Mahtab Farid - Iran Uprising, Middle East Relations, and Serving Without A Uniform

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 Thank you very much for being here.

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 Now I tried saying your name earlier offline, so I'm going to say it. My butcher, just correct me. Is it Ma?

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 Oh, sorry. Hold on. Matab? Harit?

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 Yes.

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 It wasn't me trying to be facetious or, you know, trust me, like what I told you earlier,

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 I'm just really bad at pronouncing the English names correctly.

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 So by all means stop me if I if I say something that's incorrect and

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 put me on the right path there.

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 So

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 what I want to do here, you have extensive history in journalism,

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 for one, and what caught my eye is you have a

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 focus in dealing with Iran and Afghanistan, basically in the Middle East, two of the hotbeds, of course,

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 when it comes to Middle Eastern relations with the United States and

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 it's very interesting that through your journey you ended up working for the government Voice of America in which you had a broadcast,

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 international broadcast to Iran, is that correct?

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 Okay, and then you you trained Afghanis in journalism?

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 Yeah, I trained

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 Afghan

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 Afghan students to become reporters because they didn't have the capacity,

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 they had only limited classes and training.

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 So I trained them to to be able to tell their story and to be able to tell the truth.

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 Awesome, and I think that's gonna be invaluable with our conversation here because I really want to get your insight

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 because you have first-hand knowledge in dealing with the area, getting people's perspectives. What's happening in Iran since I know your family's from Iran?

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 I believe you were you nine years old when the Islamic Revolution

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 broke out, is that correct?

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 Yes, I was nine years old and when my mom showed up to

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 to our school and then she grabbed my hand and she took me away without saying a word.

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 So that's when I found out, you know, and I noticed the military presence on the street and

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 you know, the newspapers that said Shah left.

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 So that

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 that's been in my brain ever since but we didn't leave until I was 15.

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 We left during

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 Iran-Iraq war. So we've seen the whole revolution and

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 Iran-Iraq war.

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 So as soon as I

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 entered the United States, then there was a ceasefire that was announced by UN

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 after you know

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 eight long years of war.

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 So you have some real memories of that that period of time then if you left when you were 14.

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 Yes. Yes. Wow. Okay. Well, I'm glad you're here on the show today because

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 completely relevant experience for sure. Before we dive into that because I know everybody wants to hear that.

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 Let's talk about your journey in journalism because when you came to America, I found it interesting that

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 that was what you wanted to do. You wanted to be a journalist.

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 Why?

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 Why journalism?

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 I mentioned that in my book. I was

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 I was nine years old when my mom came and grabbed my hand and brought me home and

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 soon after the revolution happened very soon.

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 One day I came back from school. The school bus

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 dropped me off. I came normally my routine would be to come home to grab a snack and

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 watch a little bit of cartoon and then do my homework.

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 And that day when I turned on the TV, I saw the horrific pictures of

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 U.S. diplomats being held hostage.

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 So I know at that point

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 that wasn't us. That wasn't my family. We loved America. We loved the American culture. I was fascinated

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 by America. So

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 at that point I wanted to grow up become a reporter and tell our story and say Iranians are not

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 hostage takers. They're not terrorists. We're good people.

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 So after your years working for local stations in L.A. and then ending up on Fox, I believe L.A.

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 Is that correct?

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 Yeah, it was local Fox, but my first

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 official journalism job with Fox was right after 9-11 in Washington, D.C.

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 Okay.

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 Well, that was an interesting time to be a journalist.

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 Yeah, and it was interesting for me because three months before 9-11

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 I became a U.S. citizen.

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 So, you know, at that point I felt a sense of belonging.

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 I had a new homeland who gave me refuge.

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 So when 9-11 happened, I was very upset.

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 I just wanted to make sure I do everything to serve and to make sure I pay back to America.

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 But as a Middle Eastern immigrant at that time, did you feel welcomed when all that happened?

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 Well, you know, you always see bias, but you can choose to use that bias to educate people around you.

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 Or you can get upset and just be bitter and isolate yourself.

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 So I always tried to use that as a leverage to walk in. I mean, I never forget in one of the

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 because at the time I was doing

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 some freelancing on the side, too.

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 And when 9-11 happened, one of the producers, I won't mention which station it was, walked up to me and he said

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 why is it that all these terrorist activities always happen by you Muslim people?

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 And I was taken back because he's attacking me for something I haven't done.

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 And then I said, you know, if I remember correctly, Vaco, Texas

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 was done by non-Muslims

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 at the time or some of these school shootings.

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 So we can't really and then he was cool. He came he apologized we talked

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 and you know, oh just like any normal person.

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 So I always try to use that as a leverage to educate others and be educated myself

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 because when when we were growing up, for example, we were told to hate Jews.

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 And I remember my

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 my classmate Rebecca during our religion

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 hour, she had to leave the class because she was Jewish and it would always bother me because

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 you know, she was my friend and I would play with her.

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 But then when I came to America, I had a different sense

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 because you see more Jewish people. They are in your community. They are your doctors. They are your teachers.

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 So you gain a different appreciation and understanding towards that community.

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 So I am always open to teach and to learn.

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 I wasn't going to but I think later I do want to question you about that.

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 Walking that fine line here as people see Muslims a certain way and then we can talk about Islam because you know

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 everything that happened with the revolution 78-79 had to do with the Islamic revolution, but I think people were

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 fooled and to believing that there was going to be this benevolent

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 change of guard like looking out for the people best interest of Iran and then they just dropped the hammer of extreme Islamic

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 ideas. So I would like your insight on that because you know,

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 I don't know if you heard any of my other stuff, but I've had other people on that talk

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 about Islam in general and its fallacies and its extremism,

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 but maybe you can educate us in another way like shed some light on that and maybe we're looking at it the wrong way.

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 I

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 just tell you one thing.

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 So there is Islam as a religion and there's Islam as a tradition. I'm not an

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 Islam expert.

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 I call myself U.S. Iran, U.S. Middle East expert on all the regional countries.

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 But and I mentioned that in my book the Islam that I know I learned from my grandfather.

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 He was both sides my grandfather side. They were devout Muslims, but they gave to the community. They were family men.

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 They loved everyone. They contributed. They were nothing but positive.

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 So they use Islam as a framework to be better men. They use their religion to be better.

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 That's what religion is supposed to do. I mean whether you are a Christian

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 a Jewish person or a Muslim person. So we were never my parents were not religious.

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 So they never pressed that religion button on us.

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 They introduced us to what 98 percent of the society was at the time,

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 but they never told us that we have to abide by

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 Islam

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 closely. But what I've learned

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 from all that was to be a good person, to give back, not to lie, not to steal, just the normal

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 things that any person that knows God should do.

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 Well, it's it's unfortunate that a lot of what happens

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 and specifically when we talk about Iran is there the extremist side of things is

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 seems to have a grip on the reality out there and enforcing these extreme views on people.

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 And that's the unfortunate representation, I guess of Islam, right?

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 And so you you grew up

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 seeing it one way

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 because your family they acted one way in terms of how it was taught and how you're supposed to live.

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 But then all we see on the news is the extreme side of it and how it oppresses people in their lives.

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 and so that that's why I wanted to ask you about that is because you know

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 you're someone who has a different take on it based on your experience versus what's happening now and what we see around the world.

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 And

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 when this when the revolution came

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 you know like when Reza was exiled right the last monarch and he was exiled

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 at that time

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 religion in general Islam was not like the de facto

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 religion of Iran, right? There there is an older religion actually in that area. I mean that predates, uh, hindi or hinduism actually.

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 Um, and so I forgot what it's called. Zoroastrian, yeah, that's it. Thank you.

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 So they it's it's a it's an area of of a vast history knowledge

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 like there's so much in that area that just got turned upside down once this revolution happened.

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 And so

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 I just don't want you to feel like i'm trying to get a certain answer out to you that I want to hear.

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 I I just really wanted to get your perspective on it because we're always told one thing we see one thing

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 but then someone like you has a different idea or perspective on how

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 you know people live according to that doctor for example, I mean you could take anything extreme is what i'm getting at.

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 Unfortunately, we see more of extreme.

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 Well, my my whole take about

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 the whole thing that's why

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 you know, it's fascinating that we have this constitution. We have separation of church and state.

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 So I think everyone's religion should should matter to themselves and it it's

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 the god that's our

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 principle guide. So it's not really necessarily anyone's religion because if you study all the religions

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 they all say the same thing do good be good pay back.

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 And I I think what happens is when you bring religion into

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 like other decision making I mean there are some I mean you would argue that yes,

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 it matters we have to bring that in but in general

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 what I've learned was to use that principle guide

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 of knowing god and and be that

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 and it doesn't matter like the nuances because I came to america and I was also fascinated by christianity

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 because I had a christian friends who took me to church for the first time and I was fascinated because

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 in iran or in all the muslim countries

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 they don't play music in the mosque or you know, I I saw it's a very festive thing being christian was festive

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 they played really cool music

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 people interacted girls came to meet other guys to date. I mean it was a whole social

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 rom and I loved

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 that how they were forgiving of like

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 you know, they

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 pretty much people do everything and they say Jesus will forgive you and I said, oh, this is pretty cool

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 Like, you know, they they don't have that judgment on you

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 so I think there is um fascination in every religion and it all depends on how you're using that information just like how we use

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 Your internet to do good or to do bad. Yeah

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 Well, and what's interesting is as you said, there's so many parallels between most all the major religions

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 Right. So a lot of them share many stories going back like thousands of years like thousands of years

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 But you know, let's get away from religion I just wanted to get your insight on on that little um on that

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 What's going on there in terms of islam being used as a weapon or a tool really to suppress others?

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 And I know it's not everybody. It's just these extremists that are doing it

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 um

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 Before we get back to iran, I want to talk about uh, how you serve without a uniform

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 I believe that led you to afghanistan. Is that correct?

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 Yeah, um, this is my book serving without a uniform

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 So I told you when 9 11 happened I felt a sense of responsibility to pay back to america because um

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 My new homeland was attacked. So when civilian surge opportunity opened up

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 I volunteered to go to afghanistan. So I was with state department, but we were embedded with the military to go on missions

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 So I went um to over like almost 50 missions

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 Humanitarian missions with the military in eastern provinces of afghanistan

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 So I I named that serving without a uniform meaning you don't have to be a soldier to serve you could serve

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 in so many ways

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 starting from your

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 local communities

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 Your time in afghanistan doing that what what was the vibe or the feeling from the actual afghani people?

