Singer said the senator's unexpected arrival gave him a chance to confront him on the Iraq war.

"Are you reconsidering your position on the war in Iraq now that the justifications presented by the Bush administration have all proved to be false?" the professor complained.

When Schumer replied by asking how he would handle Iraq differently, Singer responded: "The Bush administration policies have destabilized that entire region of the world. I would work with European allies to find a way to leave immediately."

At that, Singer recalled, Schumer called him "a fool," before declaring that if the U.S. withdrew from Iraq it would be subject to a terrorist attack worse than 9/11 during the next three years.

Singer countered by claiming that the Iraq war had instead put America in greater danger of another attack and demanded to know if Schumer would resign if another attack came.

"I know people like you," Schumer shot back, saying that Singer and his ilk were responsible for the destruction of the Democrat Party.

"With your ideas you should not be allowed to be a teacher," the agitated Democrat added. "I know your type."

Editor's note: