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When Empires Meet Their Match In Iran, Ukraine (S01E143)
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Thursday, September 3, 2026, Istanbul
The US has yet to overcome its hubris about its own ability to shape the world. In the latest episode of badlands, former US Pentagon official Jasmine el-Gamal joins me for a candid discussion about American arrogance.
We talk about how the Iran conflict as well as the Ukraine war are part of a historical pattern of military misadventures, and whether the US has the responsibility to use its power for good and the danger of the testosterone-fueled approaches to the world.
(Here’s part one of the interview with Jasmine.)
In another segment, I speak about an alternative universe where Donald Trump embraced rather than immediately violated the terms of the memorandum of understanding he signed with Iran.
And in an interview with India’s NewsX World, I answer questions about the latest war developments, the pressure on Iran to submit to fresh inspections on its nuclear program, and the escalating rhetoric between Tehran and Washington.
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