fueled speculation about the nature of his relationship with al-Khafaji.

That's a loaded quote.

[SJSAMPLE]

That former-Marine still doesn't know when to STFU.

[proudofthesouth]

That would be lovely....

[angkor]

I haven't yet listened to the last 20 minutes.

But I have to say that Ritter is the most credible opponent that Hitchens has faced (I've seen him debate maybe 4 other people on Iraq).

It was a draw (and as Hitch noted, too congenial) until Ritter stated that Iraqis were better off under Saddam than under US occupation.

[shield]

bttt

[W04Man]

OF COURSE, THEN HE COULD RAPE HIS YOUNG GIRLS WITH IMPUNITY!!!!!

[Popman]

On the face value of the audio, I would say it was a draw also. Hitchens could have and should have won easily. He was way too congenial.

At the point in the debate when I thought Hitchens was about to take the gloves off, he seemed to lose his steam and shirk away from taking his best shots.

I was not there (wish I was) and it is hard to tell how the commentary and audience impacted the responses.

[FormerACLUmember]

Police mugshot of the serial pedophile and traitor-for-money Ritter. A typical democrat party activist. Busted at McDonalds soliciting pre-adolescent girls for sex.

[angkor]

Hitchens could have and should have won easily. He was way too congenial.

Well, again, I thought Ritter was up to a point the most credible and rational opponent that Hitch has faced (from the several debates I've watched and heard). And frankly I didn't hear anything where Hitch should have spoken, but didn't.

Even Hitch pointed out that they were agreeing on too many points.

Lemme' listen to the closing 20 minutes, maybe Ritter will jump off the cliff.

[ChadGore]

TY For posting this. I'm DLing the MP4 for later viewing.

[Reaganesque]

“I would for one.. prefer to be an Iraqi under Saddam than an Iraqi under a brutal American occupation “

No doubt. Under Saddam's regime, collaborators did quite well for themselves with their palaces and oil and blood soaked, ill-gotten moneys. It's the people who objected to being subject to mass killings, mass graves, chemical attacks, rapes and gore splattered dungeons for dissenters who paid the price.

[mountainlyons]

Fewer Iraq citizens are killed than when Hussein was in power. Fewer US military are killed than there are murders in Washington DC!

[woofie]

He should move out of brutal America then

[angkor]

This was amusing:

75:02 minutes

R - It [Iraq] wasn't perfect [in 2003], if you spoke against Saddam you were were arrested, but I saw things improve.
Audience - Mocking laughter.
R - I'm not here to defend the nature of the regime, I'm making a statement that in January of 2003, you could walk the streets of Baghdad without fear of being stopped by an American patrol.
H - Yeah, that's true.
Audience - Louder laughter.
R - In January 2003, you could go to sleep at night without having to worry about your door being kicked down and dragged off by Americans to a prison run by Americans where you would be tortured by Americans...

Yeah, this was a low-key debate. Too much agreement, not enough of Hitch egging the audience. Maybe it got livlier during the Q&A.

[penowa]

Who else would employ Scott, let him rape little gitls, and not fire him? Oh, I forgot. Saddam would too.

[penowa]

Wasn't the supporter of Hussein that bankrolled Scott's "movie" found to be one of the guys collecting $ in the UN food for oil scam?

[vbmoneyspender]

I think you're right. I can't remember the connection though.

[GVnana]

I am surprized Hitchens didn't walk out after he said it.

Very noticible reaction from the audience. Ritter is certifiable.

[Steve Newton]

Thanks for the heads up kid.

Ritter has been non sat for a long time. His words come from his head and not his heart.

His time has come and gone.

Pappy

[marmar]

He is just such a sad state of affairs......you would think he would do everyone a favor and shut up....

[Steve Newton]

Ah

But that is what he likes kid. The spot light

Pappy

[eleni121]

Listen to the lunatic Ritter at the Commonwealth Club in Frisco.


http://www.commonwealthclub.org/archive/index.php?recordBegin=0&sortby=letter%2CR

[Walkingfeather]

Has anyone interviewed Ritters family? I would love to know what the hell happened to him.

[proudofthesouth]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Doctor Don]

Maybe he can get Alec Baldwin to share an apartment in Europe!

[piasa]

To find out where Ritter really stands, the question that needs to be asked of him is which Iraq would he prefer living in if he were offered the same amount by both sides.

Oh, that's easy - he prefers the Iraq that had children's prisons. The 'brutal American occupation' has made life very difficult for arms-inspecting pedophiles.