Transcript
Anderson Cooper (0:00)
Does it make sense to you that the President says Iranians want the US to keep bombing?
Sam Fadis (0:04)
No. No. It sounds like lunacy to me. Certainly, most Iranian people at this point are not supporters of the regime. They would like regime change, but they know that this is not the way to go about doing it. There's not going to be a popular uprising in Iran. They tried that in January. 35, 40,000 people were slaughtered as a result. This is not going to bring about regime change in any way.
Anderson Cooper (0:29)
Do you see a reason for Iran to a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz before the president's deadline tomorrow? And if not, how seriously do you take his threat to destroy their infrastructure?
Eric Bolling (0:41)
Yes. Well, that's a great question, Anderson, and I think it's really the question of the day. It's not yet in Iran's interest to make that kind of deal. However, given that their control of the straits is the principal leverage that they have for any kind of negotiation. And, you know, as I think we talked about last week, their strategy is to survive, to prevent total surrender, to preserve the Islamic regime. And to do that, they have to hang on to the Straits. It is their principal leverage. In terms of the president's threats, I think they have demonstrated an ability to absorb strikes at home while still exacting a cost on the rest of the world. And I think that's what those who make these kinds of decisions in Iran are prepared to do for at least several more weeks.
Stephen K. Bannon (1:27)
It's not just the rhetoric about the Christian nationalist rhetoric.
President Donald Trump (1:30)
People are believing what they're saying.
Eric Bolling (1:32)
That's part of the problem, without a doubt. I mean, when, you know, the reason why Trump is tapping into that is because there's been, you know, there's been a lot of coverage about the fractures within the right wing about over this war. The one thing that has been growing in popularity in support for this war is the evangelical communities, the Christian space, all of that. Part of their media ecosystem is excited about this. So not only are people believing it, but they are getting impassioned because he's making these very explicit calls to their religion.
Stephen K. Bannon (1:58)
Would it be a limited ground invasion
Eric Bolling (2:01)
considering the box we're already in? You're being dropped into the role right now. What would you tell them to do? Well, I think it's really difficult given where we are, because the military options at this point are very bad. A ground operation, I think, would only get us in deeper, cost American lives, and not solve the problem. I think continuing to degrade Iran's military capabilities and targeted operations is fine, but it also is not going to open the strait. And an attempt right now to do an escort operation, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has told the President, basically, that's not a very plausible option. So this is a reason to get a diplomatic off ramp. Now, my view is that a diplomatic off ramp doesn't have to be a formal agreement between the two sides. It could be something a little more informal, a little more implicit. And I think that the President and his team should be looking for that because they should be trying to bring this war to an end. And I believe the strait could be reopened on the back of that, and we could send a clear deterrent message to Iran. You mess with the strait, you mess with our neighbors, you mess with anyone else, we retain a lot of capabilities to cause harm to you. But an off ramp right now for the President, I think is by far the best option.
