Daniel Bookman - Israel, Middle East Conflict, and Geopolitics

WEBVTT

1
00:00:05.070 --> 00:00:10.450
 Welcome world of blazers today. I have a special guest as you can see on my screen if you're watching the video if not

2
00:00:10.450 --> 00:00:12.630
 I have Daniel Bookman

3
00:00:13.710 --> 00:00:16.430
 Daniel Bookman is a Scottish born

4
00:00:18.030 --> 00:00:21.990
 Individual who eventually made his way to Israel where he has lived for the last 40 years

5
00:00:22.510 --> 00:00:24.510
 You practice law your lawyer

6
00:00:25.510 --> 00:00:30.810
 And I am very interested in that journey in that relationship what led you back or to Israel in general

7
00:00:30.810 --> 00:00:36.750
 As well as the fact that you're an author and you've written two books one book that has been discussed more

8
00:00:36.750 --> 00:00:39.990
 So than others because it's more recent. I believe is beyond power

9
00:00:40.690 --> 00:00:44.750
 Israel and the structure for the ethical state and the title itself there does raise questions

10
00:00:45.490 --> 00:00:51.490
 Not necessarily negative questions, by the way, just me say that it's just it does raise questions as to how you came to

11
00:00:51.490 --> 00:00:57.150
 that title and what is actually in your book how you came to certain conclusions and assessments in terms of

12
00:00:58.710 --> 00:01:00.370
 Israel fighting to be an ethical state

13
00:01:00.810 --> 00:01:02.550
 you know, yeah and

14
00:01:02.550 --> 00:01:04.569
 Obviously aside from that Daniel

15
00:01:04.569 --> 00:01:09.890
 We are definitely gonna talk about your perspective as someone living in Israel for the last 40 years

16
00:01:09.890 --> 00:01:16.650
 And what what your view is and how Israel's been seen by the world, especially now a social media even in podcasting

17
00:01:16.650 --> 00:01:22.110
 I mean you've been on a bit of a podcast tour here and it's very interesting to me given that some of the leading

18
00:01:22.110 --> 00:01:28.830
 podcasters at least by numbers have been doing nothing but bashing Israel and painting it as a as

19
00:01:28.830 --> 00:01:35.590
 The great evil of the world for whatever reason which wasn't the case before so I'd like to understand where you think that's coming from

20
00:01:35.590 --> 00:01:42.750
 As well, and obviously we have discussed Iran the Middle East in general as Israel's been attacked since 1948 pretty consistently

21
00:01:43.750 --> 00:01:44.230
 so

22
00:01:44.230 --> 00:01:51.530
 Well, that being said, let's let's start with your journey from Scotland to Israel and then let's get a little bit into your book

23
00:01:52.030 --> 00:01:57.050
 Mm-hmm. Okay. Thank you very much first of all George having me on this distinguished podcast

24
00:01:57.050 --> 00:02:03.670
 I don't know if I'm worth the oven appreciate I'll try to make it worthwhile at least in some measure

25
00:02:03.670 --> 00:02:08.930
 Yeah, I hope so, but then my journey

26
00:02:08.930 --> 00:02:14.290
 Okay, I'll be happy to share that. I don't know if that's the main part of it

27
00:02:14.290 --> 00:02:17.270
 It's I am I'm more interested in in ideas and people

28
00:02:17.270 --> 00:02:18.670
 That's what I think is

29
00:02:18.670 --> 00:02:24.950
 Partly can help us with conflict is if we focus more on ideas than people and we can be have have a common ground

30
00:02:24.950 --> 00:02:25.970
 But

31
00:02:26.890 --> 00:02:30.030
 Hopefully, but my journey I was born in Scotland

32
00:02:30.630 --> 00:02:33.850
 We were religious slightly more than the average

33
00:02:34.630 --> 00:02:38.470
 So I was educated from the age of 12 in England in Manchester

34
00:02:38.470 --> 00:02:43.330
 My parents sent me to religious school to have a better Jewish religious education

35
00:02:43.330 --> 00:02:47.720
 From there. I matriculated. I got a good secular education

36
00:02:49.150 --> 00:02:49.730
 I

37
00:02:50.590 --> 00:02:51.150
 After

38
00:02:51.150 --> 00:02:55.850
 What's called think when I was about 18 finished school finished a levels is called in England

39
00:02:55.850 --> 00:03:00.610
 I came to Israel for a couple of years to study in Jewish rabbinical college

40
00:03:00.610 --> 00:03:05.130
 Just there's two years of intense Jewish studies and that's quite common practice

41
00:03:05.130 --> 00:03:10.410
 in these circles in these religious circles to take that course and real Israel is

42
00:03:10.850 --> 00:03:13.810
 Largely the center of Jewish studies religious Jewish studies

43
00:03:13.810 --> 00:03:19.250
 So it was a fairly natural but if it was Zionist calling or religious calling that was just the done thing

44
00:03:19.250 --> 00:03:21.590
 I did I studied there for a couple of years quite intensely

45
00:03:22.130 --> 00:03:25.290
 I had actually wanted to pursue it a bit more my father said to me

46
00:03:25.290 --> 00:03:29.350
 No, you got to come back. You got to get your professional qualifications. So I came back to England

47
00:03:29.350 --> 00:03:31.250
 I took a degree in law

48
00:03:32.810 --> 00:03:37.730
 And then that was three years then I got married and straight away came to Israel was about 22 then

49
00:03:37.730 --> 00:03:41.630
 And as soon as I got married the intention was to learn for carry on learning

50
00:03:41.630 --> 00:03:47.830
 The beginning of marriage Jewish studies as also is common practice for two three four five years

51
00:03:47.830 --> 00:03:54.190
 Whatever would be then maybe go back to England to carry on to study law to professionally qualify

52
00:03:54.190 --> 00:04:00.890
 My father-in-law was quite a successful commercial lawyer. So maybe I would have gone into partner or worked with him that

53
00:04:00.890 --> 00:04:06.050
 What happened was two years became in Israel became three years four and five years six years

54
00:04:06.050 --> 00:04:12.690
 Naturally sort of evolved that this is the place we're gonna be no magical decision despite all the

55
00:04:13.510 --> 00:04:14.070
 various

56
00:04:15.050 --> 00:04:15.610
 challenges

57
00:04:16.170 --> 00:04:19.410
 Cultural and and and of course, there was never peace

58
00:04:19.410 --> 00:04:26.450
 There was a few wars the Gulf War the time when we were there, but then I continued that I then moved transitioned from

59
00:04:27.250 --> 00:04:34.130
 rabbinical studies to becoming a professional lawyer age of about 30 and took the Israeli bar qualified

60
00:04:34.130 --> 00:04:37.530
 I then didn't like law. I didn't like all the

61
00:04:39.990 --> 00:04:40.530
 The

62
00:04:41.370 --> 00:04:44.970
 Tensions with people and clients and other side I felt was too much fighting

63
00:04:44.970 --> 00:04:48.730
 So I tried to do something to avoid it people I went into high tech

64
00:04:48.730 --> 00:04:53.190
 I studied computer programming worked in it for two three years

65
00:04:53.190 --> 00:04:57.750
 I then went back to law for various reasons circumstances

66
00:04:57.750 --> 00:05:02.070
 I felt they offered me more time to focus also in Jewish studies learning

67
00:05:02.070 --> 00:05:06.250
 So since then since for the last approximately 15 20 years, I've been

68
00:05:06.250 --> 00:05:09.190
 Working as a lawyer freelance lawyer in Jerusalem and

69
00:05:10.230 --> 00:05:15.790
 Studying in Jewish studies. That's considered a holy and privilege and duty

70
00:05:15.790 --> 00:05:22.990
 and at the same time looking at society trying to use the my perspective and a lot of the

71
00:05:23.730 --> 00:05:25.050
 analytical skills

72
00:05:25.050 --> 00:05:29.890
 Not that I personally have but are honed naturally through the Talmudic studies

73
00:05:29.890 --> 00:05:35.150
 a lot of it's based on logic and philosophy and understanding and trying to make sense of

74
00:05:35.150 --> 00:05:41.030
 Disparate facts and ideas and that combined with my concern of the world and society

75
00:05:42.310 --> 00:05:46.430
 in Israel and as a whole and the conflict led me to

76
00:05:46.430 --> 00:05:47.670
 ultimately to

77
00:05:47.670 --> 00:05:54.090
 author these two books first one fundamentally rationals about religion trying to present religion in a

78
00:05:54.090 --> 00:06:02.090
 Rational terms and the second more recently as a result of the recent events since October the 7th that terrorist attack

79
00:06:02.090 --> 00:06:08.330
 And the anti strong anti Jewish and anti Zionist sentiment that has been present in the world as a whole

80
00:06:08.330 --> 00:06:11.930
 I all I try to understand it to make sense of it of

81
00:06:11.930 --> 00:06:16.590
 Anti-semitic anti Zionism in the Middle East geopolitics society democracy, etc

82
00:06:16.590 --> 00:06:21.850
 and I came to some conceptual conclusions that I think helped to explain it and maybe

83
00:06:22.590 --> 00:06:28.530
 Maybe could help to ameliorate in some measure some of these problems and the result of that was

84
00:06:28.990 --> 00:06:31.850
 Israel and beyond power Israel in the struggle for the

85
00:06:32.090 --> 00:06:34.130
 ethical state I

86
00:06:34.730 --> 00:06:38.750
 Think everybody's trying to understand to be honest or at least I am

87
00:06:38.750 --> 00:06:42.430
 what what has been the turn against Israel lately in terms of

88
00:06:43.850 --> 00:06:44.970
 support and

89
00:06:45.630 --> 00:06:50.630
 The I would say the right to maintain a sovereignty be become an actual

90
00:06:50.990 --> 00:06:56.430
 Nation in perpetuity out in the Middle East and I'm not I'm not understanding where it all rose up from

91
00:06:56.430 --> 00:06:58.890
 I don't know if there's any thoughts you have on that

92
00:06:59.550 --> 00:07:04.070
 The anti as Israeli or Israel sent I do have quite a lot

93
00:07:04.070 --> 00:07:09.510
 Yeah, okay. It's a lot of it is the thesis of the book and why recently they've been upturned

94
00:07:09.510 --> 00:07:14.850
 That's the first question you asked them. I think with all the images, you know when Israel's been

95
00:07:14.850 --> 00:07:17.330
 fighting against the

96
00:07:17.330 --> 00:07:19.770
 Hamas and Gaza and there's been a lot of civilian

97
00:07:21.290 --> 00:07:23.890
 Fatalities too many from all perspectives

98
00:07:24.590 --> 00:07:32.410
 That's obviously and the media likes to sensationalize and is never particularly pro-israel in Europe certainly and in also in America

99
00:07:32.410 --> 00:07:39.190
 What the left-leaning the media tends to be more left-leaning which creates a narrative of sympathy with the oppressed

100
00:07:39.190 --> 00:07:43.610
 With the occupied the Palestinians and whatever with that there is justice to it

101
00:07:43.610 --> 00:07:48.230
 There's merit to that but they sensationalize that then it's not so hard to turn

102
00:07:48.230 --> 00:07:53.180
 The a certain amount percentage of the certain segments of the population

103
00:07:53.950 --> 00:08:00.590
 Don't deeply think about them, but are based themselves more on the images and voices that are coming out this sensational ones

104
00:08:01.110 --> 00:08:07.870
 That can turn popular opinion against Israel and I think the podcasters and the various media

105
00:08:09.050 --> 00:08:11.150
 propagandists or whatever or

106
00:08:12.430 --> 00:08:17.890
 Personalities there it's fairly easy to to make a name for yourself and to get

107
00:08:18.670 --> 00:08:22.210
 To to get a platform with an anti Israel

108
00:08:24.090 --> 00:08:24.810
 Narrative

109
00:08:24.810 --> 00:08:28.830
 Perspective it is dramatic. It's the certain

110
00:08:28.830 --> 00:08:35.650
 Righteousness or self-righteousness whatever how dare you becomes very you can dramatize it quite easily that appeals

111
00:08:35.650 --> 00:08:38.190
 So so maybe I'm oversimplifying it

112
00:08:38.190 --> 00:08:42.690
 Definitely is a case against Israel and and and it's nuanced

113
00:08:42.690 --> 00:08:47.190
 That's really what I'm coming to show to demonstrate and needs to be understood

114
00:08:47.190 --> 00:08:49.930
 So that's just on the perspective last two years

115
00:08:49.930 --> 00:08:53.090
 If you want to go a bit deeper into it why I think there is

116
00:08:53.710 --> 00:08:59.110
 So much going on the Middle East and why Israel has been a target in the Middle East and in the West of so

117
00:09:00.110 --> 00:09:00.590
 much

118
00:09:02.210 --> 00:09:03.170
 Unpopularity and

119
00:09:04.830 --> 00:09:07.990
 Aggression whatever or in the media and on the ground

120
00:09:09.210 --> 00:09:15.850
 That's where the book starts to that's where the book discusses. Well, no, we're good to discuss that but I'm gonna back you up here

121
00:09:15.850 --> 00:09:20.590
 Because I agree with some of the stuff you said here. Well, that's some I'll say most all of it

122
00:09:20.590 --> 00:09:23.370
 And I'm not anti Israel by the way, I want to put that out there

123
00:09:23.370 --> 00:09:26.850
 So I'm just going to take you go opposing viewpoint here

124
00:09:27.670 --> 00:09:33.510
 And let's let's talk about Gaza. I I personally let's be honest after October 7th

125
00:09:34.170 --> 00:09:35.990
 You Israel had a right to respond

126
00:09:35.990 --> 00:09:40.370
 I mean any nation would and now honestly if it was the US we would have done way worse

127
00:09:40.370 --> 00:09:44.810
 I'm gonna tell you that right now. We have shown that to be true in the past

128
00:09:45.410 --> 00:09:49.530
 But when you're talking about the imagery, for example, if you do look at the imagery of what happened to Gaza

129
00:09:49.530 --> 00:09:54.830
 I mean you can't deny that the imagery itself is very convincing in terms of

130
00:09:56.090 --> 00:09:59.150
 Israel doing a very bad or evil thing or considered to be

131
00:09:59.710 --> 00:10:03.670
 And I'm not saying that's what Israel did by the way. I'm just saying, you know the imagery is out there

132
00:10:03.670 --> 00:10:05.970
 It's hard for people to turn their eyes away from it

133
00:10:05.990 --> 00:10:09.950
 And I think you're correct in the media, especially when you're talking about leftist controlled media

134
00:10:09.950 --> 00:10:15.210
 It is all about the oppressor oppressed narrative and everybody wants to support the oppressor. But in this case

135
00:10:16.090 --> 00:10:18.410
 impressed in this in this case

136
00:10:19.050 --> 00:10:25.510
 Were the Palestinians really the oppressed in terms of Israel being the oppressor, you know, and I think

137
00:10:26.030 --> 00:10:30.670
 From my understanding and you can correct me, you know, you got someone like Hamas has been there

138
00:10:31.570 --> 00:10:36.430
 Ingrained in the population, you know who has set themselves up militarily to have

139
00:10:37.050 --> 00:10:38.210
 weapon stashes

140
00:10:38.210 --> 00:10:40.630
 You know operational centers, etc

141
00:10:40.630 --> 00:10:45.030
 Entwined in the population underneath buildings within buildings, etc

142
00:10:45.030 --> 00:10:48.770
 So I can understand the operation being very difficult to target these individuals

143
00:10:48.770 --> 00:10:55.890
 But the question is honestly Daniel at some point does it seem to you your opinion only?

