O'Reilly: "Do I care if the Sunnis and Shiites kill each other in Iraq?"

Media Matters
Dec. 06, 2006

Audio Clip: MP3On the December 5 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, discussing the then-impending release of the Iraq Study Group's conclusions and reports that it would recommend substantial troop withdrawals by early 2008 (read report here), Bill O'Reilly claimed that the redeployment of U.S. troops is "necessary," adding, "I don't care" if "the Sunnis and Shiites kill each other in Iraq." O'Reilly then stated: "Let's get our people out of there. Let them kill each other. Maybe they'll all kill each other, and then we can have a decent country in Iraq."

From the December 5 edition of Westwood One's The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:

O'REILLY: So, tomorrow when the Baker Commission is released, report is released -- we'll talk about it tomorrow -- this is what's going to happen: The commission is going to say that the USA has to engage Syria and Iran in talks. OK, fine. I'm going to send [co-host] E.D. Hill right over to talk to them. She's very nice and attractive, and they'll like her, OK? So, that's what they're going to say, we've got to talk to those people, and then we have to redeploy -- yes, that's necessary in Iraq -- we'll redeploy our troops, got to get them out of Anbar, in those places -- let them kill each other.

Do I care if the Sunnis and Shiites kill each other in Iraq? No. I don't care. Let's get our people out of there. Let them kill each other. Maybe they'll all kill each other, and then we can have a decent country in Iraq.

—B.A.