"Clearly A War For ISRAEL!" Iran Crisis Sparks ERUPTION On Piers Morgan Panel

Piers Morgan Uncensored | February 24, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the escalating Iran crisis, with Piers Morgan leading a combative, opinionated panel debate. The main theme revolves around the question: Is the emerging U.S.-Iran confrontation truly in America’s interest, or is it, as some allege, a “war for Israel”? Examining arguments for and against military intervention, the panelists—ranging from security hawks to anti-war progressives and Iranian exiles—debate the morality, strategic rationale, and likely outcomes of a possible U.S. strike against Iran. The episode features interviews with key figures, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton and General Wesley Clark, alongside panelists such as Cenk Uygur (The Young Turks), Elika Lebon (Iranian American activist), Goldie Gamari (Iranian-Canadian activist), and Dave Smith (libertarian commentator).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The U.S. Military Build-Up & Rhetoric Echoes Iraq (04:45–08:51)

• Piers Morgan opens by highlighting the unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, reminiscent of 2003 Iraq. He questions the lack of public support (“7 in 10 Americans don't support a war with Iran”) and raises suspicions that America is again “doing Israel's bidding.”
• Notably, Morgan draws direct parallels to the lead-up to the Iraq War and warns that such rhetoric led to disaster in the past.

2. John Bolton's Case for Regime Change in Iran (02:27–08:51)

• John Bolton insists that the only path to lasting peace is overthrowing the Tehran regime:
  • Quote: “My position would be that we are entitled to and should use enough force to help destabilize the regime and get the opposition into power.” (02:27)
• Bolton discounts concerns about the Iraq war's parallels, arguing each situation is unique, and asserts Iran’s regime is now “at its weakest point since it took power in 1979” (02:27–06:25).
• On the risk of escalation, Bolton predicts Trump will "have a pretty significant strike, but a one and done affair and say, that's it, I declare victory and now we're going home." (08:32)

3. Is U.S. Policy for America or Israel?

Panel Opens (10:26–12:00)

Elika Lebon: Targeted Strike as “Rescue”

• Elika Lebon (Iranian-American attorney):
  • Asserts a military intervention is needed, likening the Iranian people’s situation to a hostage crisis:
    • Quote: "There really is no other means to take this regime... no better solution for humanity than to remove this regime with targeted strikes on military basis, which, by the way, is a rescue operation and really doesn’t need to be framed as a war.” (10:45)
• Argues that the regime’s atrocities and empire-building justify intervention.

Cenk Uygur: Warns of “Epic Disaster” and Israel-First Policy

• Cenk Uygur (The Young Turks):
  • Blasts the neoconservative justification, branding them liars repeating Iraq War mistakes:
    • Quote: "Here comes the same liars lying to us again on behalf of Israel and saying, my God, Iran is so dangerous... We'll use that same BS argument.” (13:02)
  • Asserts American people overwhelmingly oppose war—citing polls, and claims U.S. policy is set “on behalf of Israel”:
    • “Going into this war would be absolute madness and it would turn into disaster. On behalf of the American people, I say loudly, no.” (15:06)
  • Cenk challenges the narrative that intervention is about humanitarianism.

Goldie Gamari: Rebukes “Anti-Semitic Tropes”

• Goldie Gamari (Iranian-Canadian activist):
  • Defends the idea of Iranian and American interests aligning, and takes sharp issue with Cenk, accusing him of parroting “anti-Semitic tropes”:
    • “The whole Jews control the world trope is just becoming very old... These anti Semitic tropes, no one's buying them anymore.” (15:47)

Dave Smith: Calls Out U.S. Hypocrisy, Disputes Pro-Israel Motivation Is Anti-Semitic

• Dave Smith (Libertarian commentator):
  • Defends criticism of Israel from anti-Semitism charges (as the only Jewish panelist):
    • Quote: "There's nothing even remotely anti Semitic about what Cenk said... it's just completely undeniable that Israel wants this war." (18:57)
  • Argues U.S. foreign policy is rarely motivated by humanitarian aims, noting U.S. support for other violent regimes:
    • “If you’re actually arguing that U.S. Foreign policy moves based on humanitarian impulses, it’s just too ridiculous.” (19:10)
  • Warns regime change leads to failed states (Libya, Syria).

