Mary Kissel joins Allen Jackson to discuss current events.
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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: Brutal Regimes | Allen Jackson Now | July 8, 2026
- I. well, good evening and welcome to nashville.
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- I'm alan jackson.
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- You know, history rarely changes because of speeches alone.
- 00:00:27.352 --> 00:00:30.722
- Because diplomacy.
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- It only matters when it's backed up
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- By the strength to enforce it.
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- Well, that lesson feels especially relevant
- 00:00:35.627 --> 00:00:38.029
- As nato leaders gather and once again declare that iran
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- Must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
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- You know, it's a statement almost everyone can agree with,
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- But declarations.
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- They don't dismantle centrifuges
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- Or press conferences don't deter a regime from that.
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- Has spent decades sponsoring
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- Terrorism, threatening israel and attacking american forces.
- 00:00:54.646 --> 00:00:58.183
- President trump,
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- When he arrived at the summit and met with leaders
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- From turkey, syria and ukraine and america's nato allies.
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- Well, iran, well, they remain central to the conversation.
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- But the alliance is also facing
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- The staggering human cost of russia's war in ukraine.
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- Estimates now place total deaths and serious
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- Injuries above 2 million people.
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- Now increasingly global conflicts.
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- They no longer look separate iran, russia and china.
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- They may not share the same ideology in every detail,
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- But they do share the common objective
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- Of weakening american leadership,
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- Whether it's beijing supplying economic lifelines
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- And intelligence
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- To iran or tehran fueling terror across the middle east
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- Or moscow trying to redraw europe's borders.
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- Each regime benefits when the others succeed.
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- Is the west demonstrating enough strength to preserve peace
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- As iran been weakened enough that they'll negotiate
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- In good faith?
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- And are we watching the rise of an authoritarian axis
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- Determined to reshape the world while free nations argue over
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- How seriously to take the threat?
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- I think it's important that we maintain in our imagination
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- That on a global scale, good and evil exist.
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- Nations represent expressions of good and evil.
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- I understand that beneath that level
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- That it's a mixed bag.
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- The reality is when the righteous thrive,
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- The people rejoice.
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- But when the wicked rule, the people groan.
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- Iran has long declared its intent.
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- Even at the recent funeral procession of the late
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- Ayatollah, chants of death to israel and death to america.
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- They still rang out.
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- That's not political rhetoric.
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- That's a declaration of war.
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- The united states stepped into a direct confrontation
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- With iran.
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- You'd expect a nato alliance built on decades
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- Of shared defense to show up in a meaningful way.
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- Unfortunately, that was not the case.
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- The media often frames the iran war as an endless war
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- Or an unnecessary war started by president trump.
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- I disagree.
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- Standing up to the terror regime in iran.
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- It's necessary.
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- Evil must be confronted.
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- Evil regimes.
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- They don't stop on their own.
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- The battle between ukraine and russia.
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- It has to be seen differently as well.
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- There are millions of people who have endured
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- Tremendous suffering and death.
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- Elderly communities.
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- Pizza parlors. ice cream shops.
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- Entire cities in ukraine have been leveled to rubble.
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- Russian casualties.
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- Well, they're accelerating now in 2026.
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- There's not a solution that's going to make everybody happy.
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- But the bloodshed and the warfare, they have to stop.
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- When i
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- Watch the 4th of july america 250 event at the national mall,
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- I felt president trump helped redefine for our country
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- Who are real heroes.
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- Are his address focused on honoring the people who built,
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- Defended, and sacrificed for this nation across its history.
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- Trump paid tribute to veterans from multiple generations.
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- He invited them on stage, shared their stories of courage.
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- 104 year old pearl harbor survivor was recognized
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- For surviving the japanese attack.
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- Just 19 years old, 101 year old veteran of the battle of bebo
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- Jima was honored for his service during world war two.
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- Our korean veterans, they were recognized as well.
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- Former astronaut jack schmitt,
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- The last american to walk on the moon.
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- The artemis two flight crew.
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- They were all honored as symbols of american exploration.
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- 11 gold star families.
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- Those who lost a loved one in military service,
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- Were presented
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- With american flags in recognition
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- Of their loved ones ultimate sacrifice.
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- Standing before the first american flags ever produced.
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- Trump honored the nation's
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- Founding heritage and praised the 56
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- Signers of the declaration of independence.
