June 23, 2025 • 34 mins
- The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on Sunday morning local time.
- UCLA Global Studies lecturer Ben Radd talks about Iran and US foreign policy.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to kfi AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hi, welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Always an honor to have you invite us into your
lives every Sunday afternoon. I'm Chris Merril kfi AM six forty,
and I'm excited because Michael Krozer is in the house.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, and I love me some crow love it.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
The United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, and
now we're saying, hey, Iran, take that, and also.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Don't do anything back.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
That would be a terrible mistake, So into the war
we go.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Secretary of Defense Hegsten says these tranks were carried out
only to destroy Ewan's nuclear program. He says the US
is not hoping to cause a regime change with these attacks.
The Pentagon tells US US bombers dropped fourteen bunker buster
bombs into those nuclear facilities, causing quote extremely severe damage
(01:01):
and destruction.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, I mean they basically blew up a mountain. Kind
of badass.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
As President Trump has stated, the United States does not.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Seek war, but let me be clear, we will.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or
our interests are threatened. Iran should listen to the President
of United States and know that he means it every word.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
All right, your thoughts on the talkback line. If you're
listening on the iHeartRadio app, just click that talkback button
and let us know. Curious about whether or not you
think this is a one undone situation. Is it Iran
will not retaliate or is it just the beginning?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Right?
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Hey, Chris, Hey, I agree with Kayla technology hates Hill
dropped the mic.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
All right, don't drop a microphone, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
In response to some technical difficulties I had with my brain.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Hey, hammer boy, is that me, Kayla? Yeah? Because you
come saying in the hammer, So I think you're now
Bill Midnight Hammer your Bill food Guy in Hammer Guy.
Now just track food Guy and Hammer Guy. Okay. I
hope it's a one and done. But I also think the.
Speaker 7 (02:16):
War tactics have shifted versus A Afghanistan in Iraqa.
Speaker 8 (02:22):
I don't think no, there's gonna be no more troops.
Speaker 9 (02:25):
I think it'll be all this B two stuff hopefully.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah. I think you're right about that.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I think whether it's B two's or drones, I think
that the idea of putting American soldiers in harm's way
is is way down the line when it comes to
the tactics that we would be using.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I kind of agree with you on that.
Speaker 10 (02:43):
This is Rick from Driver Ridge, Kentucky.
Speaker 8 (02:47):
Rick.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
I haven't heard anybody ask about whether or not Iram
was gonna pay for the tariffs on those thirty eight missiles.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Oh yeah, anyway, I'd like to find that out.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
That's a really good point. Are we sending them a bill?
We're gonna bomb a and then make them pay for it?
Speaker 11 (03:02):
Hey, Chris, love the show. It's always entertaining and quite informing.
It's moderate on both You brought up the Taiwan. I
know it's a little bit off topic, but China is
absolutely one taking notes with this situation.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
They will be.
Speaker 11 (03:17):
Attacking Taiwan within the next two years. They kind of
have a mandate. They already said they were going to
do that. In the United States pretty much is kind
of required almost to guarantee a guardianship to Taiwan. So
it's going to be a problem, a huge problem. I
don't think people realize how big it's going to be.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
I hope that you're wrong, and I think you probably
hope that you're wrong too, But God, I don't know
what that's going to look like if we have difficulty
And this is one of the concerns that a number
of strategists have had throughout the years, and that is
that if we are spread too thin, what happens if right, So,
(03:56):
if we are dealing with Iran, and we're also dealing
with some other things on the on the home front, right,
and and we've got National Guard deployed to protect federal buildings,
and then we've got the Marines deployed to protect federal buildings,
and we're dealing with a round over here.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
And we're trying to shore up the border over there
and uh and and and then we've got well, Ukraine
and Russia and we've got to have some we've gotta
have some ships in the sea just as a deterrent,
and we're gonna do that over here. And and then well,
you know, we better we better keep some more ships
in the Mediterranean, not just because of Israel, but you know,
Siria is always always an issue.
Speaker 8 (04:32):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And then you know, yehen and that the straits there
that's a concern. Then what happens if China takes actally
against Taiwan. I mean, at some point you get, you
start spreading yourself too thin.
Speaker 9 (04:45):
Right, well, who cares who the president is? Okay, does
it really make any difference anymore? People need to stop
voting for a G or an R before the name
or after the name whatever they however they list them.
As far as yah kissing atomic bomb from Iran, They're
(05:06):
going to get it from somewhere else and we'll see
what happens. Then have a good one all and stay safe.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
All right, thank you? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I hope again I'm hearing from a lot of people
that are saying things that I hope that they're wrong.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I hope I'm wrong.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I told you, I worry about what the future is
going to be, not today and tomorrow. I worry about
what Iran might do in a year or two years,
or five years or ten years.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
That's my that's my worry. What happens when.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
They do have those capabilities, that's my concern. And again
I hope I'm wrong. And a lot of my concern
admittedly comes back to my naivete. I just don't know enough.
I don't know enough about what the thought process is
in the Middle East. I don't know enough about what's
going on within the minds of our own national security.
(05:54):
I just don't know, And so I'm this casual observer
who's very concerned about the potential for an existential threat,
but I just don't have the information, which again builds
my fear. So what do we do when we have
a lack of information? We go online and tell everyone
else what to think.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
But I'm sort of old school, and so I call
somebody that does know better.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
So the one of the great lecturers from UCLA in
global studies, and he specializes in the government and politics
in the Middle East is going to join us next
and hopefully we will all be a little bit more educated.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
After we hear from him. That is a head.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Chris Meryl AM six forty WeLive everywhere. On the iHeartRadio
app John McCain called for.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
The bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb around and now we did.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
And I feel like this is a very confusing time.
It's Chris Meryl, I am six forty eight more stimulating talk,
very confusing time. If you're someone who was voting for
President Trump, one of the reasons you may have voted
for him was because he wanted to get out of
foreign wars, did want to be the world police, non interventionalists,
protectionist economically as well as militarily. And now we are
(07:05):
assisting our allies in the Middle East, in Israel, and
now we're dropping bunker buster bombs on nuclear sites in Iran.
Joining US right now is a UCLA lecturer of Global Studies,
International and Area Studies, political science, Ben Rad an expert
on government and politics in the Middle East, and especially.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
On Iran and US foreign policy.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
I'm not going to read the rest of your bio, Ben,
because it would take the rest of our segment.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
By God, you are an accomplished individual. Thank you.
Speaker 12 (07:34):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, yeah, So Ben, start me off here. I'm going
to ask you the same question I've been asking everyone else.
We drop bombs directly in Iran. Is this a one
and done situation in Iran knows better or is this
just the beginning.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
That's my concern, So.
Speaker 12 (07:52):
It's a concern everyone shares. It's the metaphor that's been
used that I think makes a lot of sense. Think
of a ladder, what's known as an escalation lab. With
the United States dropping the bombs yesterday, we basically climbed
up the ladder of conflict. Whether or not this conflict
goes any further higher, whether it escalates is now up
to the runnings. Do they choose to take this action
(08:14):
as what the United States is capable of and willing
to do, and descend the ladder, or do they choose
to counter, in which case we escalate even further. This
is entirely up to them, and it's an incredibly difficult
existential decision they have to make.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
When we talk about escalating, are they likely to retaliate?
If there's a retaliation, would it be directly against US
or would they then take out their frustration on Israel.
