Iran

Cliffhanger in Kansas? Mike Lee Rips Lame Iran Briefing, Pelosi’s Power on Display

January 9, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Cliffhanger in Kansas? Mike Lee Rips Lame Iran Briefing, Pelosi’s Power on Display” on Spreaker.

No good martinis but plenty to talk about today! Join Jim and Greg as they dissect Republican fears that the open U.S. Senate seat in Kansas could be at risk this year if primary voters nominated Kris Kobach, who lost the 2018 governor’s race there. They serve up a double-barreled crazy martini as Utah Sen. Mike Lee fumes that Wednesday’s Iran briefing offered few specifics and that national security officials told lawmakers not to debate the issue in public. But they’re also surprised to see Lee planning to channel that frustration into support for the War Powers Act revisions restricting the ability of a president to order time-sensitive military action. And they have a lot of fun as House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith tells CNN that its time for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate only to go on Twitter a short time later to say he “misspoke” and whatever Pelosi wants to do is fine with him.

Iran’s Symbolic Strike, Sandmann’s CNN Settlement, MSNBC’s Soleimani Slobbering

January 8, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Iran’s Symbolic Strike, Sandmann’s CNN Settlement, MSNBC’s Soleimani Slobbering” on Spreaker.

Join us for a busy news day on the Three Martini Lunch. Today, Jim and Greg discuss Iran’s missile strike injuring no one in Iraq, leading President Trump to announce new sanctions but no new military action. They also discuss whether the Ukrainian airliner crash in Iran was a coincidence or something more sinister. In addition, they’re glad to see Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann receiving a settlement from CNN after the network attacked over his encounter with an American Indian near the Lincoln Memorial last year – all because Sandmann was wearing a MAGA hat. And they try not to lose their breakfast as MSNBC not only carries the Soleimani funeral live but fawns all over the legacy of a man known for killing hundreds of American service members and slaughtering innocents at home and abroad.

Iran Stands Alone, Iraq Withdrawal Confusion, Impeachment Over Iran?

January 7, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Iran Stands Alone, Iraq Withdrawal Confusion, Impeachment Over Iran?” on Spreaker.

Join us for three Iran-related martinis for you today. First, Jim and Greg are glad to see the likes of Russia and China offering nothing but word salad as no nation commits arms or manpower to Iran in the wake of the Soleimani strike. They also cringe as the Pentagon has to walk back a letter stating the U.S. Army would leave Iraq, only to have Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley explain the letter was just a poorly worded draft that doesn’t accurately express our policy and was never intended to go public. And they unload on California Rep. Ro Khanna for suggesting that Pres. Trump retaliating against Iran could warrant another article of impeachment, with Jim wondering if the Democrats are starting an impeachment of the month club.

How Iran is Reacting to the Soleimani Strike

January 6, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “How Iran is Reacting to the Soleimani Strike” on Spreaker.

Last week, a U.S. drone strike killed the commander of the Iranian Quds Force Gen. Kassem Soleimani and several other high-level figures connected to Iran’s deadly efforts in Iraq and beyond. Iran is vowing revenge and is even putting a bounty on the head of President Trump.

But what are the short and long-term impacts on the Iranian regime of Soleimani’s death? Are the Iranian people distraught at the news or celebrating his demise? Are the mass demonstrations organic or just propaganda? And what is Iran actually likely to do in response to the attack?

Listen to the podcast as Radio America’s Greg Corombos gets answers to these questions and more from Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

Gervais Hammers Hollywood, Trump’s Cultural Targets, Castro’s Awkward Endorsement

January 6, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Gervais Hammers Hollywood, Trump’s Cultural Targets, Castro’s Awkward Endorsement” on Spreaker.

We’ve got three compelling martinis to help you ease back into that first day back at work or school. Join Jim and Greg as they applaud comedian Ricky Gervais for hammering Hollywood for its hypocrisy and self-importance at the Golden Globe Awards Sunday evening on topics ranging from Harvey Weinstein to Jeffrey Epstein to Chinese sweat shops. Jim also urges President Trump to stop threatening to strike cultural sites in Iran because military targets make much more sense and discussing cultural sites could turn other nations against us. And they cringe as the video of Julian Castro endorsing Elizabeth Warren comes across as inauthentic, with Castro coming to Warren’s house, telling Warren how wonderful she is, and Warren agreeing with him.

