Look, I think the President has kind of backed away from kinetic strikes and he's going towards the economic side of the House. And he's right. I mean, he is the President of the United States, and he gets to make that call. When you look at what's happening inside Iran right now with the economics alone, it's really hard on the people. You know, one data point, you know, right now $1 equates to 2 million riyal.
That's incredible. You can't even think like that. And when you look at the inflation rate, which is 90%, so the economic pressure on them will be high. And that's going to get the people upset and maybe they'll take action. And that, of course, is General Kellogg.
Rebecca Heinrich joins us now, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. You're doing outnumbering in a few hours, a couple of hours?
Sooner than that, yeah. I guess two hours. Two hours. Yeah.
So we were talking about the president's basically saying we're not really going to hit him hard right now. We'll hit him in response. For the most part, we're going to let these massive sanctions take hold. What has to happen for you to be convinced that these sanctions are going to make a difference? I'd like to see the United States go after the greatest perpetrators that are bankrolling the Iranians, which are the Chinese and the Russians.
If the United States starts to go after, no kidding, the Russians and the Chinese, that means that we are serious about cutting off any of these economic resources that are going to the IRGC. And right now, if we don't, it's going to show a weakness, which shows it's only going to get worse. That's right.
Well, I mean, remember, look, the United States under President Trump has taken on. The Iranians, which is a proxy state essentially for both of those two countries. And if we don't actually turn the screws on the Iranians and get the job done, it's going to convey and communicate that we're not going to be tough on these much more powerful countries.
So I think it's clearly important that the United States Do whatever is necessary to choke out the resources going to the IRGC.
So I'm looking at these long gas lines. How significant is that that we're seeing in Iran? Very significant. And I would, I heard that quote from General Kellogg, which is great. I mean, look, like the United States has no problem with the Iranian people.
The greatest perpetrator of oppression against the Iranian people is the IRGC.
So we stand with the Iranian people.
So we need to have some pretty clear, strong strategic communications that communicates that message. But remember, every time the IRGC gets squeezed and we see the economy crushed like this, that's when you start seeing people pour into the streets again to try to push back on the regime. Right.
So. The one thing that we probably could have done more damage to the Basij and others, that would have certainly helped. Oh, yeah. I mean, if you remember at the beginning of the war, we had these incredible reports that there were Iranian people communicating with the Israelis to let the Israelis know where the Basij militants were operating so that the Israelis had even more accurate targeting data directly from the Iranian people to take out the Basije. The Basij works for the IRGC and they are the ones responsible for oppressing the Iranian people.
Right.
So they're still around. They survived for now. We don't know how much damage has been done. But we see that the Qataris were there yesterday. And we know they're dealing with Oman for the last week.
And then they made an announcement on Wednesday that we have decided to open up the straight Oman side and charge Tuls, which is a non-starter with us, which means no blockades moved. Do you think the Qataris going over there would have a message that the Americans aren't going to budge on this, that we've got to find some way to get the straight open? I mean, that's the message they should be conveying. I'm not going to be able to do that. I think they are.
I mean, I think that the Qataris play all sides. I mean, that's that's that's the role that they play in the Middle East. They play the sides of our adversaries, they play our side when they think it's in their interest to do so. And so I would not trust the Qataris to go over there and can and and Share a message that's in the U.S. interests.
Cooper took a tour of all these Gulf states, and he says there's only one that needed some additional interceptors. He says, in terms of THAD batteries and Patriots, they might have more than us. That they are well defensed right now. What are you hearing, Rebecca?
So I think that that's true.
So a lot of these Gulf states, they want the United States to provide their protection, but then they don't want to bring out their own capabilities to provide protection whenever it's necessary. It's not always true, but I think that that's what we're seeing now is they're kind of husbanding some of these resources. But we can, I mean, Admiral Cooper's a really, really smart, capable guy. He can go around, take an inventory, who needs what, get those things in the right places to mitigate the effects of the already expended missile defense interceptors that we've seen so far. And we can do that in order to complete this mission.
Yeah, here is Admiral Cooper Cut 25. CENTCOM forces have demonstrated time and time again that we are laser-focused on this mission. We remain vigilant. Lethal and resolved. We've asked them to stay ready, and that's exactly what they're doing.