Speaker 12 (08:39):
So the last thing they want is a multi front war,
which is what they have now. They have the United
States and they have in Israel. There's two of the
most powerful armies in the world. So at this point,
what they are likely to do, given they've exhausted a
lot of what they can do with regard to Israel,
and then they know the US will assist intercepting any
missiles that they launch at Israel or any other attacks
that can be intercepted. Most likely, I think what you'll
(09:01):
see them do is try to apply some economic pressure,
and that would be closing off the straits of Hormuz,
choking you know, the major maritime passageways and effectively impacting
the international trade for oil and natural gas. That's one
area I could see them doing as a sort of
gentle escalation.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So what is the world reaction if that were to happen,
Because they wouldn't just be punishing the US and Israel.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
That would affect the globe.
Speaker 12 (09:30):
Right and I think that they would use that as
the only leverage they have. Say, look, from a national
security standpoint, we have no choice but to blockade this
vital passageway because we need to protect our borders. The
United Nations Security Council needs to take action right now
to guarantee our sovereignty and to prevent any further attacks
by the United States or by the Israelis. So they
(09:52):
might use it as a negotiating point at the UN
or with the IAEA.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Ben Radd is a senior fellow with the Berkel Center
or International Relations, a research fellow with the UCLA Center
for Middle East Development, a member of the UCLA International Institute. Ben,
We've had a number of people that have contacted us
this evening and they've said, you know, there are other
countries paying close attention for instance, China, and China is
watching what the United States is doing and they're adding
(10:18):
this to their calculus when it comes to dealing with Taiwan.
Is their merit to that conversation is this? Are we
sending a signal to other countries?
Speaker 12 (10:26):
I think the signal with regard to Taiwan. Taiwan's a
wholly different matter. In this instance, you had a country
that is not really capable of defending itself beyond what
limited military it has. It's not similar to the relationship
we have with Israel, where Israel does have its own
powerful military as a sovereign state. But I think the
message being sent to the Chinese is that the United
(10:47):
States will use military force against perceived aggression or actual aggression,
and to do it as a preemptive measure. So, for example,
if the Chinese were, let's say, mobilizing their height in
the South China Sea or making any threatening gestures or
overtures towards Taiwan, the United States could do it the
same way that it viewed to Ruan's and Richmond program,
something that we won't tolerate and that we will take
(11:09):
defensive or preemptive action to keep from escalating. So it
does been the message in that regard.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Let's let's circle back then to this enrichment program. Is
there is there concern now that this will only in
bold in Iran to attain nuclear weaponry even faster.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
And maybe they don't even enrich it. Maybe they get
it from somewhere else in North Korea for instance, or Russia.
But I don't know where else they're going to get it.
I don't know who sells these things.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Is there is there a.
Speaker 12 (11:37):
Absolutely yeah, go ahead, absolutely, yeah, absolutely. The takeaway here
is if you don't want to be attacked, if you
don't want to be invaded, if you don't want regime
change forced upon you, getting nuclear deterrent. It worked for
North Korea, it works for Pakistan and India, so they
are less of an issue these days. But that is
the That is the takeaway here. There is no question
that there is a greater incentive for Iran to do it. Now,
(11:59):
for Uron to be able to do it is a
whole other matter. I mean, yes, it could acquire the
know how and the raw materials from the black market,
but it's not like they can go out and buy
a nuclear warhead from the black market. So they have
the scientists, they have the capability. The question is that
they have the machinery, the physical space to process, to
run these centrifuges, and then to design, develop and launch
(12:22):
the warhead. That is what they need. Resources for resources
that they are now lacking as a result of the
Israelian American operations.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Is there worry that the three nuclear sites that we
hit either had enough time to empty out or that
there are more nuclear sites of which we are unaware
and so now we've sort of left some other things
on the table.
Speaker 12 (12:45):
That's a great question. We have to assume both are possibilities.
I would I think it's very likely that Fordo in particular,
was not completely destroyed. I think there are remnants of
it left. We should assume that Iran and the Urons
were able to move some key components, maybe some raw
material or some process material into another depot. I mean,
this is what their claiming they have already done. We
(13:07):
should absolutely act on those assumptions. What Uran cannot do
right now is basically redevelop a ballistic missile program very quickly.
So they might be able to have the enrichment material
and the raw uranium, and they might be able to
refine some of it, right, can they deliver it? Can
they turn it into something that is weapons grade and deliverable?
That is the challenge. I think in that sense the
(13:28):
United States and Israel were successful. But to answer your
first question, absolutely, we should assume, we should act on
those assumptions.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Ben radd as a UCLA lecturer of Global Studies, International
and Area studies, and political science, and he specializes in
government and politics in the Middle East, particularly in Iran
and US foreign policy. We have heard that there are
some other groups that are ready to step up on
behalf of Iran. However, those groups fm US and Hesbela
(13:55):
and the others have been recently crippled to a degree.
Is there concern that Iran may be sort of rallying
the troops in an effort to create a more coordinated
attack on maybe a single front in Israel or this
multi prong.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Attack that you said would be a bad tactical move.
Speaker 12 (14:17):
In the last week, they've attempted to do just that Hesbelah.
I think there's an intercept of communication between the Supreme
Leader of Iran and Hesbela Secretary General and the Heze
Law effectively said look, we cannot joining, and we cannot
step into this fight right now. The Lebanese government has
pressured Hesbelah to not drag Lebanon into another conflict. Lebanon
(14:40):
Hezbelah is also concerned about its decimation of resources, of
its fighters, of its tough staff, of its secons capabilities
as a result of Israel's operations against them. Hesbela right
now needs to survive and joining the fight is not
going to contribute to that, and Hamasid is in an
even weaker position to do anything.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
What is the escalation look like? Ben? This is?
Speaker 3 (15:03):
In other words, does it calm down? Is there an
endgame here? I know Israel wants to see them with
no nuclear weapons? Can I ran just say, okay, you
know what, We're gonna give up on it, stop bombing us.
Speaker 12 (15:14):
So Uran would have to do one of two things,
maybe even both things. It would have to either agree
to suspend all enrichment. We're talking even civilian energy, domestic
energy enrichment. Secondly, it would have to no longer take
this very aggressive posture towards Israel. No more calling for
Israel's destruction, no more supporting groups that are calling for
Israel's instruction, no more contributing to the cause of Israel's destruction.
(15:36):
That is what it would take for Israel to, I think,
back off. So de escalation would require URAN to pivot
away from its ideology of the Islamic Revolution of seventy nine,
which was, you know, calling for the end of Israel.
That shift will have to be will have to come
even before the enrichment issue is discussed. Because you can
enrich nuclear uranium. It is Iuron's right to do so
(16:00):
under the NPT. What what becomes an issue is when
it is exceeding those enrichment levels and calling for the
destruction of another UN member nation.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
All right, Ben, I am not excited about the prospects
of this ending quickly. I mean, they've been calling for
this for more than forty years, the destruction of Israel,
and so.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
I don't know when their resolve winds down here.
Speaker 12 (16:26):
Right, And it's I think it's We've been surprised a
lot in the last few days, last week, and I
don't think we know how this sends yet.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
All right, Ben, it's been a pleasure talking to you.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I have so many more questions, and you certainly answered
the the urgent ones.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Now, thank you. So much for your time. I appreciate you.