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 And uh america's involvement at that time

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 Um, not very positive for sure. So, um

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 Because I spoke darian farci

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 Fluently, I could speak with them and I remember in one of my classes

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 They were very unpolite to our military and I grab one of my students

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 I said, why are you so hostile to him because because he's here to take my religion away

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 And I said no, he's not and he actually prays before he eats and he prays before he goes to bed

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 They're not here. They're here to help you. He's also a father and a teacher back home back home. He was a national guard

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 and

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 He he was just shocked and then he started talking to him and then they you know

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 He gave him a hug when they were saying goodbye

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 So I definitely it was very negative. I mean there was a lot of negative propaganda and of course

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 Lack of telling the story both but are major news that works and some of the other so

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 The nato reporters anyone who came to afghanistan they were there to report on blasts on explosions on deaths and casualties

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 There was also a lot of sensationalized it, right?

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 Absolutely reconstruction efforts. There was I mentioned, um, you know one of the military actually in this um,

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 it was a

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 Major rosy who was a medic nurse and he he would

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 You know treat these afghan kids and our priority was supposed to be

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 in any one

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 Of us because we had such limited capacity, but he would never turned on a kid

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 He would never turned on a kid and he could have gotten in a lot of trouble

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 But he still chose to do that because he he felt and nobody reported on that. That's why I actually

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 Um mentioned him like in two three pages with the picture so people know there were a lot of soldiers who would come

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 They wanted to give back to the kids. They would call a church and they would get books and

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 Crayons and wanted to distribute it about afghans. There was a lot of

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 Affection among the military and afghans that was never reported. Yes, there were bad news, too that

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00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:53.260
 We would have collateral damage or there would be misinformation like burning off koran

219
00:16:54.520 --> 00:16:55.720
 Where where

220
00:16:55.720 --> 00:17:00.020
 When you were there where where in your opinion, where did this misinformation come from?

221
00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:05.579
 Was it was it the media themselves just trying to get sensationalized stories out there to the public?

222
00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:08.500
 Or was it specifically from a certain group?

223
00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:13.220
 Uh, well both, um, you know all the militia groups

224
00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:18.339
 And all these proxy groups and all basically us adversary

225
00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:24.359
 both in afghanistan and in their region we're pushing this message that

226
00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:28.400
 They're occupiers. They're here. They're here to corrupt disrupt

227
00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:32.740
 And take away everything you have including your religion and your kids

228
00:17:33.540 --> 00:17:38.200
 um, so you have that narrative that you're playing with and

229
00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:42.520
 We have you know, it doesn't help that some of our major news networks also

230
00:17:42.520 --> 00:17:44.080
 Amplifying the same thing

231
00:17:44.760 --> 00:17:49.080
 Right and then the local reporters had no access to internet

232
00:17:49.080 --> 00:17:53.360
 Some of them didn't even have an email address the the places that I serve

233
00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:59.760
 So that's where I started teaching like basic journalism from scratch to some of these

234
00:17:59.760 --> 00:18:04.440
 Local people to make sure they're telling their own story correctly

235
00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:08.400
 Because they were listening to things that it was not true

236
00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.600
 Even with an own afghan government

237
00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:15.560
 Um, how how did that experience, um in afghanistan?

238
00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:19.980
 Differ from what you did at voice of america

239
00:18:21.490 --> 00:18:22.570
 actually

240
00:18:23.290 --> 00:18:25.770
 In some ways it was very similar

241
00:18:26.310 --> 00:18:30.590
 At voice of america, I had to educate my colleagues, too

242
00:18:30.590 --> 00:18:34.590
 because in the 20 years that us was in

243
00:18:35.290 --> 00:18:40.410
 Um afghanistan where we're doing your construction. I don't remember voice of america ever

244
00:18:40.410 --> 00:18:42.230
 Having one piece

245
00:18:42.230 --> 00:18:43.610
 on

246
00:18:43.610 --> 00:18:46.710
 us efforts in afghanistan and reconstruction

247
00:18:46.710 --> 00:18:48.530
 or our you know

248
00:18:48.530 --> 00:18:53.490
 For a memorial day veterans day. I never saw us featuring

249
00:18:53.930 --> 00:18:55.530
 You know a local soldier

250
00:18:56.330 --> 00:18:59.530
 Someone who lost their lives who's left with seven kids

251
00:19:00.130 --> 00:19:02.290
 I never saw that so

252
00:19:02.290 --> 00:19:04.850
 I used to kind of have the same fight

253
00:19:05.490 --> 00:19:08.470
 Here at home saying hey, this is

254
00:19:08.470 --> 00:19:14.050
 And they're like no and it's like we're voice of america. We're not cnn or fox

255
00:19:14.950 --> 00:19:19.610
 We're supposed to amplify their voice. How was how was it? Um

256
00:19:19.610 --> 00:19:21.930
 How was it when you were?

257
00:19:21.950 --> 00:19:24.270
 Uh focusing your efforts at the time

258
00:19:24.270 --> 00:19:27.690
 And broadcasting to the iranian people

259
00:19:28.230 --> 00:19:32.190
 Could you repeat that question again when you when you were broadcasting to the iranian people?

260
00:19:32.210 --> 00:19:36.190
 At that time of voice of america. How was how was that? Um experience for you?

261
00:19:36.190 --> 00:19:40.550
 It was it was a fantastic experience because

262
00:19:41.450 --> 00:19:43.630
 one of the biggest iran's

263
00:19:44.430 --> 00:19:48.270
 Strengths iranian government strength is controlling information

264
00:19:49.310 --> 00:19:55.090
 So they uh, they censor information they control reporters. They control the narrative

265
00:19:55.090 --> 00:19:59.210
 So they they lead the information environment

266
00:19:59.770 --> 00:20:05.510
 So by being at voice of america, I was able to lead the information

267
00:20:06.270 --> 00:20:11.670
 And at least to be a voice to to lead to that information for example

268
00:20:11.670 --> 00:20:12.710
 when

269
00:20:13.390 --> 00:20:14.390
 some kind of a

270
00:20:14.390 --> 00:20:17.310
 Legislation was introduced just

271
00:20:17.870 --> 00:20:19.310
 at some committee level

272
00:20:19.870 --> 00:20:23.390
 The iranian government would blast it as oh, uh

273
00:20:23.390 --> 00:20:29.010
 They are passing the law in us that the visa will be banned for all the students and all that

274
00:20:29.010 --> 00:20:34.850
 Let's say it was some kind of conversation or legislations that we being introduced just at a committee level

275
00:20:34.850 --> 00:20:38.810
 There were some discussion so I had a chance as a reporter to go and say

276
00:20:38.810 --> 00:20:43.150
 What a bill means what a legislation means. What does it mean?

277
00:20:43.190 --> 00:20:49.310
 When it's at a committee level then it goes to the full committee then it goes to the house floor to the senate floor

278
00:20:50.090 --> 00:20:50.570
 so

279
00:20:50.570 --> 00:20:58.830
 That's where you're useful in basically telling the truth of what's going on and sometimes the truth is not necessarily good

280
00:20:58.830 --> 00:21:00.450
 I mean there are times that

281
00:21:00.450 --> 00:21:04.270
 The bills are being passed that's to the disadvantage of the citizens

282
00:21:04.270 --> 00:21:06.810
 But you still can tell the truth

283
00:21:06.810 --> 00:21:12.930
 And then there's also language and congressional issues too in iran

284
00:21:13.350 --> 00:21:17.010
 At the time I remember they don't know the difference between biden and widen

285
00:21:17.010 --> 00:21:22.450
 like if at the time it was senator widen or biden or the difference between

286
00:21:23.750 --> 00:21:31.470
 Member of house or member of the senate so you get a chance to talk about all those details to your audience was

287
00:21:32.150 --> 00:21:34.150
 Was there a time i'm sure there was

288
00:21:34.150 --> 00:21:38.670
 How often did you face the opposition from the government of iran?

289
00:21:39.070 --> 00:21:45.430
 In terms of trying to stop your information from getting there or suppressing what you were doing efforts

290
00:21:46.710 --> 00:21:51.130
 I mean the government doesn't just a single one person

291
00:21:51.710 --> 00:21:57.750
 They always say voa radio free europe and all these western voices, right?

292
00:21:57.750 --> 00:22:02.670
 Are not the correct voices so you just basically keep doing what you're doing

293
00:22:03.190 --> 00:22:06.130
 And you you lead with the information

294
00:22:06.130 --> 00:22:08.490
 And it's like leading by example

295
00:22:08.490 --> 00:22:15.430
 And believe it or not there were times that then they quote us and say oh according to radio fardo according

296
00:22:15.430 --> 00:22:17.810
 So you become the source

297
00:22:18.390 --> 00:22:20.930
 Over time, but but they they've never um

298
00:22:20.930 --> 00:22:25.330
 Was there ever a time where they would figure out like what frequency you're transmitting over over the air and just

299
00:22:25.330 --> 00:22:28.530
 Try to block that. Oh, absolutely all the time

300
00:22:28.530 --> 00:22:34.130
 That's one of iran's expertise at the time when people had satellite dishes

301
00:22:34.130 --> 00:22:40.070
 They would go to their homes. They would confiscate they would um, either find them or arrest them

302
00:22:40.070 --> 00:22:43.990
 And and then later on when people have internet connection

303
00:22:43.990 --> 00:22:51.030
 Then there was internet shut down and they would make sure they they come on those um frequencies and try to

304
00:22:51.030 --> 00:22:56.330
 Disrupt and basically dismantle the connection to iran. Yes

305
00:22:56.330 --> 00:23:00.250
 So that what they're doing now is is what they've always done

306
00:23:00.250 --> 00:23:06.470
 It's just now now it's more internet base than really, you know radio is probably not the go-to anymore

307
00:23:06.470 --> 00:23:08.030
 and so

308
00:23:08.030 --> 00:23:09.090
 uh

309
00:23:09.090 --> 00:23:13.930
 Leading into what's happening in iran now as as someone who is from iran yourself

310
00:23:13.930 --> 00:23:16.470
 Do you still have family there or anybody?