I just could not be prouder of their efforts, and I know that the American people share that same pride. Because our guys are in the region ready to go at a moment's notice, and also know they're going to be targeted. They could be targeted. That's right, but they're not even just sitting there, Brian. I thought that this video that Admiral Cooper just sent out was amazing.
Every American should watch it because he detailed some of what our forces have been actively doing. I mean, we've had Navy SEALs going in the strait and deactivating some of the sea mines, clearing the strait.
So it's not like they're sitting there twiddling their thumbs. They're very actively working to keep that straight open and to make sure that we can shepherd ships through that Oman corridor. You think they could do a better job communicating this? Oh, yeah. I mean, every time Admiral Cooper speaks, I'm like, man, we need more Cooper because he's great.
I mean, he communicates what our troops are doing. He instills the confidence that we need that President Trump understands the military dimension of this, that the United States is not going to get through the strait or keep the strait open through fundamentally negotiating with the Iranians at this point at all. The Iranians are not willing to negotiate. The only effective means that we've seen so far is the blockade and military strikes. Both of those things are because of Admiral Cooper and the mission that he's undertaking there.
So, yeah, I mean, would you project that we'll be talking to the Iranians at some time in the next few weeks, or do you think that we're going to hold like this to the midterms? I think we're going to hold like this to the midterms. I don't think that there's any room for talks. I mean, talks are totally pointless. Anytime somebody mentions that talks are ongoing, President Trump comes out and says, we're not talking to them.
The Iranians want to talk to us. We don't want to talk to them.
So I think the president's patience has run out for that. He understands it's not fruitful. Not only is it neutral, it's not neutral, it's a waste of time. All of our diplomacy should be working towards our Gulf states and our European partners. Yeah, I agree.
So I agree too. Also, they just got to get some steel on their spine.
Some of this stuff, they're just not used to being under fire. Let's talk about Ukraine if we can. What do you think John Ratcliffe was up to in that 72-hour jaunt, six hours on the ground in Russia? I think it's probably a couple of things people are debating about. What one thing is it about?
And I think it's probably a menu of things. I think, one, we do have some intelligence that the Russians are probably going to try to do something more provocative against a NATO nation to try to split the alliance to show that the NATO alliance isn't willing to actually push back on Russian aggression.
So I think getting that message from Ratcliffe would be really powerful directly to the Russians. And I think also, I hope, kind of where we started our conversation, Brian, I hope he's saying, look, President Trump is serious about secondary sanctions with the Iranians. And we know that you all are trying to help the Iranians evade sanctions and we're not going to put up with it. You better stop. And you got to also stop with the shoulder-fired missiles as well as the intelligence on our bases.
We know exactly the coordinates that you're giving them, the satellites that you have. I mean, anytime, you mean the Iranians. I mean, anytime the Iranian... No, I'm talking about Russia providing that information. Exactly.
Exactly. No, I mean, there's a connection there, and it does not help our side to pretend like the connection is not there.
So look, I mean, it's pretty important whenever you have the head of the CIA. Ratcliffe is a really, really capable guy going there and conveying a message. Did you know Fox News has a wine shop? Did you also know you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping? That's right.
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So the other thing I heard is... Vladimir Let the Russians know. That you're not doing well. I don't know what you're telling Vladimir Putin. But let me tell you what we know.
This is not going well for you. How do we land this plane? Let's find a way you save face and we end this.
So he wanted to let his counterpart know that. How would you, why would it be in our interest if that was a message to say that?
Well, I mean, I think that what President Trump, and we've talked about how I was just in Ukraine in May, and one of the things that occurred to me while I was there is, oh my goodness, like the Ukrainians are doing so well right now that if the United States can actually shift to more clearly back Ukraine, show a leadership role very clearly in solidarity with NATO. Because I believe every time Ukraine does really well, this is when the Russians start acting up. They start increasing their rhetoric, threatening NATO. And so I think if Ratcliffe wants to say, look, we know you, Russia, your economy is just toast right now. It's not doing well.
I mean, the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier when he goes to the front line is like 30 minutes because Ukrainian drones are so lethal.
Now is the time for you to finally end this thing. You're not getting the right communication, the right information about how well the Russians are doing. You guys are doing badly. And I think that, of course, for our interests, it's because President Trump wants the Russians to make a deal.
So Moscow accused. Ukraine of recently using the storm shadow. And that is a British long-range rocket. And now they say the British government better not do that anymore or else the Russians say they're going to attack the British. Right.
I mean, no. Look, this is what the Russians did during the Biden administration, which drove me crazy, Brian. Every time either the Brits talked about or there was reporting that they were going to share Storm Shadow, then the Russians threatened to attack the Brits. When Biden was even discussing giving high Mars or longer-range weapon system to the Ukrainians, then the Russians would threaten the United States. And so this is what the Russians do to try to scare European and the United States, try to scare us from providing what Ukraine needs.
And then the rhetoric increases against these countries. And so the answer is to counter-deter the Russians. It's not to capitulate to the Russians.
So they're also worried about them using a. Uh a tactical nuclear weapon in the theater. Would that even be possible without it being blowing back on them?
Well, if they okay, so I think that the chances of that are very low, so people shouldn't be very alarmed by that. But I think that the Russians, I don't think that we should write it off as a bluff. I think that the Russians threaten this, and the Russians would consider doing this as a political message, again, to scare. The West to back down, not to escalate or risk further potential follow-on uses of nuclear weapons. It would not serve a great battlefield use on because, of course, it would blow back onto the Russians themselves.
But we've seen time and again, the Russians do not value Russian life the way the United States or the Ukrainians value Ukrainian American life. And so, I mean, this is a meat grinder that they're throwing Russians into, and it's a war of aggression. They did this themselves. And so, I think that we should take it seriously, but we should not let it paralyze us with fear. Right.
Mike Pence brought up something. On Monday with us or Tuesday, he said that he was just talking to the South Koreans. They have a lot of Patriots, they have a lot of interceptors. Uh right now they're not using them.
So, if you want to get back in Trump's good graces, would that be something that they would do, knowing that North Korea is giving 50,000 troops and a regular supply of ballistic missiles?
So, this is a really interesting point.
So, I'd have to see kind of what the South Koreans need. I also think it's important for South Korea to be really strong because they have to deter the North Koreans. But, look, if they have some munitions or some defensive interceptors that they're not using and they actually don't need them right now, obviously, that would be a good use of them to go to Ukraine. There is an axis that has developed: China, Russia, North Korea, Iran. And democracies that are allies with the United States should work together to make sure that we are helping the countries that are currently under siege.
And so, I think that that should be an obvious thing that we should consider. Yeah, I mean, no doubt about it. I think if Japan starts boking up, which they are, Germany says they've gotten a wake-up call. But places like Canada just don't do it. French and Britain don't seem capable of building up their militaries.
Well, it's all about political leadership. able to do it. It's just all about political leadership and having the political will to do it. We've seen great improvements. You mentioned Germany.
I mean, Germany is actually very, very impressive and rearming. The French are to a degree. They're getting serious. There's a long-range strike system that the French want to get to Ukraine too and share the technology with them.
So I wouldn't write off the French. But the Brits, I'm most worried about the Brits. Canadians, but I don't have super high hopes for Canada. But the Brits, we really need the Brits to pull through. And there is some indication that their defense budget looks serious, but they got to follow through.
So it's pretty understood, I guess it's understood, that Hezbollah and Hamas is really not getting supply by Iran right now. How do you think that plays into whether we have a situation where Hamas actually disarms?
So I do not have any confidence that Hamas is going to disarm. I mean, the way that you disarm Hamas is by eliminating Hamas. This is a terrorist group that is not open to reason and even making any kind of cost-benefit analysis for themselves. But it's a really important point that as the IRGC is choked out of resources, one of the first things that you start to notice is that their proxy states start to run out of cash, start to run out of munitions. And so that's a really, really good indicator.
All right. What are you going to be talking about on an outnumber? Dino? I don't know. Better look at that.
Are you ready? Yeah, I'm ready.
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