We'll call on you again a pleasure. Thank you all right,
Ben rad.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Usla, lecturer of Global Studies, expert on government and politics
in the Middle East. I feel more educated and maybe
even a little bit more concerned. So I got that
going for me. We'll get more of your thoughts too,
I know a review. Hit us up on the talkback line.
Do you think this is a one undone situation? Is
in Iran knows better or is this just the beginning.
(17:05):
It's what Ben said at the very end there that
concerns me. It's been well over forty years since the
Islamic Revolution, and what makes us think that suddenly we
drop three bombs or we bomb three facilities, dropped the
number of bombs, and so suddenly they're going to give
up on that ideology that has been their entire system
(17:27):
for the last near half century. I just don't know.
Curious about what you think. Hit us up on the
talkback line. If you're listening on the iHeartRadio, KFI AM
six forty is live everywhere on the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Hi there, Chris Merril kfi AM six forty more stimulating talk.
Pleasure has always been with you next week this time,
I believe. I'm kind of excited about this. Nineteen eighty five,
Chris is very excited. William Lee Golden from the Oakridge
Boys is set to join us. So I'm pretty stoked, Kayla.
(18:07):
You know the Okreage Boys, don't you?
Speaker 11 (18:10):
Elva Oh oh yeah, oh, Papa mom.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
My so far vah bro No, Uh well you're gonna
get educated.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Nailed it, crow, I said, I said, I was, I'm
really excited to talk to the Oakridge Boys.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
And she goes, oh, are they like famous or something?
And I was like, you are killing me. Oh, you're
killing me. I know the I know the Oakridge Boys.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
I know.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Bye bye bye bye Booby Sue, Bobby Sue. Uh uh
oh that yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Yeah, Okayla, Kyla, all right, well we'll do.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Some show research and get you educated before next weekend.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
The situation in Iran continues to I guess unfold.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
We watch what's going on. It seems that after the.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Bombing in Iran, Iran then struck back against Israel.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
So our bombers took out.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Three nuclear sites where we believe that they were doing
some refining, and then the question is what's left. Will
there be a retaliation, and that obviously is a big
concern for all of us, especially in the densely populated areas.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
National security analyst how Kimpher doubts the strikes will lead
to US military boots on the ground because of Iran's
scrawling terrain, but he says the US will have to
prepare for direct and indirect retaliation.
Speaker 10 (19:51):
The fear is retribution. The also the fear is that
Iran would use this clandestine network, either directly or indirectly
through its proxies around the world to include Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
All right, clandestine network proxies around the world. In other words,
do we have like sleeper cells, do we have something
that's a little unconventional. Don't expect for Iran to roll
out tanks and try to land on US shores.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
That's not going to happen. But the other threats, what
are those.
Speaker 10 (20:22):
Where they might do some sort of terrorist strike, asymmetric
attack to further what they would perceive as our interests
in that regard, this is part of the operational risk
of dealing with Iran in any level.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yeah, agreed, and our last guest that Ben Radd was
sort of talking about that and how will this play out?
And this is what we're all sort of waiting to see,
And he speculated that probably the first step would be
economic retaliation, in other words, jack the price.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Of our oil. Oh, I mean, are you kidding? We're
happy to pay eight ten dollars a gallon?
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Sounds great, And I'm sure that the oil companies wouldn't
profit at all if that happened. And I'm sure that
we wouldn't have some sort of a refinery fire or
scheduled maintenance that would drive prices up even further. That
would never happen, So we don't even need to worry
about that. That's sarcasm. If you're on the iHeartRadio app
asking for your talkbacks, any concern you think this is
(21:19):
a one and done or is this perhaps just the
beginning of an escalated conflict between the United States and Iran?
Speaker 8 (21:26):
Hey, Chris, how you doing.
Speaker 9 (21:29):
This?
Speaker 8 (21:30):
I don't know why people want to fight?
Speaker 13 (21:32):
Yeah, do all these stupid things when there's beautiful places
to gold beaches, mountains, casinos.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Just go to all of them.
Speaker 8 (21:40):
Beautiful people like Kayla.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Kayla well and beautiful beautiful.
Speaker 8 (21:48):
Just people need to chillax, have a drink, enjoy life. Yeah,
that's what it's all about. Joy life, right, Kayla?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right, what did you just do? Listen to again, That's.
Speaker 8 (22:03):
What it's all about. Enjoying life, right, Kayla.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Show impersonation there right right, Kayla.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Show that's right, kind of like that great. Kayla needs
to chill. Just be chilling, Kayla show.
Speaker 14 (22:25):
Hey, Robin o'c. I'm happy he did it and he
needs to be stopped. I don't care what anybody says.
We are in the war. We've been at war. It
has never changed. And Donald Trump does have to worry
about Pulley numbers. He's president, this is his last term.
He don't give me anyway. LEVI keep going.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
I'm gonna take umbrage with you on this one right here.
Speaker 14 (22:48):
I don't care what anybody says. We are in the war.
We've been at war.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
It has never changed.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, there is one guy who says we're not.
Speaker 15 (22:56):
My first question, mister Vice President, is the United States
now at war with Iran? No, Kristen, We're not at
war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program.
And let me just say kristin.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
That Wait a minute, hold on.
Speaker 15 (23:10):
What, No, Kristen, We're not at war with Iran. We're
at war with Iran's nuclear program.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Oh, we're at war with their program. We're not at
war with Iran. We're at war.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
With their nuclear program. Well, can could you just ask
the nuclear program to come out so we can finish this?
It feels like Vance is saying Iran.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I don't war you.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I'm just not in war with you. I wore you
a little bit, but I don't I'm not in war.
I'm just in war with your nuclear program. Sounds like
every fight I have with my wife. She goes, it's
not that I don't love you, it's that I don't
love when you do that.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Okay, all right, very good.
Speaker 14 (24:01):
And Donald Trump has held.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
You already said that. All right, all right, So there
you go. We're at war.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
But no matter what anybody says, it's unless it's the
vice president.
Speaker 16 (24:10):
You know, I think everybody's missing the point here. This
is only the first round. It may be one and done.
But if they make the wrong decision to continue on
and and harass us like they have in and remember
this has been going on. I believe forty years where
it's death to America. Yeah, you're right, Wow, time to
(24:33):
hang this one up. I think they better give up
and quit.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yeah, but like you said, though, it's been forty years
and they haven't quit yet. What makes you think they're
gonna quit now? I don't know, man, I don't know.
I don't think you're gonna end up with total domination
and all of a sudden you go, well, that's it.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
We just wiped out around now everything is fixed.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
No, just it just makes future generations. Mad An extends things,
so it doesn't play out very well. Meanwhile, from the politicians,
they seem to have their heads in their keysters as well.
The Democrats are scrambling right now. The Democrats can't seem
to figure out what they dislike the most. Do they
dislike bombing Iran or they just dislike this president doing it?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We'll hear what some of them had to say. That
is next.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
I'm Chris Merril Cafi AM six Party. We're live everywhere
in the iHeart Radio app Seelgridge Boys, Kala you be
on with this next week.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Here's your research. Huge fan, no high fan, love those guys,
Huge huge fan.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Chris Merril Cafi am six forty more stimulating talk on
demand anytime in the iHeart Radio app. Grab a few
more of your talkbacks here in just a few moments.