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- He said they risked everything to secure america's freedom.
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- He described the founding
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- Fathers as patriots who stepped onto the stage of destiny
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- And achieved a victory for the ages.
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- Trump concluded that the vision and courage of the founders
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- Laid the foundation for 250
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- Years of american strength, freedom and prosperity.
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- Now it's our turn in the arena.
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- Expressions of american strength must continue,
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- Or we will leave our
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- Young people and the generations that follow us, vulnerable.
- 00:05:03.561 --> 00:05:06.965
- The more vulnerable we are, the more battles we're engaged in.
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- It would be naive to think that what happens globally
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- Doesn't affect us internally in the communities
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- And neighborhoods in which we each one live.
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- Let's continue to pray for america and our leadership.
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- Let's pray that god would bless america.
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- The judeo-christian principles
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- Will continue to flourish in our nation.
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- And as president ronald reagan described it, that america
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- Would be the shining city on a hill
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- Within a moment.
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- Joining us will be mary kissel.
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- She's the former senior adviser to secretary of state
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- Mike pompeo. i'll be right back.
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- Mike pompeo. i'll be right back.
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- You may.
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- Tonight we're joined by foreign policy expert mary kissel.
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- Welcome to our show, mary.
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- Thank you so much for having me.
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- We have just come off a weekend
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- Where the iran negotiations were put on hold
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- So they could hold
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- A state funeral for their former supreme leader.
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- What are your thoughts on these latest negotiations?
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- Well, i think it's important to put these negotiations
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- Into context.
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- We've had multiple presidential
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- Administrations, tried to talk with tehran
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- To no good ends because of the nature of the regime.
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- It is a revolutionary islamist regime
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- That is bent on rejecting american influence
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- From the middle east and eliminating the state of israel.
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- And there's no indication that that has changed.
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- But secondly, and perhaps even more importantly,
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- Today, tehran has very powerful
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- Partners in moscow and in beijing.
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- And so i think the way that we
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- Frame these discussions is often as a bilateral discussion,
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- When in reality, it's not a bilateral issue at all.
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- It's really a russia, china, iran block against israel,
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- The united states and other freedom loving nations.
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- And that's an important difference.
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- And it was, say, during the bush era
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- When the europeans
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- Were leading negotiations or even during the obama era, with,
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- Obviously, you know,
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- Tainted and failure of a, of a nuclear deal.
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- And i fear that,
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- We're probably going
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- To have to return to some significant kinetic action
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- Or engage in some sort of appeasement
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- That, again, we know has failed in the past.
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- Now, i think your point is so well taken that
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- These negotiations are not with
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- Just the single nation of iran, china and russia very much
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- Not just in the backdrop, but i think engaged.
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- Is that why iran can be so recalcitrant,
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- Even in spite of all the damage they've taken,
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- And they don't seem
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- Particularly willing to yield on any points?
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- Well, you have different kinds of brutal regimes, right?
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- You have brutal regimes that can be bought off,
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- Like in the case of the maduro regime,
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- They're basically just a criminal organization.
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- And then you have deeply ideological regimes
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- Like communist china and today's islamic
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- Republic of iran, where you have some true believers.
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- These are paranoid regimes.
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- The people of iran don't want them there anymore.
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- I think the iranian people have,
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- You know, seen through this facade of revolutionary zeal.
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- They see the regime for what it is
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- They're suffering greatly under it.
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- And so you have a leadership that is is paranoid
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- In many cases, has
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- An ideological bent to, to, to keep fighting at any cost.
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- And now, of course, yes, they have supporters
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- And in china buying their oil and, and, and good
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- Willing customers in russia
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- To buy their drones and other military equipment.
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- And so they feel like they can
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- Hang on and they see that we're, a democratic republic,
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- That we have a political forces here in the united states that,
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- You know, might make it difficult for president trump
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- To take the kind of action that he wants to take,
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- Because he doesn't want to suffer
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- The political consequences here at home.
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- So they're making a calculation
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- That they can
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- Just hold on long enough until the president is out of office,
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- Or coerce him into some sort of appeasement
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- Deal like the one signed under president obama.
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- You know, in the past months, i've talked to a number
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- Of iranian professionals in america
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- That were holding tightly to the hope that
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- The people there would respond, given the opportunity.
