For conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg, Iraq risk was worth a $1,000 bet

[ProSense]

Iraq Bet Stirs War of Words Between FAIR Founder and Jonah Goldberg

By Dave Astor

Published: February 07, 2007 11:35 AM ET

NEW YORK A 2005 Iraq bet has stirred a war of words today between conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg and the founder of a liberal media-watchdog group.

Goldberg wrote on Feb. 8, 2005: "I predict that Iraq won't have a civil war, that it will have a viable constitution, and that a majority of Iraqis and Americans will, in two years time, agree that the war was worth it. I'll bet $1,000 (which I can hardly spare right now)."

The Tribune Media Services columnist/National Review Online editor at large added in the piece that the USO would receive the money if he lost the wager, which was made in the context of a dispute Goldberg and "Informed Comment" blogger Juan Cole were having at the time.

"The two-year period comes due this Thursday," wrote Jeff Cohen, founder of the Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) media-watchdog group, in an AlterNet article today. "Even Goldberg now realizes his prediction was totally wrong -- with poll after poll showing most Americans do not 'agree that the war was worth it.' (Not to mention what Iraqis think of the war or Goldberg's boast that 'Iraq won't have a civil war.') So shouldn't Goldberg, or somebody, pay off the $1,000?"

E&P this morning asked Goldberg for his response, and he e-mailed: "I offered the bet in a foolish fit of pique with Cole. ... Cole refused to take the bet. ... it seems that his fans want it both ways. They want to extol Cole as a prince for not accepting the bet, but they want me to be held accountable to it even though he never agreed to it. Countless blogs have been dishonest about this suggesting I owe Cole himself $1,000.

more...

Emphasis added to highlight sheer idiocy.

[brentspeak]

1. It should have been: Lose the bet, enlist in the Army

Goldberg, I believe the web address for you to check out is goarmy.com

[baldguy]

2. Bush took that bet.

He's wagered a half trillion dollars.

Of OUR money.

And he's lost.

[Hissyspit]

3. Even if you don't owe the money, Jonah...

You were still wrong (which is the important thing, dumbass) and you're still a big jerk.

[oasis]

4. Jonah can pick up those extra bucks by doing weekend drills with the National Guard.

After his enlistment.

[Old and In the Way]

5. gee, that would make the Doughy Pantload....a loser.

Jonah ought to pick challenges with his intellectual equals rather than make himself look foolish betting on outcomes with someone like Mr. Cole. Regardless of whether he welches or not....he was wrong like most of the lightweights who thought we could "win" a war of occupation.