A question, tonight you think this is a one and
done situation with the bombing in Iran? In other words,
they know better they're not going to retaliate. Or are
you concerned that this is just the beginning?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I think this. We had a guest.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Earlier in the show, which, by the way, you want
to grab the podcast and check out what Ben Radd
had to say.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Rad is an expert on going in politics in the
Middle East.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
He's a lecturer at UCLA and he joined us and
he says, that's the worry we all have. Will there
be retaliation? What will that look like? Meanwhile, Democrats are
just confused right now. Democrats are all kinds all over
the place because they don't know what to oppose.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
They know that something big happened. They have to come
out against the something big. The question is how do
they come out against it.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
They don't want to say that we're against the bombing
of Iran because they don't want to be looked at
as saying that we're against supporting Israel. They don't want
that they get painted a new corner on that, And honestly,
I think a lot of them are like, yeah, bombing
Iran is probably okay, especially if you're gonna do targeted
bombings of the nuclear facilities. You're not targeting suburbs of
Tehran or whatever, right, And so they're going, yeah, we're
(26:48):
but how do we make it look like we don't
like it without it making without making it look like
we don't like the results. And so they they've they've
decided the problem is that Trump.
Speaker 17 (27:00):
We are now hearing some of the reaction to the
President's words, and I'm on the concerns obviously right now
for all Americans, certainly for this administration, is the potential
for some form of retaliation. Moments ago, we just heard
from Christy Nome, of course, the secretary for the Department
of Homeland Security. She said, we will work unceasingly to
protect the American homeland. She writes, thank you, President Trump.
(27:24):
Separately we are hearing.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
From so Christy Nome in the administration is like, Yep,
everything's cool, this is great, really happy about it. Even
Telsea Gabbert, who like last week said I don't think
around has any nuclear weapons. I don't think they can
do them. And Trump was like, yeah, they can't, and
she went, you know what, Yeah they can. So they're
all getting in line. But what are the Democrats saying.
Speaker 17 (27:43):
From Alexandria Casio Cortez, a leading Democrat right now who's
reacting strongly to the president's comments and saying in effect
that his strikes today amount to grounds for impeachment. Let
me read in part what we're hearing from her impeachment
for what form of a statement saying the president's in
her words, disastrous decision to bomb Iron without authorization is
(28:05):
a grave violation of the Constitution, And she says the
congressional war powers he has, in her words, impulsively risked
launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. Yeah, no,
she adds, it is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
No, No, it's okay to disagree with the actions. I mean, hell,
even Trump in twenty eleven said that we shouldn't have
invaded Iraq. Right Trump came out, he said we shouldn't
have done that. And prior to that, Ron Paul was
about the only guy that was disagreeing with the actions
in the Middle East at the time, right, Afghanistan, Iraq,
(28:45):
all that stuff, and Ron Paul was saying, Wow, we
shouldn't do this, We should be an isolationist and just
stay away from it all.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
And people want what shut up Ron Paul?
Speaker 3 (28:53):
You know these countries were sponsoring terrorism and the bomba
World Trade Center. We're gonna get everybody, Just cast a
wide net, take out everybody.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
And that is kind of the mentality in the early
two thousand.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
They're just a few like fringe Democrats and Ron Paul
who said that there should not be any retaliation after
nine to eleven, and then in twenty eleven, Trump said, yeah,
I was always on board too, because our sentiment had shifted.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
The war taken too long, we were.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Getting fatigued, and there was a lot of going, you know,
we don't have an exit strategy? Was what's the thought process?
And then all of a sudd Trump said, yeah, we
shouldn't have done that.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
So now it's.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Him who's sort of pulling the strings here. So where
is he gonna fall now?
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Right?
Speaker 3 (29:39):
This is this is the trouble with actually being in charge,
is that then you kind of have to own it
even when you don't want to.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Own it.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
You're gonna have to You're gonna have to own that.
Your thoughts always welcome on the talkback. If you're on
the iHeartRadio app, just hit that talk back button. You
got about thirty seconds to tell us what you're thinking.
Speaker 18 (29:56):
Hey, for everybody waving a flag that isn't the American flag,
why don't you head to Lax with your flag and
get a ticket for the country you so support and
get the hell out of our United States of America.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
That's right, unless you have a Confederate flag, and then
you would have to get a ticket to fly to
your country that doesn't exist because you lost. But you're
still waving that flag. Loser flag. That's going to get
me some angry mail.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Yep.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
Hey, Chris, Hey, you don't think that Iran had plenty
of time to plan for this. Trump has been talking
about bombing for the past week. You don't think Iran
knew that this is going to happen. That gave him
plenty of time to get all their stuff out, get
everyone out of that area. So this is all just
(30:50):
kind of I don't want to say facade, but I mean.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
All this stuff could be out by now, and he
blew up nothing. I don't know we blew up nothing.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
But there certainly was time, there was a there was warning,
there was concern, I'm sure on around's part.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Yeah, there is that. There is that.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
It's kind of like, you know, Mom always knew when
lot rent was due, and so that's why we packed
up the trailer on the thirtieth or thirty first of
the month, and then we moved to a different lot
because we knew rent was going to be due on
the first. So we had warning and we were able
to move things out. But every now and again, you
leave something behind. I lost more bicycles that way, just
because Mom was like, we got a pack and go,
(31:31):
lot rent's due. So that's what happens when you grow
up in the parks.
Speaker 8 (31:37):
One more, Hey again, Chris, what's up? Well?
Speaker 13 (31:40):
Look, I just tripped out how everybody's so brave, you know,
when they they're like keyboard Wars, when they could just
call on the talk back and say, hey, you know what,
I support my troops, thank you. You know, if you
feel so brave, why don't you sign up, throw rifle
on and go.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Yeah, I got bones purs See how brave.
Speaker 8 (31:59):
You are for all those people talking all that smack.
We need to go to war. Whenever we get attacked.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
That's when we go boom.
Speaker 8 (32:06):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Only when we're attacked, all right, fair enough. I can't
do it though, I can't. I can't enlist. I back problems,
trouble sleeping on those cots or I mean, for Pete's sake,
sleeping like what it a sleeping bag or leaned up
against a tree.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Ugh, my tailbone hurts just thinking about it.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Hey, Chris, ding dong with you, buddy, big Wand from
Orange County.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
I got a ding dong from big Wand. How about that?
So pretty happy about that?
Speaker 8 (32:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Well, I heard a guy say, you know the time
to stay chill, be aware. One yep, if you see something,
say something. Two okay, and three if you got one,
keep it on you y'all know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Call What does he mean? Is he talking about the
ding dong or the big one you're not helping?
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Take good care yourself, okay, take care of the ones
you love and watch out for the for those neighbors
you like.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Ding dong with you?
Speaker 3 (33:14):
All right, thank you very much. Appreciate that. Also love
that we're stealing Conway's catchphrase, love that more than you'll
ever know. So that's wonderful, all right. Who is uniting
around things? And who is saying I'm just gonna sit
on the sidelines and wait and see how it pans out.
That is next, and more of your thoughts on the talkback.
(33:36):
If you're on the iHeart radio app, just hit that
talk back button and let us know what you think.
Do you think that this is a one and done
situation with Iran and that they know better? Or is
this perhaps just the beginning of a much longer, more drawn.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
Out war for oil? I don't know. Gas prices are
going up one way or another. You know they are.
