Erick Stakelbeck covers the escalating protests in Iran against the oppressive regime, setting the stage for potential intervention by President Trump. With tensions rising and the Iranian people dreaming of freedom, the episode delves into critical discussions with Israel's ambassador to the United States, highlighting the historic partnership between Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. As geopolitical dynamics shift, alliances are tested, and bold decisions loom, viewers are drawn into a high-stakes narrative of power plays, global implications, and the pursuit of justice in the face of tyranny.
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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: HIstory in the Making | Stakelbeck Tonight | January 12, 2026
- I. welcome to stakelbeck tonight,
- 00:01:29.856 --> 00:00:04.758
- I'm erick stakelbeck and a red line has been crossed.
- 00:00:04.758 --> 00:00:09.629
- President trump vowed to intervene if iran's leaders
- 00:00:09.629 --> 00:00:13.166
- Began slaughtering their own people,
- 00:00:13.166 --> 00:00:15.502
- As anti-regime demonstrations continue to grow.
- 00:00:15.502 --> 00:00:18.905
- Yet iran's ayatollahs seem to be ignoring
- 00:00:18.905 --> 00:00:22.309
- The president's warning.
- 00:00:22.309 --> 00:00:23.610
- They have reportedly killed close to 700 people
- 00:00:23.610 --> 00:00:26.913
- Since protests erupted across the country 15 days ago,
- 00:00:26.913 --> 00:00:30.784
- And have completely shut down all internet access.
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- Now, this brutal crackdown has not silenced the courageous
- 00:00:34.721 --> 00:00:37.991
- Iranian people.
- 00:00:37.991 --> 00:00:39.192
- They remain out in the streets, in cities and towns across
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- Iran, calling for an end
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- To the evil regime that has brought them
- 00:00:44.831 --> 00:00:46.766
- Nothing but misery and tyranny for the past 47 years.
- 00:00:46.766 --> 00:00:51.605
- Iran's radical islamic government is weak and teetering
- 00:00:51.605 --> 00:00:55.408
- On the brink of collapse, and president trump may be ready
- 00:00:55.408 --> 00:00:58.678
- To deliver the final push that sends the regime
- 00:00:58.678 --> 00:01:01.882
- Into the ash heap of history where it belongs.
- 00:01:01.882 --> 00:01:05.352
- The president is said to be
- 00:01:05.352 --> 00:01:06.486
- Strongly considering following through on his warnings
- 00:01:06.486 --> 00:01:09.589
- And attacking iranian government and military targets.
- 00:01:09.589 --> 00:01:13.293
- Iran's leaders have been backed into a corner
- 00:01:13.293 --> 00:01:16.263
- And now suddenly they want to talk.
- 00:01:16.263 --> 00:01:19.733
- Watch iran wants to negotiate.
- 00:01:19.733 --> 00:01:23.103
- Yes, because we may meet with them.
- 00:01:23.103 --> 00:01:25.906
- I made this. the meeting is being set up,
- 00:01:25.906 --> 00:01:28.608
- But we may have to
- 00:01:29.042 --> 00:01:30.977
- Add, because of what's happening before the meeting.
- 00:01:30.977 --> 00:01:34.714
- But a meeting is being set up.
- 00:01:34.714 --> 00:01:36.650
- Iran called.
- 00:01:36.650 --> 00:01:37.417
- They want to negotiate.
- 00:01:37.417 --> 00:01:40.587
- Folks, any negotiation with iran that allows the current
- 00:01:40.587 --> 00:01:44.124
- Regime to remain in power is a big mistake.
- 00:01:44.124 --> 00:01:48.061
- This is the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism,
- 00:01:48.061 --> 00:01:51.565
- A scourge to its own people,
- 00:01:51.565 --> 00:01:53.733
- To the middle east and to the world.
- 00:01:53.733 --> 00:01:55.936
- For nearly a half a century, iran's ayatollahs have spread
- 00:01:55.936 --> 00:01:59.940
- Terror and mayhem from syria to lebanon
- 00:01:59.940 --> 00:02:03.076
- To iraq, yemen, gaza and beyond.
- 00:02:03.076 --> 00:02:05.979
- They've instigated
- 00:02:05.979 --> 00:02:07.080
- Wars, called for the destruction of america and israel,
- 00:02:07.080 --> 00:02:10.584
- And shed loads of innocent blood, including american blood.
- 00:02:10.584 --> 00:02:15.288
- A golden opportunity to rid the world of this great evil
- 00:02:15.288 --> 00:02:19.259
- And to liberate the iranian people now lies before us.
- 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:23.330
- If the united states can help push iran's mullahs
- 00:02:23.330 --> 00:02:26.833
- Out, the door
- 00:02:26.833 --> 00:02:28.068
- With no american boots on the ground, quick surgical strikes
- 00:02:28.068 --> 00:02:32.205
- Like we saw in venezuela last week and in iran back in june,
- 00:02:32.205 --> 00:02:35.976
- Then president trump may very well make that call.
- 00:02:35.976 --> 00:02:39.512
- In the meantime, the world
- 00:02:39.512 --> 00:02:41.548
- And the iranian people watch and wait.
- 00:02:41.548 --> 00:02:45.385
- It seems hard to believe today.
- 00:02:45.385 --> 00:02:46.953
- But prior to the 1979 revolution, iran had a close
- 00:02:46.953 --> 00:02:51.625
- Relationship with both the united states and israel.
- 00:02:51.625 --> 00:02:55.262
- Could those days soon return?
- 00:02:55.262 --> 00:02:58.198
- I sat down with israel's ambassador to the united states,
- 00:02:58.198 --> 00:03:01.101
- Shaquille leiter, to break down the biggest story
- 00:03:01.101 --> 00:03:04.371
- In the world, a potentially free iran.
- 00:03:04.371 --> 00:03:07.941
- And it all starts now.
- 00:03:07.941 --> 00:03:26.159
- The historic partnership between president trump
- 00:03:27.093 --> 00:03:29.763
- And prime minister netanyahu is off to a great start in 2026,
- 00:03:29.763 --> 00:03:34.000
- But what does the year hold for israel, america
- 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.737
- And the broader middle east?
