March 7, 2024 • 9 mins
Tensions are high in parts around the world. This administration is treating the conflict with Iran like the can you kick down the road. We've drawn a line in China by not defending our allies. A missile almost hit Zelensky... coincidence?
Talking to A&G, military analyst Mike Lyons breaks it down for us.
Hear the entire conversation in a new episode of Armstrong & Getty's Extra Large Podcast....
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Since January, there have already been four large scale US
and British joint air strikes on Houthie targets in Yemen,
including one hundred and fifty missiles and launchers, which appear
to have done little to slow down the Houthis. The
Houti missile attacks aimed at commercial vessels and US Navy
ships have happened.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Almost daily, almost daily since our retaliation, and despite the
President saying don't Also, as Martha Raddits reported on ABC News, yesterday,
was the first time a Hoothy attack has killed anybody
on those ships. Three crew members on a Liberian ship dead.
The US is headed there with more help. I guess
(00:43):
I don't know what we're going to do to slow
this down. One of the most important shipping lanes in
the entire.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
World, A troubling number of hotspots around the globe, including
that one Jack just mentioned. Let's talk about it with
CNN military analyst Mike Lyons.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Mike, it's always a pleasure.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
How are you taking one of you guys? Great to
be back.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Well, so far our deterrence has not deterred anything.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
What now, No, it's not really even deterrence. I know
we're going after some of the targets there, and we've
taken away a significant amount of their military capability, but
they still seem to have enough to leak through. We
saw the incident happening yesterday where three were killed, and
we see the Indian Navy getting involved also in rescuing
some of the members here. But for all practical purposes,
(01:24):
that that pathways blocked, supply chains continue to be disrupted,
costs continue to climb. Other countries around the region remain affected,
and until perhaps maybe other countries we'll put more pressure
on them. But the hoot, these are wildcards, and they
have this military capacity, and it's going to take us
completely degrading its and our allies completely degrading it in
(01:45):
order for us to, let's say, the Red Sea gets
open again.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
It sounds kind of old timey to be talking about this,
but the free navigation of the ocean's waters has been
one of the prime movers in history, and it seems
like the global economy is not going to put up
with this sort of interference with that forever. What would
a serious response look.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Like, Well, I think that the way it's going. First
of all, we saw a ship hit and we saw
an oil leak, and we saw that that take place.
But it's going it's likely taking impacting China, impacting uh
other other economies. You know, this is not who these
are claiming. This is against the United States and Israel.
But you saw the nationalities on board of that ship
(02:26):
that they attacked. It's Vietnamese, Sria, Lanka and philipp Filipino
and uh more of you know kind of of the
you know Eastern you know, Asian countries there. What's that
going to take It's it's likely you know more more
or less these other these other third world countries deciding
that they need they need to help from the US
and and and real just leadership. You know, there's not
(02:48):
a coalition really in there that's deciding to go after
on a consistent basis every six hours, launching sorties in
the air to destroy and go hunt down these ballistic
musle capability that the Houthis have. And because the downside
is that they're hurting that country themselves. That Yemen is
one of the most impoverished countries there as this as well.
(03:10):
So there's just no upside to any of the situation
right now.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, broadening out from just the Houthies. I don't know
if you saw Tom Friedman's call them in the New
York Times. He is over in the Middle East for
about a week reporting and and all these different groups
that are backed by Iran and him specifically saying backed
by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and Tom Friedman stated that
we might say we're not at war with them, but
the Revolutionary Guard feels like they're at war with us.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, no question, And we saw we've seen some of
the attacks on the land based forces inside of Iraq
and Syria diminish. But what I'd like to see us do.
There's there's an Iranian navigation ship that's in the area
there that's likely what the Hoothies are using for intel
collection and spotting and the like, and they're they're aligned
with them in order to be successful with their missions.
(03:58):
So we warn the Iranians once again, if that doesn't stop,
we're going to put that ship to the bottom of
the sea. And we've done that in the past when
all Reagan did that in the nineteen eighties. But again,
this administration just does not want to admit any kind
of conflict with Iran. I know what we're holding out
for because they continue to push nuclear capability down the road,
and that's the future conflict. That's what's getting kicked. That's
(04:20):
the can getting kicked down the road. Here is this
conflict between ITSUD and Iran, and when once the Ranians
have that nuclear capability.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, I don't want to get into a shot after
shot at the lack of leadership from the Biden administration.
