The Onion predicted the rise of ISIS back in 2003

The Onion is known for satirical news stories that blend outrageous humor with truth, creating content that is often prophetic and relevant. In 2003, they published an Op-ed, entitled “This War Will Destabilize The Entire Mideast Region And Set Off A Global Shockwave Of Anti-Americanism vs. No It Won’t,” which almost perfectly predicted the rise of the Islamic State and the more intense hatred of America and the Western hemisphere.

The 2003 op-ed parody features two fictitious columnists debating the effects of the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Nathan Eckert predicted that the invasions would only increase the problems in the Middle East in time, while Bob Scheffer simply refuted every point Eckert made with a “nuh-uh.”

The Nathan Eckert column is a rare instance of the Onion taking on a serious topic with a straight face. The Eckert column warns that the invasion of Iraq will not bring democracy to the region, will not end the threat from weapons of mass destruction, and will not put an end to anti-Americanism. The column warned that in a decade, Americans would look fondly upon the state of terror in 2003.

https://twitter.com/TLW3/status/667361378160783360

“If you thought Osama bin Laden was bad, just wait until the countless children who become orphaned by U.S. bombs in the coming weeks are all grown up. Do you think they will forget what country dropped the bombs that killed their parents? In 10 or 15 years, we will look back fondly on the days when there were only a few thousand Middle Easterners dedicated to destroying the U.S. and willing to die for the fundamentalist cause. From this war, a million bin Ladens will bloom.” .

The Onion’s Eckert column concluded “A war against Iraq is not only morally wrong, it will be an unmitigated disaster.”

[HuffPo]

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