144
00:10:56.010 --> 00:10:58.810
 I'm not holding you responsible for the entire state of Israel

145
00:10:58.810 --> 00:11:03.190
 But in your opinion, does it seem like at some point it was kind of a bit too far was

146
00:11:03.190 --> 00:11:08.270
 Should have Israel at some point backed off a little bit because at one point Hamas was pretty

147
00:11:09.170 --> 00:11:11.390
 Incapable of doing any further jet damage

148
00:11:11.910 --> 00:11:15.630
 Not until they were probably restocked by Iran. We'll get into that but to be honest

149
00:11:15.630 --> 00:11:18.110
 Did it seem like they may have gone too far at some point?

150
00:11:19.230 --> 00:11:25.770
 Very possibly very possibly. I don't know where one pool, you know draws the line. It was like

151
00:11:25.770 --> 00:11:29.910
 There was certainly an emotional element to it and I think there was a political element to it

152
00:11:29.910 --> 00:11:33.050
 That's the structure of democracy those who were in power

153
00:11:33.050 --> 00:11:39.680
 democratically in power at the time this happened would be feeling more acutely than anyone else a certain sense of responsibility that

154
00:11:40.490 --> 00:11:42.340
 required them to rectify and

155
00:11:42.930 --> 00:11:46.790
 And yeah, there was maybe a certain base appeal that we have to show that we're strong

156
00:11:46.790 --> 00:11:50.530
 We have the upper hand and and that could result in taking things

157
00:11:51.210 --> 00:11:58.870
 Further than the basic strategic requirements of deterrence, etc would necessitate. Yeah, that definitely is possible

158
00:11:58.870 --> 00:12:03.850
 That on the other hand, you know, that's almost that was almost predictable

159
00:12:04.530 --> 00:12:10.630
 From the perspective of Hamas once they perpetrated and decided the permit was definitely premeditated

160
00:12:10.630 --> 00:12:18.210
 They're going to undertake this horrific attack. It's almost inevitable that Israel is going to respond and

161
00:12:18.210 --> 00:12:19.730
 the issue of proportionality

162
00:12:20.850 --> 00:12:23.930
 Becomes very relevant and they're going to respond

163
00:12:23.930 --> 00:12:26.930
 Proportionally or maybe what's perceived as?

164
00:12:27.470 --> 00:12:31.430
 Unproportionately and I have a section on that what counts as proportionality

165
00:12:31.430 --> 00:12:35.530
 And it's not just measure the numbers if I could maybe briefly just

166
00:12:36.770 --> 00:12:37.890
 try and

167
00:12:37.890 --> 00:12:40.970
 Correct or clarify what I think the you can discuss

168
00:12:40.970 --> 00:12:46.270
 Standing you can discuss whatever you want. Go ahead might be okay. I'll just mention that point. It's not

169
00:12:46.270 --> 00:12:48.290
 it's not the

170
00:12:48.850 --> 00:12:50.690
 Fundamental concept but

171
00:12:51.410 --> 00:12:57.430
 Proportionality tends to be measured in terms of numbers. There were 1,500 to 2,000 Israelis who were slaughtered

172
00:12:57.430 --> 00:13:03.730
 Statistically, no question and there are many thousands probably tens of thousands of Palestinians that have lost their lives

173
00:13:04.450 --> 00:13:07.890
 like you say there was no way of possible way of going after the

174
00:13:08.870 --> 00:13:16.110
 Leadership the Hamas leadership or the Hamas rank-and-file without incurring significant civilian casualties

175
00:13:16.110 --> 00:13:19.710
 Nevertheless, does that justify it and

176
00:13:20.470 --> 00:13:23.790
 On the note of on the point of proportionality

177
00:13:23.790 --> 00:13:29.070
 The point I made was that proportionality was the act itself

178
00:13:29.070 --> 00:13:37.010
 There was a certain level of not peace, but there was before this October 7th attack both sides had it there was certain

179
00:13:38.250 --> 00:13:41.710
 Tacit agreement of how things work, you know

180
00:13:41.710 --> 00:13:46.990
 You fire a few missiles Hamas into Israel Israel responds with a few attacks against leadership

181
00:13:46.990 --> 00:13:51.050
 They're trying to and sort of that's what was going on for 10 or 20 years

182
00:13:51.050 --> 00:13:57.810
 There was suddenly a huge escalation from what I call from containment to to to absolute terror absolute

183
00:13:59.010 --> 00:14:07.130
 You know the worst possible type of of terrorist attack to to genocide absolute genocide genocidal attack

184
00:14:07.130 --> 00:14:12.770
 So the proportionality in order to restore the balance there has to be a proportional response

185
00:14:12.770 --> 00:14:21.100
 which means taking now the level of of of tension between the sides and and responding with that level that

186
00:14:22.250 --> 00:14:25.730
 Rising of level that the increase of

187
00:14:27.010 --> 00:14:28.410
 Of of

188
00:14:28.970 --> 00:14:33.330
 tension between or fighting between the sides there was a

189
00:14:33.330 --> 00:14:38.570
 Huge increase on the side of the Hamas of the a huge change of the balance

190
00:14:38.570 --> 00:14:42.170
 So Israel a proportional response required the correspondingly

191
00:14:44.670 --> 00:14:50.230
 Increase the corresponding increase in the level of aggression in order just to balance that would be the counterbalance

192
00:14:50.230 --> 00:14:54.550
 It was taking something from containment peace or coexistence

193
00:14:54.550 --> 00:15:00.510
 Hamas did to like premeditated genocide so to respond had to take a state of

194
00:15:00.510 --> 00:15:02.390
 sort of now a

195
00:15:03.130 --> 00:15:06.110
 Genocidal attack and respond with something that would

196
00:15:06.770 --> 00:15:09.870
 parallel that in terms of the increase of

197
00:15:12.270 --> 00:15:15.550
 Aggression which is while still maintaining proportionality and

198
00:15:16.770 --> 00:15:19.190
 Therefore the numbers would not necessarily

199
00:15:20.370 --> 00:15:23.350
 Be proportionate would not necessarily be the same parallel

200
00:15:24.090 --> 00:15:27.310
 Having said that yeah, how does one though is that justified or not?

201
00:15:27.330 --> 00:15:32.130
 I'm not gonna be the one no one can really say objectively. This is justice is wrong. This is right

202
00:15:32.390 --> 00:15:33.210
 and

203
00:15:33.210 --> 00:15:38.250
 It depends ultimately on the narrative you have of the whole Palestinian Israel conflict

204
00:15:38.250 --> 00:15:41.450
 Who's in the right who's in the wrong if you were take to take the?

205
00:15:41.770 --> 00:15:49.170
 Perspective that Israel somehow brought this attack on itself through its actions relating to Gaza through its alleged

206
00:15:50.270 --> 00:15:56.950
 Blockade or whatever of Gaza which was wrong and according to various commentators notably Norman Finkelstein

207
00:15:56.950 --> 00:16:00.390
 He's the one that said Israel was maintaining a concentration camp

208
00:16:00.390 --> 00:16:03.250
 Conditions in Gaza, which I think is very far from the truth

209
00:16:03.250 --> 00:16:09.210
 But and it was also imposed on is it but if you take that attitude then Israel sort of as could expect this attack

210
00:16:09.210 --> 00:16:12.230
 And therefore their light right to respond is limited on the island

211
00:16:12.230 --> 00:16:15.390
 If you take the other narrative that Israel was doing everything it can to limit

212
00:16:15.390 --> 00:16:17.710
 Palestinian suffering and they were trying to maximize

213
00:16:18.550 --> 00:16:21.930
 the the the the potential of a normal life in Gaza

214
00:16:22.510 --> 00:16:25.950
 Despite the conditions and then the Gazans come along with this

215
00:16:27.550 --> 00:16:28.510
 unprovoked and

216
00:16:28.510 --> 00:16:35.570
 Increase sudden increase in in the aggression level then Israel seems to be forced to respond. It's I

217
00:16:36.090 --> 00:16:40.070
 Said it's an existential attack on the Israeli society, which

218
00:16:41.090 --> 00:16:44.150
 Leads to a consent my conceptual view on things

219
00:16:44.150 --> 00:16:49.390
 It's the state again the Israeli state the ethical state against another entity. That's where

220
00:16:50.870 --> 00:16:55.970
 The the numbers become less relevant, but it's not an it's a concept that

221
00:16:56.550 --> 00:16:58.590
 It's easy to

222
00:16:58.590 --> 00:17:02.930
 To to respond to it on an emotional level to say yes

223
00:17:02.930 --> 00:17:06.970
 There was only 1,500 people killed in Israeli side and you've killed tens of thousands of Palestinians

224
00:17:06.970 --> 00:17:09.950
 That's always going to be a challenge to to respond to that

225
00:17:11.750 --> 00:17:16.790
 And well, okay, I understand that I'm not trying to put you on the spot just want to get your

226
00:17:19.190 --> 00:17:22.130
 So there is a true answer, yeah, okay

227
00:17:22.130 --> 00:17:28.069
 There's a few things and I don't want to get stuck on this conversation with Gaza because look it happened right

228
00:17:28.069 --> 00:17:33.790
 We can't write it. We can't go back and fix it for whatever the flaws may or may may not be there

229
00:17:34.510 --> 00:17:41.630
 there's also a lot of holes in the in the argument on the pro-Palestinian side, for example the pro-Gazan side because

230
00:17:43.070 --> 00:17:49.170
 The narrative has been as you said people look at Israel controlling Gaza as if it was an open-air prison

231
00:17:49.170 --> 00:17:55.650
 But yet Egypt is closed at southern border and not has allowed any Palestinians to leave either

232
00:17:56.430 --> 00:18:02.710
 So they've been blockaded to a degree by Egypt as well. Also Palestine itself, I'm sorry Jordan

233
00:18:03.870 --> 00:18:06.830
 Refuses to take any of them in either and at one point in history

234
00:18:06.830 --> 00:18:10.070
 They did in the Palestinians rose up against the ruler. So

235
00:18:11.010 --> 00:18:11.790
 You know

236
00:18:11.790 --> 00:18:18.010
 we want to sympathize for the people caught in the middle and I think that's that's why people viewed this whole thing as a

237
00:18:18.010 --> 00:18:23.030
 Horrible response because there are people who are born into whatever they're born into they don't choose it and

238
00:18:23.030 --> 00:18:28.730
 They they don't maybe they don't take the side of Hamas, but we also call into question in your in your mind

239
00:18:28.730 --> 00:18:30.330
 Because you live in Israel

240
00:18:30.330 --> 00:18:35.730
 Why haven't the Palestinian Palestinian people had a chance to stand up to Hamas?

241
00:18:35.790 --> 00:18:39.930
 Is it really just because that they're just not they don't have the access to weapons

242
00:18:39.930 --> 00:18:45.170
 Is that what it is because I don't think the Hamas itself is as big of a force in terms of actual people

243
00:18:46.050 --> 00:18:49.870
 Versus the civilians that live there you have any thoughts on that?

244
00:18:50.350 --> 00:18:55.590
 Yeah, I do have a lot of thoughts because that brings me to the some central key concepts and let me take your question

245
00:18:55.590 --> 00:18:59.550
 You've asked sure the Palestinians not the Palestinian popular

246
00:18:59.550 --> 00:19:05.290
 Population itself of the street level. Why do they not assert their authority against the Hamas leadership?

247
00:19:05.630 --> 00:19:10.830
 Which you're saying perhaps has limited the powers to quell dissent and the same question

248
00:19:10.830 --> 00:19:18.790
 You could ask why do the people in China not more assert themselves against the regime in China or those in Russia or those in North Korea

249
00:19:18.790 --> 00:19:21.960
 or those in Iran or those in

250
00:19:23.090 --> 00:19:25.370
 Jordan or notably in Lebanon

251
00:19:25.370 --> 00:19:29.620
 Why do these why in none of these cases do we see the population?

252
00:19:30.270 --> 00:19:33.900
 Able to assert itself to create a self-determination

253
00:19:34.650 --> 00:19:35.310
 regime

254
00:19:36.210 --> 00:19:40.810
 And that's very central to the ideas. I discuss that question

255
00:19:40.830 --> 00:19:42.990
 That's a very pertinent question

256
00:19:44.990 --> 00:19:46.650
 Then if you wanted me to

257
00:19:46.650 --> 00:19:51.570
 Take that a little bit further. Well, look, I know we're gonna go this and

258
00:19:52.110 --> 00:19:54.210
 Of course, we're gonna say well

259
00:19:54.210 --> 00:19:59.530
 You know the regime and power will always have absolute power because they have the weapons and they control the food and they control

260
00:19:59.530 --> 00:20:01.770
 The resources to control the infrastructure the electricity

261
00:20:01.770 --> 00:20:05.990
 But yes, it's people don't have access to that and that's understandable

262
00:20:05.990 --> 00:20:11.670
 But we also can't deny that we haven't heard any reports of actual Palestinians ever

263
00:20:12.290 --> 00:20:18.230
 Expressing a negative sentiment towards Hamas where they actually condemn Hamas for their actions either and they can do so

264
00:20:18.230 --> 00:20:20.670
 Maybe because they're in fear of Hamas just like in Iran

265
00:20:20.670 --> 00:20:25.350
 We may be able to say that but even the Iranian people were able to protest and they lost their lives for it

266
00:20:26.270 --> 00:20:32.070
 Chinese people have protest against the government and how it had lost their lives for but we're not seeing that in Gaza

267
00:20:32.070 --> 00:20:34.170
 So that does call into question

268
00:20:34.170 --> 00:20:39.770
 You know the delicate balance between what's going on with the Palestinian people there in Hamas and if they're actually really aligned

269
00:20:39.770 --> 00:20:46.290
 But acting like they're not as a way of subverting what's really going on there and their sentiment towards Israel itself. So

270
00:20:46.290 --> 00:20:48.350
 That's why I asked the question. I know it's deeper

271
00:20:48.350 --> 00:20:54.130
 I know we can go forever on this but if you can just give me maybe a few quick points or maybe

272
00:20:54.130 --> 00:21:01.050
 You know guide us to where you question why and why do we not hear more from the Palestinian people themselves?

273
00:21:01.050 --> 00:21:03.770
 Why do not hear more right past voices for?

274
00:21:05.210 --> 00:21:07.490
 Coexistence et cetera. So first of all, there are

275
00:21:07.490 --> 00:21:15.230
 There are certain and I think the common feeling is that when they're off camera when they know that they're not being

276
00:21:15.230 --> 00:21:17.450
 You know in any way

277
00:21:17.450 --> 00:21:23.290
 taped or filmed or whatever recorded that they do express sentiments in terms of

278
00:21:24.230 --> 00:21:27.930
 Wishing for coexistence and they're not really interested in these wars. There is also

279
00:21:28.990 --> 00:21:30.070
 part of

280
00:21:30.630 --> 00:21:35.270
 Having a regime that has a large degree of control and

281
00:21:35.270 --> 00:21:37.410
 In my theory my

282
00:21:37.410 --> 00:21:45.330
 Is in my conceptualization of this is they have a very strong motivation to perpetuate the conflict and

283
00:21:45.870 --> 00:21:47.950
 that has led to a

284
00:21:49.110 --> 00:21:52.770
 Radicalization over generations. It's already 70 80 years

285
00:21:52.770 --> 00:21:57.690
 Yeah, but the population the Palestinian population has been subject to the propaganda

286
00:21:58.890 --> 00:22:04.270
 Of the Hamas and of the Arab nations in general, which is a

287
00:22:04.270 --> 00:22:09.810
 extremely anti-Israel propaganda we saw in Germany that the one person Gables was able to

288
00:22:10.330 --> 00:22:17.370
 Conduct the propaganda campaign and turn a whole nation of Germany of 50 million whatever is people intelligent people

289
00:22:18.170 --> 00:22:21.350
 rabidly into rabid anti-Semites over the course of

290
00:22:21.350 --> 00:22:22.270
 1933

291
00:22:22.830 --> 00:22:27.910
 1939 to facilitate a Holocaust so the power of propaganda it cannot be underestimated

292
00:22:29.850 --> 00:22:36.530
 And and and here it's particularly focused in Gaza. It's a small area. It's very intense control and

293
00:22:38.050 --> 00:22:39.490
 and the are

294
00:22:40.650 --> 00:22:46.490
 Definitely in justices that the Palestinians are suffering the question always is who's the actual cause?

295
00:22:46.530 --> 00:22:48.010
 Who's the moral cause of this?

296
00:22:48.010 --> 00:22:53.390
 But there's plenty bitter sentiment upon which the propaganda can focus therefore

297
00:22:53.390 --> 00:22:58.890
 it's not too surprising that we don't hear these voices of it's the fault of

298
00:22:59.970 --> 00:23:03.230
 The Palestinians it's a mass leadership that's caused all these problems

299
00:23:03.230 --> 00:23:09.630
 I do believe there will be a genuine democracy that you would hear these voices and there would be a huge potential for coexistence

300
00:23:09.630 --> 00:23:13.090
 I strongly believe that but I can't prove it. I agree with you

301
00:23:13.090 --> 00:23:16.370
 There are facts in the ground that call that into question

302
00:23:16.370 --> 00:23:18.350
 Yeah has has

303
00:23:18.350 --> 00:23:23.530
 Do you feel Hamas has been so weakened that because we have we haven't really heard much of a peep from them lately

304
00:23:24.250 --> 00:23:29.970
 Are they are they really weakened the weakened in terms of in terms of this two fronts?

305
00:23:29.970 --> 00:23:33.230
 They're always conducting the one is that the fight against Israel

306
00:23:33.230 --> 00:23:38.690
 Yeah, I don't think they're in a position to colonize or attack or really create an existential threat to Israel

307
00:23:40.930 --> 00:23:44.530
 Discounting the fact that they would ever attain weapons of mass destruction

308
00:23:44.530 --> 00:23:50.390
 But based on normal military conditions, they're not really a genuine threat to Israel militarily

309
00:23:50.390 --> 00:23:51.570
 They could take it over however

310
00:23:51.570 --> 00:23:57.490
 They can present they can make a lot of problems result just as cheap rockets that fired into Israeli population centers already

311
00:23:57.490 --> 00:24:00.230
 It's hugely disruptive on Israeli society

312
00:24:01.490 --> 00:24:04.990
 That's on the so they are a semi weakened

313
00:24:05.690 --> 00:24:10.110
 But in terms of them against their own population, they're not weakened at all

314
00:24:10.110 --> 00:24:13.770
 I think they maintain strong control because of the intense

315
00:24:14.950 --> 00:24:18.170
 Focus they have on maintaining control and the extreme

316
00:24:18.990 --> 00:24:25.490
 Lengths that they will go to to to maintain control not bound by rules of law or institutions, etc

317
00:24:25.490 --> 00:24:27.350
 therefore and there are

318
00:24:28.030 --> 00:24:29.630
 executions for any

319
00:24:29.630 --> 00:24:34.650
 collaborators or alleged collaborators or potential collaborators or sympathizers with Israel

320
00:24:34.650 --> 00:24:39.790
 Therefore they have they do rule with an iron hand and I think they're still able to maintain that they don't need so

321
00:24:40.350 --> 00:24:45.330
 Need control of the basics and which they have still of the necessities the amenities

322
00:24:46.450 --> 00:24:50.050
 The and whatever weapons they need in order to enforce that

323
00:24:51.410 --> 00:24:53.870
 Yeah, is it is it not coincidental that

324
00:24:55.790 --> 00:24:56.390
 the

325
00:24:56.390 --> 00:24:59.710
 the weekend of Hamas correlates really with the

326
00:25:00.410 --> 00:25:06.790
 With Iran right now being in a conflict in which they themselves are pretty much being decimated

327
00:25:06.790 --> 00:25:12.810
 Even though people don't want to admit that I mean, let's be honest, we're never gonna stamp out an ideological

328
00:25:12.810 --> 00:25:13.790
 authoritarian

329
00:25:14.470 --> 00:25:16.310
 Force it's always gonna be something there

330
00:25:17.190 --> 00:25:20.350
 But you know militarily they're they're pretty much done

331
00:25:20.350 --> 00:25:23.910
 Their infrastructure is hanging on by a thread and ever since all this happened

332
00:25:24.830 --> 00:25:30.790
 the the ability for like Hamas for example to to do anything significant has been very very much

333
00:25:30.790 --> 00:25:33.010
 weakened or stifled and

334
00:25:33.010 --> 00:25:37.510
 That even extends to you know, like Hezbollah and all of these other proxies

335
00:25:37.510 --> 00:25:41.490
 I mean, they still are they're still firing rockets are still trying to be a nuisance

336
00:25:41.490 --> 00:25:46.830
 But it's not to the level that it used to be so this really points to as as it's been said

337
00:25:46.830 --> 00:25:47.070
 You know

338
00:25:47.070 --> 00:25:52.850
 They had the snake Iran really was always the one to control them behind most of all of this whether it was funding

339
00:25:52.850 --> 00:25:58.630
 Which it really was funding it was it was arms armaments. There was training and I got a question

340
00:25:58.630 --> 00:26:00.730
 I don't know this and has never been confirmed

341
00:26:00.730 --> 00:26:07.290
 Do you think that these proxies were actually taking instruction from the Islamic regime itself out of Iran I

342
00:26:08.630 --> 00:26:10.610
 Think yes, I

343
00:26:11.270 --> 00:26:13.390
 think I don't know the degree of

344
00:26:13.870 --> 00:26:20.590
 coordination that existed but I think most people accept that they were because I mean the Hezbollah was

345
00:26:20.990 --> 00:26:24.910
 Essentially funded and created by Iran. I think they very much

346
00:26:25.730 --> 00:26:29.910
 Act on the basis of whatever instructions they received from Tehran

347
00:26:29.910 --> 00:26:31.010
 similarly with

348
00:26:31.010 --> 00:26:36.250
 Hamas the circle of fire that Iran engineered around Israel

349
00:26:36.250 --> 00:26:40.830
 which the the intention was to use that to wage a war a

350
00:26:40.830 --> 00:26:42.950
 destructive war against Israel and

351
00:26:42.950 --> 00:26:46.930
 ultimately prevail so I think they very much do take their

352
00:26:48.310 --> 00:26:52.150
 Cue from Iran they take their inspiration

353
00:26:53.030 --> 00:26:57.190
 The question will become which we will discuss. You know, what is it? Is it ideological as a religious?

354
00:26:57.190 --> 00:27:04.370
 What is it's a territory or what it's about but yeah, I think and they all have in common that they're not democratic regimes

355
00:27:08.450 --> 00:27:09.030
 and

356
00:27:10.470 --> 00:27:11.050
 I

357
00:27:11.050 --> 00:27:15.690
 think Israel for a long time the the the dynamic was that Israel tried to

358
00:27:18.050 --> 00:27:19.210
 assert its

359
00:27:19.210 --> 00:27:26.470
 defense through directly engage directly engaging with the proxies with the Hamas and with the

360
00:27:26.470 --> 00:27:30.090
 Hezbollah in the north until it became like after October the 7th

361
00:27:30.630 --> 00:27:36.190
 Became more evident that it's really it is Iran and the Iran can no longer be ignored and the conditions were

362
00:27:37.170 --> 00:27:40.450
 Such that the conditions of political conditions America

363
00:27:40.450 --> 00:27:48.070
 Facilitated enabled that with the Republican government, but also was the the ongoing you said Iran has been decimated militarily

364
00:27:48.070 --> 00:27:54.210
 I don't know how much of a difference that actually makes because for Iran there are essentially two goals and

365
00:27:54.210 --> 00:27:57.370
 We can maybe discuss which is the primary one which is a secondary one

366
00:27:57.370 --> 00:28:00.030
 I have my opinion on that but essentially two goals for Iran

367
00:28:00.030 --> 00:28:06.330
 One is to maintain absolute power within Iran over the Iranian population and despite therefore the military

368
00:28:07.370 --> 00:28:11.050
 Degrading that it suffered through American and Israeli assaults

369
00:28:11.050 --> 00:28:17.150
 I think it still retains that control in full measure and also the second military ability Iran wishes

370
00:28:17.150 --> 00:28:22.190
 Is important strategically for Iran his ability to threaten Israel and its neighbors

371
00:28:22.190 --> 00:28:24.570
 Even though doesn't have a strong military doesn't have

372
00:28:25.630 --> 00:28:29.230
 Tanks, etc ground military and doesn't have strong air force

373
00:28:29.230 --> 00:28:37.170
 But it has these missiles that they've developed thousands of missiles which seem to be fairly accurate and and devastating and that's

374
00:28:37.170 --> 00:28:39.230
 retained that maintains their

375
00:28:39.950 --> 00:28:42.930
 ability to threaten their deterrent and

376
00:28:42.930 --> 00:28:50.050
 their ability to threaten neighbors and Israel therefore and they're still in a very powerful place to to to cause a lot of

377
00:28:50.050 --> 00:28:55.050
 problems and with the background all time is the development of their nuclear capabilities

378
00:28:55.690 --> 00:28:58.370
 Also chemical and biological which have not really been discussed

379
00:28:58.370 --> 00:29:03.490
 I don't want to give any clues to anyone what they should be doing, but that's also is something that

380
00:29:04.110 --> 00:29:09.390
 Is a potential even if they don't have nuclear capabilities non-conventional. There are other non-conventional

381
00:29:09.390 --> 00:29:13.750
 Strategic as a military assets that can be used and I'm sure Iran is considering, you know

382
00:29:13.750 --> 00:29:15.030
 Whether they should be developed or not

383
00:29:15.030 --> 00:29:19.410
 I'm not sure whether they were even alluding to that in recent statements that have made in the

384
00:29:19.410 --> 00:29:27.070
 Context of the negotiations whether you know, they would consider that so Iran still I think is almost as dangerous as it was

385
00:29:27.070 --> 00:29:31.030
 I don't know if things have really changed if it's like the beginning of the end beginning of the end

386
00:29:31.030 --> 00:29:33.910
 I think is only when the regime itself is in threat is in

387
00:29:34.610 --> 00:29:36.890
 Danger of collapse and I don't know if we're there

388
00:29:38.310 --> 00:29:44.590
 Right, but their military capabilities have have been reducing capability and I would still argue almost decimated

389
00:29:45.070 --> 00:29:49.130
 Honestly, I mean sure they had a lot of missiles, but you know, their stockpile is definitely getting low

390
00:29:49.810 --> 00:29:56.050
 The Shahed's drones that they were that were manufacturing they're basically running out of now after the decimation of most of their facilities

391
00:29:56.050 --> 00:29:57.490
 They can't keep up with production

392
00:29:57.930 --> 00:30:02.090
 So now they're gonna have to rely on Russia to provide that which now is not buying those from Iran anymore

393
00:30:02.090 --> 00:30:04.250
 They're producing them themselves. So they lost that revenue

394
00:30:04.250 --> 00:30:10.090
 so this all comes down to money as much as we want to talk about the fundamentalism of the Islamic regime and how

395
00:30:10.090 --> 00:30:15.650
 Radicalized they can make people to be able to pick up, you know, pick up the torch and you know fight against anybody

396
00:30:15.650 --> 00:30:16.310
 Who opposes them?