But I was about to turn to the increasing belligerence
of China, especially Visa VI the Philippines ramming their boats
and blasting their sailors with water cannons, and we are
bound to defend the Philippines if they are attacked. You
would think you would want to nip this in the bud.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yeah, this administration history is going to show that it
just doesn't have any priority. And they'll try to claim
that everything is a priority, but we all know when
that's the case and nothing is a priority. I don't
really know what it is. It's the whip sawing of
the Israeli government. For example, we tell them they're over
the top, and then we don't necessarily pride them the
military assets to get some of that humanitarian aid. Same
(05:10):
thing that's happening in China. We've kind of drawn this
line there of not defending our allies in the region.
I think they're really concerned about that. And then everything's
a half measure when it comes to all these other
acts of deterrence, and what's happening still in Ukraine remains
a situation there that you know, I think ninety two
hundred and twenty days, as they run out of artillery ammunition,
(05:31):
they're firing it in a faster rate that we can
resupply and the rest of the world can. So if
the United States doesn't get and show leadership internally and
get that situation resolved, I think you know that that's
going to go downhill very quickly too. So there's just
no priority from this administration. We won't We'll hear us
say of the Union tonight. We'll find out maybe something,
But everything's a half measure, and the whip sawing going
(05:55):
back and forth. I think that's what history is going
to show us administration.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Speaking of Ukraine, a Russian missile hits one hundred yards
away from Zelensky yesterday. You think they were targeting him
specifically or just a coincidence.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
No, I think coincidence, But still that target and Odessa.
There is the next you know, kind of strategic you know,
a targeting at Russia. But we'll make right now, as
they're going to continue as they've seen gains now on
the land going to the north and to the east,
what they'll try to do is spread their influence along
that coastline. And no Deasa is that last city, that's
the only one really the Ukraine, it's kind of held on.
(06:26):
It's the only way they will have any commerce when
this is over. And so Russia now attacking that. I
think it's more coincidence. But again, let's say, you know,
the Greek prime minister is killed and something like this,
then what happens then? Then what happens to the rest
of the world. As we go here, you're seeing more
anger from Europe. You saw the French president potentially talking
(06:48):
about NATO countries going and individual countries going on. I'm
not sure where what that was all about. But but
nobody really puts their money with their mouth. That's just yet,
and a lot of it this doesn't have a lot
of a lot of it is about capability. Only one
country that can really save the day here, and that's
a sixty billion dollar backstop from the United States. That
doesn't send money to Ukraine. But what it does is
it allows Ukraine to buy from the US arsenal and
(07:11):
helps American jobs. So there's a win win in that
environment toomped the bottom.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think it's notable and worth mentioning that if you
were to ask the European countries will putin emboldened to
go further. They're unanimously a guess, but there seems to
be a lot of skepticism in the States.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Jack.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
You have more on Ukraine with Mike CNN military analyst
Mike Lyons on the line. Mike, I wanted to segue
to Israel real quickly and putting aside morality or how
palatable any of this is. Just from a historians perspective,
this looks like when you combine what's going on with
Gaza to the Israeli settlements are expanding in the West Bank,
(07:53):
just the nature of the way the war is being conducted.
This is one civilization saying we can no longer live
within us, another one at least with any power right
next door to us. This is something like total warfare.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I think so, and we're both sides talking past each other,
and when the US continues to talk about rules based
orders and two state solutions. I mean those that's gone.
That's not happening, and it's real. It's not stopping until
they find an Hamas leader or somebody that stands up
and says, we surrender, and these are the conditions, and
(08:29):
this is how it's going to go forward. There. They're
not going to put up with anything less than that,
as we're seeing, and until other Arab nations decide to
get involved. And they don't care if the conflict spreads
and goes a little further, if it's going to take
every last Palestinian, that's what their that's what their mentality is,
and so it is. It is total war from their perspective,
(08:50):
and they're going to They're doing what they can in
order to keep civilian casualties at a minimum. But as
long as the mosqu keeps hiding behind civilians and hiding
things in hospitals, I don't see them. They're not stopping
again until they get some kind of surrender.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Military analyst Mike lines, Mike, thanks a Milian for the time.