That's next.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Chris Merril KFI AM six forty WeLive Everywhere and the
iHeart Radio app KFI Ami Demand
You're listening to kfi AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hi, welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Always an honor to have you invite us into your
lives every Sunday afternoon. I'm Chris Merril kfi AM six forty,
and I'm excited because Michael Krozer is in the house.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, and I love me some crow love it.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
The United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, and
now we're saying, hey, Iran, take that, and also.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Don't do anything back.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
That would be a terrible mistake, So into the war
we go.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Secretary of Defense Hegsten says these tranks were carried out
only to destroy Ewan's nuclear program. He says the US
is not hoping to cause a regime change with these attacks.
The Pentagon tells US US bombers dropped fourteen bunker buster
bombs into those nuclear facilities, causing quote extremely severe damage
(01:01):
and destruction.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, I mean they basically blew up a mountain. Kind
of badass.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
As President Trump has stated, the United States does not.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Seek war, but let me be clear, we will.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or
our interests are threatened. Iran should listen to the President
of United States and know that he means it every word.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
All right, your thoughts on the talkback line. If you're
listening on the iHeartRadio app, just click that talkback button
and let us know. Curious about whether or not you
think this is a one undone situation. Is it Iran
will not retaliate or is it just the beginning?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Right?
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Hey, Chris, Hey, I agree with Kayla technology hates Hill
dropped the mic.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
All right, don't drop a microphone, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
In response to some technical difficulties I had with my brain.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Hey, hammer boy, is that me, Kayla? Yeah? Because you
come saying in the hammer, So I think you're now
Bill Midnight Hammer your Bill food Guy in Hammer Guy.
Now just track food Guy and Hammer Guy. Okay. I
hope it's a one and done. But I also think the.
Speaker 7 (02:16):
War tactics have shifted versus A Afghanistan in Iraqa.
Speaker 8 (02:22):
I don't think no, there's gonna be no more troops.
Speaker 9 (02:25):
I think it'll be all this B two stuff hopefully.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah. I think you're right about that.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I think whether it's B two's or drones, I think
that the idea of putting American soldiers in harm's way
is is way down the line when it comes to
the tactics that we would be using.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I kind of agree with you on that.
Speaker 10 (02:43):
This is Rick from Driver Ridge, Kentucky.
Speaker 8 (02:47):
Rick.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
I haven't heard anybody ask about whether or not Iram
was gonna pay for the tariffs on those thirty eight missiles.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Oh yeah, anyway, I'd like to find that out.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
That's a really good point. Are we sending them a bill?
We're gonna bomb a and then make them pay for it?
Speaker 11 (03:02):
Hey, Chris, love the show. It's always entertaining and quite informing.
It's moderate on both You brought up the Taiwan. I
know it's a little bit off topic, but China is
absolutely one taking notes with this situation.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
They will be.
Speaker 11 (03:17):
Attacking Taiwan within the next two years. They kind of
have a mandate. They already said they were going to
do that. In the United States pretty much is kind
of required almost to guarantee a guardianship to Taiwan. So
it's going to be a problem, a huge problem. I
don't think people realize how big it's going to be.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
I hope that you're wrong, and I think you probably
hope that you're wrong too, But God, I don't know
what that's going to look like if we have difficulty
And this is one of the concerns that a number
of strategists have had throughout the years, and that is
that if we are spread too thin, what happens if right, So,
(03:56):
if we are dealing with Iran, and we're also dealing
with some other things on the on the home front, right,
and and we've got National Guard deployed to protect federal buildings,
and then we've got the Marines deployed to protect federal buildings,
and we're dealing with a round over here.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
And we're trying to shore up the border over there
and uh and and and then we've got well, Ukraine
and Russia and we've got to have some we've gotta
have some ships in the sea just as a deterrent,
and we're gonna do that over here. And and then well,
you know, we better we better keep some more ships
in the Mediterranean, not just because of Israel, but you know,
Siria is always always an issue.
Speaker 8 (04:32):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And then you know, yehen and that the straits there
that's a concern. Then what happens if China takes actally
against Taiwan. I mean, at some point you get, you
start spreading yourself too thin.
Speaker 9 (04:45):
Right, well, who cares who the president is? Okay, does
it really make any difference anymore? People need to stop
voting for a G or an R before the name
or after the name whatever they however they list them.
As far as yah kissing atomic bomb from Iran, They're
(05:06):
going to get it from somewhere else and we'll see
what happens. Then have a good one all and stay safe.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
All right, thank you? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I hope again I'm hearing from a lot of people
that are saying things that I hope that they're wrong.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I hope I'm wrong.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I told you, I worry about what the future is
going to be, not today and tomorrow. I worry about
what Iran might do in a year or two years,
or five years or ten years.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
That's my that's my worry. What happens when.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
They do have those capabilities, that's my concern. And again
I hope I'm wrong. And a lot of my concern
admittedly comes back to my naivete. I just don't know enough.
I don't know enough about what the thought process is
in the Middle East. I don't know enough about what's
going on within the minds of our own national security.
(05:54):
I just don't know, And so I'm this casual observer
who's very concerned about the potential for an existential threat,
but I just don't have the information, which again builds
my fear. So what do we do when we have
a lack of information? We go online and tell everyone
else what to think.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
But I'm sort of old school, and so I call
somebody that does know better.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
So the one of the great lecturers from UCLA in
global studies, and he specializes in the government and politics
in the Middle East is going to join us next
and hopefully we will all be a little bit more educated.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
After we hear from him. That is a head.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Chris Meryl AM six forty WeLive everywhere. On the iHeartRadio
app John McCain called for.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
The bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb around and now we did.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
And I feel like this is a very confusing time.
It's Chris Meryl, I am six forty eight more stimulating talk,
very confusing time. If you're someone who was voting for
President Trump, one of the reasons you may have voted
for him was because he wanted to get out of
foreign wars, did want to be the world police, non interventionalists,
protectionist economically as well as militarily. And now we are
(07:05):
assisting our allies in the Middle East, in Israel, and
now we're dropping bunker buster bombs on nuclear sites in Iran.
Joining US right now is a UCLA lecturer of Global Studies,
International and Area Studies, political science, Ben Rad an expert
on government and politics in the Middle East, and especially.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
On Iran and US foreign policy.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
I'm not going to read the rest of your bio, Ben,
because it would take the rest of our segment.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
By God, you are an accomplished individual. Thank you.
Speaker 12 (07:34):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yeah, yeah, So Ben, start me off here. I'm going
to ask you the same question I've been asking everyone else.
We drop bombs directly in Iran. Is this a one
and done situation in Iran knows better or is this
just the beginning.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
That's my concern, So.
Speaker 12 (07:52):
It's a concern everyone shares. It's the metaphor that's been
used that I think makes a lot of sense. Think
of a ladder, what's known as an escalation lab. With
the United States dropping the bombs yesterday, we basically climbed
up the ladder of conflict. Whether or not this conflict
goes any further higher, whether it escalates is now up
to the runnings. Do they choose to take this action
(08:14):
as what the United States is capable of and willing
to do, and descend the ladder, or do they choose
to counter, in which case we escalate even further. This
is entirely up to them, and it's an incredibly difficult
existential decision they have to make.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
When we talk about escalating, are they likely to retaliate?
If there's a retaliation, would it be directly against US
or would they then take out their frustration on Israel.
