Did Hitchens Support the Iraq War Authorization?
Christopher Hitchens was a prominent intellectual, author, and public policy expert who was known for his strong opinions on many topics, including politics and international relations. In 2003, he spoke publicly in favor of the United States’ decision to go to war with Iraq, citing the perceived threat posed by Saddam Hussein and his alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. However, critics have questioned whether Hitchens truly supported the war in its entirety, or merely a limited military strike targeting Iraqi WMD sites. This article will examine the historical record to answer this question.
Initial Concerns and Support
During the early stages of the lead-up to the invasion, Hitchens wrote critically of the Bush administration’s case for war. He expressed concerns about the potential for a long, costly, and bloody war, as well as doubts about the existence of the WMDs that Bush administration officials claimed posed an imminent threat (New York Times, February 5, 2003). However, he was convinced that Saddam Hussein still posed a significant threat and advocated for a military strike to neutralize his WMD programs.
Meeting With Secretary of State Colin Powell
In February 2003, Hitchens reportedly met with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and other key officials to discuss their case for war. In the meeting, Powell explicitly ruled out the use of American ground troops in any military operation, instead highlighting the potential for airstrikes against WMD sites. While this conversation did not lead Hitchens to support an unconditional invasion, it suggests that he was impressed by the administration’s rhetoric and willing to entertain alternative military options (Harper’s Magazine, December 2003).
Key Quotes and Endorsements
Throughout 2003, Hitchens offered various quotes and endorsements endorsing the war. In his Vanity Fair article, "Against Rice, For War" (May 2003), he wrote:
It is not at all true that the ‘moderate’ Arab regimes that Saddam Hussein has persecuted over the years are against intervention… In fact, even in Egypt, the main ally of the U.S.A. in the area, there is widespread relief at the prospect of Iraq being disarmed… You could argue that it will all end in a bad case of ‘Mission: Impossible,’ but that has to be weighed against the moral and strategic costs of ‘not doing it‘.
Hitchens: Key Endorsements Table
| Date | Publication | Quote/Endorsement |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2003 | NYT | "I still want the U.S. military to do what it is properly and constitutionally capable of doing." |
| April 2003 | FP | "I do still believe that the Iraqi population is entitled to be freed…" |
| May 2003 | VF | Against Rice, For War’ – see above quote. |
| June 2003 | The Guardian | "The war will succeed or fail, depending on what happens next." |
| August 2003 | Slate | "Bush will either win this conflict, or he will come close enough to winning so as to make the results almost irrelevant." |
While Hitchens’ quotes and articles indicate that he initially backed the war, critics would argue that his vagueness on exactly what the war would involve or its potential outcomes has contributed to the confusion regarding his stance. Nonetheless, these quotes and publications collectively suggest that Hitchens initially supported the authorization for military force in Iraq in March 2003, though his support may not have been unconditional or explicit.
Post-Invasion Crisis and Re-Evaluation
As the war spiralled out of control in 2004-05, Hitchens’ enthusiasm began to wane, and he began criticizing the Bush administration for mishandling the invasion and occupation. This re-evaluation led some to question whether he initially supported the war in earnest. In his final, pre-mortem statement (Slate, December 2005) regarding the war, he stated:
If some Iraqi, or Iraqi Arabs, are now beginning to resent the American invasion – it is because of something much more profound and something that the U.S.A. and its allies really are going to have to confront… The war, properly speaking, is already half-over. The war – against the remnants of Iraqi Fascism – has started in earnest.
Assessing Hitchens’ Position
In conclusion, Hitchens did offer endorsements and quotes in favor of the Iraq War authorization, though his support seemed somewhat conditional and tied to specific outcomes. By focusing on the threat of Saddam Hussein’s WMDs and advocating for military strikes against these sites, he may have believed himself to be supporting a humanitarian intervention rather than an unconditional invasion. However, as critics argue, his vagueness on the specifics of the war and potential consequences can be seen as indicating a lack of explicit commitment to the war at the time of its authorization.
Ultimately, while the available evidence suggests that Hitchens initially supported the authorization of military force in 2003, subsequent criticism of the occupation and his re-evaluation of the war’s effects imply that his support wavered over time, casting doubt on whether his early endorsements truly reflected unreserved backing for the US invasion of Iraq.