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- When we saw the crowds that were a part of that funeral
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- Celebration for the supreme leader this week,
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- And it seemed like there's overwhelming support
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- For the regime,
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- Is that for the camera or is that an actual reality?
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- Let's for the camera.
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- I mean, that's like when you see
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- Xi jinping walk into the great hall
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- And everybody stands up and claps like it's north korea.
- 00:09:52.918 --> 00:09:56.321
- Now that being said, i'm sure there are
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- Some enthusiastic supporters
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- Who are involved in the corruption
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- Regime and profiting off the backs
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- Of the iranian people,
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- Particularly the senior leadership of the ihr, gc.
- 00:10:04.897 --> 00:10:08.233
- But the only time that you actually get to see
- 00:10:08.233 --> 00:10:10.869
- What the iranian people truly think
- 00:10:10.869 --> 00:10:13.572
- Is when they get out into the streets in protest.
- 00:10:13.572 --> 00:10:16.341
- Same is true in china.
- 00:10:16.341 --> 00:10:17.609
- The same is true.
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- And every other authoritarian regime.
- 00:10:18.477 --> 00:10:19.912
- You can't do polling. that's accurate.
- 00:10:19.912 --> 00:10:22.147
- The only time you really understand
- 00:10:22.147 --> 00:10:24.183
- What people want is when they have the courage
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- To get down to the streets in protest.
- 00:10:26.151 --> 00:10:28.721
- Remember, too, that there are lots of
- 00:10:28.721 --> 00:10:30.622
- Different kinds of iranians.
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- You have persians, blue cheese, azeris, kurds.
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- Right. it's it's a nation of many ethnicities.
- 00:10:35.227 --> 00:10:37.896
- But the one thing that binds them together is their suffering
- 00:10:37.896 --> 00:10:41.200
- At the hands of this incredibly corrupt,
- 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:43.202
- Incompetent regime, which is resulting in water
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- Shortages, hyperinflation, economic distress, death.
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- Right.
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- They've killed tens of thousands of their own citizens.
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- And we can't forget that.
- 00:10:53.278 --> 00:10:54.480
- And we're very bad
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- At knowing when people are going to get out.
- 00:10:55.914 --> 00:10:58.016
- And you kind of reach the limit right where it gets so bad
- 00:10:58.016 --> 00:11:01.453
- That they will risk life and limb to overturn the regime.
- 00:11:01.453 --> 00:11:04.723
- We missed the iranian,
- 00:11:04.723 --> 00:11:06.458
- Protests in the obama era.
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- We missed the arab spring.
- 00:11:08.694 --> 00:11:10.295
- We didn't predict the fall of the soviet union.
- 00:11:10.295 --> 00:11:12.397
- We're really bad at knowing when these very opaque, corrupt
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- Regimes are going to crumble.
- 00:11:16.268 --> 00:11:17.402
- And that's why
- 00:11:17.402 --> 00:11:18.504
- It's so important that we continue to support freedom.
- 00:11:18.504 --> 00:11:21.740
- And we continue to say very clearly that we hope
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- That these people enjoy the same freedoms that we enjoy.
- 00:11:25.010 --> 00:11:28.213
- We have to always say that otherwise
- 00:11:28.213 --> 00:11:31.083
- We don't
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- Take the moral high ground here, which is ours to have.
- 00:11:32.184 --> 00:11:34.253
- Then we become just
- 00:11:34.253 --> 00:11:35.354
- Like any other nation, pursuing our national interests.
- 00:11:35.354 --> 00:11:38.590
- Well, i think your
- 00:11:39.024 --> 00:11:40.259
- Observations are so important that the regime change idea
- 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:43.095
- Is so incredibly difficult,
- 00:11:43.695 --> 00:11:45.097
- And we've got a lot of experience with that.
- 00:11:45.097 --> 00:11:46.498
- And yet we see the need for new leadership.
- 00:11:46.498 --> 00:11:49.268
- So i guess the question is, what's the best way to support
- 00:11:49.268 --> 00:11:52.638
- The people that
- 00:11:52.638 --> 00:11:53.839
- Allows that spark of hope to stay alive in them
- 00:11:53.839 --> 00:11:56.341
- So they can move towards a better destiny for themselves?
- 00:11:56.341 --> 00:12:00.078
- Well, the first thing we
- 00:12:00.612 --> 00:12:01.413
- Can do is stop the moral equivalency.