397
00:30:16.310 --> 00:30:23.550
 The reality is without the money they can't exist. Okay, and right now that's being choked off by closing the Strait of Hormuz right now

398
00:30:23.550 --> 00:30:26.850
 So the reality is it's a couple of factors here

399
00:30:27.470 --> 00:30:29.950
 Iran needs money Islamic regime needs money

400
00:30:29.950 --> 00:30:35.850
 Okay, 45% of their government budget comes from their oil sales alone their biggest customers China who buys up to 90% of their oil

401
00:30:36.690 --> 00:30:42.730
 China cannot do that currently at this state Iran is losing about 13 billion dollars a month and

402
00:30:43.850 --> 00:30:51.270
 China themselves as much as they are claiming or are an ally of Iran can't really get them the supplies or resupply them with the

403
00:30:51.270 --> 00:30:58.350
 Armaments they need Russia's too busy with Ukraine and they themselves can't take their attention away from that at the moment either

404
00:30:58.350 --> 00:31:01.450
 so Iran is kind of on an island at this moment even with the

405
00:31:02.370 --> 00:31:08.490
 The allies they have so it's this may be what you said. It could be the beginning of the end

406
00:31:08.490 --> 00:31:16.350
 And I'm not I mean you may be correct in the fact that sure they have bodies right the IRGC still substantial with about

407
00:31:16.350 --> 00:31:23.850
 I think it was 350,000 troops or whatever it is and then they still have the Iranian army, but the problem is

408
00:31:23.850 --> 00:31:27.770
 At this moment is who is leading Iran now?

409
00:31:27.810 --> 00:31:31.470
 There is a power struggle between the IRGC and the Islamic regime by the way

410
00:31:32.010 --> 00:31:39.210
 The IRGC has absolutely done things that were against the wishes of the Islamic regime because they don't know who's in charge

411
00:31:39.210 --> 00:31:43.070
 You know the most of our Khomeini. We haven't seen him

412
00:31:43.930 --> 00:31:48.310
 He we've seen people reading speeches. He's written, but where is he right?

413
00:31:48.450 --> 00:31:51.110
 So that calls into question who's really leading the Islamic regime, right?

414
00:31:51.290 --> 00:31:56.410
 But the IRGC has been very prevalent and present and it seems like they're making more the decisions and then we don't even know

415
00:31:56.410 --> 00:31:57.650
 What's going on with the Iranian army?

416
00:31:57.650 --> 00:32:05.450
 So it seems like there's a lot of conflict within within the the control of Iran itself, there's definitely a power struggle

417
00:32:06.250 --> 00:32:11.250
 the question I've always had and just as rhetorical is

418
00:32:11.250 --> 00:32:15.650
 When maybe the Western nations will stop being so empathetic and do what they need to do to wipe out the regime

419
00:32:15.650 --> 00:32:20.310
 Okay, and I know that sounds really evil and mean but the reality is they've been a threat to the world for over 50

420
00:32:20.310 --> 00:32:23.970
 years 47 years since they came into power in 1978 and

421
00:32:24.670 --> 00:32:29.470
 They they have been in my opinion and you can very much correct me because you actually live in the Middle East

422
00:32:29.470 --> 00:32:34.510
 But in my opinion from the outside looking in they seem to be behind most of the conflict that and struggle that is actually in

423
00:32:34.510 --> 00:32:39.430
 The Middle East they've proven that they don't even respect their Muslim neighbors. And even though they're a different Muslim

424
00:32:39.430 --> 00:32:44.510
 I get it but at the same time there's still some brotherly connection there, right?

425
00:32:44.570 --> 00:32:48.410
 There should be within the within the religious faith. And so they went ahead

426
00:32:48.410 --> 00:32:52.950
 I didn't get that point between connection between who and who they're Muslim neighbors

427
00:32:52.950 --> 00:32:55.270
 The other there are other Arab nations

428
00:32:55.270 --> 00:32:59.070
 But it should be so I understand they're different, you know have different views

429
00:32:59.070 --> 00:33:02.190
 But at the same time there is that that is and she I it's yeah

430
00:33:02.190 --> 00:33:08.090
 There should still be that basic connection in terms of the religion itself and and they've proven that they do not respect that

431
00:33:08.090 --> 00:33:10.070
 Right as soon as they they were attacked

432
00:33:10.070 --> 00:33:15.370
 They viewed anybody who didn't jump in the fight as an enemy and started firing at the Gulf States and then to this

433
00:33:15.370 --> 00:33:20.830
 Day the Gulf States really haven't done anything retaliation either outside of trying to protect themselves as missiles are falling at them

434
00:33:20.830 --> 00:33:21.630
 So

435
00:33:22.590 --> 00:33:29.150
 What what is the next step here in your mind when this conflict? I mean should should

436
00:33:30.250 --> 00:33:31.290
 should the

437
00:33:31.290 --> 00:33:34.830
 Absolute nail on the coffin so to speak be taken right now

438
00:33:34.830 --> 00:33:40.490
 should we pound that nail on the coffin as you on the Islamic regime and really decimate them and get rid of them or

439
00:33:40.490 --> 00:33:47.950
 Are we all holding back because of I don't know actors. Yeah pressures political factors, etc

440
00:33:47.950 --> 00:33:52.010
 What do you think yeah, there's a lot as a you mentioned a lot of points

441
00:33:52.010 --> 00:33:55.510
 I'm gonna try and remember them and sorry I can't no no it's good

442
00:33:55.510 --> 00:33:59.230
 You because you're obviously very well informed and then you have a lot of developed opinions on this

443
00:33:59.230 --> 00:34:06.610
 I hope I'm able to respond meaningfully to to to at least some of these points first of all talking about the

444
00:34:06.610 --> 00:34:12.170
 finance and you said that yeah, they've been deprived a lot of the of their

445
00:34:13.650 --> 00:34:20.690
 Income from as a result of closing the straits as a result of limiting their ability to to provide to Russia, etc

446
00:34:22.150 --> 00:34:26.949
 Yeah, so that's a test of a waiting game the question is how long do they have how long can they keep going?

447
00:34:27.190 --> 00:34:29.750
 And that's really the the huge the central geopolitical tension

448
00:34:29.750 --> 00:34:33.870
 How long can Trump keep going and how long can Iran keep going to one of them is forced to?

449
00:34:35.650 --> 00:34:37.090
 To to give in

450
00:34:39.190 --> 00:34:42.530
 It's it's a I don't know who has longer who can hold the breath longer

451
00:34:42.530 --> 00:34:47.469
 I think the rain is are more motivated because they have full control the rain is being the rain in regime

452
00:34:47.469 --> 00:34:50.989
 They will do everything they can and if they're not receiving this

453
00:34:50.989 --> 00:34:55.530
 Sufficient funding for running the country as it should be so and they'll cut down in my opinion

454
00:34:55.530 --> 00:35:00.770
 They'll cut down what the country needs and don't sure that their own strategic needs are met their military needs

455
00:35:00.770 --> 00:35:05.030
 Whatever is needed to maintain the regime that will always have absolute first priority

456
00:35:05.030 --> 00:35:08.710
 Therefore finances short term are not that critical for them

457
00:35:08.710 --> 00:35:11.750
 they could probably hold out for months maybe even years and they would just

458
00:35:12.510 --> 00:35:19.690
 Ensure unfortunately harsh suffering the general population if there would be a lot of discomfort and disquiet and this ease amongst the population

459
00:35:19.690 --> 00:35:23.910
 Which would threaten them then they would just have to tighten down the regime, etc

460
00:35:23.910 --> 00:35:28.650
 If there's less resources available to provide for the population, that's in my

461
00:35:29.290 --> 00:35:31.390
 Understanding that's really what their

462
00:35:31.970 --> 00:35:37.230
 Primer primary goal is is to maintain power. That's why my book is beyond power alluding to that

463
00:35:37.230 --> 00:35:42.390
 Therefore it's gonna be hard to bring them down financially. You can put pressure on them and

464
00:35:42.390 --> 00:35:45.790
 You spoke about the divided regime in Iran. I think it is

465
00:35:46.630 --> 00:35:50.150
 I'm skeptical about how divided it is to a certain extent. Yes

466
00:35:50.150 --> 00:35:55.210
 There are nuances and there's always been this tension between those who want to be more

467
00:35:55.210 --> 00:35:58.150
 We're more in favor of a slightly more pro-western

468
00:35:58.790 --> 00:36:02.970
 You know approach to to to

469
00:36:04.110 --> 00:36:05.930
 Towards dealing with the West

470
00:36:05.930 --> 00:36:10.710
 Pragmatic in terms of helping the the economy of Iran

471
00:36:10.710 --> 00:36:14.350
 And and bettering for the betterment of the Iranian population

472
00:36:14.350 --> 00:36:18.350
 Against those the hardliners who wish to maintain control in Iran

473
00:36:18.350 --> 00:36:25.210
 That's always been an internal conflict and it remains that but I don't think it's a fundamental conflict

474
00:36:25.210 --> 00:36:31.710
 I think because all the elements of those who are in this conflict are all part of the ruling regime and for them again the

475
00:36:31.710 --> 00:36:34.250
 primary need and and the primary

476
00:36:36.010 --> 00:36:38.770
 Motivation agenda is to maintain power for themselves

477
00:36:38.770 --> 00:36:46.790
 Ultimately, therefore I'm not too I'm skeptical as to what these divisions. Okay, I'm just trying that's his strategy trying so division

478
00:36:46.790 --> 00:36:51.130
 So you don't you don't know how to test Lee can be in that. Okay, but you don't see that

479
00:36:51.130 --> 00:36:53.550
 There's a there's a struggle between the IRGC and the

480
00:36:55.470 --> 00:37:01.210
 Struggle for power, but I I don't think it's a major struggle. I think because they're all in the same

481
00:37:01.870 --> 00:37:06.870
 The same position that they want to maintain power for themselves for the regime. There are elements of the regime

482
00:37:06.870 --> 00:37:10.130
 So one hand wants this approach the IRGC is slightly more

483
00:37:11.510 --> 00:37:16.450
 You know more strict and more limited in their wish to for

484
00:37:17.190 --> 00:37:21.950
 Accommodation with the West and the other more pragmatic elements of the regime that they do wish accommodation

485
00:37:21.950 --> 00:37:27.650
 But I think these are just nuances in the in within the regime and and you spoke about

486
00:37:28.350 --> 00:37:30.850
 the Russia provision of

487
00:37:31.430 --> 00:37:35.130
 Military equipment etc from Russia and

488
00:37:35.130 --> 00:37:41.990
 You have Russia China and also North Korea is quite strongly involved seems to be all these regimes do help one another

489
00:37:41.990 --> 00:37:45.370
 ultimately, I think they will be and

490
00:37:46.170 --> 00:37:52.790
 To avoid the Iranian regime falling Russia and China and North Korea

491
00:37:52.790 --> 00:37:57.510
 Well will ultimately when it comes that I think we'll do everything they can to ensure the regime does not fall

492
00:37:57.510 --> 00:37:59.910
 And that there's even a danger of them

493
00:37:59.910 --> 00:38:05.770
 even if the the the military capability of Iran has been severely degraded that Russia or China or

494
00:38:06.450 --> 00:38:10.230
 North Korea could within a short span span of time

495
00:38:11.410 --> 00:38:18.130
 Redress that balance they could make intense shipments of armaments, especially when you're talking about

496
00:38:18.130 --> 00:38:21.050
 Missiles and capable of inflicting

497
00:38:21.050 --> 00:38:27.110
 Non-conventional missiles you can redress the balance very quickly and and and that's a danger that exists

498
00:38:27.110 --> 00:38:31.740
 And then therefore that's when you're saying where is this that your following question was where is this going to lead?

499
00:38:33.570 --> 00:38:33.950
 I

500
00:38:33.950 --> 00:38:35.450
 think the only thing that

501
00:38:35.450 --> 00:38:36.930
 the West

502
00:38:36.930 --> 00:38:43.260
 Israel American can really do to threaten Iran is like Trump has been saying to actually bomb all their

503
00:38:44.110 --> 00:38:49.420
 Petroleum producing assets or to take hold of what's it called? The island?

504
00:38:50.990 --> 00:38:56.910
 where 90% of the Iranian exports and and the oil

505
00:38:56.910 --> 00:39:03.790
 Processing exists takes place if you take that if you would take a stronghold a stranglehold on the Iranian

506
00:39:03.790 --> 00:39:05.750
 oil production

507
00:39:06.390 --> 00:39:13.510
 Capability that would be an extreme threat because then they really would be undercutting their ability to finance the bankroll

508
00:39:14.130 --> 00:39:17.730
 Their control of the state the core problem is Iran

509
00:39:17.730 --> 00:39:22.110
 The one strategic asset Iran does have is they have no rules

510
00:39:22.110 --> 00:39:27.490
 They're the fanatical in order to maintain their power. They'll do anything to attack anyone

511
00:39:27.490 --> 00:39:32.950
 Therefore and every move that you take which is more aggressive in game theory

512
00:39:32.950 --> 00:39:40.190
 You're going to invite another more aggressive move on the other side. Therefore. It's a deathly game as to the other Arab nations

513
00:39:40.190 --> 00:39:43.910
 Which you said, why do we know why do they seem to be on opposing sides?

514
00:39:44.950 --> 00:39:50.810
 I think it's been a transition over 70 or 80 years as a result of Israel in the Middle East

515
00:39:50.810 --> 00:39:54.050
 but they have come to a pragmatic realization that

516
00:39:55.350 --> 00:39:55.870
 more

517
00:39:57.030 --> 00:40:00.930
 Accommodation again greater accommodation with Israel and the West seems to be better

518
00:40:00.930 --> 00:40:07.610
 They have the needs of their population more at heart than their own needs as a

519
00:40:07.610 --> 00:40:10.850
 ruling regime authoritarian regime, they are keen to actually

520
00:40:12.370 --> 00:40:16.710
 Benefit the welfare of their populations and therefore they have taken this stand

521
00:40:16.710 --> 00:40:23.390
 Which has taken them against Iran and despite I think in principle their affiliation probably would be more with Iran

522
00:40:23.390 --> 00:40:30.910
 If Iran would be slightly less fanatical, but I think time has brought them to this pragmatic position of

523
00:40:30.930 --> 00:40:36.390
 And they do feel threatened to a certain extent because Iran will do anything to preserve its regime

524
00:40:36.870 --> 00:40:39.230
 It will even threaten these

525
00:40:39.230 --> 00:40:41.870
 semi-friendly Arab

526
00:40:43.190 --> 00:40:44.070
 neighbors and

527
00:40:44.070 --> 00:40:50.050
 That's the dynamic. I think I don't know one is enemy or friend is just part of the dynamic of the conflict

528
00:40:50.570 --> 00:40:56.790
 All right. Well, you said a couple of things there that um, surprisingly I have said myself and not many people have said

529
00:40:56.790 --> 00:40:59.070
 I'll be honest if I was in control of this

530
00:40:59.070 --> 00:41:04.470
 We'd probably all be in trouble because I would have absolutely bombed and decimated Karg Island a long time ago

531
00:41:04.870 --> 00:41:08.390
 I wouldn't care about the environmental implications because we can go back clean it up

532
00:41:08.390 --> 00:41:13.730
 We always have done that before and oil spills. It's not environmental strategic here is a problem, right?

