Behnam Ben Taleblu joins Allen Jackson to discuss current events.
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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: NATO Summit | Allen Jackson Now | July 10, 2026
- I'm. good evening, and welcome to nashville.
- 00:00:00.058 --> 00:00:24.349
- I'm alan jackson.
- 00:00:24.349 --> 00:00:25.917
- The images coming out of tehran were impossible to miss.
- 00:00:25.917 --> 00:00:29.254
- Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets as iran
- 00:00:29.254 --> 00:00:32.257
- Buried its longtime supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei.
- 00:00:32.257 --> 00:00:37.095
- State television broadcasts scenes of grieving crowds,
- 00:00:37.095 --> 00:00:40.232
- Military commanders, mullahs and representatives
- 00:00:40.232 --> 00:00:42.634
- From iranian backed terror groups.
- 00:00:42.634 --> 00:00:44.803
- Hezbollah, hamas and the houthis.
- 00:00:44.803 --> 00:00:47.572
- The islamic republic, one of the world to see a nation
- 00:00:47.572 --> 00:00:50.342
- United and a government firmly in control.
- 00:00:50.342 --> 00:00:53.612
- But appearances can be deceiving because these same streets
- 00:00:53.612 --> 00:00:56.915
- Look very different. just six months ago.
- 00:00:56.915 --> 00:00:59.351
- They were filled with ordinary
- 00:00:59.351 --> 00:01:00.685
- Iranians openly challenging the regime.
- 00:01:00.685 --> 00:01:03.889
- What happened next was simply hard to believe.
- 00:01:03.889 --> 00:01:07.225
- A coordinated, brutal crackdown as regime security
- 00:01:07.225 --> 00:01:09.928
- Forces used overwhelming force to crush dissent.
- 00:01:09.928 --> 00:01:13.431
- In a matter of just days, 54,000
- 00:01:13.431 --> 00:01:16.401
- Innocent citizens were killed in the blood soaked streets.
- 00:01:16.401 --> 00:01:19.437
- Reports emerged of doctors
- 00:01:19.437 --> 00:01:20.939
- Being threatened for treating the wounded.
- 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:23.008
- Hospitals and morgues were monitored by security forces.
- 00:01:23.008 --> 00:01:26.745
- Even in death, the regime intimidated grieving families.
- 00:01:26.745 --> 00:01:30.148
- The flow of information to the outside world
- 00:01:30.148 --> 00:01:32.551
- Was cut off when internet access was disrupted.
- 00:01:32.551 --> 00:01:36.087
- Sadly, much of the world's attention moved on before
- 00:01:36.087 --> 00:01:38.623
- The full scope of the crackdown could be understood.
- 00:01:38.623 --> 00:01:41.960
- Well, now the cameras are welcome again.
- 00:01:41.960 --> 00:01:44.095
- Foreign media
- 00:01:44.095 --> 00:01:45.363
- Personalities and influencers have been invited into tehran
- 00:01:45.363 --> 00:01:48.133
- To witness a carefully choreographed event.
- 00:01:48.133 --> 00:01:51.636
- Why was the world invited to watch the funeral,
- 00:01:51.636 --> 00:01:53.905
- But not invited to witness what happened
- 00:01:53.905 --> 00:01:55.674
- When innocent iranians
- 00:01:55.674 --> 00:01:56.875
- Filled these same streets asking for change?
- 00:01:56.875 --> 00:02:00.178
- Well, every few years, the world begins asking
- 00:02:00.178 --> 00:02:02.480
- Whether this is
- 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:03.014
- Finally the moment
- 00:02:03.014 --> 00:02:04.249
- When lasting peace with the islamic regime is within reach.
- 00:02:04.249 --> 00:02:07.485
- But before we ask whether iran is willing
- 00:02:07.485 --> 00:02:09.387
- To make peace with nations,
- 00:02:09.387 --> 00:02:11.122
- Perhaps we should ask what its treatment of its own people
- 00:02:11.122 --> 00:02:13.758
- Reveals about the character of the regime itself.
- 00:02:13.758 --> 00:02:16.761
- 47 years ago, iran had a revolution.
- 00:02:17.562 --> 00:02:20.599
- It replaced a us allied monarchy with an anti-american,
- 00:02:20.599 --> 00:02:24.302
- Anti-semitic islamic regime.
- 00:02:24.302 --> 00:02:27.372
- Before the islamic revolution,
- 00:02:27.372 --> 00:02:29.007
- Iran was a modern, thriving society.
- 00:02:29.007 --> 00:02:31.276
- Its cities were vibrant.
- 00:02:31.276 --> 00:02:32.611
- It was a hub of art, education and open commerce.
- 00:02:32.611 --> 00:02:36.047
- The islamic revolution shattered that reality.
- 00:02:36.047 --> 00:02:38.817
- Evil leaders replaced
- 00:02:38.817 --> 00:02:39.884
- Liberty with repression and silencing dissent.
- 00:02:39.884 --> 00:02:43.054
- And even now, with all the pressure that the u.s.
- 00:02:43.054 --> 00:02:45.056
- And israel put on iran
- 00:02:45.056 --> 00:02:46.558
- With wave after wave of devastating attacks this year,
- 00:02:46.558 --> 00:02:49.794
- The islamic regime in iran is still plotting,
- 00:02:49.794 --> 00:02:52.497
- Still actively targeting innocent people.
- 00:02:52.497 --> 00:02:55.967
- The uncomfortable reality for the people
- 00:02:55.967 --> 00:02:57.702
- That want to allow the islamic regime to stay in power
- 00:02:57.702 --> 00:03:00.572
- Is that iran's leaders, they don't want to stop killing.