- 00:03:37.737 --> 00:03:39.472
- Joining us now to break it down is shaquille
- 00:03:39.472 --> 00:03:41.241
- Leiter, israel's ambassador to the united states.
- 00:03:41.241 --> 00:03:43.977
- Ambassador, always great to see you.
- 00:03:43.977 --> 00:03:46.313
- Hey, big events unfolding right now in iran to start 2026.
- 00:03:46.313 --> 00:03:50.483
- We've got massive protests spreading to cities across iran.
- 00:03:50.483 --> 00:03:54.788
- Ambassador, this is a dream of a lot of us for the past 47
- 00:03:54.788 --> 00:03:57.524
- Years, possibly, and iran without this tyrannical regime.
- 00:03:57.524 --> 00:04:02.128
- What does this do if the ayatollahs fall
- 00:04:02.128 --> 00:04:05.298
- For the broader middle east and for the world?
- 00:04:05.298 --> 00:04:08.802
- First of all, eric, i want to express a smaller dream.
- 00:04:08.802 --> 00:04:11.938
- And that's actually to be here in your studio.
- 00:04:11.938 --> 00:04:14.274
- It's just absolutely immaculate.
- 00:04:14.274 --> 00:04:16.343
- Oh, great.
- 00:04:16.343 --> 00:04:17.444
- Having been together in jerusalem and in washington,
- 00:04:17.444 --> 00:04:18.912
- To be here with you in texas is just fantastic. yeah.
- 00:04:18.912 --> 00:04:21.915
- There's a lot of promise in the air.
- 00:04:22.682 --> 00:04:24.751
- The people of iran are rising up.
- 00:04:24.751 --> 00:04:27.087
- This is a people with a
- 00:04:27.087 --> 00:04:28.555
- Very long, brilliant history, a very rich culture
- 00:04:28.555 --> 00:04:31.658
- And civilization.
- 00:04:31.658 --> 00:04:32.525
- 92 million people
- 00:04:32.525 --> 00:04:34.027
- Who have been living under the boot
- 00:04:34.027 --> 00:04:36.196
- Of the mullahs, who have deprive them of
- 00:04:36.196 --> 00:04:39.065
- Their freedom over deprive them of water and electricity
- 00:04:39.065 --> 00:04:43.403
- In favor of funding terrorist organizations
- 00:04:43.403 --> 00:04:46.639
- Around the world from lebanon all the way to venezuela.
- 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:50.243
- And now the people are rising up.
- 00:04:50.243 --> 00:04:52.078
- Hopefully, they're going to get the support
- 00:04:52.078 --> 00:04:54.147
- Of everybody in the west and bring this regime down.
- 00:04:54.147 --> 00:04:57.417
- You know, after we operated together.
- 00:04:57.417 --> 00:05:00.053
- Israel and the united states on rising ly
- 00:05:00.053 --> 00:05:02.055
- And midnight hammer, we took out the,
- 00:05:02.055 --> 00:05:05.191
- Nuclear,
- 00:05:05.191 --> 00:05:06.960
- Weapon program that iran had the ballistic missile program.
- 00:05:06.960 --> 00:05:10.063
- And people said,
- 00:05:10.463 --> 00:05:11.498
- Why don't we continue and take out the regime?
- 00:05:11.498 --> 00:05:14.667
- And what we answered then at the time was exactly
- 00:05:14.667 --> 00:05:17.637
- What's happening now.
- 00:05:17.637 --> 00:05:18.405
- The people have to rise up.
- 00:05:18.405 --> 00:05:19.873
- The people have to express their will,
- 00:05:19.873 --> 00:05:21.608
- And that's what they're doing now.
- 00:05:21.608 --> 00:05:22.675
- They need our support.
- 00:05:22.675 --> 00:05:23.610
- And let's pray that they're successful. yeah.
- 00:05:23.610 --> 00:05:25.278
- For it
- 00:05:25.278 --> 00:05:26.279
- To happen organically, as you said, ambassador,
- 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:28.081
- Is absolutely preferable.
- 00:05:28.081 --> 00:05:29.849
- Hey, we had another pretty monumental event
- 00:05:29.849 --> 00:05:32.285
- Nicolas maduro being captured.
- 00:05:32.285 --> 00:05:34.020
- He's in shackles in new york right now.
- 00:05:34.020 --> 00:05:36.623
- Does that ambassador have some ripple effects
- 00:05:36.623 --> 00:05:39.159
- In the middle east at all?
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- I mean, iran has
- 00:05:40.427 --> 00:05:42.028
- Obviously very close relationship with maduro
- 00:05:42.028 --> 00:05:44.664
- And broader than that, maybe it just sends a message
- 00:05:44.664 --> 00:05:47.367
- To the ayatollahs that, look, you know, you're not safe.
- 00:05:47.367 --> 00:05:50.970
- Well, these things are not disconnected
- 00:05:50.970 --> 00:05:52.705
- In the international arena.
- 00:05:52.705 --> 00:05:53.940
- You know, we talk about globalization.
- 00:05:53.940 --> 00:05:55.875
- Well, sure.
- 00:05:55.875 --> 00:05:56.576
- You know, there are bad guys,
- 00:05:56.576 --> 00:05:57.777
- International arena that compare notes and operate together
- 00:05:57.777 --> 00:06:01.648
- And work to actually undermine western civilization.
- 00:06:01.648 --> 00:06:05.385
- Venezuela's in that orbit together with iran.
- 00:06:05.385 --> 00:06:08.588
- So anything that degrades the iranian proxies,
- 00:06:08.588 --> 00:06:12.692
- Whether it's hezbollah, hamas or the houthis,
- 00:06:12.692 --> 00:06:15.929
- Or whether it's a regime like a maduro regime,
- 00:06:15.929 --> 00:06:20.600
- Any degrading of that orbit is good for humanity.
- 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:23.903
- It's good for the good guys. yeah.
