1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Truth with Lisa Booth, where we get 2 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: to the heart of the issues that matter to you. Today, 3 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: we're joined by Fred Flitz. He's the vice chairman of 4 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: the America First Policy Institute. He's also a former Chief 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: of Staff of the National Security Council and our President Trump. 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 2: He's here to impact this. 7 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: Historic Israel Hamas ceasefire deal and announcing it, President Trump 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: said it's a step toward strong, durable and everlasting peace. 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: Now it's been broken with some key mediators, involving Trump's 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: envoy Steve Whitcoff as well as his son in law. Now, 11 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: this is the first phase of the agreement, which is 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: set to release all hostages and initiate Israeli trupe withdraws. 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: It sparked global attention, with so many people calling it historic, 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: even some of President Trump's foes, we'll call them. So 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: we're going to dig into the implications, you know, the risks, 16 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: could it break down, and what it means for lasting peace. 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: I mean, what could the Middle East look like at 18 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: the end of a President Trump administration. So stay tuned 19 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: for flights on this breaking historic news. Well, Fred, it's 20 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 1: great to have you on Big Big news out of 21 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: the Middle East, so looking forward at getting your insight 22 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: into all of it. So appreciate you taking the time. 23 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 2: It's good to be here. 24 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: So I guess just basic initial reaction after Israel and 25 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: Hamas have reached this first phase of a piece steal, 26 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: which you know we'll have the hostages freed and then 27 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: Israel be withdrawing from most of Gaza. Kind of walk 28 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: us through initial reaction, where you think things stand now, 29 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: and just your your general thoughts on all of this. 30 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 2: Well, it's not certain that the other stages of the 31 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 2: agreement will go slowly. I think they'll be implemented. But 32 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: we can't over emphasize the significance of what was agreed 33 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: to here. That both sides agreed to immediate cease fire, 34 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 2: that Helmas agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, 35 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: not to trickle them out was what we thought they do, 36 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: and frankly, some people thought they would never release them. 37 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: And that Israel agreed to a ceasefire and to withdraw 38 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: from part of Gaza, and that Hamas agreed to a 39 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,399 Speaker 2: deal without Israel withdrawn from all of the strip. These 40 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: are all very significant concessions by both sides. And I 41 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: think they show that this is a very strong agreement. 42 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 2: It has very broad support. And the reason for this 43 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: is because of the leadership of President Trump. He didn't 44 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: take note for an answer. He sligged through a variety 45 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: of other plans that failed. While the Europeans were busy 46 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: trying to appease Hamas by recognizing a Palestinian state with 47 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 2: no concessions by Hamas, Trump's people were fighting hard behind 48 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 2: the scenes with Arab states, with the Israelis to nail 49 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: down something that everyone could agree to. And it's such 50 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: a good agreement, Hamas is nowhere else to go. The 51 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 2: Arabs are solidly behind what Trump wants to do. Even 52 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 2: the Palestinian authority, which supports these deals, it is behind it. 53 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 2: So I think that either Hamasa is facing destruction or disagreement. 54 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: Is that why you think Amas? You know, finally it 55 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: was playing ball or trying to negotiate? 56 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 2: Here is it? You know? 57 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: I mean, were they just up against a wall no 58 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: other options, or why do you think they finally decided 59 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: to capitulate. 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 2: I think they're up against the wall and they're being 61 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 2: put under enormous pressure by Qatar. In Saudi Arabia at 62 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: the same time, I think they're going to make trouble 63 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: on what their role will be. They shouldn't have they 64 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 2: shouldn't have any role in Gaza after the peace agreement. 65 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: They have to be disarmed. That was not part of 66 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: this deal in the first stage. It is part of 67 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: the agreement and subsequent stage how Gaza will be governed. 68 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: They have expressed objections to what's in the agreement, but 69 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: the priority was to save human life, to get the 70 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: hostage out, and to work on these portions of the 71 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: agreement later. I think the Israel and the Trumpdminstration is 72 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: confident that they will they will prevail these provisions, these 73 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: provisions of the agreement, but it hasn't been agreed to yet. 74 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: If a Moss releases the hostages, as you know, we're hoping, 75 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: will happen, now, like what leverage do they have after 76 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,159 Speaker 1: that point? Like what leverage do they have to try 77 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 1: to stay in governance and you know along the Gaza strip. 78 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, one could argue they're losing leverage, but 79 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: on the other hand, these hostages won't be alive much longer, 80 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: so they're eventually they eventually won't have any live hostages. 