Elika Lebon: “If You Don’t Want War, Remove the Cause”

• Rejoins: “If you don’t want a forever war, forever and ever... you have to eliminate the people who make war inevitable.” (21:56)
• Asserts Iran’s regime’s policies will keep causing regional war if left untouched.

4. The “Seven Countries in Five Years” Memo—General Wesley Clark Reflects

Interview (25:19–35:14)

• Piers brings in General Wesley Clark to discuss the notorious Pentagon memo about regime change in seven Middle Eastern countries:
  • Clark downplays the notion of a “Master Plan,” but acknowledges the neocon vision and U.S.-Iran enmity:
    • “It wasn’t really a plan, that was a concept that came out of the neocons... But it never really resolved itself into a plan per se.” (25:56)
• On possible attack scenarios:
  • Dismisses the idea that an American military buildup automatically leads to war—assets are “deployable.” (28:42)
  • Predicts any U.S. attack would likely begin with destroying air defenses, move to missile sites, and target the Revolutionary Guards before, potentially, nuclear infrastructure. All would be “quite surgical,” at least initially (29:53–31:05).
• On regime change:
  • Clark says the regime is weaker in public support and economically, but retains intense internal loyalty—real regime change would need cracks within the IRGC or elites (32:18).
• Responds to “war for Israel” accusation:
  • Claims U.S. has its own nonproliferation interests in stopping Iranian nukes:
    • “It's not just about Israel. It's about global stability.” (34:09)

5. Back to Panel — Explosive Exchanges on Israel, War, and Ideology

Roundtable (35:14–62:00)

Cenk: “Be a Patriot for America, Not Israel”

• Aggressively insists Israel is the primary source of war pressure:
  • Quote: “They have cost us trillions of dollars and you know that. And they have cost us blood and treasure and it's Israel doing it. General Clark, be a patriot. Be a patriot.” (36:39)

Clark: No “They”; Decisions Across Multiple Administrations

• Denies there is a shadowy Israel-first cabal:
  • Quote: “When you say they, there's no they there. There's no secret plot... This is about national interests and you can go through these states one by one...” (37:47)
• Defends U.S. actions as reactions to Iranian policy, not Israeli pressure.

Dave Smith: “Awfully Big Coincidence”

• Counters Clark, points out the continuity of U.S./Israeli advocacy for regime changes:
  • “It's an awfully big coincidence that you saw there was a plan to overthrow seven countries and since that time... we've attacked all of those countries, maybe minus Sudan...” (41:50)
• Updates the audience on U.S. public debt, again questions the war’s rationale:
  • "We're close to $40 trillion in debt... and yet we’re flirting with what is obviously, definitionally a war of choice, a war of aggression." (44:33)

Goldie Gamari & Elika Lebon: “Not a War, a Rescue”

• Gamari asserts overwhelming Iranian gratitude for U.S. support, denies that this is a war but a “rescue mission”:
  • “The United States is coming to help liberate them. This is not a war... This is a rescue mission.” (47:46)
• Lebon highlights interventions that led to positive outcomes (Bosnia, Kosovo) and says critics focus on the negatives as a way to defend the “terrorist regime.” (47:50–49:26)

Cenk: “Israel Wants Endless Wars; Calls Out Greater Israel Project”

• Returns to arguing that Middle Eastern wars serve an Israeli expansionist project:
  • “The country starting all the wars in the Middle east is Israel, not Iran. The ones that have the religious ideology of taking over the Middle east is Israel. They call it Greater Israel.” (52:26)
• Claims U.S. press shields Israel from criticism by smearing dissent as anti-Semitism.