Speaker 12 (08:39):
So the last thing they want is a multi front war,
which is what they have now. They have the United
States and they have in Israel. There's two of the
most powerful armies in the world. So at this point,
what they are likely to do, given they've exhausted a
lot of what they can do with regard to Israel,
and then they know the US will assist intercepting any
missiles that they launch at Israel or any other attacks
that can be intercepted. Most likely, I think what you'll
(09:01):
see them do is try to apply some economic pressure,
and that would be closing off the straits of Hormuz,
choking you know, the major maritime passageways and effectively impacting
the international trade for oil and natural gas. That's one
area I could see them doing as a sort of
gentle escalation.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So what is the world reaction if that were to happen,
Because they wouldn't just be punishing the US and Israel.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
That would affect the globe.
Speaker 12 (09:30):
Right and I think that they would use that as
the only leverage they have. Say, look, from a national
security standpoint, we have no choice but to blockade this
vital passageway because we need to protect our borders. The
United Nations Security Council needs to take action right now
to guarantee our sovereignty and to prevent any further attacks
by the United States or by the Israelis. So they
(09:52):
might use it as a negotiating point at the UN
or with the IAEA.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Ben Radd is a senior fellow with the Berkel Center
or International Relations, a research fellow with the UCLA Center
for Middle East Development, a member of the UCLA International Institute. Ben,
We've had a number of people that have contacted us
this evening and they've said, you know, there are other
countries paying close attention for instance, China, and China is
watching what the United States is doing and they're adding
(10:18):
this to their calculus when it comes to dealing with Taiwan.
Is their merit to that conversation is this? Are we
sending a signal to other countries?
Speaker 12 (10:26):
I think the signal with regard to Taiwan. Taiwan's a
wholly different matter. In this instance, you had a country
that is not really capable of defending itself beyond what
limited military it has. It's not similar to the relationship
we have with Israel, where Israel does have its own
powerful military as a sovereign state. But I think the
message being sent to the Chinese is that the United
(10:47):
States will use military force against perceived aggression or actual aggression,
and to do it as a preemptive measure. So, for example,
if the Chinese were, let's say, mobilizing their height in
the South China Sea or making any threatening gestures or
overtures towards Taiwan, the United States could do it the
same way that it viewed to Ruan's and Richmond program,
something that we won't tolerate and that we will take
(11:09):
defensive or preemptive action to keep from escalating. So it
does been the message in that regard.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Let's let's circle back then to this enrichment program. Is
there is there concern now that this will only in
bold in Iran to attain nuclear weaponry even faster.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
And maybe they don't even enrich it. Maybe they get
it from somewhere else in North Korea for instance, or Russia.
But I don't know where else they're going to get it.
I don't know who sells these things.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Is there is there a.
Speaker 12 (11:37):
Absolutely yeah, go ahead, absolutely, yeah, absolutely. The takeaway here
is if you don't want to be attacked, if you
don't want to be invaded, if you don't want regime
change forced upon you, getting nuclear deterrent. It worked for
North Korea, it works for Pakistan and India, so they
are less of an issue these days. But that is
the That is the takeaway here. There is no question
that there is a greater incentive for Iran to do it. Now,
(11:59):
for Uron to be able to do it is a
whole other matter. I mean, yes, it could acquire the
know how and the raw materials from the black market,
but it's not like they can go out and buy
a nuclear warhead from the black market. So they have
the scientists, they have the capability. The question is that
they have the machinery, the physical space to process, to
run these centrifuges, and then to design, develop and launch
(12:22):
the warhead. That is what they need. Resources for resources
that they are now lacking as a result of the
Israelian American operations.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Is there worry that the three nuclear sites that we
hit either had enough time to empty out or that
there are more nuclear sites of which we are unaware
and so now we've sort of left some other things
on the table.
Speaker 12 (12:45):
That's a great question. We have to assume both are possibilities.
I would I think it's very likely that Fordo in particular,
was not completely destroyed. I think there are remnants of
it left. We should assume that Iran and the Urons
were able to move some key components, maybe some raw
material or some process material into another depot. I mean,
this is what their claiming they have already done. We
(13:07):
should absolutely act on those assumptions. What Uran cannot do
right now is basically redevelop a ballistic missile program very quickly.
So they might be able to have the enrichment material
and the raw uranium, and they might be able to
refine some of it, right, can they deliver it? Can
they turn it into something that is weapons grade and deliverable?
That is the challenge. I think in that sense the
(13:28):
United States and Israel were successful. But to answer your
first question, absolutely, we should assume, we should act on
those assumptions.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Ben radd as a UCLA lecturer of Global Studies, International
and Area studies, and political science, and he specializes in
government and politics in the Middle East, particularly in Iran
and US foreign policy. We have heard that there are
some other groups that are ready to step up on
behalf of Iran. However, those groups fm US and Hesbela
(13:55):
and the others have been recently crippled to a degree.
Is there concern that Iran may be sort of rallying
the troops in an effort to create a more coordinated
attack on maybe a single front in Israel or this
multi prong.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Attack that you said would be a bad tactical move.
Speaker 12 (14:17):
In the last week, they've attempted to do just that Hesbelah.
I think there's an intercept of communication between the Supreme
Leader of Iran and Hesbela Secretary General and the Heze
Law effectively said look, we cannot joining, and we cannot
step into this fight right now. The Lebanese government has
pressured Hesbelah to not drag Lebanon into another conflict. Lebanon
(14:40):
Hezbelah is also concerned about its decimation of resources, of
its fighters, of its tough staff, of its secons capabilities
as a result of Israel's operations against them. Hesbela right
now needs to survive and joining the fight is not
going to contribute to that, and Hamasid is in an
even weaker position to do anything.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
What is the escalation look like? Ben? This is?
Speaker 3 (15:03):
In other words, does it calm down? Is there an
endgame here? I know Israel wants to see them with
no nuclear weapons? Can I ran just say, okay, you
know what, We're gonna give up on it, stop bombing us.
Speaker 12 (15:14):
So Uran would have to do one of two things,
maybe even both things. It would have to either agree
to suspend all enrichment. We're talking even civilian energy, domestic
energy enrichment. Secondly, it would have to no longer take
this very aggressive posture towards Israel. No more calling for
Israel's destruction, no more supporting groups that are calling for
Israel's instruction, no more contributing to the cause of Israel's destruction.
(15:36):
That is what it would take for Israel to, I think,
back off. So de escalation would require URAN to pivot
away from its ideology of the Islamic Revolution of seventy nine,
which was, you know, calling for the end of Israel.
That shift will have to be will have to come
even before the enrichment issue is discussed. Because you can
enrich nuclear uranium. It is Iuron's right to do so
(16:00):
under the NPT. What what becomes an issue is when
it is exceeding those enrichment levels and calling for the
destruction of another UN member nation.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
All right, Ben, I am not excited about the prospects
of this ending quickly. I mean, they've been calling for
this for more than forty years, the destruction of Israel,
and so.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
I don't know when their resolve winds down here.
Speaker 12 (16:26):
Right, And it's I think it's We've been surprised a
lot in the last few days, last week, and I
don't think we know how this sends yet.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
All right, Ben, it's been a pleasure talking to you.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I have so many more questions, and you certainly answered
the the urgent ones.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Now, thank you. So much for your time. I appreciate you.