533
00:41:14.270 --> 00:41:15.610
 But I agree if we got rid of that

534
00:41:16.050 --> 00:41:22.050
 There's no oil stored a stores about 90% of the oil and then if we went ahead and got rid of their oil fields

535
00:41:22.050 --> 00:41:27.810
 And control those there's nothing they can do now the retaliation you speak of is exactly

536
00:41:27.810 --> 00:41:31.850
 I think was keeping people at bay and it's not so much the response they would have militarily

537
00:41:31.850 --> 00:41:37.890
 I think it's in their proxies that are dug into these areas and the terrorist attacks that they can launch from within these areas

538
00:41:37.890 --> 00:41:43.470
 You know also in the United States as well as in these Arab other Arab states because it's very unclear

539
00:41:44.090 --> 00:41:50.310
 You know if these terrorist cells are are active or not where they're at. We know they're around, you know, it's like

540
00:41:51.070 --> 00:41:57.450
 The statistic I've always used on my program here when I've talking talked about this. So United States

541
00:41:58.190 --> 00:42:04.410
 2025 for example, these are people we caught known we we have we have caught and

542
00:42:04.410 --> 00:42:10.600
 Apprehended enough terrorists trying to get through our border that would put actually 15 terrorists in every state of the United States

543
00:42:11.530 --> 00:42:16.420
 literally and we're still encountering that influx now in 2026 and

544
00:42:17.090 --> 00:42:20.670
 So that is the reality and I think you're correct. I think that is what's been

545
00:42:20.670 --> 00:42:22.990
 holding a lot of people from

546
00:42:22.990 --> 00:42:28.250
 Doing what really needs to happen and I and I that might be that might be why Trump is trying to come to the table

547
00:42:28.250 --> 00:42:33.710
 And come to an agreement but on the flip side of that. I also have to ask this question, especially of the Western nations

548
00:42:34.210 --> 00:42:40.110
 Why would we tolerate such an evil regime that is intent on literally conquering the West destroying Israel?

549
00:42:40.770 --> 00:42:42.530
 all for the sake of oil like

550
00:42:42.530 --> 00:42:45.910
 Literally, I mean there are other places you can get the oil and understand its

551
00:42:46.750 --> 00:42:52.410
 Geographical location sure. It's cheaper to purchase and transport because it's right there

552
00:42:52.410 --> 00:42:53.790
 I understand that

553
00:42:53.790 --> 00:42:58.710
 but the US is honestly we overproduce and we we literally

554
00:43:00.470 --> 00:43:05.750
 Probably be the the number one producer of oil at this point, especially with what happened with Venezuela

555
00:43:05.750 --> 00:43:11.190
 And then not even just the US you got Canada you got Mexico as much as we don't want to get more money to Russia

556
00:43:11.190 --> 00:43:17.010
 There's Russia. I mean, there's other places that that oil can be had on the worst-case scenario here

557
00:43:18.310 --> 00:43:21.790
 And I'm not saying we should cut out the other nation's revenue that don't get me wrong

558
00:43:21.790 --> 00:43:27.510
 But what I'm saying is there there's other in rows that can be taken to alleviate the situation at the moment and then people

559
00:43:27.510 --> 00:43:32.110
 Cry about the fertilizer and everything. Well, you know, there's other nations that clear that absolutely produce fertilizer

560
00:43:32.110 --> 00:43:36.270
 so I think those are just excuses that are being used as to

561
00:43:37.070 --> 00:43:42.110
 Trying to be empathetic or sympathetic only because and I think I think the reason here Daniel is this

562
00:43:42.650 --> 00:43:49.490
 There there are innocent civilians in Iran that don't deserve this and as much as we want to see them liberated

563
00:43:49.490 --> 00:43:52.290
 We can't force it and if we would go in and

564
00:43:53.230 --> 00:43:56.770
 Truly truly be the military aggressor that we could be for example

565
00:43:56.770 --> 00:44:00.030
 A lot of people are gonna die even more than now and there's mistakes have been made

566
00:44:00.030 --> 00:44:03.950
 I mean, you know, we had a school full of children that were killed and I know that wasn't intentional

567
00:44:03.950 --> 00:44:09.950
 A lot of people argue it was but it was not we haven't seen that again or since and then people will cry about war

568
00:44:09.950 --> 00:44:12.130
 Crimes. Oh, you can't you can't target civilian infrastructure

569
00:44:12.550 --> 00:44:18.130
 Really? Well, then we can talk about how many times Iran has targeted civilian infrastructure and done things that are considered war crimes

570
00:44:18.130 --> 00:44:22.830
 So I think the West has too much of a big heart to do it needs to be done and

571
00:44:23.690 --> 00:44:28.570
 I don't believe there's an attack against Islam itself because I think the religion and the practice has evolved

572
00:44:28.570 --> 00:44:33.710
 We have people living in modern societies that don't take it literally just as a Christian

573
00:44:33.710 --> 00:44:38.230
 For example, if we practice the Old Testament the way it was we would be stoning people right now

574
00:44:38.230 --> 00:44:42.830
 But we don't do that, you know, so we have evolved and I can't I and then the problem

575
00:44:42.830 --> 00:44:47.750
 We're seeing what the regime is, you know, they're using the Islamic religion in

576
00:44:47.750 --> 00:44:56.470
 Extreme way to control people to push their narrative an idea of conquest and subjugation and that's what we're seeing

577
00:44:56.470 --> 00:45:01.130
 But we're afraid to do it needs to be done because again, there's too many innocent people in Iran

578
00:45:01.130 --> 00:45:04.410
 We can't go and just decimate those people themselves or kill them

579
00:45:05.770 --> 00:45:06.810
 My opinion

580
00:45:08.950 --> 00:45:16.010
 Again, there's a lot there and first of all, and let's do it. I'll try to remember you remind me the points you made

581
00:45:16.610 --> 00:45:18.730
 First point you was saying that

582
00:45:19.290 --> 00:45:20.850
 Why does

583
00:45:20.850 --> 00:45:24.230
 America or Israel not to take the ultimate the

584
00:45:25.110 --> 00:45:32.170
 optimal strategic move of taking out cargo island taking out the the old production facilities Iran

585
00:45:32.170 --> 00:45:36.390
 thereby severely and degrading any you know

586
00:45:36.930 --> 00:45:42.070
 Resources Iran has at their disposal and and you said it's because of the threat of reprisals

587
00:45:42.070 --> 00:45:45.990
 and I agree with that but you you

588
00:45:45.990 --> 00:45:52.070
 Point to reprisals on the level of domestic terrorism. I think that's what you're primarily concerned with

589
00:45:52.070 --> 00:45:56.490
 I don't think that's the main concern. I think American very security

590
00:45:58.070 --> 00:46:02.630
 Organizations in the West would be able to deal quite effectively with these threats

591
00:46:02.630 --> 00:46:07.230
 I think the threat is Iran itself has said that they have again these strategic missiles

592
00:46:07.230 --> 00:46:12.530
 That are fairly powerful and quite accurate and they've threatened to take out the civilian

593
00:46:13.150 --> 00:46:19.290
 Infrastructure throughout the Middle East and that's right take out water production facilities oil production facilities

594
00:46:19.290 --> 00:46:21.550
 educational facilities all the

595
00:46:22.110 --> 00:46:24.470
 fundamental civilian infrastructure and

596
00:46:24.470 --> 00:46:27.230
 And and all the oil production facilities in the world

597
00:46:27.230 --> 00:46:31.910
 They could render the world incapable of oil production where they to want to do that

598
00:46:31.910 --> 00:46:34.610
 Now I think that's a threat pre the act

599
00:46:34.610 --> 00:46:37.230
 I think if post the act if America were actually to do that

600
00:46:37.230 --> 00:46:39.250
 I don't think Iran would have an interest in

601
00:46:39.970 --> 00:46:46.010
 Actually carrying out their alleged response because what interest would they have in doing that that would just invite an even greater

602
00:46:46.010 --> 00:46:51.030
 response for America so therefore strategically in terms of game theory and and

603
00:46:51.030 --> 00:46:56.170
 Threatening it seems to be that would be perhaps the right move and I think that is part of the negotiation

604
00:46:56.170 --> 00:46:59.850
 I think Trump has that threat the whole time in the back of his pocket and

605
00:47:00.330 --> 00:47:02.450
 And it also has a threat of so to speak

606
00:47:02.450 --> 00:47:06.770
 You'll say that I can't contain Israel Israel would like to do this would like to do this

607
00:47:06.770 --> 00:47:12.130
 I'm holding them back and if negotiations don't progress then I'm gonna I won't be able to hold back Israel because that's really what

608
00:47:12.130 --> 00:47:14.950
 Israel knows that should be done to seriously

609
00:47:16.070 --> 00:47:21.830
 Weaken the regime by taking out all their from that fundamental infrastructure. That's another point

610
00:47:22.370 --> 00:47:25.090
 You say also why is the West?

611
00:47:26.510 --> 00:47:28.990
 Why is it being so accommodating of Iran?

612
00:47:29.050 --> 00:47:36.510
 Why is it not done more to take away this threat this Islamic fundamentalist threat this threat to peace in the Middle East and

613
00:47:36.510 --> 00:47:41.630
 Throughout the world and in Western society and and and and strategically you're right

614
00:47:41.630 --> 00:47:47.250
 if they would get together if all these democratic governments would get together and and and and

615
00:47:47.250 --> 00:47:53.530
 Craft a strategy for dealing with this would create the resources to deal with the temporary problems of supply etc and say let's take

616
00:47:53.530 --> 00:47:58.510
 The military moves are necessary. They probably would be able to do that, but we're in a very imperfect world. Unfortunately

617
00:47:58.510 --> 00:47:59.450
 That's what you're lamenting

618
00:47:59.450 --> 00:48:05.650
 I think where democracies do not necessarily function together and democracies unfortunately do not make completely rational

619
00:48:05.650 --> 00:48:13.490
 Decisions or strategic move they're petrified of what the media will say the petrified of a very militant and vocal and left

620
00:48:13.490 --> 00:48:14.370
 progressive

621
00:48:15.510 --> 00:48:23.130
 Movement who are very sympathetic and although they might not represent absolute majorities, but they are very powerful and vocal and

622
00:48:23.130 --> 00:48:27.950
 Minority backed by the media. Therefore any move that the West takes which is seen as pro-israel

623
00:48:28.450 --> 00:48:34.810
 anti-iran is is always met by a very loud chorus of opposition and

624
00:48:34.810 --> 00:48:39.290
 the democratically elected governments, which generally only have minor

625
00:48:39.730 --> 00:48:45.210
 Majorities small majority slim majorities are incapable. They're really frozen from taking major action

626
00:48:45.210 --> 00:48:47.310
 They're always in a state of containment

627
00:48:47.310 --> 00:48:54.570
 Geopolitically, they can't do major things and that's partly because of the democratic structure, which which I also talk about

628
00:48:54.570 --> 00:49:01.530
 But that's because of this imperfect every man for themselves and looking over the back of their shoulder just to maintain their own

629
00:49:01.530 --> 00:49:06.710
 Status is what's driving things. Unfortunately, it's a large extent

630
00:49:06.710 --> 00:49:11.130
 We don't get the optimal solutions that you would like to see well

631
00:49:11.130 --> 00:49:15.930
 Yeah, so alright, I'm gonna address some of that and then I'm gonna ask you another question

632
00:49:16.550 --> 00:49:22.250
 But let's let's let's back up. I think the domestic terrorist threats are very real

633
00:49:22.250 --> 00:49:30.050
 Okay, and the only reason they have implemented to the degree we've seen is because I think Iran knows that's a last-resort move

634
00:49:30.050 --> 00:49:35.310
 Okay, if they do that now, then it does invite the axe absolute destruction of Iran period

635
00:49:35.310 --> 00:49:37.850
 That's just what's gonna happen. You know

636
00:49:38.370 --> 00:49:41.150
 After 9-eleven, okay, we can 9-eleven

637
00:49:41.150 --> 00:49:46.670
 Well, we can agree or disagree with how the US handled that but we've proven that we're not gonna take anybody's crap

638
00:49:46.670 --> 00:49:54.690
 We're gonna go and we will respond in kind just as you said Israel would too if that happened. So I

639
00:49:54.690 --> 00:49:57.450
 Think that's why I think that's that's like a death rattle

640
00:49:57.450 --> 00:50:02.130
 For Iran when they're at the point where there's nothing left then they're gonna

641
00:50:02.770 --> 00:50:05.770
 They're gonna turn it on. They'll say you know what whoever we can bring down with us

642
00:50:05.770 --> 00:50:11.190
 That's what we're gonna do and the reason I say this is we've seen an increase in terrorist activities on US soil

643
00:50:11.190 --> 00:50:16.830
 We've seen an increase or uptick in what might be happening in the UK itself. We've seen it in Australia

644
00:50:16.830 --> 00:50:21.150
 It seems like around the world that we've seen an increase in activities. Okay

645
00:50:21.150 --> 00:50:26.250
 There has been terrorist activities that have as you said because there are in

646
00:50:26.250 --> 00:50:28.850
 Intelligence agencies and law enforcement that can deal with this

647
00:50:28.850 --> 00:50:32.610
 So there has been a lot that has also been stopped, but they were in process

648
00:50:32.610 --> 00:50:33.110
 Okay

649
00:50:33.110 --> 00:50:37.350
 So I believe that's still a big factor of what keeps a lot of people at bay