311
00:23:17.650 --> 00:23:17.930
 um

312
00:23:17.930 --> 00:23:24.370
 Connected to my close family my um, my parents and my brothers and

313
00:23:24.930 --> 00:23:30.910
 Their families and my aunts and uncles are all here in america mostly in california

314
00:23:31.610 --> 00:23:32.350
 um

315
00:23:32.350 --> 00:23:35.090
 I have like four cousins and

316
00:23:35.670 --> 00:23:36.430
 friends

317
00:23:37.110 --> 00:23:42.810
 But I haven't been in touch for many years with them. Yes understood

318
00:23:42.810 --> 00:23:45.610
 Uh, so what's happening in iran?

319
00:23:45.610 --> 00:23:48.370
 Being your whole family is from iran

320
00:23:48.370 --> 00:23:52.490
 What what is your opinion or what do you know about what's happening now?

321
00:23:52.490 --> 00:23:55.530
 Like what is actually leading to what we're seeing now?

322
00:23:55.890 --> 00:23:58.690
 With what's being labeled as the iranian uprising?

323
00:23:59.930 --> 00:24:04.830
 Because a lot of people think this is new and it's not it's not new it just

324
00:24:05.850 --> 00:24:06.890
 seemed to

325
00:24:06.890 --> 00:24:10.010
 Faster and get to the point where like the volcano just exploded

326
00:24:10.280 --> 00:24:16.490
 Uh, what what what can you offer, uh in terms of your insight and your knowledge into what's happening

327
00:24:17.050 --> 00:24:18.030
 at this moment

328
00:24:18.710 --> 00:24:23.130
 George that's an excellent point that you mentioned and I wanted to mention that

329
00:24:23.130 --> 00:24:24.230
 um

330
00:24:24.230 --> 00:24:25.770
 What you see on tv

331
00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:31.630
 It's been happening for over four decades to the iranian people this suppression

332
00:24:31.630 --> 00:24:36.430
 So we had a series of these movements in 1999 in 2009

333
00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:43.170
 In recent years, and if you remember when u.s. Eliminated soleimani in 2019

334
00:24:44.090 --> 00:24:48.390
 There were people who came on the street and they were celebrating right?

335
00:24:49.050 --> 00:24:49.750
 so

336
00:24:50.270 --> 00:24:56.670
 They've been going through this and then there was this recent movement on a woman life freedom

337
00:24:57.310 --> 00:25:01.540
 that you saw like dozens of hundreds of girls were

338
00:25:01.540 --> 00:25:06.840
 Were injured and were shot at and were killed and and they were some in prison

339
00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:10.840
 And some that came out and killed themselves because of what happened in prison

340
00:25:11.540 --> 00:25:12.100
 so

341
00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:14.740
 The world is just watching

342
00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:21.780
 All of this but this has been happening for over 40 years and the international community has been looking the other way

343
00:25:21.780 --> 00:25:24.420
 i'm not here on your show as a

344
00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:29.740
 You know human rights activist but as a human being and as a u.s citizen

345
00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:35.540
 With with ties, you know cultural ties to iran it really breaks my heart

346
00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:39.000
 That everyone was talking about ukraine ukraine

347
00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:44.820
 And all of this that was going on for years and years in iran iran was not getting any coverage

348
00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:52.580
 And and it just it feels like we we tend to to care for one than other

349
00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:55.120
 Or everybody is now blaming

350
00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.260
 president

351
00:25:56.980 --> 00:26:00.420
 Trump for not taking the military action

352
00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:04.440
 I'm, just like how come nato is not paying attention?

353
00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:11.800
 How come the regional muslim countries who are supposed allies are not stepping up to the plate and they are confronting

354
00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:18.720
 Iran saying hey, you're my neighbor. You have the same religion. This is not cool how you're treating your people. It's not cool

355
00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.720
 so

356
00:26:20.280 --> 00:26:24.660
 It looks like all the blames and all the actions should be on america

357
00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:28.020
 And whatever we do we can never win if we go in we're I mean

358
00:26:28.020 --> 00:26:34.220
 I remember back then in some of the interactions I used to mention that in my opinion

359
00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:39.260
 I don't think without the military action. This could ever be resolved like many many years ago

360
00:26:39.260 --> 00:26:41.560
 And everyone called me a warmonger

361
00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:43.640
 You're trying to it's like, you know

362
00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:49.640
 I'm just telling you how this is and all those people who were fighting me calling me a warmonger

363
00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:55.040
 Now they are like protesting every week in front of the white house wanting president obama to launch an attack

364
00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:57.750
 And I really really hope we can

365
00:26:58.320 --> 00:27:01.300
 Resolve this in a non-kinetic way

366
00:27:02.040 --> 00:27:02.660
 so

367
00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:10.780
 Yeah, and you know what what's different now though? I mean the people have risen up and let's just be honest. We're about

368
00:27:10.780 --> 00:27:15.240
 Two generations or so removed from the monarchy, okay?

369
00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:21.260
 Many many people there don't know any different other than what what they've been born into right in that system

370
00:27:21.260 --> 00:27:26.100
 But so so what's different now what what has led to people in your opinion?

371
00:27:26.520 --> 00:27:31.480
 Coming together and actually rising up against the oppressive government or the oppressive regime

372
00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:37.600
 They've been doing uprising for a long time, right? But now it's it's it's

373
00:27:38.560 --> 00:27:41.000
 We're seeing a lot more because

374
00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:48.640
 Uh right now it's impacting the economy the environment the everyday life and it's just getting worse and worse

375
00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.460
 so

376
00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:58.880
 There is especially after that 12-day war iran situation got worse worse because iran realized and all the

377
00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.580
 Spies that were living in the country

378
00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:07.840
 So they started disrupting all the major internet and a lot of jobs were dismantled after that

379
00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:10.280
 For example uber in iran, they call it snap

380
00:28:10.280 --> 00:28:16.240
 They can't they can't work because the navigation system is shut down after what happened on that 12-day war

381
00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:20.200
 So, you know a combination of suppression

382
00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:25.260
 Economy, you can't feed your kids you can you know, there's bad weather

383
00:28:25.260 --> 00:28:30.240
 There's the environment is so bad. The pollution is so bad in some days

384
00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:34.780
 Um, the government or the news will announce that if you're over seven years old

385
00:28:34.780 --> 00:28:38.960
 You shouldn't leave the house because there's so much pollution in the air

386
00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:44.640
 I mean in every and then there are sanctions on iran there are medical sanctions on iran

387
00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:51.640
 People cannot get um all the medication they need for example cancer patients have a hard time getting their chemo

388
00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.480
 so

389
00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:57.780
 You can just imagine they have every pressure from every field

390
00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.360
 Um

391
00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:04.720
 Being pressed on them. So there is a breaking pressure point

392
00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:10.080
 Right, it's just it's just um, some some are saying that this is timely

393
00:29:10.800 --> 00:29:13.220
 uh, some are asking, you know, like

394
00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:17.400
 I know there's always been an opposition. There's always been some kind of an uprising

395
00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:21.600
 But it's gone to the point where it's thousands of people coming together

396
00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:24.120
 Um, and it's very public

397
00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:26.960
 Unlike before like you said it didn't get a lot of attention

398
00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:32.180
 But this is different because I think it got so big that they can't not notice and it took a little while though

399
00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:36.960
 Uh, most media outlets weren't really reporting on it. Most of what we're getting is what we're seeing on social media

400
00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:43.780
 And it finally got big enough and enough attention to where now people are starting to report on it, which is ridiculous to me

401
00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.220
 um

402
00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:50.160
 And it seems like the regime is about to fall everybody thinks it's going to fall soon

403
00:29:50.800 --> 00:29:51.980
 We have no idea

404
00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:54.540
 Uh komani has nowhere to go

405
00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:59.280
 Apparently no country wants to give them refuge as and i'm sorry to correct you

406
00:29:59.280 --> 00:30:05.080
 It's it's a common mistake komani was the islamic, uh, republic leader

407
00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:11.820
 It's hominy hominy, okay, and they're very close. No, you can correct me. I like I said, I always I mispronounce these things

408
00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:14.040
 But he has nowhere to go. Uh, right

409
00:30:14.040 --> 00:30:16.920
 Um, no, no one's no one's going to offer him, um

410
00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:19.740
 Sanctuary for example france said no

411
00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:26.600
 Other countries have said no and here and here we are with something that is no longer being able to be contained

412
00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:29.760
 And so it's interesting as you were saying how they would um

413
00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.700
 They would suppress information by controlling the internet and whatnot

414
00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:39.660
 And what's interesting to me is they've done that they've been I forgot how many days now 20 something days

415
00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:46.440
 Um, yeah, well the internet, uh, this connect started from january 8th

416
00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:49.820
 Okay, it's been over a week without internet connection for the internet

417
00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:55.920
 The protests have been going on for like three weeks now, right the protests been going on for so the internet's been down for a week

418
00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:58.880
 How is information getting out there?

419
00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:03.000
 Because i'm assuming they would be be controlling even cell phone towers

420
00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:10.760
 Yeah, it's not and um, uh, but some of these, uh non-profit organization and some of these

421
00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:18.260
 Um human rights, uh organizations like amnesty international does amazing reporting on what's going on

422
00:31:18.260 --> 00:31:23.160
 So they have people inside iran and they have ways to communicate those

423
00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:29.180
 Conversations and if you go to amnesty international you see a lot of documented cases

424
00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:31.560
 and and now actually amnesty was

425
00:31:32.320 --> 00:31:35.440
 Proposing that this this case should be brought

426
00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:41.420
 To un and it should be confronted because this is a human rights issues and all the killings and

427
00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:47.680
 The injuries and the way is going on against. Um against a population that's unarmed

428
00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:52.380
 Um, so you find a lot of documented cases, right?

429
00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:54.680
 But we're seeing videos, right?

430
00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:59.340
 Of what's happening. So it's it's like are is it getting snuck out?