- 00:03:00.572 --> 00:03:04.209
- Perhaps these pseudo intellectuals are seduced
- 00:03:04.209 --> 00:03:06.611
- By the notion of peaceful islam, while completely ignoring
- 00:03:06.611 --> 00:03:10.015
- The authoritarian, dictatorial, brutal violence
- 00:03:10.015 --> 00:03:13.084
- Taking place against its own citizens.
- 00:03:13.084 --> 00:03:15.787
- Evil under the guise of islam is hunting people in the earth.
- 00:03:15.787 --> 00:03:18.923
- These days
- 00:03:18.923 --> 00:03:19.991
- It's hunting
- 00:03:19.991 --> 00:03:21.092
- Even their own people, their own sons and daughters.
- 00:03:21.092 --> 00:03:23.828
- I know we don't like to talk about it.
- 00:03:23.828 --> 00:03:25.563
- People say, well, you shouldn't say that.
- 00:03:25.563 --> 00:03:27.232
- It's political. it's not political.
- 00:03:27.232 --> 00:03:29.467
- We're just describing reality that we all observe.
- 00:03:29.467 --> 00:03:32.537
- Peace loving nations must remove the opportunity
- 00:03:32.537 --> 00:03:34.839
- To kill from them.
- 00:03:34.839 --> 00:03:36.441
- I believe one of the reasons that the conflict in iran stays
- 00:03:36.441 --> 00:03:38.943
- Seemingly unresolved is that there's
- 00:03:38.943 --> 00:03:40.979
- A group of believers there that are praying.
- 00:03:40.979 --> 00:03:43.782
- I believe god's intent is to bring freedom to those people.
- 00:03:43.782 --> 00:03:46.985
- I don't know how that will happen.
- 00:03:46.985 --> 00:03:48.186
- But i do pray that they'll have
- 00:03:48.186 --> 00:03:49.621
- The freedom in the streets of tehran
- 00:03:49.621 --> 00:03:51.489
- And the other cities in that nation
- 00:03:51.489 --> 00:03:53.425
- To talk about jesus without fear of reprisal.
- 00:03:53.425 --> 00:03:56.861
- That would be a miracle in the middle east
- 00:03:56.861 --> 00:03:58.496
- Among the muslim nations.
- 00:03:58.496 --> 00:04:00.065
- It would be an anomaly amongst the muslim nations.
- 00:04:00.065 --> 00:04:03.001
- But our god specializes in miracles and anomalies.
- 00:04:03.001 --> 00:04:07.105
- Empires rise and fall and the social context changes.
- 00:04:07.105 --> 00:04:10.975
- But the church of jesus christ continues forward.
- 00:04:10.975 --> 00:04:14.245
- Think of the empires that have come and gone
- 00:04:14.245 --> 00:04:16.214
- While the church has continued forward throughout the earth.
- 00:04:16.214 --> 00:04:19.517
- Roman emperors sometimes illuminated their garden parties
- 00:04:19.517 --> 00:04:22.387
- With christians dipped in tar and then set a fire.
- 00:04:22.387 --> 00:04:26.191
- Hitler's third reich executed dietrich bonhoeffer,
- 00:04:26.191 --> 00:04:29.260
- A german pastor, just two years after his book.
- 00:04:29.260 --> 00:04:31.896
- The cost of discipleship was printed
- 00:04:31.896 --> 00:04:34.466
- Today.
- 00:04:34.666 --> 00:04:35.633
- House churches in iran, they meet in secret,
- 00:04:35.633 --> 00:04:37.736
- And reports are that they're growing rapidly.
- 00:04:37.736 --> 00:04:40.105
- There's something humbling about that scenario
- 00:04:40.105 --> 00:04:43.508
- Through unthinkable hardship and harsh opposition.
- 00:04:43.508 --> 00:04:46.411
- God continues to move.
- 00:04:46.411 --> 00:04:48.346
- The message of redemption through jesus christ is shared
- 00:04:48.346 --> 00:04:51.316
- And believed.
- 00:04:51.316 --> 00:04:52.384
- Whether on a riverbank or in a house, the prison cell
- 00:04:52.384 --> 00:04:55.420
- Or a beautiful building,
- 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:57.021
- And the church continues to gain strength.
- 00:04:57.021 --> 00:04:59.791
- Every believer in jesus of nazareth carries
- 00:04:59.791 --> 00:05:02.193
- The same assignment.
- 00:05:02.193 --> 00:05:03.294
- Does it matter about our generation or our context?
- 00:05:03.294 --> 00:05:06.297
- Lets be known as a person who faithfully lived for god,
- 00:05:06.297 --> 00:05:09.434
- And let's ask him to show us what that means.
- 00:05:09.434 --> 00:05:11.636
- That our day to day life. if we'll do that.
- 00:05:11.636 --> 00:05:14.305
- I assure you there's more reason for hope than despair.
- 00:05:14.305 --> 00:05:18.042
- Well, in a moment, someone who has spent years
- 00:05:19.010 --> 00:05:20.779
- Studying the iranian regime, its ideology
- 00:05:20.779 --> 00:05:23.515
- And its long term ambitions,
- 00:05:23.515 --> 00:05:25.583
- Behnam bin talal blue is the senior fellow
- 00:05:25.583 --> 00:05:27.852
- At the foundation for the defense of democracy.
- 00:05:27.852 --> 00:05:30.522
- And he joins us next. i'll be right back.
- 00:05:30.522 --> 00:05:41.008
- And he joins us next. i'll be right back.