- 00:12:01.413 --> 00:12:04.416
- I really cringe when i hear the president
- 00:12:04.416 --> 00:12:06.051
- Say, well, you know,
- 00:12:06.051 --> 00:12:07.352
- Yeah, china has done bad things, but we've done bad things too.
- 00:12:07.352 --> 00:12:09.855
- Well, no, our systems are incredibly different.
- 00:12:09.855 --> 00:12:12.758
- Just like the islamic republic system of governance
- 00:12:12.758 --> 00:12:16.161
- Is morally inferior to ours.
- 00:12:16.161 --> 00:12:17.830
- We have to stand up
- 00:12:17.830 --> 00:12:18.964
- And be unafraid to say that first and foremost.
- 00:12:18.964 --> 00:12:21.867
- Secondly, we need to speak directly to the iranian people
- 00:12:21.867 --> 00:12:26.205
- Over the heads of the leadership
- 00:12:26.205 --> 00:12:27.739
- Like reagan used to do to the soviets.
- 00:12:27.739 --> 00:12:30.275
- Speak directly to them.
- 00:12:30.275 --> 00:12:31.743
- I'm not advocating that we need some sort of ground invasion,
- 00:12:31.743 --> 00:12:35.047
- Or that we're going to, democratize iran.
- 00:12:35.047 --> 00:12:38.617
- We don't need to do that.
- 00:12:38.617 --> 00:12:40.085
- We know the iranian people
- 00:12:40.085 --> 00:12:41.520
- Don't want this regime based on what they've done,
- 00:12:41.520 --> 00:12:44.556
- Protesting almost continuously for more than a decade now.
- 00:12:44.556 --> 00:12:48.727
- But we can support them in many ways.
- 00:12:48.727 --> 00:12:50.195
- We can support them by returning
- 00:12:50.195 --> 00:12:52.030
- To the maximum pressure campaign.
- 00:12:52.030 --> 00:12:53.665
- We can rally our allies to, help support us in that effort.
- 00:12:53.665 --> 00:12:57.970
- We can impose secondary sanctions on communist
- 00:12:57.970 --> 00:13:00.172
- China so that any chinese banking
- 00:13:00.172 --> 00:13:02.207
- Entity in hong kong, in particular,
- 00:13:02.207 --> 00:13:04.543
- That does business with the regime, is also sanctioned.
- 00:13:04.543 --> 00:13:07.579
- We can encourage our friends in places
- 00:13:07.579 --> 00:13:09.715
- Like australia to help us patrol the street.
- 00:13:09.715 --> 00:13:12.584
- Are there any number of things
- 00:13:12.584 --> 00:13:13.785
- That we can do to support this regime?
- 00:13:13.785 --> 00:13:15.621
- The starlink effort to allow the iranian people
- 00:13:15.621 --> 00:13:18.323
- To communicate with each other, extremely important,
- 00:13:18.323 --> 00:13:21.693
- And we can support the state of israel
- 00:13:21.693 --> 00:13:24.396
- And be more understanding to the strategic situation
- 00:13:24.396 --> 00:13:27.065
- That they're facing,
- 00:13:27.065 --> 00:13:28.400
- Where they're looking
- 00:13:28.400 --> 00:13:29.635
- To their east and saying, here's a regime that has potential
- 00:13:29.635 --> 00:13:33.305
- Nuclear capacity pretty quickly here that wants to destroy us.
- 00:13:33.305 --> 00:13:37.376
- And instead of undermining them,
- 00:13:37.376 --> 00:13:39.011
- We need to support them, support their efforts to eliminate
- 00:13:39.011 --> 00:13:42.281
- Iran's proxies around the region,
- 00:13:42.281 --> 00:13:43.715
- And then go to places like saudi arabia and say, look,
- 00:13:43.715 --> 00:13:46.285
- We're on your side.
- 00:13:46.285 --> 00:13:47.986
- You don't need to go make a deal with tehran
- 00:13:47.986 --> 00:13:50.455
- Because we're here standing with you,
- 00:13:50.455 --> 00:13:53.292
- And we want peace and prosperity in this region.
- 00:13:53.292 --> 00:13:55.627
- And, you know, as
- 00:13:55.627 --> 00:13:56.628
- Well as we do that we're not going to have it
- 00:13:56.628 --> 00:13:58.597
- While this regime stays in place.