Really interesting. We appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Thanks guy, Thanks for me.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Armstrong and Getty
Since January, there have already been four large scale US
and British joint air strikes on Houthie targets in Yemen,
including one hundred and fifty missiles and launchers, which appear
to have done little to slow down the Houthis. The
Houti missile attacks aimed at commercial vessels and US Navy
ships have happened.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Almost daily, almost daily since our retaliation, and despite the
President saying don't Also, as Martha Raddits reported on ABC News, yesterday,
was the first time a Hoothy attack has killed anybody
on those ships. Three crew members on a Liberian ship dead.
The US is headed there with more help. I guess
(00:43):
I don't know what we're going to do to slow
this down. One of the most important shipping lanes in
the entire.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
World, A troubling number of hotspots around the globe, including
that one Jack just mentioned. Let's talk about it with
CNN military analyst Mike Lyons.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Mike, it's always a pleasure.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
How are you taking one of you guys? Great to
be back.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Well, so far our deterrence has not deterred anything.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
What now, No, it's not really even deterrence. I know
we're going after some of the targets there, and we've
taken away a significant amount of their military capability, but
they still seem to have enough to leak through. We
saw the incident happening yesterday where three were killed, and
we see the Indian Navy getting involved also in rescuing
some of the members here. But for all practical purposes,
(01:24):
that that pathways blocked, supply chains continue to be disrupted,
costs continue to climb. Other countries around the region remain affected,
and until perhaps maybe other countries we'll put more pressure
on them. But the hoot, these are wildcards, and they
have this military capacity, and it's going to take us
completely degrading its and our allies completely degrading it in
(01:45):
order for us to, let's say, the Red Sea gets
open again.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
It sounds kind of old timey to be talking about this,
but the free navigation of the ocean's waters has been
one of the prime movers in history, and it seems
like the global economy is not going to put up
with this sort of interference with that forever. What would
a serious response look.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Like, Well, I think that the way it's going. First
of all, we saw a ship hit and we saw
an oil leak, and we saw that that take place.
But it's going it's likely taking impacting China, impacting uh
other other economies. You know, this is not who these
are claiming. This is against the United States and Israel.
But you saw the nationalities on board of that ship
(02:26):
that they attacked. It's Vietnamese, Sria, Lanka and philipp Filipino
and uh more of you know kind of of the
you know Eastern you know, Asian countries there. What's that
going to take It's it's likely you know more more
or less these other these other third world countries deciding
that they need they need to help from the US
and and and real just leadership. You know, there's not
(02:48):
a coalition really in there that's deciding to go after
on a consistent basis every six hours, launching sorties in
the air to destroy and go hunt down these ballistic
musle capability that the Houthis have. And because the downside
is that they're hurting that country themselves. That Yemen is
one of the most impoverished countries there as this as well.
(03:10):
So there's just no upside to any of the situation
right now.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Well, broadening out from just the Houthies. I don't know
if you saw Tom Friedman's call them in the New
York Times. He is over in the Middle East for
about a week reporting and and all these different groups
that are backed by Iran and him specifically saying backed
by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and Tom Friedman stated that
we might say we're not at war with them, but
the Revolutionary Guard feels like they're at war with us.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah, no question, And we saw we've seen some of
the attacks on the land based forces inside of Iraq
and Syria diminish. But what I'd like to see us do.
There's there's an Iranian navigation ship that's in the area
there that's likely what the Hoothies are using for intel
collection and spotting and the like, and they're they're aligned
with them in order to be successful with their missions.
(03:58):
So we warn the Iranians once again, if that doesn't stop,
we're going to put that ship to the bottom of
the sea. And we've done that in the past when
all Reagan did that in the nineteen eighties. But again,
this administration just does not want to admit any kind
of conflict with Iran. I know what we're holding out
for because they continue to push nuclear capability down the road,
and that's the future conflict. That's what's getting kicked. That's
(04:20):
the can getting kicked down the road. Here is this
conflict between ITSUD and Iran, and when once the Ranians
have that nuclear capability.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, I don't want to get into a shot after
shot at the lack of leadership from the Biden administration.