81 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: So I think their leverage, as limited as it is, 82 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: is that they could keep fighting and engaging in acts 83 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: of terrorism, and by agreeing to stop the fighting, you know, 84 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 2: that's that's what they're offering. And in exchange for that, 85 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 2: if if members of a mosque don't want to live 86 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: in peace and gaza, they'll be allowed, They'll be given 87 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: free passage out of guys. I have to say, I 88 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 2: don't know who's going to take them. Maybe Turkey. I'd 89 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: like to send them all to a but I don't 90 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 2: think the Iranians would take them either. 91 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 1: Which it really tells you something, right, you know, you 92 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: look at President Trump sort of naming and giving credit 93 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: to countries like guitar as you mentioned, Egypt and Turkey. 94 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: How much of this was made possible by President Trump? 95 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: Well one, obviously the Abraham Accords during the first administration, 96 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: but then during this administration as well, really spending time 97 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: in the Middle East and sort of fostering those relationships. 98 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: How much of this deal is predicated on that. 99 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 2: Well, let me put it this way. Trump was elected 100 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 2: on November fifth. On November twelfth, he named his midlely 101 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: Special Envoy Steve Whitcock, who immediately flew to Qatar. Trump 102 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: didn't wait to be inaugurated to try to stop this deal, 103 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: and whitcof negotiated a deal on January nineteenth, before Trump 104 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 2: was inaugurated. That Free thirty hostage is over three months 105 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: and resulted in a shaky three months ceasefire which later collapsed. 106 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: But this was Trump, right out of the gate, right 107 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: after he's elected, before he's even president, pushing on this. 108 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: Trump never gave up. He was hard on hamas, he 109 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 2: was hard on the Arabs, he was hard on net 110 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: and Yahoo. He was seeing as an honest broker. It's 111 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: unprecedentally said, that's why we got this agreement. 112 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: You look at just sort of the initial reaction. I mean, 113 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: even people who don't love Trump like praising this, praising 114 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: the historic nature of this. Why do you think President Trump? 115 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: You know, obviously we're still cautiously optimistic, but why do 116 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: you think he was able to do this when you know, 117 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 1: really no one else has been able to. 118 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: I think there's no question he's the strongest pro Israel 119 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 2: president in history. But Trump also hates war. I guess 120 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 2: we all hate war. But Trumps said repeatedly when it 121 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: comes to the conflict in God's the conflict in Ukraine. 122 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: He just wants to stop the killing. He'll negotiate other 123 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 2: aspects of agreements later, but the killing has to stop. 124 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 2: He's been stubborning arguing this for years, not simply over 125 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 2: the last year or since he became elected president. I 126 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: think he's made the point in net Yahoo, you can't 127 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 2: fight forever. We have to find a way out of this. 128 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: And look, there's concessions in this deal that net Yaho's 129 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: not happy with it. It proposes a role for the 130 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 2: Palestinian authority in governing Gayza in the future when the 131 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: Palestinian authority and the Palestinians are deradicalized. It provides a 132 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: pathway for a Palestinian state when the Palistinians are de radicalized. 133 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: Nyahu hates those ideas. He says they're never going to happen, 134 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 2: and frankly, they won't if the Palistinians don't actually de 135 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 2: radicalize and stop teaching the people as children to kill 136 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: and hate Jews. So maybe it's a distant aspiration, but 137 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: Trump succeeding getting a deal that the Israelis agreed to 138 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 2: that had this in it, and that is why it 139 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,239 Speaker 2: has universal Arab support. 140 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: You know, I guess that's that's the broader concern here 141 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: of you know, one, disarming Hamas and then too, you know, 142 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: what role in governing do they have in the future. 143 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're Israel, you know, how how can 144 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: you really live alongside people who slaughtered you know, twelve 145 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: hundred of your citizens. What do you think you know 146 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: hammering out some of these bigger and very important details 147 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: like kind of talk us through, give us some insight 148 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: and how like those deals get worked out? Like sort 149 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 1: of what what are these? You know from you being 150 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 1: inside the room in the past with the Trump administration, 151 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: kind of what does this look like in the days ahead? 