- 00:13:58.597 --> 00:14:00.732
- So, quite,
- 00:14:00.732 --> 00:14:02.034
- Quite a wide
- 00:14:02.034 --> 00:14:03.201
- Range of things that are passed or that can be done and,
- 00:14:03.201 --> 00:14:06.271
- It doesn't have to be, you know, appeasement or war.
- 00:14:06.271 --> 00:14:09.174
- There's quite a number of options in between.
- 00:14:09.174 --> 00:14:11.576
- Well, mary, we need to take a short break.
- 00:14:12.444 --> 00:14:14.012
- Will you stand by for another segment?
- 00:14:14.012 --> 00:14:16.214
- This. sure. happy to.
- 00:14:16.214 --> 00:14:17.649
- For those of you watching,
- 00:14:17.649 --> 00:14:18.917
- If you've got a phone nearby, you can log on to aj now.com.
- 00:14:18.917 --> 00:14:21.853
- Send me an email.
- 00:14:21.853 --> 00:14:22.821
- We'd like to hear your thoughts on this topic.
- 00:14:22.821 --> 00:14:25.057
- We'll be right back. you.
- 00:14:25.057 --> 00:14:34.002
- We'll be right back. you.
- 00:14:34.002 --> 00:14:40.873
- We're back now with mary kissel,
- 00:14:41.507 --> 00:14:43.009
- Foreign policy expert from the hudson institute.
- 00:14:43.009 --> 00:14:46.279
- Mary, a recent poll has shown that young americans
- 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:48.481
- Are much less likely than the older generations
- 00:14:48.481 --> 00:14:51.017
- To see china as a major threat to the united states.
- 00:14:51.017 --> 00:14:54.620
- Now, despite that generational divide,
- 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:56.656
- The concern about china remains high.
- 00:14:56.656 --> 00:14:58.358
- Nationally,
- 00:14:58.358 --> 00:14:59.726
- The fentanyl that flows into our country,
- 00:14:59.726 --> 00:15:01.761
- Largely through their support and sponsorship.
- 00:15:01.761 --> 00:15:04.630
- How do we help the younger generations of americans
- 00:15:04.630 --> 00:15:06.632
- Understand what china represents to our future?
- 00:15:06.632 --> 00:15:10.903
- I think it starts with telling the truth
- 00:15:11.704 --> 00:15:13.639
- About the nature of the regime in beijing,
- 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:17.310
- How they talk to their people about us,
- 00:15:17.310 --> 00:15:20.847
- And to just look at the facts of the kind of military
- 00:15:20.847 --> 00:15:24.484
- They're building.
- 00:15:24.484 --> 00:15:25.618
- What they've done as they have built it, and how
- 00:15:25.618 --> 00:15:28.521
- Xi jinping is talking about how he's going to use that military
- 00:15:28.521 --> 00:15:31.891
- In the future.
- 00:15:31.891 --> 00:15:33.459
- I mean, here you have a totalitarian regime.
- 00:15:33.459 --> 00:15:36.262
- It's committing genocide,
- 00:15:36.262 --> 00:15:37.930
- Which we, you know, of,
- 00:15:37.930 --> 00:15:38.965
- Essentially ignored and not talked much about
- 00:15:38.965 --> 00:15:41.100
- In the last couple of years, which
- 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.235
- I find absolutely astounding.
- 00:15:42.235 --> 00:15:44.937
- And it is built the world's, million.
- 00:15:44.937 --> 00:15:48.441
- It's got a million man army.
- 00:15:48.441 --> 00:15:49.776
- It has, the world's largest navy.
- 00:15:49.776 --> 00:15:52.578
- I believe it's the third largest air force.
- 00:15:52.578 --> 00:15:54.814
- It's aiming to have hundreds of nuclear weapons,
- 00:15:54.814 --> 00:15:56.983
- Biological, chemical weapons programs.
- 00:15:56.983 --> 00:15:59.018
- It's attacking our satellites every day.
- 00:15:59.018 --> 00:16:01.687
- Not to mention the brutality at home.
- 00:16:02.422 --> 00:16:03.956
- It's also has designs on its neighbors.
- 00:16:03.956 --> 00:16:06.426
- It's deeply infiltrated the united states.
- 00:16:06.426 --> 00:16:08.494
- So how do we educate our young people?
- 00:16:08.494 --> 00:16:11.130
- We do that by using the platforms,
- 00:16:11.130 --> 00:16:13.666
- Starting with the federal government.