431
00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:03.140
 Well, there was starlings that starlings

432
00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:08.820
 In some parts of iran and there are also people who left the country

433
00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:12.760
 They were like passengers. They were visitors who brought some of that

434
00:32:12.760 --> 00:32:15.080
 But if you notice during those few days

435
00:32:15.080 --> 00:32:20.740
 There was nothing from iran and some of those protests you were seeing they were like dated back to before

436
00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:23.740
 The internet so those few days

437
00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:30.200
 We still have yet have to see i'm sure people people filmed it, but they weren't able to get it out

438
00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:32.660
 But we're going to see a lot more horror videos

439
00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:38.320
 once so the reason I was going that direction with everything is um

440
00:32:39.760 --> 00:32:40.760
 For one

441
00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:45.440
 The the information was suppressed people were still getting information out there

442
00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.860
 and um

443
00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:49.320
 at some point

444
00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.260
 You know

445
00:32:51.260 --> 00:32:53.080
 Let's see. What was I gonna say here?

446
00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:55.100
 at some point

447
00:32:56.360 --> 00:33:01.920
 People are starting to question whether what we were seeing was actually real or just propaganda

448
00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.100
 so

449
00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:06.760
 Being that the that the information has been controlled

450
00:33:06.760 --> 00:33:09.700
 A lot of people were saying that what we were seeing in the beginning

451
00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:10.740
 I mean now it's different

452
00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:14.420
 I think it's got to the point where you can't question it but at the beginning people were saying it was propaganda

453
00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:19.300
 It was us propaganda. It was israeli propaganda. It's always israel's fault all you know

454
00:33:19.320 --> 00:33:20.680
 and so

455
00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:26.420
 That that is the question. I mean, do you think some of this was propaganda or was this real?

456
00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:31.940
 Actual footage that had gotten out and was people were just risking their lives to let people know around the world

457
00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.800
 What was really happening?

458
00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:41.000
 I think um, I cannot comment on the videos until we get like I said, i'm gonna see international to really

459
00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:44.300
 Make a good assessment of the documentation

460
00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.460
 I can say

461
00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:49.240
 Definitely there are genuine concerns

462
00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:57.700
 That people are being killed on the streets because they just want to do what they want to do for basic human rights

463
00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:59.700
 and there are also

464
00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:07.240
 influences from outside because there is so much interest and excitement from outside whether you call it the us or the

465
00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:13.699
 You know israeli influence. They want the regime out that um, there are some and i'm not

466
00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:14.120
 Um

467
00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:19.400
 Mentioning the countries there are a lot of you know people

468
00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:26.920
 Inside israel inside america who'd like to see this regime go a certain way and be led a certain way

469
00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:31.060
 so they go behind this and try to kind of

470
00:34:31.520 --> 00:34:32.920
 ride the waves

471
00:34:33.540 --> 00:34:40.260
 on some people's lives that are you know, and um, they're they're now there's a lot of

472
00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:46.739
 Communication in the community who's going to be the next leader and people are fighting and and the focus should be

473
00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.320
 Let's just give them some safety

474
00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:52.199
 some internet connection some stability

475
00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:59.660
 And let those people decide we outside whether as a country or as a person cannot

476
00:34:59.660 --> 00:35:01.820
 decide for the people inside

477
00:35:02.580 --> 00:35:04.180
 but as

478
00:35:04.180 --> 00:35:06.040
 america as as

479
00:35:06.040 --> 00:35:07.660
 a country that leads

480
00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:09.500
 for all these values

481
00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:12.400
 If we can help in any way we can

482
00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:16.800
 It would be wonderful, but it's not just our responsibility

483
00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:23.940
 It should be the responsibility of the entire international community because all these european countries that are always telling

484
00:35:25.100 --> 00:35:30.500
 Advocating human rights values and all this and they're telling how us is not doing right

485
00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:34.200
 They're not doing right right now either. They're just staying silent

486
00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:41.920
 When when it comes to iran though with this situation the people themselves have to make make the change they have to force the change

487
00:35:42.680 --> 00:35:43.200
 right

488
00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:43.740
 um

489
00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:48.160
 And I know I know that but we don't we don't want the u.s

490
00:35:48.160 --> 00:35:53.560
 To force a regime change for example, and I think that's what the criticism about trump's inaction has been

491
00:35:53.560 --> 00:35:56.520
 Because there there is there's two sides to this

492
00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:58.100
 Um, it's yes

493
00:35:58.100 --> 00:36:04.100
 We want to support the people and he has made threats to the leadership that hey if you don't comply with this

494
00:36:04.100 --> 00:36:06.420
 We are coming but at the same time

495
00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:11.820
 He realizes I think that forcing regime change has never really worked well

496
00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:15.840
 And you know, who's next right? Um, is it reza's son?

497
00:36:16.120 --> 00:36:19.720
 Um, is is he really I mean going back to a monarchy in iran

498
00:36:19.720 --> 00:36:23.800
 Is that where they need to go or do they need to go to a democratic system?

499
00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:27.100
 I mean, it's not like you said our decision

500
00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.440
 but

501
00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:33.420
 We also have to recognize that for the relationships with russia, for example, who's you know?

502
00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:36.700
 Communist roots background very authoritarian and then same thing with china

503
00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:41.820
 Is that the benefit to what they need in the middle east at this point because the whole reason all these wars happen

504
00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:43.820
 even going back to iran before

505
00:36:44.380 --> 00:36:44.780
 uh

506
00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:49.020
 the change in the monarchy when it was abolished was because russia was going in trying to

507
00:36:49.020 --> 00:36:52.460
 Spread communism and spread socialism into the system same thing with afghanistan

508
00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:57.800
 Way back when a lot of people don't even know that they just think oh all this started because the u.s got involved

509
00:36:57.800 --> 00:36:58.000
 No

510
00:36:58.000 --> 00:37:03.600
 We got involved because russia was encroaching and pushing communism and trying to create these relationships to control the region

511
00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:04.560
 so

512
00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.040
 um with that being said is like

513
00:37:07.040 --> 00:37:09.040
 What should the u.s do in your opinion?

514
00:37:09.040 --> 00:37:10.660
 I know you're not i'm not trying to put you to the spot

515
00:37:10.660 --> 00:37:13.300
 But what do you think because you have a lot of experience in the area

516
00:37:13.300 --> 00:37:18.320
 You have a lot of experience in dealing with the people. So what what do you think would be the best play at this point?

517
00:37:18.520 --> 00:37:24.020
 Like how can we actually offer support without further endangering the people and causing another situation?

518
00:37:25.560 --> 00:37:27.280
 I think um

519
00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.860
 in my opinion

520
00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:33.180
 Observing the last

521
00:37:33.720 --> 00:37:37.840
 20 years like on u.s iran relations every day

522
00:37:39.080 --> 00:37:41.660
 President trump has been the only

523
00:37:42.080 --> 00:37:44.180
 president who had

524
00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:51.540
 Made a decision to start like some kind of a policy towards iran. We never had a decisive policy towards iran

525
00:37:51.540 --> 00:37:55.440
 So during obama administration, they said we want to do engagement

526
00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:58.940
 And they did eight lists eight years of

527
00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:01.540
 uh, you know basically

528
00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:09.460
 Wasting time wasting people's emotions because iranians were so excited when carrie was talking to zarif

529
00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:13.420
 They thought they were going to have a reform country without bloodshed

530
00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:21.260
 but it wasn't true because the hardliners and the reformers were two different camp and the hardliners always lead because

531
00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:23.660
 um the

532
00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.040
 Ayatollah

533
00:38:25.040 --> 00:38:31.560
 Goes above the constitution. So he has a veto power even over the iran's constitution. Okay

534
00:38:31.560 --> 00:38:39.440
 So first of all for both administration even during bush they they talked about if you stop enriching uranium

535
00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:43.760
 I remember candelisa rice. Oh, you know, we we will come and talk to you

536
00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:48.280
 Then it was obama. Let's talk to each other and then they talked endlessly to each other

537
00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:55.880
 And then they gave them billions of dollars of the frozen asset which strengthened them to to get stronger

538
00:38:55.880 --> 00:39:03.440
 With all the proxies in lebanon in iraq and in syria and then fast forward to trump

539
00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:06.640
 I think the single best foreign policy

540
00:39:06.640 --> 00:39:13.280
 Any us president has done in the past 40 years was elimination of soleimani up till today

541
00:39:14.260 --> 00:39:15.020
 Um

542
00:39:15.020 --> 00:39:21.400
 Iran has been spinning trying to replace someone he was not only a force in iran

543
00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:23.140
 He was a force in the region

544
00:39:23.140 --> 00:39:29.980
 He was I would he was an accelerated force to excite young people to become

545
00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:35.960
 The next generation militia group. I mean there are pictures of these young people

546
00:39:36.520 --> 00:39:40.180
 Treating him like a rock star taking selfies with soleimani

547
00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:45.360
 So he had that kind of a power he was able to go get money

548
00:39:46.100 --> 00:39:52.180
 even fight for money from ayatollah directly bypassing the foreign minister and

549
00:39:52.700 --> 00:39:54.580
 They had their own

550
00:39:54.580 --> 00:39:59.940
 Logistics their airlines and they they did a lot of work not only in iran

551
00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:05.060
 But a lot of damage to us regionally so that us strategic point

552
00:40:05.060 --> 00:40:08.000
 Taking him out on that on that

553
00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:12.040
 Mission I I think it was a huge mission

554
00:40:12.040 --> 00:40:17.840
 And if he was alive still even like trump said things would have been a lot harder

555
00:40:17.840 --> 00:40:20.120
 So that really opened the path

556
00:40:20.120 --> 00:40:25.020
 For you know a hope in iran and for the first time iranians saw, okay

557
00:40:25.020 --> 00:40:27.020
 Someone is here to help us

558
00:40:27.020 --> 00:40:32.440
 But then we went through four years of doing nothing with iraq absolutely nothing, right?