152 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 2: Here, well, we had wid Coffin, we have Jared Kushner, 153 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 2: who have enormous credibility, and Kushner for negotiating the Abraham Accords, 154 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: working with Arab states who are in intermediaries with Hamas, 155 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 2: trying to press them to make the concessions they have 156 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: to make to move forward. And you know you mentioned 157 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 2: disarming him us. That is still a sticking point. I 158 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 2: haven't heard Hamas agreeing that it's going to give up 159 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 2: its weapons and destroy them. It has said at once 160 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 2: to keep defensive weapons and I mean we also have 161 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: to be realistic, Lisa. These radical Islamis, terrors who hate Israel, 162 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 2: They're not going away. Israel has to keep its guard up. 163 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: It has to assume there will be terrorists who will 164 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: try to attack it again. This may, hopefully long term, 165 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 2: maybe temporarily address the terrorist threat for Hamas, but look, 166 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 2: Israeli leaders, they're not fooling themselves. Hamas has proven itself 167 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 2: to be liars, treacherous liars. Hopefully this is going to succeed, 168 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 2: but at a minimum, at a minimum, it's going to 169 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: get the Hossas out of Gaza. Boy. 170 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: I meant disarming as sort of a broader ambition that 171 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: was obviously laid out in the broader like twenty point deal, 172 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: and obviously something that Israel would like to see. It's 173 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: got to take a quick commercial break and more thread 174 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: On the other side, what do you think the Middle 175 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: East could look like at the end of a Trump administration? 176 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: And you know, potentially if like JD. Vans or someone 177 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: like minded gets into office. I know, you know, when 178 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 1: he went over to Saudi Arabia a few months ago, 179 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: he said the future of the Middle East is through commerce, 180 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: not chaos. You know in a hopeful way, like what 181 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: could the Middle East look like by the time he's 182 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: done in office. 183 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: I think we could have an expanded Abraham Accords, maybe 184 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: the Sally's joining, maybe Olman joining. These states want peace 185 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: and commerce. Trump was exactly right. They don't want to 186 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 2: deal with terrorism. They don't none of them like Hamas. 187 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: As you said earlier, there's a reason that no state 188 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 2: wants to take Hamas members or people from Gaza, because 189 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 2: when have Palestinians left for other states in the past, 190 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: they try to overthrow governments and commit acces terror against 191 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 2: other governments, the governments that were hosting them. I think 192 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,239 Speaker 2: it's very significant if this deal succeeds, all that succeeds, 193 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 2: I think it's going to give Trump enormous leverage to 194 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: solve the war in Ukraine. It's going to make him 195 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 2: a very prominent, incredible neutral arbiter, and I don't think 196 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 2: it's going to be easy, but it may really give 197 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: him the leverage he needs to get Putin and Zelensky 198 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 2: to strike a deal. 199 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: I just sort of giggle back looking back to the 200 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen presidential election, because as you remember Hillary Clinton's 201 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: line of attack, I think there was even did ads 202 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: telling us that like Trump couldn't be trusted with the 203 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: nuclear codes, and like he was going to be reckless 204 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: and like, you know, and then inevitably like he is 205 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: the only one that seems to one piece around the world. 206 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: And so it's just sort of funny, you know how 207 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: wrong all of that was about him. You know, it's 208 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: interesting because you know, he didn't have a foreign policy background, 209 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: right you look at Steve Witcott. I mean, these are 210 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: business guys, these are outsiders coming in. I guess what 211 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: does that kind of tell us about some of the 212 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: like foreign policy establishment, and you know, sort of these 213 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: outsiders coming in and like turning everything upside down a 214 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: little bit. 215 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 2: I think it tells me that we need to have 216 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 2: outsiders as president who are not a part of the 217 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: foreign policy establishment, who are not neo cons who simply 218 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 2: will to engage in bureaucracy and have interagency meetings and 219 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: frankly do nothing. Trump's attitude is get this done. Oh 220 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: oh so they won't agree to this peace deal, go 221 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: negotiate another one. He wasn't taking no for an answer. 222 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 2: He's a businessman. He doesn't do things the way businesses 223 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 2: do them. I respect that. And he came out of 224 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 2: his first term with the Abraham Accords, which every neutral 225 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: observer has recognized as a very significant diplomatic achievement. But 226 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 2: this one will be so much more significant. 227 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: We talk about peace through strength, but I don't think 228 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: any of this would have been made possible if you know, 229 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: that's not how he had been governing, right, because you 230 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: look at Biden, you know he said don't and then 231 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: other country you know, their enemies, did you know President 232 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: Trump is demonstrated when he draws a red line, you 233 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: know he means it. So when he gave him ass 234 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: this deadline, they knew that he wasn't messing around, that 235 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: he was being truthful kind of walk us through just 236 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: the importance of peace through strength. And then also, you know, 237 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: drawing red lines and our enemies and friends and allies 238 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: knowing that it's a true red line. 239 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 2: I believe in America first approach US national security means 240 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: a strong and decisive president with a strong military, and 241 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: a president who used military force when necessary, but keeps 242 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: our country out of unnecessary wars. And I think Trump 243 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: has proven that across the board. But when you have 244 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: a present like Biden, who is seen as weak and incompetent. 