- 00:16:13.666 --> 00:16:15.568
- You know, the white house, the secretary of state,
- 00:16:15.568 --> 00:16:18.171
- Secretary of war, and just laying out the facts
- 00:16:18.171 --> 00:16:22.742
- Of what we're seeing, what they're saying,
- 00:16:22.742 --> 00:16:25.311
- And how it pertains to us.
- 00:16:25.311 --> 00:16:26.846
- And, you know, we did a lot of that in trump.
- 00:16:26.846 --> 00:16:29.816
- One, when i worked for secretary
- 00:16:29.816 --> 00:16:31.651
- Pompeo wasn't a partizan issue.
- 00:16:31.651 --> 00:16:34.353
- We tried very hard, actually, to keep it nonpartisan
- 00:16:34.353 --> 00:16:37.256
- Because it's an american issue,
- 00:16:37.256 --> 00:16:39.125
- And this is a threat that is different
- 00:16:39.125 --> 00:16:41.094
- From every other threat that we've ever faced,
- 00:16:41.094 --> 00:16:43.162
- Because we're so integrated with their economy
- 00:16:43.162 --> 00:16:46.966
- And because we're such an open society.
- 00:16:46.966 --> 00:16:49.635
- They've been able to infiltrate us deeply here at home
- 00:16:49.635 --> 00:16:52.605
- In a way that the soviets could only have dreamed of.
- 00:16:52.605 --> 00:16:55.308
- Well, the nato leaders are gathered this week.
- 00:16:56.209 --> 00:16:58.678
- The nato chief, mark rutha, had made this comment.
- 00:16:58.678 --> 00:17:02.014
- I want you to hear it. then i want to ask a question.
- 00:17:02.014 --> 00:17:04.250
- I strongly believe that the nato we had only 3 or 4 years ago,
- 00:17:04.250 --> 00:17:09.122
- Going forward would not have been sustainable
- 00:17:09.122 --> 00:17:11.824
- Overreliant on the united states,
- 00:17:11.824 --> 00:17:13.826
- Europe not spending enough, not producing enough.
- 00:17:13.826 --> 00:17:16.963
- So what can we realistically
- 00:17:16.963 --> 00:17:18.397
- Expect to come out of this summit?
- 00:17:18.397 --> 00:17:22.001
- Well, i think the secretary-general is
- 00:17:22.001 --> 00:17:24.537
- Right that nato's trajectory was unsustainable.
- 00:17:24.537 --> 00:17:27.874
- What he didn't say in that clip is that,
- 00:17:27.874 --> 00:17:30.610
- We actually have some nato members
- 00:17:30.610 --> 00:17:31.878
- Spending more as a percentage of their gdp on defense
- 00:17:31.878 --> 00:17:34.647
- Than we do.
- 00:17:34.647 --> 00:17:35.648
- So some of the spending increases, particularly
- 00:17:35.648 --> 00:17:37.950
- On the eastern flank, have been quite significant.
- 00:17:37.950 --> 00:17:41.521
- What i hope we get coming out of this,
- 00:17:41.521 --> 00:17:43.856
- Summit is a renewed commitment,
- 00:17:43.856 --> 00:17:47.426
- To spend more on behalf of our european allies,
- 00:17:47.426 --> 00:17:50.596
- A reassertion of, you know, the u.s.
- 00:17:50.596 --> 00:17:52.598
- Interest in supporting nato, which i believe president
- 00:17:52.598 --> 00:17:55.801
- Trump does very strongly.
- 00:17:55.801 --> 00:17:57.136
- Otherwise he wouldn't have been having these conversations.
- 00:17:57.136 --> 00:18:01.240
- A reexamination of china's influence in the region
- 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:04.377
- As a destabilizing force alongside russia and iran.
- 00:18:04.377 --> 00:18:07.880
- And, you know,
- 00:18:08.214 --> 00:18:08.748
- I would hope someday
- 00:18:08.748 --> 00:18:09.849
- To see the europeans realize it's in their interests
- 00:18:09.849 --> 00:18:13.219
- To keep the strait of hormuz open.
- 00:18:13.219 --> 00:18:14.887
- And yes, sometimes they need to cooperate
- 00:18:14.887 --> 00:18:16.989
- With a washington whose politics they don't share.