- 00:06:23.903 --> 00:06:26.206
- Give us a sense, ambassador
- 00:06:26.206 --> 00:06:27.574
- Of the state of play right now in iran.
- 00:06:27.574 --> 00:06:29.843
- Besides the protest, obviously
- 00:06:29.843 --> 00:06:31.945
- They're looking
- 00:06:31.945 --> 00:06:33.079
- To rebuild their ballistic missile program, no doubt.
- 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:35.515
- And then hezbollah to the north in southern
- 00:06:35.515 --> 00:06:37.383
- Lebanon, iran's chief proxy, also looking to rearm.
- 00:06:37.383 --> 00:06:40.653
- How concerned are you about that right now?
- 00:06:40.653 --> 00:06:42.689
- They've been degraded but haven't been defeated.
- 00:06:42.689 --> 00:06:44.557
- And it's not clear they're not going to try and reconstitute.
- 00:06:44.557 --> 00:06:47.260
- As a matter of fact, it's clear
- 00:06:47.260 --> 00:06:48.828
- That they're trying to reconstitute.
- 00:06:48.828 --> 00:06:50.597
- So iran wants to build this ballistic missile program,
- 00:06:50.597 --> 00:06:53.533
- By the way, it's not just a ballistic missile program.
- 00:06:53.533 --> 00:06:55.735
- It's an intercontinental
- 00:06:55.735 --> 00:06:57.570
- Ballistic program, which means that it's targeting
- 00:06:57.570 --> 00:06:59.572
- The united states as well, because you don't need
- 00:06:59.572 --> 00:07:01.441
- Intercontinental if you're just targeting europe
- 00:07:01.441 --> 00:07:03.409
- Or israel, obviously, you need to go across the ocean.
- 00:07:03.409 --> 00:07:05.845
- So that's always been there,
- 00:07:05.845 --> 00:07:07.580
- Designed to take on judeo-christian
- 00:07:07.580 --> 00:07:09.415
- Civilization, western civilization.
- 00:07:09.415 --> 00:07:11.384
- And that's really what we're fighting against.
- 00:07:11.384 --> 00:07:13.286
- So iran used its resources
- 00:07:13.286 --> 00:07:16.322
- Illegally, by the way, because it's sanctioned
- 00:07:16.322 --> 00:07:18.224
- By the state department, united states.
- 00:07:18.224 --> 00:07:19.792
- They use their income not to give it to the people of iran,
- 00:07:19.792 --> 00:07:25.164
- But to these proxies instead of feeding the population.
- 00:07:25.164 --> 00:07:28.501
- Why are these people rising up?
- 00:07:28.501 --> 00:07:30.169
- Because they don't have electricity.
- 00:07:30.169 --> 00:07:31.571
- They've been getting over the past couple of months,
- 00:07:31.571 --> 00:07:33.606
- 3 or 4 hours of electricity a day, sometimes less than that.
- 00:07:33.606 --> 00:07:37.277
- And as you said earlier,
- 00:07:37.277 --> 00:07:38.344
- This is a great civilization and a proud country.
- 00:07:38.344 --> 00:07:40.380
- This is ancient.
- 00:07:40.380 --> 00:07:41.814
- I mean, this is a now barely electricity for most of the day.
- 00:07:41.814 --> 00:07:45.251
- Like we were talking about before.
- 00:07:45.251 --> 00:07:47.587
- You know, who knows if this is successful?
- 00:07:47.587 --> 00:07:50.356
- We have the abraham accords.
- 00:07:50.356 --> 00:07:51.658
- Maybe we can have the cyrus accords.
- 00:07:51.658 --> 00:07:54.894
- Coming up after the breakout.
- 00:07:55.528 --> 00:07:57.063
- President trump and prime minister netanyahu
- 00:07:57.063 --> 00:07:59.599
- Are working in lockstep to confront terror, counter iran
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- And reshape the future of the middle east.
- 00:08:04.003 --> 00:08:07.106
- Stick around.
- 00:08:07.106 --> 00:08:13.002
- Stick around.
- 00:08:13.002 --> 00:08:14.554
- I consider israel the first line of defense
- 00:08:15.488 --> 00:08:17.791
- For western civilization.
- 00:08:17.791 --> 00:08:18.925
- You could say america is the last line of defense.
- 00:08:18.925 --> 00:08:21.795
- The leaders of both countries together in mar-a-lago
- 00:08:21.795 --> 00:08:23.964
- Last week, you were there with them at the table.
- 00:08:23.964 --> 00:08:25.865
- President trump, prime minister netanyahu,
- 00:08:25.865 --> 00:08:28.268
- Can you talk about that historic meeting a little bit?
- 00:08:28.268 --> 00:08:31.004
- You and i were talking off camera
- 00:08:31.004 --> 00:08:32.505
- Going in the mainstream media in the west
- 00:08:32.505 --> 00:08:34.507
- Was saying the relationships in tatters.
- 00:08:34.507 --> 00:08:36.543
- There's daylight between the u.s.
- 00:08:36.543 --> 00:08:37.844
- And israel.
- 00:08:37.844 --> 00:08:38.678
- Ambassador, it didn't seem that way
- 00:08:38.678 --> 00:08:40.614
- At the meeting in mar-a-lago. tell us more about it.
- 00:08:40.614 --> 00:08:42.882
- Well, this is actually the sixth meeting
- 00:08:42.882 --> 00:08:46.753
- Between the president, united states donald j.
- 00:08:46.753 --> 00:08:49.489
- Trump and prime minister netanyahu in ten months.
- 00:08:49.489 --> 00:08:52.559
- There's never been any kind of relationship like this.
- 00:08:53.593 --> 00:08:56.296
- And every single five times, by the way, in the us, four
- 00:08:56.296 --> 00:08:59.833
- In washington, one in florida.
- 00:08:59.833 --> 00:09:01.935
- And of course, the president's trip to jerusalem.
- 00:09:01.935 --> 00:09:04.137
- So six meetings.
