What the devil happened to Tucker Carlson?
The above question, in various forms, continues to be bandied about on social media as the former Fox News host continues to confound conservatives — including untold numbers of his former followers (yours truly, included) — continuing to take controversial positions on everything from Israel to Russia to even Iran.
While I won't waste your time or mine by getting into the weeds on the state of Carlson's various positions and their potential impact in various circles, I will focus on his thoughts in his Tuesday newsletter, the essence of which is the notion that a nuclear-armed Iran "could end up being a good thing."
Yes, really.
In recent months, Carlson has drifted further from the GOP mainstream, pushing arguments that underscore his growing hostility toward President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and his (Carlson's) willingness to challenge the influence of Israel in Middle Eastern affairs.
Carlson began the newsletter with what he apparently considers to be histrionic quotes, including one from Sen. Lindsey Graham R-SC) and one from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“I can guarantee you that if the Ayatollah gets a nuclear weapon, he will use it,” Lindsey Graham said on Fox News last year. “I believe that with all my heart and soul.”
Oh, and of course, there’s warmonger-in-chief Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists that “there is only one difference between Nazi Germany and the Islamic Republic of Iran… [Iran] is first seeking atomic weapons and, once it has them, will then start a world war.”
The erstwhile Fox News star then wrote:
What are the chances Iran would actually launch a nuclear attack? History suggests they’re zero, no matter what Senator Graham says.
No country in the so-called ‘Axis of Evil’ has ever deployed a nuke, because doing so would be an act of suicide.
In fact, the United States is the only nation to unleash its nuclear might as an act of war. It’s strange how Washington considers that a point of pride.
Couple of points here, Tucker.
First, "Axis of Evil" talk aside, Islamist extremists tend to view death in defense of Islam, often termed jihad, as an honorable path to martyrdom (shahada). So is it reasonable to assume — or at the very least, not discount — the possibility that if the mad mullahs in Tehran did have nukes and believed their demise was imminent, they might very well decide to go out with a "bang"?
Second, I'm unaware of Washington — and honest historians — considering the use of two nuclear weapons against Japan in WW II a "point of pride."
But I am aware that estimates for a full-scale U.S. invasion of Japan (which was in planning stages before the bombs were dropped) projected catastrophic losses, with some War Department and Joint Chiefs forecasts ranging from hundreds of thousands to well over a million American casualties and between five and 10 million Japanese deaths.
Nevertheless, Carlson continued (emphasis, mine):
Could the Iranians obtaining The Bomb wind up being a good thing? Whether anyone in the foreign policy establishment admits it, North Korea’s nuclearization has undeniably stabilized the Korean Peninsula. The region has seen no wars, coups, or interventionist-forced regime changes since 2006.
Would Iran becoming a nuclear power have the same effect on its region?
Could it finally prompt America to leave the area alone, and incentivize Israel to drop its stated goal of controlling the Gaza Strip and the West Bank? Would it make the Iranian government less oppressive because it wouldn’t have to worry about the West’s constant decapitation ambitions?
So riddle me this, Tucker:
Are the mullahs more concerned with the West's "decapitation ambitions" or the recent uprising of untold numbers of Iranian citizens who are sick and tired of the repressive regime, its summary executions, outright murder of civilians — with some estimates exceeding 20,000 killed — and a very real fear of their own extremist government?
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Incidentally, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) was among those who didn't take kindly to Carlson's latest musings:
Unbelievable. Now @TuckerCarlson is arguing it would be “a GOOD thing” if the Ayatollah had a nuclear weapon. READ it yourself. Apparently “Death to America” is an ambiguous sentiment to Mr. Qatarlson.
"Qatarlson." Nice.
Yeah, I'm gonna go with Ted — and conventional wisdom — on this one.
What say you?
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