559
00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:36.480
 And just back and forth just kind of going status quo and again

560
00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:43.700
 This is not a criticism on democrats or republicans. I'm just saying when it came to iran iran was always like a

561
00:40:43.700 --> 00:40:47.560
 Okay, this is too hard. Let's just let the next guys deal with it

562
00:40:47.560 --> 00:40:51.560
 We just go with it with a status quo and then this time

563
00:40:51.560 --> 00:40:56.540
 Um, you know things got heated up in syria as we we saw in lebanon

564
00:40:56.540 --> 00:40:59.920
 You know all these recent attacks that we had so

565
00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:06.040
 Now we are in this situation, but I my my whole point is we cannot just have

566
00:41:06.700 --> 00:41:09.300
 America to police everything

567
00:41:09.300 --> 00:41:15.800
 And this is this is a matter that should matter to to our allies in the region muslim allies

568
00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:18.700
 And to our european allies. No. No, that's that's

569
00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:23.960
 Statement is very true. We we shouldn't police the war or have to police the world

570
00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:26.800
 um, so a couple of things there

571
00:41:27.860 --> 00:41:34.700
 Wanting to help iran has never been I don't think anyone's not wanted to help the iranian people what you brought up though earlier was very

572
00:41:35.700 --> 00:41:36.220
 concerning

573
00:41:36.220 --> 00:41:39.320
 Um have always been a concern because even given money we can't

574
00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:45.800
 As the us or any nation can't guarantee how that's going to be used as you said earlier and it's true

575
00:41:45.800 --> 00:41:49.700
 It was used to further fund the proxies their proxies, right?

576
00:41:50.220 --> 00:41:52.680
 And unfortunately, they were to do what?

577
00:41:52.680 --> 00:42:00.580
 Wage wars and unrest and attacks on other other nations around their countries mostly against israel, but you know

578
00:42:00.580 --> 00:42:03.920
 Basically just tightening their grip without being directly involved

579
00:42:03.920 --> 00:42:08.740
 That's why they use proxies can't really point the figure at iran. They could say hey hands off. It wasn't us

580
00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:10.440
 um, so

581
00:42:10.440 --> 00:42:11.320
 You know

582
00:42:11.320 --> 00:42:12.660
 I get it

583
00:42:12.660 --> 00:42:17.180
 Yes, we all want to help but there's no guarantee until this regime is gone

584
00:42:17.180 --> 00:42:23.680
 There's no guarantee that we know of that whatever we give is going to be used benevolently or

585
00:42:23.680 --> 00:42:25.460
 Used for the right purpose

586
00:42:25.980 --> 00:42:28.200
 As far as us stepping in

587
00:42:28.200 --> 00:42:29.680
 I mean look

588
00:42:30.860 --> 00:42:37.520
 France has had a long history in dealing in the middle east and they to this day have really not done much

589
00:42:37.520 --> 00:42:42.480
 You know we could say the same thing for the uk who colonized most most of the world at the time

590
00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:45.940
 for that region, um, but even they're more hands off and

591
00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:50.660
 So everyone looks to the us to try to make this happen right and police the world as you said

592
00:42:51.860 --> 00:42:56.280
 So what is the best way in your opinion for the us to be able to help? I mean

593
00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:58.260
 short of us just

594
00:42:58.260 --> 00:43:03.080
 I guess whipping everyone into shape and saying hey, you need to step up and step in and help out

595
00:43:04.140 --> 00:43:07.140
 Uh, which we can't do because nobody seems to want to listen to us anymore

596
00:43:07.140 --> 00:43:13.280
 What what can we do at this point that it's not military or I think at this point?

597
00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:16.020
 Even the military would not help because

598
00:43:16.820 --> 00:43:22.180
 Right now the situation is there's a lot of civilians. There's 90 million people in iran

599
00:43:22.180 --> 00:43:24.940
 And how are we going to so all these?

600
00:43:25.660 --> 00:43:30.000
 Officials are going to be hidden somewhere. How are we going to do it without some heavy bombing?

601
00:43:30.520 --> 00:43:34.880
 and and why should we do that why should we suffer the cost of

602
00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:42.600
 Like financial costs for the taxpayers and also the the human cost for iranians. It's just it's a no-win situation

603
00:43:42.600 --> 00:43:47.620
 I think if if if somebody asked me, hey, you have five minutes with president trump

604
00:43:47.620 --> 00:43:53.480
 I would say hey just have a meeting with all your you know muslim allies and with all your

605
00:43:53.480 --> 00:43:57.400
 European allies and this needs to be dealt with multilaterally

606
00:43:58.020 --> 00:44:02.440
 We cannot and we should not have to get the burden of

607
00:44:03.540 --> 00:44:09.940
 Entering a revolution that's been going on for 40 years to make things worse for them because what we did

608
00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:12.480
 On that operation midnight hammer

609
00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:14.640
 Yes, we did

610
00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:17.120
 Um, it did serve the u.s

611
00:44:17.120 --> 00:44:23.260
 Purpose for dismantling their their nuclear activities, but it made the people's lives worse

612
00:44:23.260 --> 00:44:29.180
 I told you the navigation system is down the business is down. So the economy was deteriorated more

613
00:44:29.180 --> 00:44:36.820
 So we didn't do any good for the people. We served our strategic interests, which is good for us for us

614
00:44:36.820 --> 00:44:38.520
 But then at this point

615
00:44:38.520 --> 00:44:43.940
 if if we do something wrong and if they suffer a lot of casualties then

616
00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:48.180
 We would have a lot of our bases attacked then we would have

617
00:44:48.180 --> 00:44:52.420
 Our you know, our military would be at risk every time they would go to the region our soldiers

618
00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:56.780
 Even if they go to a bazaar some kid who lost like all the family members

619
00:44:56.780 --> 00:45:04.000
 Is going to do something to harm that, you know, 18 year old marine who just you know deployed from ohio

620
00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.840
 so

621
00:45:04.840 --> 00:45:06.240
 I don't think

622
00:45:06.240 --> 00:45:13.000
 It's in our interest to go, you know laterally and try to do this in my opinion

623
00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:16.820
 Does it break my heart that I see iranians die? Yes, but

624
00:45:17.240 --> 00:45:19.900
 By launching more bombs. We're not

625
00:45:20.620 --> 00:45:24.040
 Serving them. Well, there's there's a couple of things with that too. It's like there's no guarantee

626
00:45:24.040 --> 00:45:29.100
 We have zero actual guarantee that iran does not have nuclear capability

627
00:45:29.640 --> 00:45:35.440
 We don't really right, you know, we have no no definite confirmation that they don't have access

628
00:45:35.980 --> 00:45:41.320
 You know and with the relationship with russia who's to say they haven't had given them anything themselves

629
00:45:41.940 --> 00:45:42.420
 um

630
00:45:43.120 --> 00:45:47.500
 And beyond that what you said is I I mean you make a great point like why is qatar not

631
00:45:47.500 --> 00:45:51.720
 Not stepping up. Why is turkey nuts not doing a thing syria, for example

632
00:45:51.720 --> 00:45:56.220
 And I and I know there's a lot of unrest and you know, we're going on in syria right now

633
00:45:56.220 --> 00:45:59.800
 But I mean at the same time I mean look our largest

634
00:46:00.380 --> 00:46:04.980
 Base of operations like centcom is right there in qatar, right?

635
00:46:05.440 --> 00:46:12.020
 And and so we we can't risk that relationship because we need that base of operations right there. Um

636
00:46:12.740 --> 00:46:16.080
 So it's it's a tricky thing right and and

637
00:46:16.080 --> 00:46:17.420
 Taking military action

638
00:46:17.420 --> 00:46:23.220
 it doesn't guarantee the outcome that is that we want or is necessarily good for the people as you said because

639
00:46:24.040 --> 00:46:28.140
 They can retaliate against israel or other allies automatically

640
00:46:28.700 --> 00:46:30.600
 Also qatar and turkey could say hey, you know

641
00:46:30.600 --> 00:46:33.920
 We're going to we're going to support our muslim brothers and we're going to side with iran and all of a sudden

642
00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:36.390
 It turns into something else and it feels like

643
00:46:37.160 --> 00:46:38.060
 at times

644
00:46:38.840 --> 00:46:42.180
 That was the threat for a while, especially pakistan

645
00:46:42.780 --> 00:46:45.920
 Years back on our was it last year or a few years pakistan?

646
00:46:46.160 --> 00:46:48.840
 There was an issue. I forgot what it was, but pakistan said, you know

647
00:46:48.840 --> 00:46:55.140
 Hey, we will side with iran if we have to and support our muslim brothers and so we we have no idea

648
00:46:55.750 --> 00:46:58.020
 You know what the outcome will be is very volatile

649
00:46:58.020 --> 00:47:00.780
 I know we have a lot of people out there collecting intel and whatnot

650
00:47:00.780 --> 00:47:04.240
 But again a lot of that is not easily confirmed and verified

651
00:47:04.240 --> 00:47:07.460
 You know because it's such a lot. It's it's it's so locked, right?

652
00:47:07.520 --> 00:47:11.120
 It's so hard to get in and out of that area and get any real information

653
00:47:11.120 --> 00:47:15.540
 So, I mean unfortunately i'm gonna have to side with you. I I don't know what the solution is either

654
00:47:15.540 --> 00:47:18.820
 I just wonder if you might have had a different take on it, you know

655
00:47:18.820 --> 00:47:25.220
 No, I mean the solution is it taking non-kinetic solutions. I mean for example

656
00:47:25.220 --> 00:47:28.220
 All the european country can stop working with iran

657
00:47:28.760 --> 00:47:32.620
 Can stop, you know, um, I heard munich conference

658
00:47:32.620 --> 00:47:35.780
 Like we drew their invitation for iran good question though

659
00:47:35.780 --> 00:47:40.260
 Is that enough not working because look we've already seen sanctions and and whatnot don't work

660
00:47:40.260 --> 00:47:42.460
 I mean look at russia actually sanctions do work

661
00:47:42.460 --> 00:47:48.640
 And so what happened was when we had maximum pressure sanction during first, um trump administration

662
00:47:48.640 --> 00:47:53.440
 The the government of iran was on the verge of paralyzed

663
00:47:53.440 --> 00:48:00.680
 So and then when we got four years of you know, like change of policy again

664
00:48:00.680 --> 00:48:07.080
 Then things things were more relaxed, but sanctions do work and they have been

665
00:48:07.320 --> 00:48:08.320
 instrumental

666
00:48:08.320 --> 00:48:11.020
 In curbing their relation their

667
00:48:11.500 --> 00:48:16.980
 Their money and then so they had to go through china. They have to go through russia

668
00:48:16.980 --> 00:48:21.200
 So yes, I understand that but you know, um completely