- 00:09:04.137 --> 00:09:05.672
- And then, of course, there was the
- 00:09:05.672 --> 00:09:07.207
- Visits of secretary of state rubio and,
- 00:09:07.207 --> 00:09:09.275
- Of course, vice president vance, who visited jerusalem as well.
- 00:09:09.275 --> 00:09:12.612
- So, every meeting has been preceded
- 00:09:12.612 --> 00:09:16.116
- By fake news about people trying to create a narrative.
- 00:09:16.116 --> 00:09:21.321
- There's daylight, there's crisis.
- 00:09:21.321 --> 00:09:24.658
- There's a black cat that walked in between them.
- 00:09:24.658 --> 00:09:26.593
- And every time we come away from the meeting
- 00:09:26.593 --> 00:09:29.095
- With a a deeper and wider relationship.
- 00:09:29.095 --> 00:09:32.599
- As, as the run up, by the way, to the iran operation in june,
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- There's.
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- Never been
- 00:09:35.969 --> 00:09:36.503
- A collaborative effort
- 00:09:36.503 --> 00:09:37.337
- Between our two countries,
- 00:09:37.337 --> 00:09:38.605
- As there was in the three months prior to rising lion
- 00:09:38.605 --> 00:09:41.875
- And midnight hammer.
- 00:09:41.875 --> 00:09:43.176
- And and look what we can do together.
- 00:09:43.176 --> 00:09:45.345
- You know, and and when we take the innovative genius of israel
- 00:09:45.345 --> 00:09:50.083
- And the the power of america
- 00:09:50.083 --> 00:09:52.719
- As the leader of the free world, and we put this together,
- 00:09:52.719 --> 00:09:56.056
- We really, you know, architect a better future for humanity.
- 00:09:56.056 --> 00:09:59.993
- That's ultimately what we're interested
- 00:09:59.993 --> 00:10:01.695
- In doing in this relationship.
- 00:10:01.695 --> 00:10:03.363
- It's solidifying, protecting judeo-christian civilization.
- 00:10:03.363 --> 00:10:07.367
- We're an extension, really,
- 00:10:07.367 --> 00:10:08.768
- Of the american dream in the middle east.
- 00:10:08.768 --> 00:10:10.503
- We're like the extension
- 00:10:10.503 --> 00:10:11.604
- Of the judeo christian civilization
- 00:10:11.604 --> 00:10:13.173
- In the middle east, in the world of islam.
- 00:10:13.173 --> 00:10:15.375
- And what's happening within islam right now is a,
- 00:10:15.375 --> 00:10:18.878
- A tension over whether or not to accommodate judeo
- 00:10:18.878 --> 00:10:22.115
- Christian civilization or to combat it.
- 00:10:22.115 --> 00:10:24.451
- So the anti reformists, those who are opposed to changing
- 00:10:24.451 --> 00:10:29.489
- And reforming islam to an accommodation, is moderate mode.
- 00:10:29.489 --> 00:10:33.493
- The first step they're going to do is eradicate israel.
- 00:10:33.493 --> 00:10:37.363
- That was iran's design to create this ring of fire
- 00:10:37.363 --> 00:10:40.767
- Around the country,
- 00:10:40.767 --> 00:10:42.068
- Start with israel and then move on to the rest
- 00:10:42.068 --> 00:10:44.771
- Of western civilization.
- 00:10:44.771 --> 00:10:46.106
- So yeah, we're out there on the front.
- 00:10:46.106 --> 00:10:48.408
- We're really in a civilizational battle.
- 00:10:49.275 --> 00:10:51.177
- And the thing is that if the radicals fall,
- 00:10:51.177 --> 00:10:54.013
- That means that the moderates within islam are going to rise
- 00:10:54.013 --> 00:10:56.816
- To the surface,
- 00:10:56.816 --> 00:10:57.884
- And they're going to
- 00:10:57.884 --> 00:10:58.885
- Be empowered, and they're taking the approach
- 00:10:58.885 --> 00:11:01.454
- Of, let's accommodate judeo christian civilization.
- 00:11:01.454 --> 00:11:04.224
- Let's live side by side with, western civilization.
- 00:11:04.224 --> 00:11:08.128
- And then we have a whole new world that we talk about the,
- 00:11:08.128 --> 00:11:09.996
- You know, the the, the, the world
- 00:11:09.996 --> 00:11:11.531
- That we're all praying for.
- 00:11:11.531 --> 00:11:12.699
- Where is the world of of peace and accommodation and,
- 00:11:12.699 --> 00:11:16.169
- A brotherly love, which, you know, why,
- 00:11:16.970 --> 00:11:19.506
- Why should we have peace with iran?
- 00:11:19.506 --> 00:11:21.808
- Why should we have peace with saudi arabia?
- 00:11:21.808 --> 00:11:23.610
- What is the issue?
- 00:11:23.610 --> 00:11:24.644
- You know, really, what's the issue?
- 00:11:24.644 --> 00:11:26.212
- Why are we constantly having to confront this state
- 00:11:26.212 --> 00:11:29.849
- Sponsored terrorism?
- 00:11:29.849 --> 00:11:31.084
- Why should there be proxies like hezbollah taking over
- 00:11:31.084 --> 00:11:34.120
- Lebanon? why?
- 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.421
- Okay, so we have to move in that direction.
- 00:11:35.421 --> 00:11:39.759
- We have to fight terrorism as if
- 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.095
- There's there's no peace.
- 00:11:42.662 --> 00:11:44.631
- And we have to make peace as if there's no terrorism.
- 00:11:44.631 --> 00:11:46.533
- We have to keep moving ahead,
- 00:11:46.533 --> 00:11:48.568
- With the hope that one day we're going to win this battle.
- 00:11:48.568 --> 00:11:51.304
- We have to keep our eye on the ball, though.
- 00:11:51.304 --> 00:11:52.739
- If we let our guard down and we try to pursue agreements
- 00:11:52.739 --> 00:11:57.477
- Too soon with terrorism is still brewing.
- 00:11:57.477 --> 00:12:01.214
- We're going to come out short. changed. yeah.
- 00:12:01.214 --> 00:12:03.116
- Speaking of which, you're a busy man.