- 00:05:41.008 --> 00:05:46.876
- Tonight, we're joined by the senior fellow
- 00:05:47.744 --> 00:05:49.646
- With the foundation for the defense of democracies,
- 00:05:49.646 --> 00:05:52.348
- Behnam bin talal.
- 00:05:52.348 --> 00:05:53.650
- Welcome to the show, behnam.
- 00:05:53.650 --> 00:05:55.785
- Great to be with you.
- 00:05:55.785 --> 00:05:57.220
- Now we're coming off the nato summit in turkey,
- 00:05:57.220 --> 00:05:59.355
- Where president trump was met
- 00:05:59.355 --> 00:06:00.723
- With a great deal of pomp and circumstance
- 00:06:00.723 --> 00:06:03.793
- By the president of turkey, president erdogan.
- 00:06:03.793 --> 00:06:06.529
- What was your takeaway from the summit?
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- You know, i've long said style has a substance of its own.
- 00:06:09.632 --> 00:06:13.603
- And while
- 00:06:13.603 --> 00:06:14.804
- I think this summit was urgent and important and necessary
- 00:06:14.804 --> 00:06:17.440
- In so many ways, it was,
- 00:06:17.974 --> 00:06:19.476
- Overshadowed by regional events, the fact that,
- 00:06:19.476 --> 00:06:23.012
- You had the syrian president there and, you know, obviously,
- 00:06:23.012 --> 00:06:25.615
- Syria is not a nato country, but there is a debate over,
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- Removing it from the state sponsor of terrorism.
- 00:06:29.252 --> 00:06:31.621
- This something that,
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- Certainly president erdogan of turkey,
- 00:06:33.289 --> 00:06:35.091
- Which is his partner, wants.
- 00:06:35.091 --> 00:06:36.926
- There's the larger conflict
- 00:06:36.926 --> 00:06:38.061
- With the islamic republic of iran next door.
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- And then there's the issue,
- 00:06:40.396 --> 00:06:41.297
- Perennially, of nato spending and u.s.
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- Policy, towards the russia-ukraine war.
- 00:06:43.233 --> 00:06:46.002
- But perhaps most importantly, and reading
- 00:06:46.002 --> 00:06:48.271
- Between the lines was the host country
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- And the style there
- 00:06:50.673 --> 00:06:51.841
- The pomp and circumstance offered to the president,
- 00:06:51.841 --> 00:06:53.877
- I fear, was designed to lull america and embarrass kids
- 00:06:53.877 --> 00:06:57.780
- And the american president into a false sense of security,
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- But where the u.s.
- 00:07:00.884 --> 00:07:01.784
- Turkey relationship is headed,
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- Given that country's past
- 00:07:03.820 --> 00:07:05.188
- Purchase of russian air defenses, a desire
- 00:07:05.188 --> 00:07:07.490
- To kind of get around american sanctions
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- And get back into the f-35 program.
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- So, i think, the turks are trying to like softball.
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- They try to soften up america,
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- When it comes to those programs and those sanctions.
- 00:07:19.869 --> 00:07:22.405
- Well, over the weekend, we saw the pictures
- 00:07:23.273 --> 00:07:25.408
- Of the iranian state funeral for the dead ayatollah.
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- It was really remarkable.
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- It was quite a spectacle with the streets filled with people.
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- It was just six months ago when those same streets
- 00:07:32.749 --> 00:07:34.717
- Were filled with iranian citizens protesting the regime.
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- Which of those two pictures
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- Is the most accurate representation
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- Of the attitude of the people there?
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- Well, no doubt even a despotic, autocratic islamist regime
- 00:07:43.993 --> 00:07:47.797
- Get out supporters.
- 00:07:47.797 --> 00:07:48.765
- But that support has long
- 00:07:48.765 --> 00:07:49.966
- Been believed to be in the 10 to 15 to at max, 20%.
- 00:07:49.966 --> 00:07:53.970
- You know what the regime wanted with the funeral.
- 00:07:53.970 --> 00:07:56.072
- Again, this is a funeral that is still ongoing.
- 00:07:56.072 --> 00:07:58.274
- It's in not one but at least three cities inside
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- Iran and two cities inside neighboring iraq, by the way,
- 00:08:01.644 --> 00:08:05.048
- Which is always very more
- 00:08:05.615 --> 00:08:06.616
- That interesting when you have to have a leader
- 00:08:06.616 --> 00:08:08.184
- For a leader's body moved to a foreign country
- 00:08:08.184 --> 00:08:11.120
- To draw a bigger crowd that you get at home at.
- 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.489
- That tells you a lot
- 00:08:13.489 --> 00:08:14.357
- About the leader's lack of popularity
- 00:08:14.357 --> 00:08:16.626
- And the regime's lack of popularity.
- 00:08:16.626 --> 00:08:18.194
- But this is a regime that waited 126 days,
- 00:08:18.194 --> 00:08:23.066
- Where in islam, just like in judaism,
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- We have to bury the body right after.
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- And it weighed 126 days because it sheared.
- 00:08:27.370 --> 00:08:31.040
- What would happen if there was a burial at sea?
- 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:33.109
- Or what would happen if there was a funeral?
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- I feared if,
- 00:08:34.611 --> 00:08:35.845
- The americans in the israelis would strike them and also fear
- 00:08:35.845 --> 00:08:38.715
- The popular
- 00:08:38.715 --> 00:08:39.415
- Anger, the popular backlash,
- 00:08:39.415 --> 00:08:41.084
- And what this regime is trying to get you to do
- 00:08:41.084 --> 00:08:43.286
- Is forget about the slaughter of 40,000 iranians,
- 00:08:43.286 --> 00:08:47.523
- In the month of january by having these images,
- 00:08:47.523 --> 00:08:50.026
- Which, by the way,
- 00:08:50.026 --> 00:08:51.160
- If you zoom out some streets
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- And see some different geographies,
- 00:08:52.695 --> 00:08:54.864
- It doesn't seem to be the crowd
- 00:08:54.864 --> 00:08:56.132
- That they're making it out to be.