669
00:48:21.200 --> 00:48:26.600
 Not allowing them to to to have a seat at the united nations

670
00:48:27.280 --> 00:48:32.940
 Make it like the internet, you know making that into a human rights issue and then um

671
00:48:32.940 --> 00:48:38.740
 Not doing business with them not interacting with them and and isolating them internationally

672
00:48:38.740 --> 00:48:43.490
 Because we can't just isolate as united states and have and you know

673
00:48:43.780 --> 00:48:50.040
 France and and germany and everybody else doing business with them, you know investing going back

674
00:48:50.040 --> 00:48:55.580
 Getting all all the diplomats out getting all the iranian diplomats out of all these countries

675
00:48:55.580 --> 00:48:57.920
 You know don't give them any legitimacy

676
00:48:57.920 --> 00:49:02.680
 I understand but that that that was my point about sanctions not working because they like if you look at russia and china

677
00:49:02.680 --> 00:49:08.860
 As you said they created their own system. They found a way even india decided to do business with with russia even at

678
00:49:09.260 --> 00:49:13.740
 The behest of trump saying no, please don't they you're like we're going to continue to do business

679
00:49:13.740 --> 00:49:17.940
 You know, there's no guarantee. So even if we sanction iran and continue to do so

680
00:49:17.940 --> 00:49:22.460
 We're not going to stop them from doing business with russia or china or even pakistan or

681
00:49:23.340 --> 00:49:27.440
 Maybe even india. I don't know. I'm just saying like there's no absolute guarantees

682
00:49:27.440 --> 00:49:31.260
 It does weaken them, but it doesn't seem to be enough to just do that

683
00:49:32.280 --> 00:49:32.800
 so

684
00:49:32.800 --> 00:49:34.320
 Maybe what your solution?

685
00:49:34.800 --> 00:49:38.600
 Um, the solution you propose is correct like all of our allies we need to

686
00:49:38.980 --> 00:49:43.920
 We need to basically stick to the same plan. We all we all need to shut it down, right?

687
00:49:43.920 --> 00:49:45.580
 And that's that's the problem

688
00:49:45.580 --> 00:49:46.260
 You know

689
00:49:46.260 --> 00:49:52.860
 We can't let them have opportunities to circumvent any of this of the sanctions or any any proposed

690
00:49:52.860 --> 00:49:56.020
 Means of trying to cripple their government through financial means

691
00:49:56.020 --> 00:50:00.980
 Because as you as you just said a lot of european nations are like, well, you know, we can still

692
00:50:00.980 --> 00:50:05.060
 We'll do a little bit of business with them and that doesn't help the situation whatsoever

693
00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:08.160
 Right. I mean look at our western

694
00:50:08.160 --> 00:50:12.960
 Uh news outlets they have like iranian officials

695
00:50:12.960 --> 00:50:18.360
 They're giving them voice to come and like we need to stop that and we get all these

696
00:50:18.720 --> 00:50:23.140
 Major news networks getting all the presidents if they're not legitimate

697
00:50:23.140 --> 00:50:26.960
 They shouldn't be allowed on the soil on the soil of united nations

698
00:50:26.960 --> 00:50:32.560
 If you know, they have blood on their hands for killing young girl unarmed girls. I mean

699
00:50:33.340 --> 00:50:36.660
 Why would any country want to deal with that?

700
00:50:37.300 --> 00:50:43.400
 I just don't understand and then but but what bothers me i'm not saying united states cannot do more

701
00:50:43.400 --> 00:50:49.840
 But what i'm saying is like why is it that us is always responsible for everything and when things go wrong?

702
00:50:49.960 --> 00:50:52.460
 Like oh we don't want the next iraq and afghanistan

703
00:50:52.460 --> 00:50:57.600
 But I can make the same case and say iran could be the next iraq and afghanistan true

704
00:50:57.600 --> 00:51:00.800
 Actually, yeah, you have a great point there and you know

705
00:51:00.800 --> 00:51:04.720
 And the best example of of what we're talking about in terms of you know

706
00:51:04.720 --> 00:51:07.940
 Us doesn't even step in into anything is ukraine and russia

707
00:51:07.940 --> 00:51:12.900
 I mean look that that was literally in europe's backyard and they did nothing

708
00:51:12.900 --> 00:51:18.500
 They did nothing about it until the us finally stepped in and said, okay here we come

709
00:51:18.500 --> 00:51:21.940
 We'll help although we didn't do a lot outside of some funding, right?

710
00:51:22.180 --> 00:51:25.660
 But at the end and some weapons finally and munitions, but at the same time

711
00:51:25.660 --> 00:51:30.480
 What stopped the uk and france from getting ahead of that situation and literally?

712
00:51:31.180 --> 00:51:34.400
 Cutting russia off from taking from advancing on ukraine. They did nothing

713
00:51:34.720 --> 00:51:37.380
 They just waited to see what us was going to do

714
00:51:37.380 --> 00:51:40.140
 And so you're right. It's not our responsibility. I mean they

715
00:51:41.520 --> 00:51:45.940
 They need to step up as you said europe needs to step up as I said these other powers

716
00:51:45.940 --> 00:51:52.020
 Need to step up and take control of these situations. It shouldn't have to wait for the us to get involved

717
00:51:52.020 --> 00:51:56.280
 Because we're not the only people that have relationships with these other countries. We're not

718
00:51:57.300 --> 00:52:02.020
 So I am in agreements with you. Um, let's look here's the thing

719
00:52:02.560 --> 00:52:07.660
 What's going on in iran is is is tragic to the degree that people are being killed

720
00:52:08.140 --> 00:52:08.920
 for freedom

721
00:52:09.840 --> 00:52:15.180
 Basically, that's that's that's what's going on. They no longer want to be oppressed. They want financial stability

722
00:52:15.180 --> 00:52:16.900
 They want to live in a free society

723
00:52:16.900 --> 00:52:22.260
 And be able to just live like, you know, anyone else in the world while probably like america

724
00:52:22.260 --> 00:52:26.520
 I guess or or most of europe they just want to be able to exist and live and earn a living and

725
00:52:26.980 --> 00:52:30.080
 You know, I don't think anyone's looking for trouble. They just they just want to be human beings

726
00:52:30.080 --> 00:52:36.640
 There are some of like and i'm not saying that because I have iranian roots like they're some of the nicest people

727
00:52:36.640 --> 00:52:41.320
 And they are very non-religious. It doesn't mean like they're non-believer in god

728
00:52:41.320 --> 00:52:47.380
 But they religion is like a tradition more like a tradition. They're extremely educated. They're

729
00:52:47.940 --> 00:52:52.760
 Even with all the suppression they have they advance all these young people are so talented

730
00:52:52.760 --> 00:52:58.000
 They advance in some of the very unusual because they want to show themselves to the world

731
00:52:58.000 --> 00:53:03.780
 So they go and do get advanced in some of the most unusual science or sports to be able to go

732
00:53:04.280 --> 00:53:08.620
 Overseas to do to get to take part in international competitions

733
00:53:09.220 --> 00:53:09.780
 so

734
00:53:10.320 --> 00:53:12.740
 They're just really amazing

735
00:53:12.740 --> 00:53:20.660
 Amazing nation just like you said they just want a chance to live to breathe and to just be part of this international community

736
00:53:20.660 --> 00:53:27.020
 Yeah, and in uh, not far from where I live the town over there. There's a huge iranian

737
00:53:28.360 --> 00:53:34.340
 Community like a big community with a lot of the families who left when when the when the regime took over back in 79

738
00:53:35.020 --> 00:53:39.740
 And their families came here and there's a huge community and I deal with them

739
00:53:39.740 --> 00:53:44.160
 I talked to them all the time like they're they're just people they're just people and most of them are actually catholic

740
00:53:44.980 --> 00:53:47.120
 um, so it's it's like you said it's

741
00:53:47.880 --> 00:53:50.660
 it's more of like a um

742
00:53:50.660 --> 00:53:51.680
 religion as a

743
00:53:51.680 --> 00:53:57.360
 As a custom more or anything right rather than you know buying into it necessarily. It's like um

744
00:53:57.360 --> 00:54:01.980
 It's just it's just going through the um traditions of it. I I would guess

745
00:54:02.560 --> 00:54:07.680
 But great community never have a problem with anybody. They're all hard-working. They own businesses. They do everything

746
00:54:07.680 --> 00:54:14.600
 And I think that's what iran needs to be they need to have that ability to turn back to what it was pre 1978 79

747
00:54:14.600 --> 00:54:18.880
 So that they can continue to exist again and contribute to the world

748
00:54:18.880 --> 00:54:24.120
 Uh, so i'm i'm pulling for him. I know you are many. I think the world wants this

749
00:54:24.840 --> 00:54:26.560
 Anybody who says that it's a bad thing

750
00:54:26.560 --> 00:54:31.860
 I just don't understand where they're coming from for the iranian people to live free. It doesn't make any sense to me

751
00:54:33.100 --> 00:54:33.420
 um

752
00:54:33.420 --> 00:54:38.380
 Let me let me move on a little bit from this topic because I mean you've said you've said a lot and it's still developing

753
00:54:38.380 --> 00:54:43.100
 So we don't know where this is all going to go. Hopefully hopefully it turns out to be positive to be quite honest

754
00:54:44.200 --> 00:54:46.880
 How I want to get your opinion? Let's circle back to journalism

755
00:54:46.880 --> 00:54:49.780
 I want to get your opinion on a few things because we kind of talked about this offline

756
00:54:50.380 --> 00:54:56.400
 Uh truth-tellers, for example, the people who tell the truth diligently go out of the way to expose the truth do do their due diligence

757
00:54:56.400 --> 00:55:01.840
 Don't seem to get the ear of the people or the attention on social media that people do

758
00:55:01.840 --> 00:55:05.340
 That literally just sensationalize journalism. I mean, they're not really journalists

759
00:55:05.920 --> 00:55:07.900
 What do you what can you tell people?

760
00:55:08.080 --> 00:55:13.480
 You know to look out for and what is your what is exactly your opinion when it comes to social media?

761
00:55:13.540 --> 00:55:19.480
 Because he was like they believe people believe social media is the news like no matter what it is. That's what's happening

762
00:55:19.780 --> 00:55:21.700
 What's your take on that?