- 00:12:03.116 --> 00:12:05.685
- You're mar-a-lago.
- 00:12:05.685 --> 00:12:06.419
- You were in paris recently
- 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:07.720
- Negotiating with members of the new syrian government.
- 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:10.957
- What's the status there, ambassador?
- 00:12:10.957 --> 00:12:12.725
- I mean, a lot of rumblings that israel and syria
- 00:12:12.725 --> 00:12:15.128
- May come to some sort of agreement.
- 00:12:15.128 --> 00:12:17.030
- Are you optimistic about that?
- 00:12:17.030 --> 00:12:18.731
- Do you see perhaps a bright future
- 00:12:18.731 --> 00:12:20.834
- Between israel and syria
- 00:12:20.834 --> 00:12:22.202
- With this new government, which, look, there's
- 00:12:22.202 --> 00:12:23.670
- A lot of questions about this new syrian government still,
- 00:12:23.670 --> 00:12:26.472
- A spotty track record, to say the least.
- 00:12:26.472 --> 00:12:28.141
- Some of the officials, including,
- 00:12:28.141 --> 00:12:30.076
- The leader of syria right now.
- 00:12:30.076 --> 00:12:31.477
- What's your take on where this relationship could go?
- 00:12:31.477 --> 00:12:35.181
- We are very hopeful
- 00:12:35.648 --> 00:12:36.816
- That it's
- 00:12:36.816 --> 00:12:37.217
- Going to go
- 00:12:37.217 --> 00:12:38.318
- To a very good place, because the music coming out
- 00:12:38.318 --> 00:12:40.653
- Of damascus is music that we've never heard before,
- 00:12:40.653 --> 00:12:43.656
- Which is music about living in peace with israel.
- 00:12:43.656 --> 00:12:47.227
- We believe, and i got to give a lot of credit here
- 00:12:47.227 --> 00:12:49.462
- To the administration.
- 00:12:49.462 --> 00:12:50.730
- Ambassador, tom barak, u.s.
- 00:12:50.730 --> 00:12:53.800
- Ambassador to turkey, who, kind of, brought us together
- 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:57.804
- In, in paris
- 00:12:57.804 --> 00:12:59.038
- This week, who's been working very hard to make this work.
- 00:12:59.038 --> 00:13:01.808
- And our approach is one of caution.
- 00:13:01.808 --> 00:13:05.845
- We think we should take a little bit of a,
- 00:13:05.845 --> 00:13:09.148
- A slower approach to this.
- 00:13:09.716 --> 00:13:12.018
- We'd like to see things stabilize in syria.
- 00:13:12.018 --> 00:13:14.520
- There have been some troubling events.
- 00:13:14.520 --> 00:13:16.789
- There have been some massacres of minorities, druze, druze.
- 00:13:16.789 --> 00:13:20.593
- Yeah. some christians, alawites.
- 00:13:20.593 --> 00:13:22.929
- So we'd like to see the situation stabilize.
- 00:13:22.929 --> 00:13:24.797
- But at the same time,
- 00:13:24.797 --> 00:13:25.832
- We want very much to march forward to agreement.
- 00:13:25.832 --> 00:13:28.568
- So we want to start with confidence building measures.
- 00:13:28.568 --> 00:13:31.237
- We want to take small steps.
- 00:13:31.237 --> 00:13:32.572
- The meeting in paris was good.
- 00:13:32.572 --> 00:13:34.073
- It was, hopeful.
- 00:13:34.073 --> 00:13:35.441
- And what we agreed was to have,
- 00:13:35.441 --> 00:13:38.044
- More intensive talks, in other words, not to wait
- 00:13:38.044 --> 00:13:40.647
- A few weeks in between talks, but actually to arrange
- 00:13:40.647 --> 00:13:43.483
- A mechanism where we can be in constant contact.
- 00:13:43.483 --> 00:13:46.452
- So if there are points of deconfliction
- 00:13:46.452 --> 00:13:48.721
- That are necessary,
- 00:13:48.721 --> 00:13:49.989
- We'll be there right away on the phone,
- 00:13:49.989 --> 00:13:51.958
- Talking to each other, conflicting.
- 00:13:51.958 --> 00:13:53.960
- It doesn't always have to be with, the,
- 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:56.896
- American representatives in the middle.
- 00:13:56.896 --> 00:13:58.264
- We can do this directly with the syrians.
- 00:13:58.264 --> 00:14:00.133
- We're ready to do it.
- 00:14:00.133 --> 00:14:00.967
- And i think the syrians are, too.
- 00:14:00.967 --> 00:14:03.236
- We just need a little bit more time to make sure
- 00:14:03.236 --> 00:14:06.572
- That our druze and christian brothers
- 00:14:06.572 --> 00:14:08.641
- Across the border are being protected.
- 00:14:08.641 --> 00:14:10.476
- We have to make sure that our borders are protected.
- 00:14:10.476 --> 00:14:12.345
- I mean, look, after october 7th,
- 00:14:12.345 --> 00:14:14.414
- We have a new defense strategy, and that's that.
- 00:14:14.414 --> 00:14:17.884
- We're not going to allow jihadists on our borders.
- 00:14:17.884 --> 00:14:20.586
- We have a tiny border. we're a tiny, tiny country.
- 00:14:20.586 --> 00:14:23.022
- You know, we're smaller than new jersey.
- 00:14:23.022 --> 00:14:24.791
- You know, many times we can fit into the state of texas.
- 00:14:24.791 --> 00:14:26.960
- We could probably
- 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.827
- We could probably fit into the area
- 00:14:27.827 --> 00:14:29.195
- Between dallas and fort worth.
- 00:14:29.195 --> 00:14:30.630
- That's the very, actually very true,
- 00:14:30.630 --> 00:14:32.398
- I believe is real, roughly the size of dfw.
- 00:14:32.398 --> 00:14:34.968
- Okay.
- 00:14:34.968 --> 00:14:35.969
- So that's the that's the that's the situation
- 00:14:35.969 --> 00:14:37.337
- I remember former president bush flew over in a helicopter,
- 00:14:37.337 --> 00:14:40.940
- Flew over israel with, former prime minister sharon.