Debate Spirals into Accusations

• The conversation devolves into accusations of anti-Semitism, “propaganda”, and “mind virus” (51:10–53:03).
• Morgan steps in to defend panelists from anti-Semitism charges:
  • “I've never heard a moment of anti Semitism from either of them. And to say that that is what motivates him is a hatred of Jewish people is completely preposterous.” (59:01)

Dave Smith on Religious Nationalism

• Addressing remarks by U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee favoring biblical “Greater Israel”:
  • “How insane and what a religious fundamentalist you have to be to believe that God gave Iraq to Netanyahu or something.” (55:57)
  • Warns of religious extremism on both sides—both Israeli and Iranian.

6. General Clark’s Final Word: Iran Is the Trouble-Maker, Stop the Bomb

(60:58–63:13)

• Urges caution: “It's easy to start a war, it's not easy to finish it.”
• Blames Iran’s post-1979 policies for regional instability, defends Israeli security worries.
• Emphasizes U.S. aims: “...we should be doing what we can to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And that's the end of the story as far as I'm concerned.” (63:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Bolton: "We are entitled to and should use enough force to help destabilize the regime and get the opposition into power." (02:27)
• Cenk Uygur: "Going into this war would be absolute madness and it would turn into disaster. On behalf of the American people, I say loudly, no." (15:06)
• Goldie Gamari: "This is not a war, Pierce. This is a rescue mission.” (47:46)
• Dave Smith: “If you’re actually arguing that U.S. Foreign policy moves based on humanitarian impulses, it’s just too ridiculous.” (19:10)
• General Clark: "...we should be doing what we can to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And that's the end of the story as far as I'm concerned." (63:07)
• Piers Morgan (on anti-Semitism accusations): "To say that that is what motivates him is a hatred of Jewish people is completely preposterous." (59:01)
• Panel Exchange: Series of fiery exchanges with personal accusations, e.g., “… please don’t interrupt me, Cenk. I let you spout your jihadi propaganda…” (15:47, Goldie to Cenk)

Important Timestamps

• 00:01–08:51: Opening, John Bolton Interview (case for regime change, Iraq parallels)
• 10:26–15:34: Panel opening round—Elika Lebon, Cenk Uygur, Goldie Gamari, Dave Smith
• 25:19–35:14: General Wesley Clark interview (memo, military options, regime stability)
• 35:14–54:38: Explosive panel exchange (American/Israeli interests, failed states, anti-Semitism, Greater Israel)
• 54:38–58:56: Dave Smith on U.S. Ambassador's religious views, secularism vs. religious extremism
• 60:58–63:13: General Clark’s final word (Iran as problem, caution on escalation, U.S. objectives)

Episode Takeaways (In the Panelists’ Own Words and Tone)

• Pro-Intervention Side (Bolton, Elika, Goldie): See regime change as a humanitarian and strategic imperative; frame the operation not as “war” but a “rescue” akin to freeing hostages.
• Anti-Intervention Side (Cenk, Dave): Warn of repeating Iraq/Lybian disasters, lambaste “neocon” and “Israel lobby” influence, reject war as neither American nor humanitarian interest.
• Military Perspective (Clark): Attacks won’t easily bring regime change; the crisis is enduring but shouldn’t be reduced to a singular lobby’s influence—U.S. has motives regarding nonproliferation and regional stability.
• Piers Morgan: Acts as a skeptical, moderating voice; recognizes both the risks of escalation and the dangers of shutting down vigorous, free debate with accusations of bigotry.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with few minds changed but positions forcefully aired, highlighting the polarized, emotionally charged public debate surrounding war, peace, and the entwined fates of the U.S., Israel, Iran, and the broader Middle East. General Clark’s final word offers a sobering reminder: war is “easy to start, not easy to finish.”