- 00:08:56.132 --> 00:08:57.700
- And perhaps most importantly, we have to realize
- 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:59.602
- With the economy, like the islamic republic's,
- 00:08:59.602 --> 00:09:02.105
- Which is a borderline failed state with foodstuffs
- 00:09:02.105 --> 00:09:05.208
- And inflation prices, that inflation driving that food
- 00:09:05.208 --> 00:09:08.211
- Stuffs that, over 140% for basic staples.
- 00:09:08.211 --> 00:09:12.682
- What this regime is handing out fruit and potatoes and bananas
- 00:09:12.682 --> 00:09:16.119
- And bread and eggs, just to get people to come out,
- 00:09:16.119 --> 00:09:20.089
- You kind of, to put two and two together as to,
- 00:09:20.089 --> 00:09:23.359
- What drove the baskets out there.
- 00:09:23.359 --> 00:09:25.762
- You know, i think just the casual
- 00:09:26.496 --> 00:09:27.730
- Observer of what's happening in iran just confused.
- 00:09:27.730 --> 00:09:30.800
- There's been a ceasefire in place since april,
- 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:32.735
- Which has been, for the most part,
- 00:09:32.735 --> 00:09:34.904
- Widely ignored, i think, by all parties.
- 00:09:34.904 --> 00:09:37.040
- But then there was an mou put in place,
- 00:09:37.040 --> 00:09:38.775
- Which was about a 60 day period for further negotiation.
- 00:09:38.775 --> 00:09:42.512
- Can you help us understand the difference in
- 00:09:42.512 --> 00:09:44.313
- If the mou is still
- 00:09:44.313 --> 00:09:45.648
- Actually in play, or how we'll know it's gone?
- 00:09:45.648 --> 00:09:48.818
- So i'm glad you mentioned the difference
- 00:09:48.818 --> 00:09:50.319
- Between these things, because there was a 40 day war,
- 00:09:50.319 --> 00:09:53.690
- A 67 day cease fire period, and an mou which was built
- 00:09:53.690 --> 00:09:57.593
- On top of the ceasefire period,
- 00:09:57.593 --> 00:09:59.495
- Which extends the cease fire
- 00:09:59.495 --> 00:10:01.030
- And creates 14 conditions to governance nationally,
- 00:10:01.030 --> 00:10:04.233
- The islamic republic violated the one thing that it was
- 00:10:04.233 --> 00:10:06.969
- Supposed to do
- 00:10:06.969 --> 00:10:08.104
- Under the mou, which was to keep the strait
- 00:10:08.104 --> 00:10:10.006
- Of hormuz open and not harass shipping.
- 00:10:10.006 --> 00:10:12.275
- And the us has been incrementally responding.
- 00:10:12.275 --> 00:10:14.510
- And so the iranians now have been attacking countries
- 00:10:14.510 --> 00:10:16.979
- Several times that host us base.
- 00:10:16.979 --> 00:10:18.915
- It's most recently bahrain.
- 00:10:18.915 --> 00:10:21.250
- Qatar, kuwait and even jordan,
- 00:10:21.250 --> 00:10:24.020
- Which is actually not an oil producer
- 00:10:24.020 --> 00:10:25.755
- And not in the persian gulf region.
- 00:10:25.755 --> 00:10:28.024
- So suffice to say, it is a very tenuous cease fire.
- 00:10:28.024 --> 00:10:31.761
- There's three ways to know that the mou is going to be totally,
- 00:10:31.761 --> 00:10:35.598
- Totally kaput.
- 00:10:35.598 --> 00:10:36.666
- Way number one is if the us restores the blockade
- 00:10:36.666 --> 00:10:40.870
- Way number two is if the us not restores sanctions,
- 00:10:40.870 --> 00:10:44.774
- But adds entirely new sanctions,
- 00:10:44.774 --> 00:10:48.111
- Against the islamic republic's economy.
- 00:10:48.111 --> 00:10:50.346
- And the third way is if the
- 00:10:50.346 --> 00:10:51.581
- Us breaks it in a sustained way, more foreign forces,
- 00:10:51.581 --> 00:10:55.551
- You know,
- 00:10:55.551 --> 00:10:56.185
- All three of these things
- 00:10:56.185 --> 00:10:57.320
- Were things that were supposed to be undone by the mou.
- 00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:59.922
- So if the us goes in the exact opposite direction, that's how,
- 00:10:59.922 --> 00:11:02.825
- You know, it's, totally pushed past the mou framework.
- 00:11:02.825 --> 00:11:06.229
- But with respect to the ceasefire, you know,
- 00:11:06.229 --> 00:11:08.731
- There is a new normal setting in unfortunately in the region,
- 00:11:08.731 --> 00:11:12.201
- Which means more, not less violence.
- 00:11:12.201 --> 00:11:14.036
- And despite,
- 00:11:14.036 --> 00:11:15.204
- However successful, israel and america have been ensuring
- 00:11:15.204 --> 00:11:18.441
- The military capabilities of the islamic republic.
- 00:11:18.441 --> 00:11:21.778
- This is a regime that might be less capable,
- 00:11:22.712 --> 00:11:25.314
- But sadly more confident and more hubristic,
- 00:11:25.314 --> 00:11:28.050
- Which means more, not less, escalation in the future.