We'll call on you again a pleasure. Thank you all right,
Ben rad.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Usla, lecturer of Global Studies, expert on government and politics
in the Middle East. I feel more educated and maybe
even a little bit more concerned. So I got that
going for me. We'll get more of your thoughts too,
I know a review. Hit us up on the talkback line.
Do you think this is a one undone situation? Is
in Iran knows better or is this just the beginning.
(17:05):
It's what Ben said at the very end there that
concerns me. It's been well over forty years since the
Islamic Revolution, and what makes us think that suddenly we
drop three bombs or we bomb three facilities, dropped the
number of bombs, and so suddenly they're going to give
up on that ideology that has been their entire system
(17:27):
for the last near half century. I just don't know.
Curious about what you think. Hit us up on the
talkback line. If you're listening on the iHeartRadio, KFI AM
six forty is live everywhere on the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Hi there, Chris Merril kfi AM six forty more stimulating talk.
Pleasure has always been with you next week this time,
I believe. I'm kind of excited about this. Nineteen eighty five,
Chris is very excited. William Lee Golden from the Oakridge
Boys is set to join us. So I'm pretty stoked, Kayla.
(18:07):
You know the Okreage Boys, don't you?
Speaker 11 (18:10):
Elva Oh oh yeah, oh, Papa mom.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
My so far vah bro No, Uh well you're gonna
get educated.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Nailed it, crow, I said, I said, I was, I'm
really excited to talk to the Oakridge Boys.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
And she goes, oh, are they like famous or something?
And I was like, you are killing me. Oh, you're
killing me. I know the I know the Oakridge Boys.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
I know.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Bye bye bye bye Booby Sue, Bobby Sue. Uh uh
oh that yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Yeah, Okayla, Kyla, all right, well we'll do.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Some show research and get you educated before next weekend.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
The situation in Iran continues to I guess unfold.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
We watch what's going on. It seems that after the.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Bombing in Iran, Iran then struck back against Israel.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
So our bombers took out.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Three nuclear sites where we believe that they were doing
some refining, and then the question is what's left. Will
there be a retaliation, and that obviously is a big
concern for all of us, especially in the densely populated areas.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
National security analyst how Kimpher doubts the strikes will lead
to US military boots on the ground because of Iran's
scrawling terrain, but he says the US will have to
prepare for direct and indirect retaliation.
Speaker 10 (19:51):
The fear is retribution. The also the fear is that
Iran would use this clandestine network, either directly or indirectly
through its proxies around the world to include Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
All right, clandestine network proxies around the world. In other words,
do we have like sleeper cells, do we have something
that's a little unconventional. Don't expect for Iran to roll
out tanks and try to land on US shores.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
That's not going to happen. But the other threats, what
are those.
Speaker 10 (20:22):
Where they might do some sort of terrorist strike, asymmetric
attack to further what they would perceive as our interests
in that regard, this is part of the operational risk
of dealing with Iran in any level.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yeah, agreed, and our last guest that Ben Radd was
sort of talking about that and how will this play out?
And this is what we're all sort of waiting to see,
And he speculated that probably the first step would be
economic retaliation, in other words, jack the price.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Of our oil. Oh, I mean, are you kidding? We're
happy to pay eight ten dollars a gallon?
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Sounds great, And I'm sure that the oil companies wouldn't
profit at all if that happened. And I'm sure that
we wouldn't have some sort of a refinery fire or
scheduled maintenance that would drive prices up even further. That
would never happen, So we don't even need to worry
about that. That's sarcasm. If you're on the iHeartRadio app
asking for your talkbacks, any concern you think this is
(21:19):
a one and done or is this perhaps just the
beginning of an escalated conflict between the United States and Iran?
Speaker 8 (21:26):
Hey, Chris, how you doing.
Speaker 9 (21:29):
This?
Speaker 8 (21:30):
I don't know why people want to fight?
Speaker 13 (21:32):
Yeah, do all these stupid things when there's beautiful places
to gold beaches, mountains, casinos.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Just go to all of them.
Speaker 8 (21:40):
Beautiful people like Kayla.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Kayla well and beautiful beautiful.
Speaker 8 (21:48):
Just people need to chillax, have a drink, enjoy life. Yeah,
that's what it's all about. Joy life, right, Kayla?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right, what did you just do? Listen to again, That's.
Speaker 8 (22:03):
What it's all about. Enjoying life, right, Kayla.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Show impersonation there right right, Kayla.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Show that's right, kind of like that great. Kayla needs
to chill. Just be chilling, Kayla show.
Speaker 14 (22:25):
Hey, Robin o'c. I'm happy he did it and he
needs to be stopped. I don't care what anybody says.
We are in the war. We've been at war. It
has never changed. And Donald Trump does have to worry
about Pulley numbers. He's president, this is his last term.
He don't give me anyway. LEVI keep going.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
I'm gonna take umbrage with you on this one right here.
Speaker 14 (22:48):
I don't care what anybody says. We are in the war.
We've been at war.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
It has never changed.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, there is one guy who says we're not.
Speaker 15 (22:56):
My first question, mister Vice President, is the United States
now at war with Iran? No, Kristen, We're not at
war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program.
And let me just say kristin.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
That Wait a minute, hold on.
Speaker 15 (23:10):
What, No, Kristen, We're not at war with Iran. We're
at war with Iran's nuclear program.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Oh, we're at war with their program. We're not at
war with Iran. We're at war.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
With their nuclear program. Well, can could you just ask
the nuclear program to come out so we can finish this?
It feels like Vance is saying Iran.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I don't war you.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I'm just not in war with you. I wore you
a little bit, but I don't I'm not in war.
I'm just in war with your nuclear program. Sounds like
every fight I have with my wife. She goes, it's
not that I don't love you, it's that I don't
love when you do that.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Okay, all right, very good.
Speaker 14 (24:01):
And Donald Trump has held.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
You already said that. All right, all right, So there
you go. We're at war.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
But no matter what anybody says, it's unless it's the
vice president.
Speaker 16 (24:10):
You know, I think everybody's missing the point here. This
is only the first round. It may be one and done.
But if they make the wrong decision to continue on
and and harass us like they have in and remember
this has been going on. I believe forty years where
it's death to America. Yeah, you're right, Wow, time to
(24:33):
hang this one up. I think they better give up
and quit.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yeah, but like you said, though, it's been forty years
and they haven't quit yet. What makes you think they're
gonna quit now? I don't know, man, I don't know.
I don't think you're gonna end up with total domination
and all of a sudden you go, well, that's it.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
We just wiped out around now everything is fixed.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
No, just it just makes future generations. Mad An extends things,
so it doesn't play out very well. Meanwhile, from the politicians,
they seem to have their heads in their keysters as well.
The Democrats are scrambling right now. The Democrats can't seem
to figure out what they dislike the most. Do they
dislike bombing Iran or they just dislike this president doing it?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We'll hear what some of them had to say. That
is next.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
I'm Chris Merril Cafi AM six Party. We're live everywhere
in the iHeart Radio app Seelgridge Boys, Kala you be
on with this next week.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Here's your research. Huge fan, no high fan, love those guys,
Huge huge fan.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Chris Merril Cafi am six forty more stimulating talk on
demand anytime in the iHeart Radio app. Grab a few
more of your talkbacks here in just a few moments.
