Allen Jackson: Brutal Regimes | Allen Jackson Now

July 8, 2026 | 22:44

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.
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  • 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
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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,
  • 00:08:57.062 --> 00:09:01.266
  • 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.
  • 00:09:07.706 --> 00:09:09.908
  • 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?
  • 00:09:44.143 --> 00:09:47.880
  • 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.
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  • 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,
  • 00:10:03.696 --> 00:10:04.897
  • 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.
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  • Same is true in china.
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  • The same is true.
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  • And every other authoritarian regime.
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  • You can't do polling. that's accurate.
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  • The only time you really understand
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  • What people want is when they have the courage
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  • To get down to the streets in protest.
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  • Remember, too, that there are lots of
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  • Different kinds of iranians.
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  • You have persians, blue cheese, azeris, kurds.
  • 00:10:31.957 --> 00:10:35.227
  • 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
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  • 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
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  • That they will risk life and limb to overturn the regime.
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  • We missed the iranian,
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  • Protests in the obama era.
  • 00:11:07.025 --> 00:11:08.694
  • 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
  • 00:11:12.397 --> 00:11:16.268
  • 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
  • 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:25.010
  • 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
  • 00:11:31.083 --> 00:11:32.184
  • 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.
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  • 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.
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