- 00:11:28.050 --> 00:11:31.154
- What would be the most effective strategy
- 00:11:32.054 --> 00:11:34.223
- For trying to find a peaceful way through this with iran?
- 00:11:34.223 --> 00:11:37.426
- Well, with immense respect,
- 00:11:38.027 --> 00:11:39.428
- I don't think there is a peaceful way
- 00:11:39.428 --> 00:11:40.863
- Through with an adversary that is threatening death
- 00:11:40.863 --> 00:11:42.832
- To america, death
- 00:11:42.832 --> 00:11:43.833
- To israel for 47 years, and as a sitting bounty
- 00:11:43.833 --> 00:11:46.803
- And thought was against the current commander
- 00:11:46.803 --> 00:11:48.771
- In chief of the united states, there is no way out.
- 00:11:48.771 --> 00:11:51.140
- But through that we are only lucky as americans,
- 00:11:51.140 --> 00:11:54.443
- That there is such a dichotomy
- 00:11:54.443 --> 00:11:56.012
- In that country that can at least,
- 00:11:56.012 --> 00:11:58.080
- Politically benefit us morally, politically, strategically,
- 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:01.450
- That dichotomy is iran is home to the most anti-american
- 00:12:01.450 --> 00:12:05.521
- And the most anti-israeli governments
- 00:12:05.521 --> 00:12:07.557
- In the region, in the heartland of the muslim, at least.
- 00:12:07.557 --> 00:12:10.459
- But it is
- 00:12:10.459 --> 00:12:11.727
- Home to the most pro-american and most pro-israeli population,
- 00:12:11.727 --> 00:12:14.197
- In that part of the world.
- 00:12:14.764 --> 00:12:15.898
- And critically,
- 00:12:15.898 --> 00:12:16.899
- You don't have a lot of populations like that
- 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.534
- In that part of the world,
- 00:12:18.534 --> 00:12:19.602
- And you don't want it to become a waning asset.
- 00:12:19.602 --> 00:12:23.005
- So if peace, if long term stability,
- 00:12:23.005 --> 00:12:26.008
- Something we desire, we're going to have to understand
- 00:12:26.008 --> 00:12:28.044
- That it's going to be a bumpy road.
- 00:12:28.044 --> 00:12:29.312
- It's a bumpy road. it's not because different u.s.
- 00:12:29.312 --> 00:12:31.747
- Presidents have not sought peaceful political, diplomatic
- 00:12:31.747 --> 00:12:34.817
- Accommodations, with the islamic republic.
- 00:12:34.817 --> 00:12:37.987
- They have.
- 00:12:37.987 --> 00:12:38.921
- The problem is that the history shows that
- 00:12:38.921 --> 00:12:40.289
- All that has backfired
- 00:12:40.289 --> 00:12:41.958
- And it's backfired, because this is a regime
- 00:12:41.958 --> 00:12:43.659
- That means what it says.
- 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:45.294
- So i think, again, there is no way out
- 00:12:45.294 --> 00:12:46.796
- But through so and so long as america doesn't,
- 00:12:46.796 --> 00:12:49.966
- Devise a strategy that is designed to take down
- 00:12:49.966 --> 00:12:52.835
- And target the regime and build up and empower
- 00:12:52.835 --> 00:12:55.238
- The population, we're going to be back
- 00:12:55.238 --> 00:12:57.406
- Where we started in some form or another,
- 00:12:57.406 --> 00:12:59.475
- Just with more time and more cost, sadly.
- 00:12:59.475 --> 00:13:02.478
- And just to clarify, a fatwa is a call for the execution
- 00:13:02.478 --> 00:13:05.314
- Of someone right?
- 00:13:05.314 --> 00:13:06.582
- Foreign was really just ruling,
- 00:13:07.216 --> 00:13:09.151
- And in the one,
- 00:13:09.151 --> 00:13:10.253
- That they issued against the president,
- 00:13:10.253 --> 00:13:11.654
- The clerical establishment after the june war last year,
- 00:13:11.654 --> 00:13:14.724
- Issued one against the president,
- 00:13:14.724 --> 00:13:16.959
- Calling his blood legal or permissible to be spilled.
- 00:13:16.959 --> 00:13:20.229
- They issued it against his businesses to be appropriated
- 00:13:20.229 --> 00:13:23.432
- And even against the members of his family,
- 00:13:23.432 --> 00:13:25.101
- Basically to be captured and sold into slavery.
- 00:13:25.101 --> 00:13:28.170
- And we need to take a short break.
- 00:13:28.905 --> 00:13:30.206
- Will you stand by for another segment?
- 00:13:30.206 --> 00:13:32.909
- Yes, sir.
- 00:13:32.909 --> 00:13:34.110
- For those of you watching, if you've got a phone nearby,
- 00:13:34.110 --> 00:13:36.245
- Log on to aj now.com.
- 00:13:36.245 --> 00:13:37.947
- Send us an email with your thoughts on these topics.
- 00:13:37.947 --> 00:13:40.683
- We'll be right back.
- 00:13:40.683 --> 00:13:49.014
- We'll be right back.
- 00:13:49.014 --> 00:13:53.699
- Okay.
- 00:13:53.933 --> 00:13:55.968
- We're back now with ben and ben blue.
- 00:13:55.968 --> 00:13:58.137
- He's from the foundation for the defense of democracies,
- 00:13:58.137 --> 00:14:01.473
- But it seems that many have the opinion
- 00:14:01.473 --> 00:14:03.342
- That negotiating with iran is just an exercise in futility.
- 00:14:03.342 --> 00:14:06.979
- Do you have an opinion?
