Pink Floyd’s co-founder Roger Waters appeared on CNN over the weekend in an interview with host Michael Smerconish, during which the two engaged in a heated debate after Waters condemned Joe Biden for “fueling the fire in Ukraine” and accused him of being a “war criminal.”

Roger Waters, 78

During his solo tour, 78-year-old Waters played a montage of “war criminals,” which includes a photo of Joe Biden with the message “just getting started.” Smerconish questioned Waters about his inclusion of Biden, which prompted Waters to explain his reasoning.

Joe Biden featured in Roger Water’s “war criminal” montage on his “This is Not a Drill” tour

“Well, he’s fueling the fire in the Ukraine for a start. That is a huge crime,” said Waters. “Why won’t the United States of America encourage Zelensky – the president – to negotiate, obviating the need for this horrific, horrendous war that’s killing, we don’t know how many Ukrainians and Russians.”

So far, Biden has authorized over $8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

Smerconish jumps in and argues with this perspective, saying, “But you’re blaming the party that got invaded. Come on, you’ve got it in reverse.”

“This war is basically about the action and reaction of NATO pushing right up to the Russian border,” replied Waters, “which they promised they wouldn’t do when Gorbachev negotiated the withdrawal of the USSR from the whole of eastern Europe.”

Smerconish pushed back, asking, “What about our role as liberators?”

“We have no role of liberators!” Waters shot back. “What are you talking – ”

“World War 2?” Smerconish argued.

Waters was quick to point out that by the time the United States joined the war after Pearl Harbor, “the Russians had already won the bloody war almost.”

“Don’t forget, 23 million Russians died protecting you and me,” added Waters.

“And you would think the Russians would’ve learned their lesson from war and wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine,” said Smerconish.

“Well, you, with all your reading, I would suggest you, Michael, that you go away and read a bit more, and then try to figure out what the United States would do if the Chinese were putting nuclear-armed missiles into Mexico and Canada,” said Waters, causing Smerconish to change the subject to the Taiwan and China conflict because he knew Waters had cornered him.

Journalist Max Blumenthal tweeted a clip of this interview, saying,

“This is the first time I’ve seen a CNN guest take one of the network’s jingoistic halfwits to the woodshed on Ukraine and Taiwan so comprehensively in such a short amount of time. At it was @rogerwaters.”

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