Dialogue Works

Nima Rostami Alkhorshid:

1. What is your assessment of Donald Trump’s statements about NATO expansion and U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine?
2. Do you believe the U.S. military-industrial complex benefits in the long term from ongoing conflicts like the war in Ukraine?
3. How do you view the Trump administration’s approach to disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon, and is this strategy addressing the root causes of regional instability?
4. Given the recent fatwa issued by an Iranian cleric calling for the assassination of Trump and you, how do you assess the current escalation and credibility of such threats?
5. What is your reaction to Israel’s foreign minister condemning Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine, while Israel conducts a similar campaign in Gaza?

Larry C. Johnson:

1. NATO expansion is the root cause of the current conflict with Russia. Since the Clinton era, the U.S. has provoked Russia by pushing NATO to its borders, ignoring Russian security concerns, leading to the current de facto war.
2. The military-industrial complex benefits financially—defense contractors receive more government funding and deliver high-priced, often ineffective weapons—but the strategic outcome is flawed, as seen in Ukraine with expensive systems like Patriot missiles being used inefficiently.
3. Hezbollah is not the cause but a symptom of the failure to achieve Palestinian self-determination. The West misrepresents the group as religious fanatics, ignoring their fight for freedom and political rights.
4. Yes, a fatwa was issued days ago by Iran’s top cleric calling for the assassination of Trump and me. Hezbollah also targeted our home with a drone attack—this is serious, not fiction.
5. Israel’s condemnation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine is pure hypocrisy. They are committing the same atrocities in Gaza—starving children, killing civilians—mirroring Nazi crimes, yet wrap it in religious justification.

Col. Larry Wilkerson:

1. The idea that NATO will increase defense spending to 5% is unrealistic—it would require massive cuts to social programs, which European populations won’t accept. It’s a political fantasy.
2. The U.S. arms industry produces over-engineered, expensive weapons that don’t perform well in real combat. Compare this to simpler, effective systems like the T-34 tank or Iranian drones.
3. The war in Gaza is causing a humanitarian catastrophe—children are starving, images resemble Nazi concentration camps. This is a deliberate policy, and the world is finally waking up.
4. Netanyahu’s claim of a “12-day war” with Iran was delusional. Iran responded with a highly effective missile and drone attack, exposing Israel’s vulnerability and damaging its military prestige.
5. Many Israelis support Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza despite opposing his domestic policies. This reflects deep-seated hostility toward Palestinians, encouraged by leaders like Bibi and enabled by allies like the U.S.