- 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:44.610
- And when they landed, he said, you know, i flew over israel.
- 00:14:44.610 --> 00:14:48.314
- That's about the size of my ranch.
- 00:14:48.314 --> 00:14:49.782
- Okay, so so we've got a country the size of a ranch.
- 00:14:50.817 --> 00:14:54.120
- And in new jersey, we can't.
- 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.822
- We in texas, we can't afford to have people
- 00:14:55.822 --> 00:14:59.659
- Who want to destroy us at our border,
- 00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:02.028
- You know, with tens of thousands of arms.
- 00:15:02.028 --> 00:15:04.063
- We saw what happened october 7th.
- 00:15:04.063 --> 00:15:05.999
- And, you know, it was by the grace of god
- 00:15:05.999 --> 00:15:09.002
- And the courage of our youth who rose like lions and lionesses.
- 00:15:09.002 --> 00:15:13.673
- Greatest generation, the.
- 00:15:13.673 --> 00:15:14.607
- Greatest generation, get us generation.
- 00:15:14.607 --> 00:15:16.576
- We so underestimated them.
- 00:15:16.576 --> 00:15:18.344
- So we thought through the tiktok
- 00:15:18.344 --> 00:15:19.746
- Generation, you know, the ipad generation,
- 00:15:19.746 --> 00:15:22.115
- These kids just, you know, they took responsibility.
- 00:15:22.115 --> 00:15:25.284
- Victor frankel,
- 00:15:25.284 --> 00:15:26.119
- The great
- 00:15:26.119 --> 00:15:26.753
- Founder of local therapy,
- 00:15:26.753 --> 00:15:27.720
- Once said that next to the statue of liberty,
- 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.455
- We need a statue of responsibility.
- 00:15:29.455 --> 00:15:31.557
- You know what israel says to victor frankel?
- 00:15:31.557 --> 00:15:33.159
- We don't need a statue of responsibility.
- 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:35.194
- We need a youth to take responsibility.
- 00:15:35.194 --> 00:15:37.797
- And these kids
- 00:15:37.797 --> 00:15:38.865
- Took responsibility and they saved the country.
- 00:15:38.865 --> 00:15:40.466
- So, we can't rely on miracles, though.
- 00:15:40.466 --> 00:15:43.569
- And we can't have jihadists.
- 00:15:43.569 --> 00:15:45.471
- Whether hezbollah in the north or jihadists in,
- 00:15:45.471 --> 00:15:48.741
- You know, the syrian border or the hamas.
- 00:15:48.741 --> 00:15:51.344
- Okay. so cease fires are good. they're important.
- 00:15:51.344 --> 00:15:53.780
- We have to move in that direction.
- 00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:55.314
- But we're going to be insistent that hamas is disarmed.
- 00:15:55.314 --> 00:15:59.619
- Gaza is demilitarized.
- 00:16:00.086 --> 00:16:02.021
- Hezbollah is disarmed.
- 00:16:02.021 --> 00:16:03.890
- South lebanon is demilitarized.
- 00:16:03.890 --> 00:16:05.625
- That's what
- 00:16:05.625 --> 00:16:06.559
- The administration, under the leadership
- 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.727
- Of president trump, has embraced.
- 00:16:07.727 --> 00:16:10.029
- Our position on that issue, and we're moving forward
- 00:16:10.029 --> 00:16:12.498
- Together with the administration to see to it
- 00:16:12.498 --> 00:16:14.467
- That those two missions
- 00:16:14.467 --> 00:16:15.802
- Are accomplished disarming of terrorists
- 00:16:15.802 --> 00:16:17.737
- And demilitarization of the areas around israel.
- 00:16:17.737 --> 00:16:21.007
- Up next, some influential podcasters are calling
- 00:16:21.974 --> 00:16:25.511
- For america to abandon its alliance with israel.
- 00:16:25.511 --> 00:16:29.015
- Ambassador leiter breaks down why that would be a big mistake.
- 00:16:29.015 --> 00:16:33.119
- Stick around.
- 00:16:33.486 --> 00:16:39.003
- Stick around.
- 00:16:39.003 --> 00:16:41.896
- We talked earlier about western civilization.
- 00:16:42.864 --> 00:16:45.900
- It was really born on mount sinai 3500 years ago
- 00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:48.703
- With a man named moses, a jewish man named moses.
- 00:16:48.703 --> 00:16:51.172
- Spread to jerusalem and spread throughout the world.
- 00:16:51.172 --> 00:16:54.442
- And yet, ambassador, today we have some
- 00:16:54.442 --> 00:16:57.245
- The radical left, radical islam.
- 00:16:57.245 --> 00:16:59.047
- We expect, sadly.
- 00:16:59.047 --> 00:17:00.682
- But on the right now
- 00:17:00.682 --> 00:17:02.050
- We have this phenomenon of people
- 00:17:02.050 --> 00:17:03.852
- Saying, well, we don't need israel.
- 00:17:03.852 --> 00:17:05.220
- Maybe qatar is a better
- 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.588
- Ally than israel, and israel is a problem.
- 00:17:06.588 --> 00:17:09.657
- How do you respond to that?
- 00:17:09.657 --> 00:17:10.525
- It's coming from an unlikely quarter,
- 00:17:10.525 --> 00:17:12.460
- I guess you would say
- 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.595
- A small but vocal chunk of the conservative movement now
- 00:17:13.595 --> 00:17:17.098
- Saying we should abandon israel.
- 00:17:17.098 --> 00:17:18.700
- Yeah. i don't think they're conservative. yeah.
- 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:21.069
- I think that,
- 00:17:21.069 --> 00:17:22.637
- You know, they do those
- 00:17:23.138 --> 00:17:24.839
- That small group
- 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.907
- Does the conservative movement a terrible injustice
- 00:17:25.907 --> 00:17:28.076
- To even call themselves conservative.
