Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Washington, D.C., February 04, 2025 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
EA on Australia’s ABC and India’s WION: Israel’s War on Iran
UPDATE, JUNE 21:
I joined Poland’s TVP World on Friday for a 12-minute analysis of Israel’s war on Iran and Donald Trump’s “chaotic” and “unpredictable” position.
I consider how and why Trump stepped back from his threat of an imminent US attack alongside the Israelis. I note that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot afford to stop the war unless Iran’s leadership is broken.
And I emphasize that Iranians, while looking for reform and rights, do not want this to come through Israel’s destruction of the country.
UPDATE, JUNE 20:
Alongside the Tel Aviv correspondent of the UK’s Channel 4, Secunder Kermani, I joined RTE 1’s Prime Time on Thursday night to evaluate the state of Israel’s war on Iran and possible Trump Administration military support.
An extract from the discussion:
As President Trump says he'll decide on US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict within two weeks, Professor of International Politics at UCD Scott Lucas says there's a "serious split" within the administration on any potential intervention. @rtenews | #rtept pic.twitter.com/BDeOcmQNAY
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) June 19, 2025
ORIGINAL ENTRY: I joined Irish and UK outlets on Thursday to analyze how Israel “played” Donald Trump to support its war on Iran, and to consider whether that will extend to US military intervention.
Listen to Dublin NewsTalk’s Pat Kenny Show
In a 12-minute discussion, I take apart Trump’s posturing while considering the reality of an expanded war inside Iran, including strikes on its nuclear facilities, targeted assassinations, and attempts to break the country.
If he has knowledge of what is happening in Iran, he doesn’t show any respect for the facts, for extent, the nature of the Iranian nuclear program.
As Kenny notes that Trump is just parroting the lines of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I walk through Trump playing the “big guy” and his actual role as the “supporting guy” for the Israelis.
I also examine the division among Trumpists, highlighted in a train-wreck confrontation between US Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and white nationalist demagogue Tucker Carlson, over whether the US military should bomb Iran.
Listen to RTE’s Morning Ireland
I explain to Aine Lawlor that while Trump is posing about keeping people guessing over his decisions, he is “not in control of the situation”.
I detail how Israel manipulated Trump to abandon negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program in favor of “unconditional surrender”.
On the domestic front, I discuss the latest in Trump’s authoritarian power grab, with the disappearances of migrants, the detention of New York mayoral candidate Brad Lander, and the incompetence of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
When they are willing to put politicians behind bars and disappear migrants…The prospect that they could use the military for that? You can never write that off.
Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live for 2:07.35
Alongside an international law professor, I spoke with Qasa Alom on Thursday afternoon about the legality and politics of Israel’s war on Iran.
I explain the split among Trumpists over the US joining the assault and consider whether the American public will support the military operations.
I conclude by noting how Israel backed Donald Trump into a corner, saying that they would proceed with the war irrespective of his position.
