Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly said Wednesday that his support for the 2003 Iraq War remains one of the biggest regrets of his career, but argued that President Donald Trump now has little choice but to escalate military action against Iran following the apparent collapse of the ceasefire between the two countries.
Speaking on his No Spin News YouTube program, O’Reilly reacted to Trump’s announcement that the ceasefire with Iran was effectively finished after the regime allegedly violated the June memorandum of understanding by attacking commercial shipping and U.S. military assets in the region.
“Now the president’s threatening to bomb Iran tonight,” O’Reilly said. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen because these threats come and they go, but this has got to stop.”
Despite acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding future military operations, O’Reilly said he believes military force is now the only remaining option.
“I don’t see any other way but military to stop it,” he said.
The longtime broadcaster then reflected on his support for the U.S. invasion of Iraq more than two decades ago, saying the decision continues to weigh on him.
“And I made a mistake with the Iraq situation, and that haunts me to this day,” O’Reilly said.
He explained that his position at the time was based on reporting indicating that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.
“And the reason I made that mistake is that I didn’t fully understand the facts of the matter. I was taking reporting from The New York Times and others that said Saddam Hussein was harboring deadly weapons. OK?” O’Reilly said.
He acknowledged that those claims ultimately proved to be inaccurate.
“Turned out to be wrong,” he continued. “Didn’t have any weapons of mass destruction, and the chaos that ensued brought a lot of pain on America.”
O’Reilly took responsibility for his earlier position, saying the experience remains a lasting source of regret.
“I was wrong. I was wrong. OK, there’s a reason I was wrong, but that still haunts me,” he said.
Even with that history in mind, O’Reilly said he believes the current situation involving Iran presents a different challenge.
“Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see any other way here,” he said. “I don’t see any other way.”
O’Reilly went on to advocate for broad military strikes targeting Iran’s infrastructure.
“You’re going to have to just blast their infrastructure and make it almost impossible for the Persians to exist day to day,” he said. “You have to blow up all their facilities, all their power, all of that.”
He also argued that responsibility for the renewed conflict lies primarily with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than the country’s clerical leadership.
According to O’Reilly, the paramilitary organization “controls what happens in Iran.”
Looking ahead, O’Reilly predicted additional U.S. military action could be imminent.
“I believe Iran’s going to get hit militarily very soon,” he said.
He added that President Trump needs to restore the momentum he believes has been interrupted by the latest developments, while arguing that Iran’s leadership is unlikely to cooperate unless subjected to greater pressure.
“President Trump has to reignite his momentum, and the mullahs are just not cooperating,” O’Reilly said. “And I don’t think they will cooperate until the pain level gets very, very high.”