- 00:17:28.076 --> 00:17:30.044
- And there's a horseshoe theory where extremes actually
- 00:17:30.044 --> 00:17:33.882
- Meet and are closer to each other
- 00:17:33.882 --> 00:17:36.117
- Than the center that divides them.
- 00:17:36.117 --> 00:17:37.752
- It's the horseshoe theory.
- 00:17:37.752 --> 00:17:38.853
- So you take a fascist regime and a communist regime,
- 00:17:38.853 --> 00:17:41.956
- And they're both totalitarian,
- 00:17:41.956 --> 00:17:43.691
- And they both reject liberalism in the in the center.
- 00:17:43.691 --> 00:17:46.828
- So, i mean, people saying that,
- 00:17:46.828 --> 00:17:48.463
- You know, qatar is a better ally than an israel.
- 00:17:48.463 --> 00:17:50.698
- Look, you want to be an ally of qatar.
- 00:17:50.698 --> 00:17:52.167
- That's, you know, that's your business,
- 00:17:52.167 --> 00:17:54.369
- Talking about spending billions and billions of dollars
- 00:17:54.369 --> 00:17:57.005
- In the united states, i mean,
- 00:17:57.005 --> 00:17:58.406
- And controlling education and so on.
- 00:17:58.406 --> 00:18:00.608
- I mean, it's something you might want to look into.
- 00:18:00.608 --> 00:18:02.577
- I often say about the qataris, you know,
- 00:18:02.577 --> 00:18:04.212
- They're great at funding the the fire department
- 00:18:04.212 --> 00:18:06.948
- And the arsonist at the same time.
- 00:18:06.948 --> 00:18:08.283
- I mean, they've been they've been funding
- 00:18:08.283 --> 00:18:09.651
- Muslim brotherhood operations around the world.
- 00:18:09.651 --> 00:18:11.786
- But that that interests me much less than the relationship
- 00:18:11.786 --> 00:18:15.957
- That israel has with the united states.
- 00:18:15.957 --> 00:18:18.760
- I'm going to lockheed martin tomorrow.
- 00:18:18.760 --> 00:18:21.229
- One of your neighbors right here.
- 00:18:21.930 --> 00:18:23.131
- Okay.
- 00:18:23.131 --> 00:18:24.499
- We fly the f-35
- 00:18:24.499 --> 00:18:27.101
- More than all the countries that are
- 00:18:27.101 --> 00:18:29.871
- In the f-35 partnership combined.
- 00:18:29.871 --> 00:18:32.974
- The hours that our pilots, the experience of our pilots
- 00:18:32.974 --> 00:18:37.512
- That send back to lockheed martin under to to prove
- 00:18:37.512 --> 00:18:40.782
- The aircraft is worth billions and billions of dollars.
- 00:18:40.782 --> 00:18:44.619
- Nobody else could
- 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.787
- Provide the united states with that kind of experience
- 00:18:45.787 --> 00:18:48.590
- And knowledge.
- 00:18:48.590 --> 00:18:49.424
- And we do so because we're partners,
- 00:18:49.424 --> 00:18:51.726
- Because we're in the same boat.
- 00:18:51.726 --> 00:18:53.027
- We're in the same cockpit, okay?
- 00:18:53.027 --> 00:18:54.696
- We're flying the same plane
- 00:18:54.696 --> 00:18:56.097
- For the same target and for the same interests.
- 00:18:56.097 --> 00:18:58.399
- When people said, you know,
- 00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.834
- I love this, we talk about before the, the,
- 00:18:59.834 --> 00:19:02.971
- The meetings between prime minister and,
- 00:19:02.971 --> 00:19:05.406
- And president trump
- 00:19:05.406 --> 00:19:06.641
- And i heard some, you know, people in this element
- 00:19:06.641 --> 00:19:08.810
- Who say that the prime minister dragged the president into
- 00:19:08.810 --> 00:19:12.580
- This war with iraq, iran.
- 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:15.016
- You know,
- 00:19:15.316 --> 00:19:17.318
- Did anybody listen to president
- 00:19:17.318 --> 00:19:19.621
- Trump, president trump, somebody that's dragged into war?
- 00:19:19.621 --> 00:19:22.890
- I mean, nobody's. got a pretty strong will.
- 00:19:22.890 --> 00:19:24.626
- Nobody drags president trump into anything.
- 00:19:24.626 --> 00:19:26.894
- And the prime minister didn't even try to drag.
- 00:19:26.894 --> 00:19:28.863
- The prime minister said, look,
- 00:19:28.863 --> 00:19:30.798
- This is an existential issue for us.
- 00:19:30.798 --> 00:19:32.667
- Yeah.
- 00:19:32.667 --> 00:19:33.801
- If you choose that, it's an existential issue for you
- 00:19:33.801 --> 00:19:35.970
- As well.
- 00:19:35.970 --> 00:19:37.272
- We're happy for you to go in it with us.
- 00:19:37.272 --> 00:19:39.941
- But we're going to do this because this is existential.
- 00:19:39.941 --> 00:19:43.478
- Iran wants to destroy us, and we're not going to be destroyed.
- 00:19:43.478 --> 00:19:46.481
- The difference between the antisemitism
- 00:19:46.481 --> 00:19:49.550
- That the jewish people faced for 2000 years
- 00:19:49.550 --> 00:19:52.820
- And what we face now, there's one difference.
- 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:55.290
- It's not that the hatred has gone away.
- 00:19:55.290 --> 00:19:57.425
- It's that now the state of israel allows the jewish people
- 00:19:57.425 --> 00:20:00.495
- To defend itself, and not to be subject to those
- 00:20:00.495 --> 00:20:04.365
- Who want to send them into the ovens of auschwitz.
- 00:20:04.365 --> 00:20:07.235
- We don't go into the ovens of auschwitz anymore.
- 00:20:07.235 --> 00:20:09.637
- We have our air force.
- 00:20:09.637 --> 00:20:12.173
- We have our army.
- 00:20:12.173 --> 00:20:13.441
- We have a generation of of young jews who take responsibility.
- 00:20:13.441 --> 00:20:17.278
- The best generation we've ever had.