But I was about to turn to the increasing belligerence
of China, especially Visa VI the Philippines ramming their boats
and blasting their sailors with water cannons, and we are
bound to defend the Philippines if they are attacked. You
would think you would want to nip this in the bud.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yeah, this administration history is going to show that it
just doesn't have any priority. And they'll try to claim
that everything is a priority, but we all know when
that's the case and nothing is a priority. I don't
really know what it is. It's the whip sawing of
the Israeli government. For example, we tell them they're over
the top, and then we don't necessarily pride them the
military assets to get some of that humanitarian aid. Same
(05:10):
thing that's happening in China. We've kind of drawn this
line there of not defending our allies in the region.
I think they're really concerned about that. And then everything's
a half measure when it comes to all these other
acts of deterrence, and what's happening still in Ukraine remains
a situation there that you know, I think ninety two
hundred and twenty days, as they run out of artillery ammunition,
(05:31):
they're firing it in a faster rate that we can
resupply and the rest of the world can. So if
the United States doesn't get and show leadership internally and
get that situation resolved, I think you know that that's
going to go downhill very quickly too. So there's just
no priority from this administration. We won't We'll hear us
say of the Union tonight. We'll find out maybe something,
But everything's a half measure, and the whip sawing going
(05:55):
back and forth. I think that's what history is going
to show us administration.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Speaking of Ukraine, a Russian missile hits one hundred yards
away from Zelensky yesterday. You think they were targeting him
specifically or just a coincidence.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
No, I think coincidence, But still that target and Odessa.
There is the next you know, kind of strategic you know,
a targeting at Russia. But we'll make right now, as
they're going to continue as they've seen gains now on
the land going to the north and to the east,
what they'll try to do is spread their influence along
that coastline. And no Deasa is that last city, that's
the only one really the Ukraine, it's kind of held on.
(06:26):
It's the only way they will have any commerce when
this is over. And so Russia now attacking that. I
think it's more coincidence. But again, let's say, you know,
the Greek prime minister is killed and something like this,
then what happens then? Then what happens to the rest
of the world. As we go here, you're seeing more
anger from Europe. You saw the French president potentially talking
(06:48):
about NATO countries going and individual countries going on. I'm
not sure where what that was all about. But but
nobody really puts their money with their mouth. That's just yet,
and a lot of it this doesn't have a lot
of a lot of it is about capability. Only one
country that can really save the day here, and that's
a sixty billion dollar backstop from the United States. That
doesn't send money to Ukraine. But what it does is
it allows Ukraine to buy from the US arsenal and
(07:11):
helps American jobs. So there's a win win in that
environment toomped the bottom.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think it's notable and worth mentioning that if you
were to ask the European countries will putin emboldened to
go further. They're unanimously a guess, but there seems to
be a lot of skepticism in the States.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Jack.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
You have more on Ukraine with Mike CNN military analyst
Mike Lyons on the line. Mike, I wanted to segue
to Israel real quickly and putting aside morality or how
palatable any of this is. Just from a historians perspective,
this looks like when you combine what's going on with
Gaza to the Israeli settlements are expanding in the West Bank,
(07:53):
just the nature of the way the war is being conducted.
This is one civilization saying we can no longer live
within us, another one at least with any power right
next door to us. This is something like total warfare.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I think so, and we're both sides talking past each other,
and when the US continues to talk about rules based
orders and two state solutions. I mean those that's gone.
That's not happening, and it's real. It's not stopping until
they find an Hamas leader or somebody that stands up
and says, we surrender, and these are the conditions, and
(08:29):
this is how it's going to go forward. There. They're
not going to put up with anything less than that,
as we're seeing, and until other Arab nations decide to
get involved. And they don't care if the conflict spreads
and goes a little further, if it's going to take
every last Palestinian, that's what their that's what their mentality is,
and so it is. It is total war from their perspective,
(08:50):
and they're going to They're doing what they can in
order to keep civilian casualties at a minimum. But as
long as the mosqu keeps hiding behind civilians and hiding
things in hospitals, I don't see them. They're not stopping
again until they get some kind of surrender.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Military analyst Mike lines, Mike, thanks a Milian for the time.
Really interesting. We appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Thanks guy, Thanks for me.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Armstrong and Getty
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