- 00:14:07.479 --> 00:14:09.715
- I fear at this point it is,
- 00:14:10.316 --> 00:14:12.551
- You know, that doesn't mean that the diplomatic option
- 00:14:12.551 --> 00:14:14.853
- Is not an option
- 00:14:14.853 --> 00:14:15.888
- That the us will be pursuing in the short term.
- 00:14:15.888 --> 00:14:18.791
- But ultimately, i think that there is no,
- 00:14:18.791 --> 00:14:21.160
- Diplomatic off ramp, to this crisis.
- 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:24.163
- There's ways to do conflict.
- 00:14:24.163 --> 00:14:26.131
- But there is no larger deal to be had where the juice is
- 00:14:26.131 --> 00:14:29.001
- Worth the squeeze on the nuclear response.
- 00:14:29.001 --> 00:14:31.437
- You know, the u.s.
- 00:14:31.437 --> 00:14:32.504
- Has achieved more practically, militarily than it did
- 00:14:32.504 --> 00:14:35.507
- With about two decades of diplomacy and sanctions.
- 00:14:35.507 --> 00:14:38.510
- And the same, unfortunately, could be said
- 00:14:38.510 --> 00:14:40.212
- With the other threats as you go down the list.
- 00:14:40.212 --> 00:14:43.349
- You know, we hear repeatedly about how
- 00:14:43.349 --> 00:14:45.250
- The iranian military ability has been diminished.
- 00:14:45.250 --> 00:14:48.454
- Do you have any sense of what capabilities
- 00:14:48.454 --> 00:14:49.922
- They truly do have left at this point?
- 00:14:49.922 --> 00:14:52.558
- You know, you use the d
- 00:14:53.058 --> 00:14:54.326
- Word and those critical other d words for audience to know.
- 00:14:54.326 --> 00:14:57.496
- There's diminished, there's degraded, there's destroyed,
- 00:14:57.496 --> 00:15:01.567
- And there's certain capabilities that they have
- 00:15:01.567 --> 00:15:03.969
- That are more akin to being handicapped,
- 00:15:03.969 --> 00:15:06.972
- That have been, that are and less akin
- 00:15:06.972 --> 00:15:09.308
- To being taken off the table completely.
- 00:15:09.308 --> 00:15:11.577
- For example, that conventional navy
- 00:15:11.577 --> 00:15:13.512
- Seems to have been taken off the table completely.
- 00:15:13.512 --> 00:15:16.448
- But with respect to the smaller fast attack craft,
- 00:15:16.448 --> 00:15:19.118
- The islamic revolutionary guard corps, navy that has anti-ship
- 00:15:19.118 --> 00:15:22.388
- Cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, drones,
- 00:15:22.388 --> 00:15:25.491
- And these smaller suicide boats
- 00:15:25.491 --> 00:15:27.493
- And unmanned underwater vehicles,
- 00:15:27.493 --> 00:15:29.928
- Elements of that threat, unfortunately, still persist.
- 00:15:29.928 --> 00:15:33.132
- The same with respect to its domestic ballistic missiles.
- 00:15:33.132 --> 00:15:36.502
- Us intelligence community has said for a very long time
- 00:15:36.502 --> 00:15:39.004
- That on his farm to the largest
- 00:15:39.004 --> 00:15:40.606
- Ballistic missiles arsenal in the middle east.
- 00:15:40.606 --> 00:15:42.808
- And while the us and israel have really given a pounding
- 00:15:42.808 --> 00:15:45.778
- To the production
- 00:15:45.778 --> 00:15:47.012
- Capacity for future domestic missile production potential,
- 00:15:47.012 --> 00:15:50.482
- The regime is digging out the missile bases
- 00:15:50.482 --> 00:15:52.584
- That were struck
- 00:15:52.584 --> 00:15:53.819
- To be able to unearth and pick back up elements of its arsenal.
- 00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:57.089
- So what i would say this regime's
- 00:15:57.089 --> 00:15:58.924
- Military capabilities have been trimmed.
- 00:15:58.924 --> 00:16:01.560
- It's still as fe.
- 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.795
- So if there's an operating logic that we need to understand,
- 00:16:02.795 --> 00:16:06.799
- About the threat today,
- 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.100
- It might sound like a contradictory one,
- 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.968
- But it's the most accurate, which is,
- 00:16:09.968 --> 00:16:12.104
- You know, this is a regime that was.
- 00:16:12.104 --> 00:16:13.205
- Capabilities are down.
- 00:16:13.205 --> 00:16:15.240
- But it is certainly not at.
- 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:17.076
- Well, president trump, not surprisingly,
- 00:16:17.910 --> 00:16:19.478
- He's had a lot to say about iran in recent days.
- 00:16:19.478 --> 00:16:22.114
- Listen to these comments.
- 00:16:22.114 --> 00:16:23.215
- I want to ask a question.
- 00:16:23.215 --> 00:16:25.250
- I went in for one reason very strongly,
- 00:16:25.250 --> 00:16:28.754
- That iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
- 00:16:28.754 --> 00:16:31.890
- I'm not looking for regime change.
- 00:16:31.890 --> 00:16:33.659
- Although this is regime change.
- 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:35.027
- The first regime is gone.
- 00:16:35.027 --> 00:16:37.196
- The second regime is gone.
- 00:16:37.196 --> 00:16:39.498
- And i think the third regime is more reasonable.
- 00:16:39.498 --> 00:16:41.867
- But we'll find out.
- 00:16:41.867 --> 00:16:44.169
- You know, i've heard several commentators suggest
- 00:16:44.169 --> 00:16:46.805
- That the people of iran would take to the streets.
- 00:16:46.805 --> 00:16:48.807
- And that posed the question about perhaps why they haven't.