A question, tonight you think this is a one and
done situation with the bombing in Iran? In other words,
they know better they're not going to retaliate. Or are
you concerned that this is just the beginning?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I think this. We had a guest.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Earlier in the show, which, by the way, you want
to grab the podcast and check out what Ben Radd
had to say.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Rad is an expert on going in politics in the
Middle East.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
He's a lecturer at UCLA and he joined us and
he says, that's the worry we all have. Will there
be retaliation? What will that look like? Meanwhile, Democrats are
just confused right now. Democrats are all kinds all over
the place because they don't know what to oppose.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
They know that something big happened. They have to come
out against the something big. The question is how do
they come out against it.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
They don't want to say that we're against the bombing
of Iran because they don't want to be looked at
as saying that we're against supporting Israel. They don't want
that they get painted a new corner on that, And honestly,
I think a lot of them are like, yeah, bombing
Iran is probably okay, especially if you're gonna do targeted
bombings of the nuclear facilities. You're not targeting suburbs of
Tehran or whatever, right, And so they're going, yeah, we're
(26:48):
but how do we make it look like we don't
like it without it making without making it look like
we don't like the results. And so they they've they've
decided the problem is that Trump.
Speaker 17 (27:00):
We are now hearing some of the reaction to the
President's words, and I'm on the concerns obviously right now
for all Americans, certainly for this administration, is the potential
for some form of retaliation. Moments ago, we just heard
from Christy Nome, of course, the secretary for the Department
of Homeland Security. She said, we will work unceasingly to
protect the American homeland. She writes, thank you, President Trump.
(27:24):
Separately we are hearing.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
From so Christy Nome in the administration is like, Yep,
everything's cool, this is great, really happy about it. Even
Telsea Gabbert, who like last week said I don't think
around has any nuclear weapons. I don't think they can
do them. And Trump was like, yeah, they can't, and
she went, you know what, Yeah they can. So they're
all getting in line. But what are the Democrats saying.
Speaker 17 (27:43):
From Alexandria Casio Cortez, a leading Democrat right now who's
reacting strongly to the president's comments and saying in effect
that his strikes today amount to grounds for impeachment. Let
me read in part what we're hearing from her impeachment
for what form of a statement saying the president's in
her words, disastrous decision to bomb Iron without authorization is
(28:05):
a grave violation of the Constitution, And she says the
congressional war powers he has, in her words, impulsively risked
launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. Yeah, no,
she adds, it is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
No, No, it's okay to disagree with the actions. I mean, hell,
even Trump in twenty eleven said that we shouldn't have
invaded Iraq. Right Trump came out, he said we shouldn't
have done that. And prior to that, Ron Paul was
about the only guy that was disagreeing with the actions
in the Middle East at the time, right, Afghanistan, Iraq,
(28:45):
all that stuff, and Ron Paul was saying, Wow, we
shouldn't do this, We should be an isolationist and just
stay away from it all.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
And people want what shut up Ron Paul?
Speaker 3 (28:53):
You know these countries were sponsoring terrorism and the bomba
World Trade Center. We're gonna get everybody, Just cast a
wide net, take out everybody.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
And that is kind of the mentality in the early
two thousand.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
They're just a few like fringe Democrats and Ron Paul
who said that there should not be any retaliation after
nine to eleven, and then in twenty eleven, Trump said, yeah,
I was always on board too, because our sentiment had shifted.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
The war taken too long, we were.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Getting fatigued, and there was a lot of going, you know,
we don't have an exit strategy? Was what's the thought process?
And then all of a sudd Trump said, yeah, we
shouldn't have done that.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
So now it's.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Him who's sort of pulling the strings here. So where
is he gonna fall now?
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Right?
Speaker 3 (29:39):
This is this is the trouble with actually being in charge,
is that then you kind of have to own it
even when you don't want to.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Own it.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
You're gonna have to You're gonna have to own that.
Your thoughts always welcome on the talkback. If you're on
the iHeartRadio app, just hit that talk back button. You
got about thirty seconds to tell us what you're thinking.
Speaker 18 (29:56):
Hey, for everybody waving a flag that isn't the American flag,
why don't you head to Lax with your flag and
get a ticket for the country you so support and
get the hell out of our United States of America.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
That's right, unless you have a Confederate flag, and then
you would have to get a ticket to fly to
your country that doesn't exist because you lost. But you're
still waving that flag. Loser flag. That's going to get
me some angry mail.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Yep.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
Hey, Chris, Hey, you don't think that Iran had plenty
of time to plan for this. Trump has been talking
about bombing for the past week. You don't think Iran
knew that this is going to happen. That gave him
plenty of time to get all their stuff out, get
everyone out of that area. So this is all just
(30:50):
kind of I don't want to say facade, but I mean.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
All this stuff could be out by now, and he
blew up nothing. I don't know we blew up nothing.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
But there certainly was time, there was a there was warning,
there was concern, I'm sure on around's part.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Yeah, there is that. There is that.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
It's kind of like, you know, Mom always knew when
lot rent was due, and so that's why we packed
up the trailer on the thirtieth or thirty first of
the month, and then we moved to a different lot
because we knew rent was going to be due on
the first. So we had warning and we were able
to move things out. But every now and again, you
leave something behind. I lost more bicycles that way, just
because Mom was like, we got a pack and go,
(31:31):
lot rent's due. So that's what happens when you grow
up in the parks.
Speaker 8 (31:37):
One more, Hey again, Chris, what's up? Well?
Speaker 13 (31:40):
Look, I just tripped out how everybody's so brave, you know,
when they they're like keyboard Wars, when they could just
call on the talk back and say, hey, you know what,
I support my troops, thank you. You know, if you
feel so brave, why don't you sign up, throw rifle
on and go.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
Yeah, I got bones purs See how brave.
Speaker 8 (31:59):
You are for all those people talking all that smack.
We need to go to war. Whenever we get attacked.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
That's when we go boom.
Speaker 8 (32:06):
That's it.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Only when we're attacked, all right, fair enough. I can't
do it though, I can't. I can't enlist. I back problems,
trouble sleeping on those cots or I mean, for Pete's sake,
sleeping like what it a sleeping bag or leaned up
against a tree.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Ugh, my tailbone hurts just thinking about it.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Hey, Chris, ding dong with you, buddy, big Wand from
Orange County.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
I got a ding dong from big Wand. How about that?
So pretty happy about that?
Speaker 8 (32:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Well, I heard a guy say, you know the time
to stay chill, be aware. One yep, if you see something,
say something. Two okay, and three if you got one,
keep it on you y'all know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Call What does he mean? Is he talking about the
ding dong or the big one you're not helping?
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Take good care yourself, okay, take care of the ones
you love and watch out for the for those neighbors
you like.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Ding dong with you?
Speaker 3 (33:14):
All right, thank you very much. Appreciate that. Also love
that we're stealing Conway's catchphrase, love that more than you'll
ever know. So that's wonderful, all right. Who is uniting
around things? And who is saying I'm just gonna sit
on the sidelines and wait and see how it pans out.
That is next, and more of your thoughts on the talkback.
(33:36):
If you're on the iHeart radio app, just hit that
talk back button and let us know what you think.
Do you think that this is a one and done
situation with Iran and that they know better? Or is
this perhaps just the beginning of a much longer, more drawn.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
Out war for oil? I don't know. Gas prices are
going up one way or another. You know they are.
That's next.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Chris Merril KFI AM six forty WeLive Everywhere and the
iHeart Radio app KFI Ami Demand
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!