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Queen Noor, Colbert Report | 04/08/2009 8:55 am

Queen Noor Discusses Destroying Nuclear Weapons on 'The Colbert Report' (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Queen Noor on "The Colbert Report"

Queen Noor has been making the media rounds for her great new cause — ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

The Jordanian queen, who was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby to an Arab-American family in the U.S. and went on to marry the now-deceased King Hussein, works with Global Zero, a new international initiative working to eliminate the world’s nuclear weapons stockpiles.

Hoping to spread the word, she appeared on Comedy Central’s "The Colbert Report" last night, during which she touted Global Zero’s work — and knighted host Stephen Colbert leader of the Colbert Nation, but not after driving a hard bargain: she required him to sign onto the Global Zero initiative first.

Nuclear proliferation is the "gravest security threat to the world today," she said. Colbert tried to get at which country had the most weapons, but Noor kept her cool.

"But how can we get rid of nuclear weapons — nuclear weapons are what keep us safe from other people’s nuclear weapons?" Colbert asked in his typical snarky style. "Let’s have everyone else in the world give away their nuclear weapons first because we can be trusted — we’re the only ones who have used one. We know how bad it is. We’ll never do it again!"

"That is a Cold War-mindset," she responded.

Meanwhile, the Queen appeared on MSNBC this morning and insisted "nuclear proliferation and the related risk of nuclear terrorism are really the most pressing security threat for nations around the world today." About 40 countries have enough nuclear materials — in addition to nine major nations — to make 100,000 more nuclear weapons that what are already out there. Terrorism is of particular concern, since there have been at least 25 instances of nuclear material theft in the last several decades.

The queen also said she’s heartened by President Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world, and his recent trip to Turkey.

"He has reached out in a way and the use of his word ‘mutual respect’ … it’s vital to relations between any nations but part where the west, and the United States and the Muslim world is concern," she said. But his statements "have to be backed up with outreach," particularly in the Arab-Israeli conflict, she said.

You can watch the entire "Colbert Report" interview here.

Watch the intro to the Queen’s interview below:

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Queen Noor’s Royal Treatment
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorNASA Name Contest

5 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Grande Camper

"About 40 countries have enough nuclear materials — in addition to nine major nations — to make 100,000 more nuclear weapons that what are already out there."

Now that’s scary!!!!!!

By Grande Camper on 04/08/2009 10:44 am
Mel Berg
I watched the interview and Queen Noor makes a lot of sense, it is scary to think about more nuclear weapons being made! The time has come to really get serious about this.
By Mel Berg on 04/08/2009 3:44 pm
Beth Cornell
I have always liked Queen Noor from the first time I heard her give a speech about 15 or so years ago. She is one smart Lady!
By Beth Cornell on 04/08/2009 5:24 pm
Rebecca G
Nuclear Weapons serve absolutely no purpose.  Then again, War serves absolutely no purpose.  However, if we must go to War to defend ourselves (the antithesis of Iraq) then War it must be, but making a place uninhabitable for the next 20 millennium is just retarded.  What good is that?  Why oh Why is a weapon of such destructive force needed?  Imagine for a moment if we spent just 10% of what we spend on trying to kill each other on things like Space Exploration and Human Health.  By now we would have a life span of about 300 years and major cities on the Moon and Mars.  This is why women need to rule the world, men are too busy waving their penises at each other to realize what is important.
By Rebecca G on 04/08/2009 10:35 pm
Heidi W

Queen Noor is very intelligent and classy, genuinely concerned about this planet and it’s people.  I have seen her speak before and admire her.

Lmao Rebecca on the last line in your comment, so true!

By Heidi W on 04/09/2009 12:24 pm