650
00:50:37.350 --> 00:50:42.010
 And as far as the Western nations not coming together as you said and saying look we need to do we got to do

651
00:50:42.010 --> 00:50:49.430
 I think is I think the real reality there is that our economy is too intertwined and it's too globalized to the point

652
00:50:50.070 --> 00:50:52.810
 All people care about is the damn money

653
00:50:52.810 --> 00:50:54.850
 they just care about how their wallet feels and

654
00:50:55.190 --> 00:51:00.130
 Politicians will always be pressured by those who feel that gas prices are too expensive or foods too expensive whatever

655
00:51:00.130 --> 00:51:03.430
 but these are to me these are minor pains that can be

656
00:51:04.350 --> 00:51:11.290
 Weighted out so to speak right especially if we offer alternative solutions and sourcing in an ideal world in it

657
00:51:11.290 --> 00:51:15.530
 Yes ideal of course ideal. Yeah, I'm not disagreeing with that point

658
00:51:16.070 --> 00:51:19.310
 But I'm gonna say this and it may not be comparable in some people's minds

659
00:51:19.310 --> 00:51:24.450
 But to me it is the world came together to hunt the Nazis and made sure that they would never ever reign again or come

660
00:51:24.450 --> 00:51:29.490
 Together it's even taboo for even to speak about trying to be a Nazi or support Nazism

661
00:51:29.490 --> 00:51:33.150
 But yet we will not do that with the the regime the Islamic regime

662
00:51:33.150 --> 00:51:38.570
 Okay, not Islam itself, but the Islamic regime who is very fundamentally extreme

663
00:51:39.410 --> 00:51:41.690
 We won't do that and yet we can argue

664
00:51:41.690 --> 00:51:48.090
 They've probably killed just as many or more people throughout their time and existence then maybe the Nazis did and I know

665
00:51:48.090 --> 00:51:52.410
 So just hear me out. So it may not be directly comparable, but that is one thing we can do

666
00:51:52.410 --> 00:51:54.570
 That's one thing that the world is not doing you know

667
00:51:54.570 --> 00:52:00.450
 We're allowing them to exist again in my opinion because of oil period

668
00:52:00.970 --> 00:52:05.290
 They their reaction the Strait of Hormuz isn't the first time they did this in the 80s when Reagan was in charge

669
00:52:05.290 --> 00:52:07.150
 Okay, they did the same thing

670
00:52:08.370 --> 00:52:08.810
 so

671
00:52:08.810 --> 00:52:12.330
 Iran is the thorn of the side of the Middle East in my opinion and in my opinion

672
00:52:12.710 --> 00:52:18.810
 They had their their hell-bent on taking over the world. Okay, there's two strategies are using we can use a kinetic strategy

673
00:52:18.810 --> 00:52:21.610
 What they haven't been doing they've been doing that in the Middle East through proxies

674
00:52:21.610 --> 00:52:26.830
 But as far as Western nations, they've been using a soft invasion tactic and we can talk about the migration

675
00:52:27.550 --> 00:52:29.730
 Issues that are going on with all Western nations, right?

676
00:52:30.690 --> 00:52:33.710
 And that's a very complex topic. We can probably talk about that another time

677
00:52:34.130 --> 00:52:38.650
 You know we can have you back and we can discuss that but that is a reality that a lot of people are choosing

678
00:52:38.650 --> 00:52:43.250
 To ignore or not really talk about so that that's that's my opinion

679
00:52:43.250 --> 00:52:47.710
 And it's not necessarily opposing what you just said because I think we do align on on our on our points

680
00:52:47.710 --> 00:52:51.550
 But I think there's a lot of like you say there's a lot of nuance there is you know, there's a lot of nuance there

681
00:52:52.350 --> 00:52:58.210
 So that's gonna lead me this could lead me to the next question here. Okay

682
00:52:58.210 --> 00:53:03.810
 What let's let's talk about the perception of US Israeli relationships?

683
00:53:03.810 --> 00:53:09.190
 A lot of people are trying to push an error that Israel controls the US for example

684
00:53:10.030 --> 00:53:14.230
 They're also asking is Israel really an ally to the US but in turn

685
00:53:14.230 --> 00:53:19.990
 I also have to ask this does Israel see the US as an actual strategic ally, right?

686
00:53:20.570 --> 00:53:22.110
 What are your thoughts on that question?

687
00:53:23.290 --> 00:53:28.410
 Okay, and my thoughts are very I mean there's a few points you made but

688
00:53:29.430 --> 00:53:37.070
 Can I just respond to what you said about the threat of domestic terrorism absolutely, and I don't if it comes directly from Iran

689
00:53:37.070 --> 00:53:38.490
 I think that

690
00:53:38.490 --> 00:53:41.890
 Maybe maybe Iran does have the power. They do have certain

691
00:53:43.090 --> 00:53:45.130
 units or whatever that are sleeping

692
00:53:45.710 --> 00:53:48.590
 Units that are ready for the when it comes a day of reckoning

693
00:53:48.590 --> 00:53:53.810
 But I think there's a lot of ground sympathy within Western regimes amongst progressive

694
00:53:53.810 --> 00:54:02.090
 Ultra-progressive movements who are sympathetic to Iran for reasons that I would be happy to discuss. That's really the essence of my

695
00:54:03.410 --> 00:54:08.230
 Conceptualization of this real quick though before you move on. Yeah, but let me get back to hold on

696
00:54:08.230 --> 00:54:14.430
 The people who've been caught who have been carrying out these terrorist acts as recent actually were Middle Easterns

697
00:54:14.430 --> 00:54:15.930
 They weren't necessarily

698
00:54:16.850 --> 00:54:21.670
 Yeah, yeah agreed. Yeah. Yeah, they're more susceptible to yeah, they abide less by the rules

699
00:54:21.670 --> 00:54:25.450
 It's easier to radicalize them and get them to perpetrate these type of actions

700
00:54:25.450 --> 00:54:33.330
 but there's a lot of sympathy in the background for that and from nationals in Western nationals, but

701
00:54:33.330 --> 00:54:40.150
 let me connect this up with what you're saying about the strategic alliance between Israel and America and

702
00:54:40.150 --> 00:54:45.730
 Who in my opinion both see each other as strategic allies of the first order and for reasons

703
00:54:45.730 --> 00:54:47.870
 I'll maybe try and explain in a brief time

704
00:54:47.870 --> 00:54:53.430
 But this is really the essence of everything and sure I'll try and tie up quite a few points with this that

705
00:54:53.430 --> 00:54:54.670
 What's really?

706
00:54:55.410 --> 00:54:57.610
 Behind all of this in my humble opinion

707
00:54:58.190 --> 00:55:02.490
 And I I just have to zoom out for two minutes because you're very on the ball

708
00:55:02.490 --> 00:55:04.230
 So you'll you'll you'll get this in one minute

709
00:55:04.230 --> 00:55:08.700
 but if I look at China and Taiwan and I look at Ukraine and

710
00:55:09.230 --> 00:55:15.570
 Russia and I asked you the question why did and I asked this to every podcast I've been on yeah, why is Putin

711
00:55:15.570 --> 00:55:20.190
 Waging an existential war against Ukraine. Why why has he gone to such a length?

712
00:55:20.390 --> 00:55:24.970
 What is Ukraine done to deserve the almost like World War three on his doorstep?

713
00:55:25.190 --> 00:55:28.710
 Yeah, but that's the base. That's the basic question that forms the theory, right?

714
00:55:28.770 --> 00:55:33.550
 But that's a multi-part question with multiple answers because I'm looking for the simple answer

715
00:55:33.550 --> 00:55:37.370
 Why okay not a simple answer because one answer is okay

716
00:55:37.370 --> 00:55:43.230
 There's more than one answer because I know the answer you're looking for is defiance of democracy is the fines of authoritarianism, right?

717
00:55:43.230 --> 00:55:45.170
 You know becoming more of a democratic society

718
00:55:45.170 --> 00:55:50.410
 So he uses he put may view that as an affront to Russia for example Russian rule authoritarian rule

719
00:55:50.970 --> 00:55:51.450
 but

720
00:55:51.450 --> 00:55:57.510
 We also have to look at the fact that Putin himself being part of the old USSR when he was a KGB agent

721
00:55:57.510 --> 00:56:04.030
 Has always long to reunite the old USSR. Okay, and he said that himself multiple times

722
00:56:04.030 --> 00:56:09.030
 So which is what led to the act of annexation of Crimea in 2014

723
00:56:09.030 --> 00:56:13.130
 Okay, that was an unprovoked attack in where he was trying to regain territory

724
00:56:13.130 --> 00:56:15.090
 A lot of people forget about that as well

725
00:56:15.090 --> 00:56:18.930
 We got 15 territories that were part of the the old USSR, right?

726
00:56:19.130 --> 00:56:25.410
 So and now we have multiple nations that were part of those territories that are now either NATO numbers or recognized by NATO

727
00:56:25.410 --> 00:56:28.110
 Ukraine now being one of those not a member but recognized, right?

728
00:56:29.410 --> 00:56:35.250
 And so that's why I says there's multiple answers here, you know, there's there's there's the affront to authoritarianism

729
00:56:35.250 --> 00:56:41.090
 Obviously to where like look this is this is a this is a direct stand against what you know

730
00:56:41.090 --> 00:56:44.290
 Russian control stands for in and of itself right against Moscow

731
00:56:44.290 --> 00:56:49.770
 But we also have to see that being a previous territory that there was a lot of sympathizers to Russia as well

732
00:56:49.770 --> 00:56:55.630
 There's parts of Ukraine where they're more Russian I guess aligned in terms of culture and whatnot to this day

733
00:56:55.630 --> 00:56:58.010
 But at the same time

734
00:56:58.690 --> 00:57:02.750
 Putin really has always wanted to reunite the old USSR, you know

735
00:57:02.750 --> 00:57:07.970
 The the great Russia the great Imperial Russia and and that has always been a goal of his he's getting older and older

736
00:57:07.970 --> 00:57:10.270
 So I think that's part of his legacy statement, for example

737
00:57:10.270 --> 00:57:16.930
 And then there's the other argument which I kind of agree with and don't there's the encroachment of NATO territories, for example

738
00:57:16.930 --> 00:57:23.430
 Well, kind of yes and no and there there have been some of the previous territories that have become NATO members

739
00:57:23.430 --> 00:57:26.210
 So you can look at that as encroachment on his borders

740
00:57:26.210 --> 00:57:31.850
 But that was happening in the late 90s and through 2000 I think up to 2014 or so

741
00:57:31.850 --> 00:57:34.610
 We really haven't had another NATO NATO member

742
00:57:35.330 --> 00:57:37.410
 Be you know accepted for example

743
00:57:37.410 --> 00:57:44.250
 We've have you Ukraine recognized but there's a hesitancy there too because even though while they are appearing to move towards democracy

744
00:57:45.250 --> 00:57:51.790
 We still can't ignore that they were considered one of the most corrupt governments on the earth for many many years

745
00:57:51.790 --> 00:57:55.110
 And this has been accepted by many. Yes, the Ukraine was

746
00:57:56.290 --> 00:58:00.170
 Was I'm not saying now but you know, and I'm not gonna speak to that but they were right

747
00:58:00.170 --> 00:58:05.170
 So I think in the back of people's minds that that's that's still like, you know, have they turned the corner

748
00:58:05.170 --> 00:58:09.310
 I think Zelensky is wanting to do what he has to do to protect his country

749
00:58:09.310 --> 00:58:14.430
 I mean nobody wants to be ruled by an opposing force or an opposing nation and be absorbed, right?

750
00:58:15.210 --> 00:58:20.370
 But those those are some of the answers. I know I can keep going but that is some of the answers that I have

751
00:58:20.890 --> 00:58:21.290
 Okay

752
00:58:21.290 --> 00:58:26.430
 So I want to respond to that because I want to say my I want to try and be a reductionist and say that

753
00:58:26.430 --> 00:58:30.990
 All of these answers are true, but they're all part of one sort of a meta narrative

754
00:58:30.990 --> 00:58:36.590
 I call it sure that is this authoritarian and maybe I mean to just explain it a little bit break it down

755
00:58:36.590 --> 00:58:41.890
 One this opposing an authoritarianism actually means and I think it's quite simple

756
00:58:41.890 --> 00:58:48.210
 I think that in an authoritarian regime you have those there are basically two elements to it

757
00:58:48.210 --> 00:58:53.970
 There are the those in the regime those who enjoy the power and those who are ruled the ruling under ruled and the ruling

758
00:58:53.970 --> 00:58:58.990
 Regime in a country of a country often enjoy almost absolute power

759
00:58:58.990 --> 00:59:04.930
 Which means absolute entitlement to the full resources of that country, which means tremendous power

760
00:59:04.930 --> 00:59:14.050
 Tremendous influence tremendous security tremendous privilege gratification everything and that if we take it reduce it to very basic

761
00:59:14.610 --> 00:59:21.190
 Human psychology essentially power corrupts once you have power once you've attained absolute power or any degree of power

762
00:59:21.190 --> 00:59:26.810
 You'll do anything whatsoever to ensure that that's preserved including dealing with any

763
00:59:26.810 --> 00:59:29.470
 Theoretical potential threats however small they might be

764
00:59:29.470 --> 00:59:34.790
 That is what is in the back of the mind or even the front of the mind of the Russian regime put in himself

765
00:59:34.790 --> 00:59:37.790
 And everyone and the reason why as you say you point out

766
00:59:37.790 --> 00:59:42.630
 Yes, they lost the Empire the Russian Empire and he's sentimentally trying to restore it

767
00:59:42.630 --> 00:59:44.090
 It's it's far more than about sentiment

768
00:59:44.090 --> 00:59:51.170
 I think I think because these satellite nations themselves have acquired independence that itself is the greatest threat to the ruling regime

769
00:59:51.170 --> 00:59:56.070
 in Russia themselves because having a democracy even a semi democracy on your doorstep means

770
00:59:56.070 --> 00:59:59.370
 That the population in Russia themselves are going to start questioning

771
00:59:59.370 --> 01:00:04.190
 Why are we not enjoying the privileges of the democracy even the partial privileges?