- 00:16:48.807 --> 00:16:51.910
- Can you help us understand that a bit?
- 00:16:51.910 --> 00:16:54.379
- Sure.
- 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.481
- I would just tell them to widen the aperture a bit.
- 00:16:55.481 --> 00:16:57.149
- You know, the people of iran went to the streets
- 00:16:57.149 --> 00:16:58.917
- In the millions in january and stayed on the streets
- 00:16:58.917 --> 00:17:01.220
- Because the president promised them
- 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.988
- Not once, but at least 8 or 9 times,
- 00:17:02.988 --> 00:17:05.290
- Depending on how you can drive the red line of the sand,
- 00:17:05.290 --> 00:17:07.993
- Trying them to take over their institutions down there.
- 00:17:07.993 --> 00:17:10.195
- But help was on their way.
- 00:17:10.195 --> 00:17:11.663
- The slaughter, the scale, the scope of the slaughter.
- 00:17:11.663 --> 00:17:15.000
- Unfortunately, i have to go back to the events of world war two
- 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.137
- And the holocaust.
- 00:17:18.137 --> 00:17:19.538
- To be able to find comparisons and scale, scope
- 00:17:19.538 --> 00:17:22.541
- And speed, of the states and violence against the street,
- 00:17:22.541 --> 00:17:26.078
- Against society.
- 00:17:26.078 --> 00:17:27.012
- So, no one comes out to protest in the war.
- 00:17:27.012 --> 00:17:29.915
- But people often do come out once the fog of war dissipates.
- 00:17:29.915 --> 00:17:33.752
- Remember, it only took six months
- 00:17:33.752 --> 00:17:35.921
- After the june after the june strikes, the 12 day war in 2025
- 00:17:35.921 --> 00:17:40.425
- For a protest to materialize, at the end of december 2025.
- 00:17:40.425 --> 00:17:44.997
- And at the front of 2026,
- 00:17:44.997 --> 00:17:46.765
- Which is part of the larger cycle that got us here.
- 00:17:46.765 --> 00:17:49.568
- So i would say the matter of protests
- 00:17:49.568 --> 00:17:51.370
- In the islamic republic is a matter of when, not if,
- 00:17:51.370 --> 00:17:54.373
- Because deal or no deal or no war.
- 00:17:54.373 --> 00:17:57.042
- That was a state that was heading towards
- 00:17:57.042 --> 00:17:58.810
- Failed state status anyway.
- 00:17:58.810 --> 00:18:00.546
- We've been layers of the leadership taken out
- 00:18:01.513 --> 00:18:03.549
- And, as you've said,
- 00:18:03.549 --> 00:18:04.683
- A serious degradation of their military capabilities.
- 00:18:04.683 --> 00:18:07.319
- What would have to happen in iran to open that door
- 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:11.623
- More broadly for regime change?
- 00:18:11.623 --> 00:18:15.761
- Well, for political change, you're going to have to have
- 00:18:15.761 --> 00:18:17.996
- A lot more done.
- 00:18:17.996 --> 00:18:18.864
- You're going to have to have
- 00:18:18.864 --> 00:18:19.631
- In terms of targeting, for example,
- 00:18:19.631 --> 00:18:21.767
- Be it from israel, america, or others, entirely
- 00:18:21.767 --> 00:18:24.436
- Targeting of the repression apparatus,
- 00:18:24.436 --> 00:18:26.338
- Meaning that folks at the top have to fear
- 00:18:26.338 --> 00:18:29.007
- That the folks in the middle and the folks at the bottom,
- 00:18:29.007 --> 00:18:31.843
- In terms of the state, in terms of the government,
- 00:18:31.843 --> 00:18:34.279
- In terms of the reach of the security forces,
- 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.648
- That there might not be a middle
- 00:18:36.648 --> 00:18:38.183
- Or that the folks at the bottom will dissect.
- 00:18:38.183 --> 00:18:40.552
- So the u.s.
- 00:18:40.552 --> 00:18:41.787
- Intelligence community really needs to be unleashed here.
- 00:18:41.787 --> 00:18:44.089
- These rallies really need to be unleashed here,
- 00:18:44.089 --> 00:18:47.059
- To be able to really strike at the apparatus of repression,
- 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:50.562
- You know, gutting iran's conventional
- 00:18:50.562 --> 00:18:52.297
- Navy does nothing to empower iranian protesters.
- 00:18:52.297 --> 00:18:55.300
- But, you know, perhaps going against the regime's,
- 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:58.537
- You know, repression apparatus, police forces,
- 00:18:58.537 --> 00:19:00.939
- Things like that,
- 00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:02.174
- That could really change the balance entirely,
- 00:19:02.174 --> 00:19:04.409
- So long as the u.s.
- 00:19:04.409 --> 00:19:05.510
- And these really still have a targeted campaign
- 00:19:05.510 --> 00:19:07.913
- Against those forces, i think, unfortunately, will be back,
- 00:19:07.913 --> 00:19:11.550
- Seeing this will be again and again and again.
- 00:19:11.550 --> 00:19:14.353
- Additionally, of course, there's,
- 00:19:14.353 --> 00:19:15.988
- You know,
- 00:19:15.988 --> 00:19:16.855
- Defections of defections from the top
- 00:19:16.855 --> 00:19:18.724
- Need to squeeze the elites
- 00:19:18.724 --> 00:19:20.125
- To make sure that
- 00:19:20.125 --> 00:19:21.159
- Their selfishness,
- 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.361
- Their desire for survival, takes over so that, you know,
- 00:19:22.361 --> 00:19:25.264
- That they will fight among one another and that the u.s.
- 00:19:25.264 --> 00:19:27.799
- And others can take advantage of those fights.