245 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 2: His foreign policy priority was climate change. There was a 246 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 2: disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was seen as so incompetent, 247 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 2: so weak, that our enemies had a field day. They 248 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 2: all took advantage of his weakness. Russia invaded Ukraine. There 249 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 2: was this Hamas massacre against Israel. These things would not 250 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 2: have happened if we had a strong and decisive president 251 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: and Biden surrounded himself by people who were even more incompetent. 252 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 2: I don't think he wanted to have officials who would 253 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 2: outshine him on foreign policy. It hurt our country, it 254 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 2: hurt global security, and good writtenance to Joe Biden. 255 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: Why do you think some of these Middle Eastern leaders 256 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: seem to respect President Trump in a way that you 257 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: know they didn't with Biden or Obama. 258 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 2: You know, they respect strength, and they also respect a 259 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 2: president who understands that you have to have good relationships 260 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 2: with other nations. You know, the Saudi royal family and 261 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 2: Biden hated each other. Biden insulted them before he became president. 262 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 2: But what did Trump do in his first official foreign trip. 263 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 2: He went to the Gulf because he wanted to make 264 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 2: peace in the Middle East, and I think his meetings 265 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 2: with the Saudis and with Guitar they had a purpose peace, 266 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: to strength and commerce. It sent a message to them. 267 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 2: He wanted to work with them to stop this war. 268 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 2: He wanted to send a message also to Russia and 269 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 2: to Iran and China, America shouldn't have permanent enemies, make 270 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 2: a peace deal with us, and will all grow prosperous. 271 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: And well, I'm not destroyed. 272 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: You know. 273 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: The good news is that you know Ron, you know, 274 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: nuclear ambitions have obviously been set back pretty substantially by 275 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: the decisive, decisive actions of President Trump. And then you know, 276 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: Hasbala and Hamas have been uh severely weakened as a 277 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: result of Israel's efforts as you as you pointed away, 278 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: they're not going away, any of these enemies, but they've 279 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: they've been set back at the very least. 280 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 2: That's exactly right now. Israel did a lot of this 281 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: when when Israel was attacked on October seventh, it took 282 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: out all the allies of Hamas that were also at 283 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 2: war with Israel and Israel in the United States dealt 284 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 2: a devastating blow to Iran's nuclear program. This was Aron's 285 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 2: fault or Ron decided to fire missiles at Israel, gave 286 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: israeln opportunity to respond and to test Iron's air defense 287 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 2: that found it was probably much weaker than anyone thought, 288 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 2: and destroyed the defenses defending its nuclear sites. And when 289 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: Iraq would not make a deal with Trump, he said, look, 290 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 2: you have fifty days. When Ron didn't do that, Israel 291 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 2: and the US took out the nuclear sites, including as 292 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 2: you know, bunker buster bombs by the US to destroy 293 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 2: their deeply buried nuclear weapon sites. 294 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: Well, and also all of this made possible without striking 295 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: a weak nuclear deal like we saw under a President Obama, 296 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: which we were told was needed to keep Iran from 297 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: obtaining nuclear weapons. 298 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 2: That's exactly right, and I think there were efforts by 299 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 2: the foreign policy establishment to cook the books a little 300 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 2: bit and maybe deceive the president into greening to another 301 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 2: partial deal similar to Obama's. Trump didn't buy it, and 302 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 2: I give a lot of credit for that, because it's 303 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 2: tempting to try to split the middle here. Well, maybe 304 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: we'll let the run as rich a little bit. The 305 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 2: problem is that enrichment is own only for making weapons. 306 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 2: They have no reason in rich uranium and I'm so 307 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 2: glad that's the position the President took. 308 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: Very interesting. Fred Flights, appreciate I texted you last night, 309 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: so I really appreciate you jumping on and breaking this 310 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: down for us, this breaking news. 311 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 2: Good to be here, that. 312 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: Was Fred Flights. Appreciate him for taking the time to 313 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: come on the show. Appreciate you guys at home for 314 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: listening every Tuesday and Thursday, but you can listen throughout 315 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: the week. I also want to thank John Cassio for 316 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: putting the show together. Until next time.