772
01:00:04.210 --> 01:00:10.070
 Why are we subject to this ruling regime and that for a ruling regime authoritarian regime is the greatest threat ever

773
01:00:10.070 --> 01:00:15.810
 That and they will do anything to offset that and that is why Putin wants to reunite the Russian the Russian

774
01:00:15.810 --> 01:00:23.790
 Regime to ensure that his power is remains unchallenged and is greater and he thwarts any thoughts of democracy

775
01:00:23.790 --> 01:00:27.890
 They should all be subject to the Russian the Russian regime the ruling regime the same thing

776
01:00:27.890 --> 01:00:32.950
 Let me jump quickly across Atlantic or behind to the North Pacific to China

777
01:00:32.950 --> 01:00:34.530
 It's exactly the same thing

778
01:00:34.530 --> 01:00:41.610
 Why China is so fixated with Hong Kong and with Taiwan for the same reason China the ruling regime of the Chinese?

779
01:00:41.610 --> 01:00:47.790
 Empire has absolute power and they have entitlement thereby to the huge massive resources that China offers

780
01:00:47.790 --> 01:00:53.010
 Therefore the greatest threat to them. I maintain is democracy democracy esteem them as an aggressive threat

781
01:00:53.010 --> 01:00:55.650
 There's a threat not to the people but to the ruling regime

782
01:00:55.650 --> 01:00:58.650
 Therefore Taiwan as a culturally affiliated

783
01:00:59.610 --> 01:01:02.170
 neighbor and whose population does enjoy

784
01:01:03.250 --> 01:01:05.170
 affluence success and

785
01:01:05.170 --> 01:01:10.270
 Democracy is a threat because that implants within the Chinese population the thought why can't we be like that?

786
01:01:10.270 --> 01:01:13.070
 And that's why they're they'll do anything to undermine Taiwan

787
01:01:13.070 --> 01:01:18.450
 Let me come back then to America and Israel very briefly that I think is the fundamental dynamic

788
01:01:18.450 --> 01:01:25.350
 Informing the Middle East conflict that is why Iran is so implacably opposed to Israel with 2,000 miles away essentially

789
01:01:25.350 --> 01:01:27.290
 Why do they have such an issue with Israel?

790
01:01:27.590 --> 01:01:35.470
 Because Israel is the only for many years the only real democracy and Iran Iranian regime is more about power

791
01:01:35.470 --> 01:01:40.350
 Ideology and religion I believe that religion ideology in these cases is really the vehicle the

792
01:01:41.290 --> 01:01:42.590
 the means to

793
01:01:42.590 --> 01:01:49.670
 Maintaining absolute power which corrupts anyone and Iran therefore rain regime will do anything to ensure that and Israel in the Middle East

794
01:01:50.210 --> 01:01:54.350
 She will start giving ideas the Iranian population. Why can't we have independence?

795
01:01:54.490 --> 01:01:58.350
 Why can't we have democracy is a threat the greatest threat to the Iranian regime?

796
01:01:58.530 --> 01:02:00.350
 That's why they opposed her so come back to America

797
01:02:00.350 --> 01:02:06.510
 Let's say why is America is so strongly aligned with Israel does Israel control America and I say no

798
01:02:06.510 --> 01:02:13.470
 I say the American people fundamentally realize that Israel is a strategic asset within this geopolitical dynamic

799
01:02:13.470 --> 01:02:18.350
 I've just described because let's take very briefly. What would happen if Israel would disappear

800
01:02:18.350 --> 01:02:23.330
 If Israel to disappear off the map what would happen in the Middle East and I argue that in the Middle East

801
01:02:23.330 --> 01:02:30.330
 It would revert whatever progress is made towards democracy would very possibly very likely and go turn backwards

802
01:02:30.350 --> 01:02:34.930
 The club would turn back and all the Middle Eastern regimes would revert to authoritarian

803
01:02:34.930 --> 01:02:42.530
 Dictatorships in which the front that the primary focus of the regime is maintaining their own power in that constellation

804
01:02:42.530 --> 01:02:47.790
 So you have basically five geopolitical and extremist regimes of North Korea you have Russia of China

805
01:02:47.790 --> 01:02:54.550
 You have the Middle East sorry for and all of whom have a common interest in maintaining the regimes not the people

806
01:02:54.550 --> 01:02:56.710
 They maintain the regimes and maintaining their own power

807
01:02:56.710 --> 01:03:05.570
 And therefore they will always side one with another against a democracy because democracy is their strategic enemy because democracy implants within the population

808
01:03:05.570 --> 01:03:08.730
 Thoughts of why let's get rid of this regime. That's why

809
01:03:09.030 --> 01:03:14.470
 America understands that without Israel they will be the next in line the great Satan with or without

810
01:03:14.470 --> 01:03:21.430
 Israel will be America and therefore America will acquire a very powerful strategic enemy if Israel is not there to some way placate

811
01:03:21.430 --> 01:03:25.370
 To ameliorate the threat from the Middle East and that's why America understands

812
01:03:25.370 --> 01:03:29.970
 It's not that Israel is able to manipulate through baby. Nathaniel's charm or whatever

813
01:03:30.730 --> 01:03:36.010
 Trump or because of some files or something. It's far deeper than that. It reflects the sentiment of the American people

814
01:03:36.010 --> 01:03:42.130
 I think they fundamentally understand this dynamic that why they need Israel to protect democracy itself

815
01:03:42.130 --> 01:03:47.110
 Which is the greatest which is without that America is severely threatened

816
01:03:47.110 --> 01:03:53.190
 That is why Israel fundamentally understands it needs America and America understands that Israel is its greatest ally

817
01:03:53.190 --> 01:03:58.030
 That's in a nutshell. That's the the thesis. Yeah, I'm not gonna disagree with

818
01:03:58.730 --> 01:04:00.990
 I'm not gonna disagree with why

819
01:04:00.990 --> 01:04:04.890
 We have the relationship with Israel or the US has relationship with Israel

820
01:04:04.890 --> 01:04:10.090
 Okay, and and I'll touch on that and I'm gonna go back to Ukraine for a little just a little bit

821
01:04:10.090 --> 01:04:11.950
 I'm not gonna dwell on it though, but

822
01:04:14.270 --> 01:04:15.390
 You didn't

823
01:04:15.390 --> 01:04:17.230
 You didn't say too much

824
01:04:17.830 --> 01:04:21.330
 To be honest, I agree that if Israel wasn't there

825
01:04:21.910 --> 01:04:25.350
 I'm gonna I think that there may be peace for a moment

826
01:04:25.350 --> 01:04:31.670
 but if we're gonna be honest with ourselves the Middle East is gonna go back to fighting with each other because now we're gonna get

827
01:04:32.430 --> 01:04:35.370
 Into old tribal disputes coming back up again

828
01:04:35.370 --> 01:04:40.550
 okay, because the Middle East is very tribal it really is and they have a long memory and they don't forget and

829
01:04:41.370 --> 01:04:45.310
 Evil begets evil and violence because violence and that that is very true

830
01:04:45.310 --> 01:04:49.450
 That is very true and we've seen it and it's and it's a reason for a lot of conflict

831
01:04:49.450 --> 01:04:54.410
 you know you you killed my uncle a thousand years ago and then somebody kill yours and kill yours and keeps going and

832
01:04:54.970 --> 01:05:01.030
 And so most Middle Eastern people or Arabs specifically from what I from what I recall and people have talked to you

833
01:05:01.030 --> 01:05:06.650
 They have a long memory. They don't forget. They really don't they don't forget and so I think if Israel falls

834
01:05:07.290 --> 01:05:08.610
 It'll look peaceful for a moment

835
01:05:08.610 --> 01:05:14.170
 But it's gonna go back to being a very conflicted area because they can't they can't come to terms with each other

836
01:05:14.170 --> 01:05:16.270
 They can't

837
01:05:16.270 --> 01:05:19.450
 If Iran authoritarianism you think will it go back to authoritarianism?

838
01:05:19.830 --> 01:05:27.090
 Well, there's there's always gonna be authoritarianism because there hasn't ever been a real example of democracy in the Middle East aside from Israel

839
01:05:27.090 --> 01:05:33.770
 For example, and so what you said is correct anybody in power absolute power as far as we see with the government that is

840
01:05:33.770 --> 01:05:34.550
 authoritarian

841
01:05:35.230 --> 01:05:40.270
 They're not gonna give it up, you know same thing with the communist government. It's the same. It's all it's all the same

842
01:05:40.270 --> 01:05:44.630
 It's all authoritarian in nature, but and their their control

843
01:05:45.790 --> 01:05:51.710
 Extends to the extent that they can control their people because if there is no people to control then what's the point?

844
01:05:52.090 --> 01:05:55.870
 That's exactly what's been happening in North Korea. You can't leave North Korea

845
01:05:55.870 --> 01:05:58.990
 Okay, if you don't like the government, they will not allow you to leave

846
01:05:58.990 --> 01:06:00.910
 They will punish you for trying to leave

847
01:06:00.910 --> 01:06:04.810
 Okay, in the end they got to capture their people the same thing's been going on in Iran

848
01:06:04.810 --> 01:06:11.690
 I captured people because they look at people as resources. That's all they are their assets and resources to be used to their benefit

849
01:06:13.350 --> 01:06:13.790
 but

850
01:06:13.790 --> 01:06:15.770
 Let me go back to Russia just for a minute

851
01:06:15.770 --> 01:06:20.350
 I I don't disagree with anything you said but I and I and I agree with that

852
01:06:20.350 --> 01:06:24.890
 I don't believe it's just sentimental for for Putin. I do believe it is part of that

853
01:06:25.250 --> 01:06:29.490
 but if we look at the 15 territories if we look at Ukraine, I think that I

854
01:06:29.490 --> 01:06:31.770
 Think that Putin miscalculated

855
01:06:31.770 --> 01:06:38.010
 I think that he thought that there was more support for Russia than there was in Ukraine because there were there were large

856
01:06:38.010 --> 01:06:40.250
 parts of Ukraine that were very

857
01:06:40.990 --> 01:06:42.910
 again culturally Russian and

858
01:06:43.630 --> 01:06:48.270
 Very much they themselves thought they aligned more with Russian culture than let's say Ukraine

859
01:06:48.270 --> 01:06:52.170
 Because it was part of Russia for so long until the it was a 99

860
01:06:52.170 --> 01:06:55.370
 I believe and so I think I think that

861
01:06:55.370 --> 01:07:01.390
 Putin saw that they they weren't necessarily backed by any Western nation until this attack to be honest

862
01:07:01.390 --> 01:07:05.490
 The US was supposed to the were supposed to but have we right?

863
01:07:05.590 --> 01:07:08.970
 Well, that's why they give up their nuclear weapons from the old USSR the old Russian Empire

864
01:07:08.970 --> 01:07:13.410
 We were supposed to look out for them, but we really haven't done that outside of you know, money and armament

865
01:07:14.890 --> 01:07:21.030
 And and and so I think if if Putin was successful taking Ukraine that is a signal to the world, right?

866
01:07:21.490 --> 01:07:26.670
 Then he would probably try to move on to the next territory the non-natal territories right now or recognized

867
01:07:26.670 --> 01:07:30.910
 And so he would continue to do that and there are other reason that he would do that is because it's a signal to

868
01:07:30.910 --> 01:07:33.550
 The world that look how great we are and look what we can achieve

869
01:07:33.550 --> 01:07:38.430
 We are once again more powerful than you thought we were but at the same time it puts his borders if you've gained all

870
01:07:38.430 --> 01:07:42.770
 The territory back right back up to Iran and Afghanistan, which we know through history

871
01:07:42.770 --> 01:07:44.850
 they have always wanted to control and

872
01:07:45.950 --> 01:07:49.710
 Throughout history even if we're talking about Iran in the 1940s, you know

873
01:07:49.710 --> 01:07:57.810
 Even before that they were they were trying to assert their control of Iran by infiltrating them with their communist ideals by making

874
01:07:57.810 --> 01:08:03.450
 Making inroads with with with the government of Iran to try to spread their influence

875
01:08:03.450 --> 01:08:09.530
 they did the same thing in Afghanistan and so this this is a bigger picture thing and you know,

876
01:08:09.710 --> 01:08:11.990
 You and I are just I'm look in the end wrong guessing

877
01:08:11.990 --> 01:08:14.470
 We don't know what Putin's actually really thinking I'm not talking to him

878
01:08:14.470 --> 01:08:18.770
 you're not but at the same time if we if we could read the tea leaves and look at the patterns of

879
01:08:18.770 --> 01:08:20.170
 His behavior

880
01:08:20.770 --> 01:08:26.010
 To me that kind of seems where he's trying to go and I'm also gonna stick to stick to my guns here

881
01:08:26.010 --> 01:08:31.109
 Hey, I really believe that this is his legacy aside from everything. We just discussed

882
01:08:31.689 --> 01:08:33.370
 He's gonna prove that in his time

883
01:08:33.370 --> 01:08:38.810
 He was able to bring Russia back to the great Empire it was really and who's he leaving it for?

884
01:08:39.010 --> 01:08:41.210
 I mean who's and that's the big question. Who's after Putin?

885
01:08:41.510 --> 01:08:46.970
 We don't know what we're gonna face after Putin a first craziest Putin is we don't know who we're gonna face next, right?

886
01:08:47.930 --> 01:08:48.350
 So

887
01:08:48.350 --> 01:08:53.390
 But getting back to the Middle East and I and I can't argue against you because you live there like you have the lived

888
01:08:53.390 --> 01:08:57.350
 Experience I don't but just from the reports and everything that I've said

889
01:08:58.109 --> 01:09:01.750
 I've done and who I've talked to you. I'm it's just outside knowledge coming to me

890
01:09:01.750 --> 01:09:06.439
 So I'm just I'm just trying to give you my assessment based on what I know and what people are telling me

891
01:09:06.950 --> 01:09:10.950
 And also reading history and looking into history, but I think I think for Ron falls

892
01:09:11.390 --> 01:09:14.830
 I think it's better for the Middle East personally. I think you're correct

893
01:09:14.830 --> 01:09:19.109
 I think the the Gulf States the other Arab nations have realized look we can live together

894
01:09:19.109 --> 01:09:23.370
 We can be we could be amicable towards each other and we don't have to fight each other and

895
01:09:23.770 --> 01:09:27.350
 Realistically, we haven't seen other Arab nations necessarily do that

896
01:09:27.350 --> 01:09:33.910
 It's been Iranian proxies that have been attacking Israel not not Saudi Arabia or Qatar or anybody, right?