- 00:18:16.989 --> 00:18:20.826
- At the end of the day.
- 00:18:20.826 --> 00:18:21.961
- Nato was taking on a new vigor and a new purpose
- 00:18:21.961 --> 00:18:24.297
- Because of putins invasion of ukraine, with russian and,
- 00:18:24.297 --> 00:18:28.367
- With chinese and iranian support.
- 00:18:29.101 --> 00:18:31.437
- And what you're seeing is an organization that is rising
- 00:18:31.437 --> 00:18:34.473
- To meet those threats, trying to reconstitute itself,
- 00:18:34.473 --> 00:18:38.244
- And really also trying to muster the political will at home,
- 00:18:38.244 --> 00:18:41.914
- Because they built such,
- 00:18:42.448 --> 00:18:44.083
- Huge welfare states, they have such sclerotic economies.
- 00:18:44.083 --> 00:18:47.486
- They're going to have to make some tough political choices
- 00:18:47.486 --> 00:18:49.422
- If they value their safety and security in the future.
- 00:18:49.422 --> 00:18:53.092
- You know, many of our european allies
- 00:18:53.092 --> 00:18:54.827
- Have a significantly increased islamic influence.
- 00:18:54.827 --> 00:18:57.964
- Do you think that was a part of the reticence
- 00:18:57.964 --> 00:18:59.498
- We saw in their participation in our conflict with iran? no.
- 00:18:59.498 --> 00:19:04.103
- So they're just stubborn. they didn't want to be a part of it.
- 00:19:04.103 --> 00:19:06.639
- Well, look at the approval ratings
- 00:19:07.406 --> 00:19:09.775
- Of president trump in a place like the uk,
- 00:19:09.775 --> 00:19:13.646
- Where you had at the time of the beginning of the conflict,
- 00:19:13.646 --> 00:19:18.117
- Prime minister, who was way over his head, keir starmer,
- 00:19:18.117 --> 00:19:21.887
- Deeply unpopular, no policy direction.
- 00:19:21.887 --> 00:19:24.957
- You know, there are many reasons why keir starmer
- 00:19:25.925 --> 00:19:28.561
- Wasn't interested in cooperating,
- 00:19:28.561 --> 00:19:30.429
- Not to mention the fact that i
- 00:19:30.429 --> 00:19:31.998
- Am not sure he really grasped or had the political mettle,
- 00:19:31.998 --> 00:19:36.636
- To take on the question of european security.
- 00:19:36.636 --> 00:19:38.804
- That's why you saw his defense
- 00:19:38.804 --> 00:19:40.106
- Secretary resign and other senior military figures,
- 00:19:40.106 --> 00:19:43.109
- And why they have a new prime
- 00:19:43.109 --> 00:19:44.176
- Minister today,
- 00:19:44.176 --> 00:19:45.645
- And they will likely have a different government.
- 00:19:45.645 --> 00:19:48.347
- After the next election.
- 00:19:48.347 --> 00:19:50.650
- Spain, again, deeply unpopular,
- 00:19:50.650 --> 00:19:54.086
- Allegedly corrupt prime minister and sanchez,
- 00:19:54.086 --> 00:19:57.590
- Again, more interested
- 00:19:58.057 --> 00:20:00.059
- In propping up his own
- 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.694
- Political, fortunes at home to try to hold on
- 00:20:01.694 --> 00:20:05.131
- As long as you can before the parties
- 00:20:05.131 --> 00:20:07.466
- Of the right sweep into power,
- 00:20:07.466 --> 00:20:08.868
- Which i believe they will do soon.
- 00:20:08.868 --> 00:20:11.237
- And so, i think, you know, we get often caught up in,
- 00:20:11.237 --> 00:20:14.106
- You know, one aspect or one way of looking at a conflict.
- 00:20:14.106 --> 00:20:17.376
- But when you, you have to think about it
- 00:20:17.376 --> 00:20:18.678
- From their point of view, what are their interests?
- 00:20:18.678 --> 00:20:20.980
- What are the political calculations
- 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.848
- That these european leaders are making and why,
- 00:20:22.848 --> 00:20:25.451
- From their point of view, are they doing it?
- 00:20:25.451 --> 00:20:28.020
- Well, mary, thank you for your time today.
- 00:20:28.888 --> 00:20:30.589
- Your insights are helpful. they bring clarity.