- 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:30.569
- You're unfortunately
- 00:19:30.569 --> 00:19:31.570
- Seeing quite a bit of cohesion at the very top,
- 00:19:31.570 --> 00:19:33.972
- Right now, of that system.
- 00:19:33.972 --> 00:19:35.907
- Well, there are many of us praying that the iranian people
- 00:19:37.042 --> 00:19:39.778
- Will find an opportunity for peace and freedom
- 00:19:39.778 --> 00:19:43.015
- In their lives in a way they haven't known for decades.
- 00:19:43.015 --> 00:19:45.317
- But, thank you for your time today.
- 00:19:45.317 --> 00:19:46.985
- You have helped bring some clarity
- 00:19:46.985 --> 00:19:48.320
- To a pretty confusing set of circumstances.
- 00:19:48.320 --> 00:19:50.956
- Thank you so much.
- 00:19:50.956 --> 00:19:52.591
- We'll be back in a moment with your emails.
- 00:19:52.591 --> 00:20:03.009
- We'll be back in a moment with your emails.
- 00:20:03.009 --> 00:20:05.498
- You say?
- 00:20:05.765 --> 00:20:09.101
- Thank you for spending a few moments of your day with us.
- 00:20:10.236 --> 00:20:12.905
- Just a reminder, if you ever miss a live
- 00:20:12.905 --> 00:20:14.273
- Broadcast, you can always go to aj now.com.
- 00:20:14.273 --> 00:20:17.009
- There's a full archive there of all the programs.
- 00:20:17.009 --> 00:20:19.879
- You can watch them at your leisure.
- 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:21.380
- They're easy to share with a friend.
- 00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:23.182
- Thanks for your emails.
- 00:20:23.182 --> 00:20:24.650
- Sandy earle from tennessee wrote, pastor,
- 00:20:24.650 --> 00:20:27.019
- The percentage of christians
- 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.688
- Who do not exercise the civil privilege of voting astounds me.
- 00:20:28.688 --> 00:20:32.591
- It's a gift of god we've taken for granted.
- 00:20:32.591 --> 00:20:34.427
- Shame on those christians who are too lazy to vote.
- 00:20:34.427 --> 00:20:37.196
- This brought about discouragement and complacency
- 00:20:37.196 --> 00:20:39.665
- In our children who have borne the brunt of this.
- 00:20:39.665 --> 00:20:42.301
- Sandy, i agree.
- 00:20:42.301 --> 00:20:43.969
- And just a gentle reminder to everybody.
- 00:20:43.969 --> 00:20:45.971
- Unless jesus is on the ballot, our voting choices
- 00:20:45.971 --> 00:20:49.709
- Are always a less than perfect choice.
- 00:20:49.709 --> 00:20:52.778
- Participate in the process anyway.
- 00:20:52.778 --> 00:20:55.114
- Alan g in texas and you spell your name right.
- 00:20:56.015 --> 00:20:59.018
- Alan. good for you.
- 00:20:59.018 --> 00:21:00.353
- Greetings, pastor alan.
- 00:21:00.353 --> 00:21:01.487
- Thanks to dodge and honest outlets like yours.
- 00:21:01.487 --> 00:21:04.457
- We've heard a lot about waste, fraud, and abuse.
- 00:21:04.457 --> 00:21:07.193
- A word that is seemingly avoided in these discussions is graft.
- 00:21:07.193 --> 00:21:11.430
- Wouldn't another federal acronym fit
- 00:21:11.430 --> 00:21:13.833
- Government officials ripping off america for trillions?
- 00:21:13.833 --> 00:21:17.536
- It fits.
- 00:21:17.803 --> 00:21:19.038
- We need to pray that our elected officials
- 00:21:19.038 --> 00:21:20.840
- Will lead by example and be above reproach,
- 00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:23.442
- Both ethically and morally.
- 00:21:23.442 --> 00:21:25.444
- Then we can make america godly again.
- 00:21:25.444 --> 00:21:28.714
- Well, alan, i like your ideas.
- 00:21:28.714 --> 00:21:31.117
- You know, if the idea of dodge and fraud is not clear to you,
- 00:21:31.117 --> 00:21:35.855
- Ask rabbi google to help you and look up the synonyms
- 00:21:35.855 --> 00:21:39.125
- For fraud.
- 00:21:39.125 --> 00:21:40.359
- You'll find a list of words that are not nearly as friendly.
- 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:42.695
- Stealing. theft. it's just wrong.
- 00:21:42.695 --> 00:21:46.031
- And then nina from texas.
- 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:48.300
- I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your thoughts
- 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:50.336
- And truth about what's going on in our country.
- 00:21:50.336 --> 00:21:52.738
- Also, i watch your sermons every week
- 00:21:52.738 --> 00:21:54.607
- As my husband does as well.
- 00:21:54.607 --> 00:21:56.342
- Someday we plan to come visit your church in tennessee.
- 00:21:56.342 --> 00:21:59.478
- It's on my list of places to visit.
- 00:21:59.478 --> 00:22:01.747
- God bless you. well, nina, thank you for that.
- 00:22:01.747 --> 00:22:04.417
- And i like the way you're thinking.
- 00:22:04.417 --> 00:22:05.818
- The grand canyon, the statue of liberty and world
- 00:22:05.818 --> 00:22:08.120
- Outreach church in murfreesboro makes perfect sense to me.
- 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:12.458
- God is moving in the earth, folks.
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- There are more reasons for hope than despair.
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- Don't give in to the clouds of fear and threat.
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- There is hope for what's ahead of us.
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- Thank you for spending a few moments with us.
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- God bless you.
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