897
01:09:35.450 --> 01:09:36.490
 so I

898
01:09:36.490 --> 01:09:38.149
 Think I agree with you. I do

899
01:09:38.810 --> 01:09:44.350
 I think they've become pragmatic. I think as people like a nation like Saudi Arabia would

900
01:09:45.590 --> 01:09:47.149
 Gladly make peace

901
01:09:47.790 --> 01:09:50.130
 Would be far more inclined to

902
01:09:50.130 --> 01:09:54.790
 Resolve the conflict with Israel and come to a peace accommodation. They're only afraid of the

903
01:09:55.230 --> 01:09:58.150
 essentially the the media and the more extremist anti

904
01:09:58.150 --> 01:10:03.750
 Israel elements that exist within Saudi Arabia the regime these regimes have become more pragmatic

905
01:10:03.750 --> 01:10:08.210
 They become more concerned with the welfare of their own populations than with their own power

906
01:10:08.210 --> 01:10:12.470
 I try oversimplified maybe but the lens I see everything through is

907
01:10:13.470 --> 01:10:19.250
 Through the people and through the power regime and what's the power dynamic and everything flows from

908
01:10:20.130 --> 01:10:21.990
 The regime trying to extend its power

909
01:10:21.990 --> 01:10:27.350
 Like you said communists wanted more influence in Iran the Middle East in Afghanistan, etc

910
01:10:27.350 --> 01:10:31.850
 It's all a means because the communism was just a means to power for the ruling regime

911
01:10:31.850 --> 01:10:36.210
 They offered extreme power socialism and then communism is really as an excuse

912
01:10:36.210 --> 01:10:38.690
 I think for power for maintaining power. It's like

913
01:10:38.690 --> 01:10:43.690
 Islamic ideology religion but in terms of a secular ideology which confers

914
01:10:43.690 --> 01:10:49.350
 extreme power on the regime and therefore the regime will do everything it can to perpetuate and

915
01:10:49.350 --> 01:10:53.650
 That and increase the influence of of that ideology because it benefits them

916
01:10:53.650 --> 01:11:00.610
 I boil it down ultimately to to personal gratification and benefit is really what drives all of that

917
01:11:00.610 --> 01:11:03.790
 and that's how to to view it, right I

918
01:11:05.830 --> 01:11:06.470
 I

919
01:11:06.470 --> 01:11:09.910
 Think that I think that all we can do at this point to see how it plays out

920
01:11:11.350 --> 01:11:14.870
 And we don't I

921
01:11:14.870 --> 01:11:21.690
 I think factors are like the last stand. Yeah, I think the key factors are how far does Trump want to go number one?

922
01:11:22.450 --> 01:11:30.250
 Number two very far. Well, he says that but I also think he's holding back because I don't think he wants to be held responsible for

923
01:11:30.250 --> 01:11:31.650
 Yeah, you know what?

924
01:11:31.650 --> 01:11:39.170
 Yeah, what may come if he really did and to it's really to come down to as you said before how much support

925
01:11:39.690 --> 01:11:42.610
 China and Russia can provide Iran and

926
01:11:43.490 --> 01:11:46.990
 Maybe even North Korea. I haven't seen their involvement too much, but you're right. They are an ally

927
01:11:46.990 --> 01:11:50.030
 They are an ally and Kim Jong-un maybe maybe

928
01:11:50.030 --> 01:11:56.490
 Crazy enough to do something just because he's bored. He does seem like an impetuous child at times. So

929
01:11:57.110 --> 01:12:01.350
 That's a possibility, but China have been supplying arms. They have been supplying arms

930
01:12:01.350 --> 01:12:07.230
 quite a lot of the missile technology has been coming from a North Korea in the last year or two. Hmm, yeah

931
01:12:07.230 --> 01:12:12.570
 I'm just saying in this conflict. I haven't heard of the resupplies happening. That's that's I mean, I know they're involved

932
01:12:12.570 --> 01:12:14.410
 But I you know, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I missed it

933
01:12:14.410 --> 01:12:20.230
 I haven't I haven't seen any reports of North Korea sending anything to them recently or within this particular conflict

934
01:12:21.530 --> 01:12:25.030
 So and China has been using this as a learning experience. I got to be honest

935
01:12:25.030 --> 01:12:27.510
 I don't think China thought that the US would respond the way they did

936
01:12:27.510 --> 01:12:32.930
 I think a lot of people view the US as weak because we haven't been in any military engagements for many years

937
01:12:32.930 --> 01:12:37.490
 a lot of people saw us as being our military being in a state of atrophy and

938
01:12:37.910 --> 01:12:41.730
 Then after what happened in Venezuela people were like, wait a minute. I

939
01:12:41.730 --> 01:12:45.890
 Can't believe they just did that and then here's the Iran response

940
01:12:46.750 --> 01:12:47.230
 so

941
01:12:47.230 --> 01:12:53.190
 It's very interesting and in turn because of all this people are viewing Israel as the great evil

942
01:12:53.190 --> 01:12:57.030
 They're looking at they're looking at the US as you know

943
01:12:57.030 --> 01:13:01.250
 Not an ally as we should be to our other allies like, you know

944
01:13:01.250 --> 01:13:04.030
 Everybody wants to pull away from at least they're saying this in the media

945
01:13:04.030 --> 01:13:08.070
 We don't know what happens behind closed doors a lot of this could all just be theater as well

946
01:13:08.070 --> 01:13:12.230
 But this leads me this leads me to where I want to ask you

947
01:13:12.230 --> 01:13:14.410
 These are gonna be opinions based on the sentiment

948
01:13:15.110 --> 01:13:20.050
 That people have against Israel mostly by these propagandists in my eyes or these what I call podfluencers

949
01:13:20.050 --> 01:13:25.670
 So your thoughts on that, you know, and this happens in the pods podcast space more than I see maybe in legacy media

950
01:13:25.670 --> 01:13:30.930
 But the push for people like let's let's just be honest like we got Tucker Carlson. We got Dave Smith

951
01:13:30.930 --> 01:13:32.990
 We've got all these all these guys out there

952
01:13:33.670 --> 01:13:35.630
 Candice Owens all these people that are

953
01:13:36.870 --> 01:13:40.570
 Considered influential that have big names that suddenly, you know

954
01:13:40.570 --> 01:13:43.190
 Well, Candice has been on a long journey of saying this for a while

955
01:13:43.190 --> 01:13:46.870
 But there's a lot of them seem to have been turning their back more and more and pushing the narrative

956
01:13:47.470 --> 01:13:54.710
 That Israel is not a benefit that America does nothing but die for Israel that all we do is provide provide and get nothing back

957
01:13:54.710 --> 01:13:59.810
 And you know, the only point I can say is this and I don't know how you feel as far as the money

958
01:13:59.810 --> 01:14:06.530
 We give Israel over three billion dollars a year guaranteed. That's not everything we give we actually have the agreement and

959
01:14:07.410 --> 01:14:09.870
 People do question. Why are we giving Israel so much money?

960
01:14:10.770 --> 01:14:15.430
 So with that first off tell me your feelings on these podcasters

961
01:14:15.430 --> 01:14:21.610
 These people there seem to be deliberately stirring the pot to get people to hate Israel or the Israeli government anyway

962
01:14:21.610 --> 01:14:26.070
 What are your thoughts on that? So so I think the podcasters I think that they're

963
01:14:26.810 --> 01:14:32.470
 Doing this because they're feeding on on the the ready audience who is who is a willing to?

964
01:14:32.810 --> 01:14:38.890
 To hear this type of rhetoric seems a popular type of rhetoric. So I think it's a

965
01:14:38.890 --> 01:14:45.750
 Symptomatic of the deeper division within society. I think there's a we don't have time to get into this but

966
01:14:46.670 --> 01:14:49.430
 I view it as an anti-establishment really

967
01:14:49.430 --> 01:14:55.530
 It's it's anti patriotic they seem to have something against because the way I described it

968
01:14:55.530 --> 01:15:02.210
 Supporting Israel is actually strategically supporting America itself American democracy. So I think deeper down

969
01:15:02.210 --> 01:15:09.110
 There is a problem with these influencers are more with the the audiences of millions who have for some reason which

970
01:15:09.490 --> 01:15:13.250
 We don't have time to go into they have a problem with the American Democratic

971
01:15:13.250 --> 01:15:15.850
 Establishment itself as it currently is

972
01:15:16.770 --> 01:15:22.150
 Conceived as a semi religious democratic these ideals these conservative ideals

973
01:15:22.150 --> 01:15:27.310
 Which I think are the basis of Western Democratic society are for many people

974
01:15:28.310 --> 01:15:32.430
 Anathema and and and and that's why they seem to support these tyrannical

975
01:15:33.170 --> 01:15:38.270
 Dictatorships which seems to be if you're somebody on the left who believes in human rights

976
01:15:38.270 --> 01:15:40.830
 It seems to be a lot of hypocrisy and self-contradiction here

977
01:15:40.830 --> 01:15:46.370
 In being sympathetic to regimes like Iran even China and maybe North Korea

978
01:15:46.370 --> 01:15:52.950
 And and I think that's because they have a deeper agenda, which is an anti establishment rich agenda anti

979
01:15:52.950 --> 01:15:58.670
 Democracy as it's currently functioning at the moment. They want a socialist regime and I view that in the book

980
01:15:58.670 --> 01:16:02.470
 I get into that as a power struggle a deep power struggle

981
01:16:02.470 --> 01:16:06.790
 And I think that's what they're playing to to the sentiments of those who feel

982
01:16:06.790 --> 01:16:14.990
 Empowered by the current regime, particularly the Trump regime the conservative Republican conservative I am religious

983
01:16:16.150 --> 01:16:20.030
 Ideology and and and democratic regime. I think they feel threatened by deeply

984
01:16:21.230 --> 01:16:23.150
 seems like a

985
01:16:23.150 --> 01:16:24.390
 Propaganda campaign for sure

986
01:16:24.390 --> 01:16:30.510
 It's almost causing the question as to whether these people are being paid or coerced to spread this messaging probably through monitoring

987
01:16:30.510 --> 01:16:33.830
 But they're amenable to it whether or not they're being paid. They're amenable to it. So

988
01:16:34.230 --> 01:16:34.830
 I

989
01:16:34.830 --> 01:16:42.010
 Get it. So there there's there's that and I don't know, you know what we can keep going

990
01:16:42.010 --> 01:16:44.230
 But I think we've been talking a long time already

991
01:16:46.830 --> 01:16:52.050
 We should have you back because as I said offline before we recorded it's like

992
01:16:52.970 --> 01:17:00.030
 Everything we're talking about the subject matter. It's this can go on for forever. Probably it's you know, it changes daily

993
01:17:00.510 --> 01:17:07.270
 So, yeah, I would love to have you back we'll definitely discuss more of this type of discussion for sure moving forward

994
01:17:07.970 --> 01:17:11.570
 But before we get there all before we sign off, I mean

995
01:17:11.570 --> 01:17:16.170
 Once you tell people where they can get your book your current book beyond power. Okay

996
01:17:16.170 --> 01:17:20.130
 It's on Amazon. Really? That's the main place. It's called beyond power

997
01:17:20.130 --> 01:17:23.590
 If you type in Daniel Bookman beyond power in Amazon

998
01:17:24.070 --> 01:17:26.210
 You get it's only three dollars

999
01:17:26.210 --> 01:17:28.630
 two of which I think go to Amazon to

1000
01:17:29.670 --> 01:17:33.530
 Jeff Bezos himself. I think I get one dollar. So

1001
01:17:33.530 --> 01:17:37.170
 You're just giving out the information for free basically

1002
01:17:38.110 --> 01:17:43.970
 I'm happy to because it's more about the idea is trying to get people to think and understood more deeply about these things

1003
01:17:45.270 --> 01:17:49.490
 That's it. I don't really have a presence and I'm from a religious community

1004
01:17:49.490 --> 01:17:57.170
 It's not over encouraged exposure to the general media understood. I'm partly here to deal with things like anti-zionism anti-semitism

1005
01:17:57.810 --> 01:18:05.050
 Religion things like that. That's my justification for being here. And I don't have a fancy home page or something

1006
01:18:06.350 --> 01:18:10.450
 It's still good for you to do what you're doing because if you're not having these conversations

1007
01:18:10.450 --> 01:18:14.650
 Publicly and using media to do so we're not gonna hear your perspective, right? Right?

1008
01:18:14.670 --> 01:18:20.370
 So I think it's a great justification and I understand that maybe you're not on social media and all that. It was probably good

1009
01:18:22.470 --> 01:18:26.410
 My wife says it's not the right place and the rabbi say so yeah, we just don't go there

1010
01:18:26.410 --> 01:18:31.370
 Okay, so we can get your book on Amazon and then you have send your link if it's relevant

1011
01:18:31.370 --> 01:18:33.010
 Yeah, no, I'll make sure

1012
01:18:33.470 --> 01:18:35.830
 everybody has the links and

1013
01:18:36.230 --> 01:18:40.190
 We'll have we'll have your profile on my website if you're okay with that because you know

1014
01:18:40.190 --> 01:18:42.690
 At least they get a little information on you. They can click the link from there

1015
01:18:43.790 --> 01:18:50.450
 Yeah, and and then you have your website again at least it's some information about your book and maybe a little bit about you

1016
01:18:51.290 --> 01:18:54.690
 Right, but outside of that, is there anything else you want to say?

1017
01:18:55.870 --> 01:18:56.310
 And

1018
01:18:56.310 --> 01:19:00.870
 No, I want to say thank you to you George for having me on this distinguished podcast and

1019
01:19:01.910 --> 01:19:07.730
 No, I encourage people I think I'm here to encourage people to try and think not just accept the media narratives

1020
01:19:07.730 --> 01:19:10.410
 I mean that sounds a bit cliched maybe but

1021
01:19:10.410 --> 01:19:14.210
 Not maybe a good way to think is to read my book if not to agree with me

1022
01:19:14.210 --> 01:19:17.410
 Like you didn't agree with a lot of things or you challenge it to challenge the thing

1023
01:19:17.410 --> 01:19:22.790
 Let's start to think and more deeply about what's going on rather than being just reacting

1024
01:19:22.790 --> 01:19:24.190
 That's my

1025
01:19:25.150 --> 01:19:32.570
 Right Devils hide behind redemption honesty is a one-way gate to hell