763
00:55:22.460 --> 00:55:29.320
 We really got to be careful. I think if somebody asked me what's what's the number one danger in the united states?

764
00:55:29.720 --> 00:55:31.700
 it's uh, it's the

765
00:55:31.700 --> 00:55:35.140
 I would say uneducated consumers of information

766
00:55:35.660 --> 00:55:42.600
 I mean, and I and I mean that it's dangerous because I noticed i've i've covered iran for like 20 years

767
00:55:42.600 --> 00:55:47.640
 And and right now I I I read something that that was so disturbing on

768
00:55:48.280 --> 00:55:55.140
 IRGC telegram account. They they said if if us tries to launch a military attack

769
00:55:55.140 --> 00:55:56.200
 um

770
00:55:56.200 --> 00:56:01.700
 You know their their bases and um the hotel that some of the high high officials

771
00:56:01.700 --> 00:56:06.940
 American officials are staying there high ranking military officials. It would be a target

772
00:56:06.940 --> 00:56:10.360
 So I saw many many

773
00:56:10.360 --> 00:56:11.600
 so called

774
00:56:11.600 --> 00:56:16.720
 high reputation news outlets saying iran is

775
00:56:16.720 --> 00:56:17.640
 um

776
00:56:18.320 --> 00:56:19.160
 threatening

777
00:56:20.160 --> 00:56:24.740
 US bases in the region and the hotel that the military officials are staying

778
00:56:24.740 --> 00:56:27.060
 without mentioning

779
00:56:28.060 --> 00:56:35.520
 Said if you attack us, right i'm not defending iran's position, but this is a very dangerous

780
00:56:35.520 --> 00:56:42.060
 Practice in journalism where you don't fully say the full sentence is curating the message

781
00:56:42.060 --> 00:56:49.080
 Yes, because the people who are you know, who are making the decision at the white house or you know

782
00:56:49.080 --> 00:56:52.720
 All the other places to go or not to launch an attack

783
00:56:52.720 --> 00:56:58.280
 If if they the person who's monitoring the news who's giving that wrong information

784
00:56:58.280 --> 00:57:05.320
 Then it changes the whole dynamic. So you have a responsibility to tell the truth

785
00:57:05.320 --> 00:57:07.760
 And it's it's bad now

786
00:57:07.760 --> 00:57:14.240
 A person gets to repost that repost that so you get all these reposts of something that's half true

787
00:57:15.460 --> 00:57:21.000
 So that's just one example how frustrating is it for someone like you with actual journalistic integrity

788
00:57:21.780 --> 00:57:25.480
 Who has has been doing this for so long to to

789
00:57:25.480 --> 00:57:32.180
 For example, if you put something out, that's true. It's almost like you don't get the same traction as some other sensationalized

790
00:57:33.260 --> 00:57:33.820
 um

791
00:57:33.820 --> 00:57:35.880
 You know internet star or whatever

792
00:57:35.880 --> 00:57:39.280
 And and it's it's like you said they're just curating the message

793
00:57:39.280 --> 00:57:44.600
 They're they're taking these clips and these cuts from video in a specific manner and way just to get eyeballs

794
00:57:44.600 --> 00:57:47.180
 And then people take just that clip

795
00:57:47.180 --> 00:57:53.060
 As the facts and and the whole story and it's like this is one of my sayings. I always say I always tell

796
00:57:53.060 --> 00:57:57.160
 Everyone I say it on my show all the time people live on the surface of information. It's all about the headline

797
00:57:57.160 --> 00:57:58.740
 They don't want to go further

798
00:57:58.740 --> 00:58:01.560
 And I I think you know, I completely agree with you by the way

799
00:58:01.560 --> 00:58:04.880
 It's uneducation, but also the lack of wanting to go

800
00:58:05.520 --> 00:58:09.760
 Um and and know more about it like digging down deeper and saying, okay

801
00:58:09.760 --> 00:58:11.020
 for example

802
00:58:11.020 --> 00:58:12.980
 Iran's gonna attack the u.s

803
00:58:12.980 --> 00:58:13.740
 Okay

804
00:58:13.740 --> 00:58:16.240
 If I read that I'd be like what's going on with that?

805
00:58:16.460 --> 00:58:20.820
 Most people don't do that. They just see iran's gonna attack the u.s and then oh my god, they repost it

806
00:58:20.820 --> 00:58:21.580
 Yeah, yeah

807
00:58:21.580 --> 00:58:24.480
 And they believe it like for its face value

808
00:58:25.220 --> 00:58:29.340
 Uh, what what can we do to get people to dig dig deeper like dig beyond the headline?

809
00:58:29.340 --> 00:58:30.120
 I mean does this

810
00:58:30.120 --> 00:58:30.900
 Need

811
00:58:31.340 --> 00:58:39.480
 Like I think we need like i'm serious a need to a movement to to have critical

812
00:58:41.140 --> 00:58:46.100
 Critical skills for critical thinking skills for reading consuming news because

813
00:58:46.720 --> 00:58:53.840
 It's dangerous. It could be I mean it could be an or I see a lot of girls or I even see some family members

814
00:58:53.840 --> 00:58:58.100
 Mentioning stuff about diet about this medication. I'm like, no, that's not true

815
00:58:58.100 --> 00:59:04.800
 I mean if you see there is a lot of you know, there there's a lot of pharmaceutical stuff behind it or

816
00:59:04.800 --> 00:59:09.660
 Or or and it they've gotten so good right now the information

817
00:59:09.660 --> 00:59:16.720
 Operation has been so good right now. If let's say you're a lawmaker or you're some kind of a lobby group

818
00:59:16.720 --> 00:59:21.780
 Not all I mean iran did this for many years. They still do it and there are reports of it

819
00:59:21.780 --> 00:59:27.460
 So iran went to all these different countries in venezuela in iraq in afghanistan

820
00:59:27.460 --> 00:59:29.980
 They hire local reporters

821
00:59:29.980 --> 00:59:32.100
 To push their own propaganda

822
00:59:32.100 --> 00:59:37.880
 So you hear in venezuela, I mean some some of the press tv

823
00:59:37.880 --> 00:59:40.720
 the the venezuela sections and

824
00:59:40.720 --> 00:59:49.020
 like in iraq in afghanistan, they're so popular because you hear that in your own local accent and

825
00:59:50.380 --> 00:59:54.020
 Language so the same thing is happening in america

826
00:59:54.020 --> 00:59:59.120
 If a think tank likes something if they want to let's say push for abortion or not

827
00:59:59.120 --> 01:00:04.160
 No abortion or like push for obama care or not obama care

828
01:00:04.160 --> 01:00:06.760
 so they go and talk to a lot of

829
01:00:07.020 --> 01:00:14.500
 Reporters who are aligned thinkers of pro-abortion or anti-abortion. Oh according to such and such things

830
01:00:14.500 --> 01:00:19.200
 There's been that many abortion or lack of abortion. But if you like look back

831
01:00:19.200 --> 01:00:22.500
 It's very strategic because they're trying

832
01:00:22.500 --> 01:00:29.100
 Like academically to push an agenda and then you're like, oh everyone was reporting about it

833
01:00:29.100 --> 01:00:34.020
 Because yeah, and then you get people like-minded people to retweet repost

834
01:00:34.020 --> 01:00:37.980
 So yeah, it's it's very dangerous. Like I I say to everyone just

835
01:00:38.380 --> 01:00:40.000
 Please be critical

836
01:00:40.000 --> 01:00:45.940
 Thinker readers and and it's it's basically it's literally the case of if you control the narrative you control the opinions

837
01:00:45.940 --> 01:00:51.840
 Control the minds of others and that's that's what's going on in the media and money talks. I'm sorry, but that's just it

838
01:00:51.840 --> 01:00:52.580
 I mean

839
01:00:52.580 --> 01:00:59.060
 That's why a lot of these true independent journalists aren't getting out there because they can't fight the money that this big media have

840
01:00:59.060 --> 01:01:00.040
 To keep pushing

841
01:01:00.800 --> 01:01:01.680
 their crap

842
01:01:01.680 --> 01:01:04.520
 All over the place and so that's all they see

843
01:01:04.520 --> 01:01:08.760
 Um, so that also helps it's like just if you're just flooding that zone without misinformation

844
01:01:08.760 --> 01:01:11.840
 That's all you're going to see like even on google whatever you want to do in search

845
01:01:11.840 --> 01:01:15.660
 It's like those are going to keep popping up versus people are telling the truth because you just can't compete

846
01:01:16.160 --> 01:01:19.500
 With that. It's like it's like you can't drink out of a firehose, right?

847
01:01:19.740 --> 01:01:25.060
 And if all if all you get out of the firehose is misinformation eventually, that's that's what you're going to start believing unfortunately

848
01:01:25.940 --> 01:01:27.940
 But ask you a question though

849
01:01:27.940 --> 01:01:33.240
 Um, how how does a person like yourself for example who gets into journalism?

850
01:01:34.060 --> 01:01:35.040
 to tell the truth

851
01:01:35.860 --> 01:01:40.580
 How does someone new or coming up into this that wants to do what you do for example?

852
01:01:40.580 --> 01:01:47.320
 How do we keep them from taking that temptation of sensationalizing so that they can get the attention they want on social media like

853
01:01:47.320 --> 01:01:52.060
 What what what can you tell someone who is trying to get into this?

854
01:01:52.380 --> 01:01:58.260
 To stay on the path of telling the truth and not be veered over to just taking the money or the likes and the clicks

855
01:02:00.160 --> 01:02:03.800
 It's kind of inevitable and it and I see it more and more

856
01:02:05.040 --> 01:02:05.520
 um

857
01:02:05.520 --> 01:02:08.820
 people not being able to survive it like you say and

858
01:02:08.820 --> 01:02:12.520
 Eventually, they either isolate themselves or

859
01:02:13.200 --> 01:02:15.060
 um, I mean I

860
01:02:15.060 --> 01:02:19.060
 I isolated myself after a while I I went and

861
01:02:19.060 --> 01:02:24.260
 Did teaching and I got my masters and I went into research world for a while

862
01:02:24.260 --> 01:02:30.860
 Because like you said I couldn't keep up and I was getting I I was getting smacked from all sides, too

863
01:02:30.860 --> 01:02:34.140
 like nobody at that point nobody likes you because

864
01:02:34.140 --> 01:02:37.620
 You know you're like you said you're just telling the truth and right

865
01:02:37.620 --> 01:02:41.340
 That's all you're saying and like you're asking a question. So

866
01:02:41.340 --> 01:02:45.280
 Why why should we sign for this bill or why should I vote for you?