- 00:20:17.278 --> 00:20:19.480
- And thank god, we have a partnership
- 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:21.849
- With the united states where we could buy.
- 00:20:21.849 --> 00:20:23.751
- We can purchase your f-35s,
- 00:20:23.751 --> 00:20:25.720
- Manned them with our pilots, and together
- 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.989
- There's no better combination. yeah.
- 00:20:27.989 --> 00:20:29.724
- And i'll tell you, it goes.
- 00:20:29.724 --> 00:20:32.460
- It goes beyond that.
- 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.661
- If you take a look at the map of the united states,
- 00:20:33.661 --> 00:20:38.199
- There is not a state in which our industries
- 00:20:38.199 --> 00:20:42.103
- Are not intimately involved with, with,
- 00:20:42.103 --> 00:20:45.606
- Job creation right here.
- 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.909
- You know, if you take away
- 00:20:47.909 --> 00:20:49.344
- The financial military assistance
- 00:20:49.344 --> 00:20:52.080
- That we've received in the united states,
- 00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:53.648
- You talk about a million jobs,
- 00:20:53.648 --> 00:20:55.717
- About a million jobs and the return on the dollar.
- 00:20:55.717 --> 00:20:59.454
- You know, the the former chief of the air force once said that
- 00:20:59.454 --> 00:21:02.724
- Without israel, he'd need five acres.
- 00:21:02.724 --> 00:21:05.560
- That is right.
- 00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:06.427
- That's about $75 billion right there.
- 00:21:06.427 --> 00:21:08.229
- Okay.
- 00:21:08.229 --> 00:21:09.464
- So, we want to actually move into even greater collaboration.
- 00:21:09.464 --> 00:21:13.801
- Into greater partnership.
- 00:21:13.801 --> 00:21:14.902
- We're moving into a super hyper technological age.
- 00:21:14.902 --> 00:21:18.005
- We've got to do this together.
- 00:21:18.005 --> 00:21:19.107
- We've got to develop a.i.
- 00:21:19.107 --> 00:21:20.208
- Together because
- 00:21:20.208 --> 00:21:21.709
- Our common enemies out there are trying to move
- 00:21:21.709 --> 00:21:25.146
- Ahead of us on all of that.
- 00:21:25.146 --> 00:21:26.447
- And if we put our energies together,
- 00:21:26.447 --> 00:21:28.015
- We're going to be ahead of all those who are interested
- 00:21:28.015 --> 00:21:31.352
- In, putting us down.
- 00:21:31.352 --> 00:21:33.621
- Up next, my final thoughts on a new day
- 00:21:34.422 --> 00:21:37.625
- For the iranian people and ancient and proud people.
- 00:21:37.625 --> 00:21:41.329
- That's next.
- 00:21:41.662 --> 00:21:42.630
- I'll move.
- 00:21:42.630 --> 00:21:48.009
- I'll move.
- 00:21:48.009 --> 00:21:50.972
- Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight, folks.
- 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.708
- As we wrap up here
- 00:21:53.708 --> 00:21:54.742
- And we see what's happening in iran right now.
- 00:21:54.742 --> 00:21:56.844
- Countless people in the streets protesting this wicked regime.
- 00:21:56.844 --> 00:22:00.548
- I think it's really proverbs 29 two in real time,
- 00:22:00.548 --> 00:22:04.585
- When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice.
- 00:22:04.585 --> 00:22:08.122
- When the wicked rule, the people groan.
- 00:22:08.122 --> 00:22:11.392
- That is iran today, one of the world's most wicked
- 00:22:11.392 --> 00:22:13.828
- Regimes, the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism.
- 00:22:13.828 --> 00:22:16.831
- And folks, look, there have been protests
- 00:22:16.831 --> 00:22:18.833
- Against the regime in 1999, 2009, 2022, large protests.
- 00:22:18.833 --> 00:22:24.439
- But the moment now is different
- 00:22:24.439 --> 00:22:26.407
- Because the iranian regime has never been weaker.
- 00:22:26.407 --> 00:22:29.911
- Their nuclear program has been destroyed,
- 00:22:29.911 --> 00:22:32.146
- Much of their ballistic missile
- 00:22:32.146 --> 00:22:33.915
- Capabilities destroyed as well by israel.
- 00:22:33.915 --> 00:22:36.918
- Then you have the economy in tatters.
- 00:22:36.918 --> 00:22:39.020
- You have a water crisis.
- 00:22:39.020 --> 00:22:40.988
- The iranian regime, i said it earlier,
- 00:22:40.988 --> 00:22:42.690
- I'll say it again, is teetering on the brink.
- 00:22:42.690 --> 00:22:45.726
- But i think what it will need for them to be out the door
- 00:22:45.726 --> 00:22:49.130
- Permanently will be intervention by the united states.
- 00:22:49.130 --> 00:22:53.501
- So pray
- 00:22:53.501 --> 00:22:54.535
- For wisdom and discernment for president trump
- 00:22:54.535 --> 00:22:57.104
- As he makes this monumental decision,
- 00:22:57.104 --> 00:22:58.973
- Which would change history quite literally.
- 00:22:58.973 --> 00:23:01.008
- And pray for the iranian people, for freedom,
- 00:23:01.008 --> 00:23:04.111
- For the iranian people.
- 00:23:04.111 --> 00:23:05.213
- Speaking of which, tomorrow night
- 00:23:05.213 --> 00:23:06.414
- We will have a freedom advocate, an iranian dissident,
- 00:23:06.414 --> 00:23:09.817
- Joining us from london.
- 00:23:09.817 --> 00:23:10.918
- You won't want to miss
- 00:23:10.918 --> 00:23:12.019
- His inside insights on the situation, on the ground
- 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:15.356
- In iran. plus, frank turek is here.
- 00:23:15.356 --> 00:23:17.158
- Lucas miles. it's going to be a great show.
- 00:23:17.158 --> 00:23:19.327
- Until then, god bless you and we'll see you soon.
- 00:23:19.327 --> 00:23:19.327