- 00:20:30.589 --> 00:20:33.259
- Some things that are often confusing.
- 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:35.961
- It's a pleasure to be with you.
- 00:20:35.961 --> 00:20:37.363
- Thank you so much for having me.
- 00:20:37.363 --> 00:20:39.665
- In a moment, we'll be back with your emails.
- 00:20:39.665 --> 00:20:42.234
- You can. do.
- 00:20:42.234 --> 00:20:50.001
- You can. do.
- 00:20:50.001 --> 00:20:55.515
- Thank you for spending a few moments of your day with us.
- 00:20:56.650 --> 00:20:59.152
- I know you're busy. your time is precious.
- 00:20:59.152 --> 00:21:01.755
- Just a reminder, if you ever miss a live episode,
- 00:21:01.755 --> 00:21:03.790
- You can always go to aj. now, dot com.
- 00:21:03.790 --> 00:21:05.792
- There's a full archive there of all the broadcast.
- 00:21:05.792 --> 00:21:08.562
- You can watch them at your leisure.
- 00:21:08.562 --> 00:21:10.364
- They're easy to share with a friend.
- 00:21:10.364 --> 00:21:12.532
- Thank you for your emails.
- 00:21:12.532 --> 00:21:13.700
- We're always intrigued by your thoughts and comments.
- 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:16.436
- Lupe wrote in.
- 00:21:16.436 --> 00:21:17.437
- She said my sister and her husband
- 00:21:17.437 --> 00:21:18.839
- Are like a lot of disengaged christians.
- 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:21.641
- They believe this world isn't their home, which is true,
- 00:21:21.641 --> 00:21:24.344
- And that jesus will return to make things right anyway.
- 00:21:24.344 --> 00:21:27.781
- Therefore, they see no reason to get involved.
- 00:21:27.781 --> 00:21:30.083
- That's their stance.
- 00:21:30.083 --> 00:21:31.685
- I try to tell them that their vote and involvement
- 00:21:31.685 --> 00:21:33.520
- Will make a difference,
- 00:21:33.520 --> 00:21:34.621
- But i can't seem to get through to them. what to do?
- 00:21:34.621 --> 00:21:37.657
- Well, i'll start with prayer.
- 00:21:38.291 --> 00:21:39.526
- Prayer changes things more than anything i know.
- 00:21:39.526 --> 00:21:41.628
- But the reality is
- 00:21:41.628 --> 00:21:42.996
- Jesus told us to be salt and light, not just to find a bunker
- 00:21:42.996 --> 00:21:47.267
- And wait for the trumpet to blow and salt in the shaker.
- 00:21:47.267 --> 00:21:50.537
- It's useless.
- 00:21:50.537 --> 00:21:51.238
- So pray
- 00:21:51.238 --> 00:21:52.339
- That god will open their hearts, give them a revelation
- 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:54.941
- Of his purpose and plan for their lives
- 00:21:54.941 --> 00:21:56.910
- In this season of history.
- 00:21:56.910 --> 00:21:58.512
- When the lord returns, i want him to find us busy
- 00:21:58.512 --> 00:22:01.114
- About his purposes, not just waiting to see him.
- 00:22:01.114 --> 00:22:04.351
- The others from florida up.
- 00:22:04.951 --> 00:22:06.019
- We need term limits for all elected
- 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.654
- Senators and congressmen.
- 00:22:07.654 --> 00:22:08.822
- Congressmen need to have an office in their district.
- 00:22:08.822 --> 00:22:11.491
- They need to stay in their home district 51 weeks a year.
- 00:22:11.491 --> 00:22:15.162
- That way, we can pound on their desk and say, listen to us.
- 00:22:15.162 --> 00:22:18.398
- They can vote using a secure computer system.
- 00:22:18.398 --> 00:22:21.368
- Well, there is i think term limits are a good idea.
- 00:22:21.368 --> 00:22:23.236
- But if you pound on their desk 51 weeks a year,
- 00:22:23.236 --> 00:22:25.772
- They're not staying in the office.
- 00:22:25.772 --> 00:22:27.474
- I promise, folks, god's moving in the earth.
- 00:22:27.474 --> 00:22:30.811
- Let's decide to be apart.
- 00:22:30.811 --> 00:22:32.078
- Thank you for a few moments of your time today. god bless.
- 00:22:32.078 --> 00:22:32.078