867
01:02:45.320 --> 01:02:50.160
 Or if you say something negative, then you're anti-christian anti-muslim anti-jewish

868
01:02:50.160 --> 01:02:55.120
 Then you get hate from muslims and I used to get hate from all these groups and it's like

869
01:02:55.120 --> 01:02:58.680
 I'm none of the above and i'm all of the above to you because

870
01:03:00.320 --> 01:03:04.040
 And I even had people you know, you're not

871
01:03:04.040 --> 01:03:09.460
 You shouldn't just promote america you're iranian i'm like no i'm a us citizen and

872
01:03:09.460 --> 01:03:15.680
 I swore to be a good citizen and i'm a US citizen US is my first national interest now

873
01:03:15.680 --> 01:03:20.380
 Not iran, you know, and I know i'm gonna get a lot of hate for saying that right now

874
01:03:20.380 --> 01:03:23.120
 but yeah, you know, it doesn't mean I don't care but

875
01:03:23.940 --> 01:03:30.040
 You know, you got to be honest and those people that are not honest. They're not doing us any favors

876
01:03:31.540 --> 01:03:32.800
 It's tricky, right?

877
01:03:32.800 --> 01:03:33.680
 right

878
01:03:34.760 --> 01:03:36.800
 It's tricky. Um

879
01:03:36.800 --> 01:03:39.540
 I can keep going if you want but uh

880
01:03:40.140 --> 01:03:44.020
 Let's let's talk about your let's talk about your book because I I do want

881
01:03:44.020 --> 01:03:46.860
 To let people know about that because your journey is interesting

882
01:03:46.860 --> 01:03:48.760
 You've only given us a little bit by the way

883
01:03:48.760 --> 01:03:52.140
 And that it's only because the conversation wasn't primarily about your journey

884
01:03:52.140 --> 01:03:53.800
 But you did give us a lot already

885
01:03:53.800 --> 01:04:00.880
 You know what you did working for the government in in afghanistan where you're working for voice of america, you know becoming a journalist

886
01:04:00.880 --> 01:04:02.820
 Starting in la, etc

887
01:04:03.320 --> 01:04:07.100
 Can you tell us more about where people can get your book to read about your story?

888
01:04:07.640 --> 01:04:13.900
 Sure, um my book is serving without a uniform reporting truth in defense of freedom

889
01:04:13.900 --> 01:04:17.420
 um, it's on amazon and you can get a

890
01:04:17.960 --> 01:04:25.300
 A kindle copy or you can get a hard copy. Basically I talk about my fight to tell the truth

891
01:04:25.300 --> 01:04:28.620
 and um, you know, you shouldn't give up and

892
01:04:28.620 --> 01:04:34.660
 Um while there's there's so much opposition, but there's there's also a lot of people who you meet

893
01:04:34.660 --> 01:04:38.540
 That are going to cite with you and going to help you and I talk about that

894
01:04:38.540 --> 01:04:45.360
 It also gives a lot of voice to our military members who served like all these wars

895
01:04:45.360 --> 01:04:47.140
 We never talk about them

896
01:04:47.140 --> 01:04:54.260
 That you know, they they truly serve and what I mentioned the reason I was pausing for that launching military attack

897
01:04:54.260 --> 01:05:01.900
 Because I the opening of my book it's a tribute to a marine who wrote a letter to his mom

898
01:05:01.900 --> 01:05:02.980
 before

899
01:05:03.580 --> 01:05:07.480
 He was killed in Helmand, Afghanistan. He was 22

900
01:05:08.140 --> 01:05:15.200
 Had several combat tours and he talks about like the letter talks about the purity of his intention

901
01:05:15.200 --> 01:05:16.340
 so

902
01:05:16.340 --> 01:05:22.260
 When you read this and and and a 22 year old goes and dies you're responsible for

903
01:05:22.860 --> 01:05:26.580
 What he has done and when every time we make a decision

904
01:05:26.580 --> 01:05:32.800
 We have to remember these guys. I remember one of our major general campbell actually

905
01:05:32.800 --> 01:05:36.580
 He had a um a pocket right here

906
01:05:37.280 --> 01:05:41.960
 He had a list of all the soldiers who was killed as he was a general

907
01:05:41.960 --> 01:05:48.020
 So he said this I carry with me all the time every time we're making a major decision

908
01:05:48.020 --> 01:05:52.240
 I open this I look at my list and I show other people

909
01:05:52.260 --> 01:05:55.240
 These are not just names. These are the people that I carry with

910
01:05:55.790 --> 01:06:01.380
 So I think those are some of the human aspects of it that when we get so emotional

911
01:06:01.380 --> 01:06:05.310
 We we don't look at both ways. So we need to

912
01:06:06.020 --> 01:06:08.180
 I talk about how being more

913
01:06:08.980 --> 01:06:15.260
 Fact-based and basically, you know not giving up in the world and and being a good

914
01:06:16.260 --> 01:06:20.320
 Immigrant and paying back to america and helping other people

915
01:06:20.320 --> 01:06:25.200
 And uh, just just being part of the community. I mean, it's an easy read

916
01:06:25.200 --> 01:06:32.220
 It's it's just my story. Hopefully to inspire other inspire others and bring some hope to this dark world

917
01:06:32.220 --> 01:06:33.140
 right

918
01:06:33.140 --> 01:06:40.120
 My my nephew is a marine. So, um, you know, it's what you said is true. It's like they make the decision

919
01:06:40.120 --> 01:06:44.960
 For all the right reasons and they want to defend this great nation or this way of life

920
01:06:44.960 --> 01:06:48.980
 And unfortunately, you know, they're not making decisions on why they're there or what they're doing

921
01:06:48.980 --> 01:06:52.000
 And i've often said it's like why can't

922
01:06:52.480 --> 01:06:56.780
 Why can't we just get these world leaders to fight in the ring and they can battle it out instead of using

923
01:06:56.780 --> 01:06:58.980
 You know all of our young people as pawns

924
01:06:59.720 --> 01:07:05.880
 You know, it's just ridiculous that because a government has a has a disagreement or world leader has a disagreement with another

925
01:07:05.880 --> 01:07:08.540
 All of a sudden it's like send the troops. It's like no, how about you guys fight it out?

926
01:07:08.540 --> 01:07:10.560
 Let's see what happens, right?

927
01:07:10.840 --> 01:07:13.540
 How about if you send your daughters in right?

928
01:07:14.320 --> 01:07:15.300
 right, so

929
01:07:15.930 --> 01:07:19.380
 Yeah, a lot of people don't understand the direct connection sometimes between

930
01:07:20.280 --> 01:07:28.340
 What's going on with our leadership or anybody's leadership and what these troops go through and what they decide?

931
01:07:28.820 --> 01:07:33.060
 Why they got involved versus what they face once they have to deploy or get out there

932
01:07:34.340 --> 01:07:34.960
 sure

933
01:07:34.960 --> 01:07:40.560
 Yeah, I I really recommend whoever comes to dc. They should pay a visit to arlington cemetery

934
01:07:40.560 --> 01:07:45.160
 um, they they they see like all these people who've died but

935
01:07:45.300 --> 01:07:49.760
 For example what we did in normandy if you think about it

936
01:07:50.340 --> 01:07:54.040
 It was not good. We lost so many people but it was justified

937
01:07:54.640 --> 01:08:00.260
 But like whatever war rat we're doing are they justified? What are we gaining by it?

938
01:08:01.820 --> 01:08:02.760
 so true

939
01:08:03.760 --> 01:08:06.720
 Well, I'm thinking we're going to wrap it up if you're okay with that

940
01:08:07.260 --> 01:08:10.320
 Absolutely, I wouldn't mind having you back though. I think we have a lot more to discuss

941
01:08:10.900 --> 01:08:11.380
 um

942
01:08:11.380 --> 01:08:16.800
 I'm gonna monitor this to ron's situation and maybe i'll check in with you later see how this unfolds

943
01:08:16.800 --> 01:08:18.700
 But I appreciate all your insight I do

944
01:08:18.700 --> 01:08:24.319
 um, and I appreciate everything you had to offer in terms of you know, what it takes to be a journalist

945
01:08:24.779 --> 01:08:30.500
 And really standing up for journalistic integrity and telling the truth because as you said in his truth

946
01:08:30.500 --> 01:08:35.380
 There's not enough people like you that that are out there that are still speaking the truth

947
01:08:35.380 --> 01:08:39.479
 It really isn't too many people are chasing the likes clicks the sensationalism of it

948
01:08:39.479 --> 01:08:42.800
 Almost like they want to live the rock star life rather than be the truth teller

949
01:08:42.800 --> 01:08:46.220
 And you know that I think that that's that's a major problem we have

950
01:08:46.220 --> 01:08:50.979
 But anything you want to say in regards to iran before we end this?

951
01:08:52.080 --> 01:08:56.220
 I mean, you know to any iranian whether inside iran or outside

952
01:08:56.220 --> 01:09:03.160
 Our hearts go up to you and i'm sure everyone in the u.s. Government is got your back

953
01:09:03.160 --> 01:09:08.260
 Having your back doesn't mean we necessarily have to come with military power

954
01:09:08.260 --> 01:09:15.920
 But there are other ways i'm sure it's being negotiated and I have trust in this government that will will do the right thing to

955
01:09:15.920 --> 01:09:23.260
 To deal with iran and and I hope um, you know, there will be some peace and they can live their life like the rest of us

956
01:09:24.040 --> 01:09:28.899
 It would be my wish. Yeah, well said I I agree with you and I I think the world um

957
01:09:30.060 --> 01:09:33.540
 The world leaders like the world power, especially the u.s. We do want what's right for iran, but

958
01:09:34.100 --> 01:09:36.140
 I've got to do it the right way definitely

959
01:09:37.080 --> 01:09:40.760
 Thank you very much and um, let's please stay in touch

960
01:09:42.080 --> 01:09:43.680
 And we'll catch up