Big Questions – and Answers – Following Soleimani Strike

January 3, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Big Questions – and Answers – Following Soleimani Strike” on Spreaker.

The Iranian military figure responsible for targeting and killing thousands of people, including hundreds of U.S. troops, was killed in a drone strike in Iraq early Friday morning, along with several other key figures connected with Iranian-sponsored terrorism in the Middle East.

But the killing of Qassem Soleimani is sparking fierce debate. President Trump says he acted to stop a war while his critics claim he’s on the brink of starting one. They also argue Trump should have sought congressional approval or at least consulted with Democratic leaders before commencing the strike. And are we on the verge of a full-scale war with Iran?

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Chuck Nash studies Iran closely. In this conversation with Greg Corombos, Nash explains why he believes the attack on Soleimani and his associates was fully warranted, whether Trump had an obligation to inform Congress of the attack, the dilemma now facing Iranian leaders, and how a regime change inside Iran must happen from within.

Suleimani’s Airport Surprise, What Comes Next, Williamson Won’t Quit

January 3, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Suleimani’s Airport Surprise, What Comes Next, Williamson Won’t Quit” on Spreaker.

Well, 2020 is certainly off to an explosive start. Join Jim and Greg as they cheer the demise of Iranian Quds Force Commander Qassem Suleimani and recount the evil carnage he perpetrated against U.S. forces and many others over the past two decades. They also realize that the targeting of Suleimani may well result in an Iranian response and wonder what the reality will soon be in the Middle East and beyond. And they analyze Marianne Williamson’s curious decision to lay off her entire national campaign staff but insist she’s still in the race.

Trump Backs Iran Protesters, GOP’s Georgia Senate Spat, Bloomberg’s Bounce

December 3, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “Trump Backs Iran Protesters, GOP’s Georgia Senate Spat, Bloomberg’s Bounce” on Spreaker.

Recording of Tuesday’s Three Martini Lunch concluded before the news of Kamala Harris abandoning her presidential campaign. Rest assured we will have plenty to say about that on Wednesday. In the meantime, grab a stool and join Jim and Greg as serve up Tuesday’s martinis. First, they’re grateful to see President Trump siding with the Iranian protesters despite earlier indications to the contrary. They also facepalm as Trump allies attack Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for not following Trump’s advice on a U.S. Senate appointment and Kemp proceeds to pick someone who makes the pro-life community very nervous. And they notice that Michael Bloomberg’s spending barrage already has him in fifth place among voters in the first four primary and caucus states.

Gas Price Hikes Fuel Massive Protests Against Iranian Regime

November 18, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “Gas Price Hikes Fuel Massive Protests Against Iranian Regime” on Spreaker.

On Friday, the Iranian regime announced gasoline prices would jump 50 percent, and in some cases 300 percent, a decree that immediately sent protesters flooding the streets in more than 100 cities across the country.

Iran is already cracking down violently on the protests. At least 200 are dead and the government admits to arresting 1,000 others. On Saturday, the government also cut off internet access for the Iranian people.

Massive protests in Iran are not new. We saw the Green Revolution a decade ago in response to fraudulent elections. Huge demonstrations also erupted nearly two years ago, spurred by the public’s increasing frustration with a government increasingly seen as corrupt and using the money it does have for priorities that have nothing to do with the good of the people.

But will these protests have a different outcome? What is needed to force the ayatollahs and the political leaders to make significant change or relinquish power? What role do the United States and the United Nations need to play? And can Iranian demonstrators count on the UN to put pressure on Iranian leaders?

We discuss this and much more with Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

Captivity, Brutality, and Freedom, Iran Hostage Crisis Part 3

October 31, 2019 by GregC

Listen to “Captivity, Brutality, and Freedom, Iran Hostage Crisis Part 3” on Spreaker.

This coming Monday marks the start of a very dark chapter in American history. On November 4, 1979, Iranians took over the U.S. embassy in Iran. Then a 20-year-old U.S. Marine stationed at the embassy, Kevin Hermening became the youngest American hostage held captive for the next 444 days.

In the final installment of his three-part interview with Greg Corombos, Hermening details the anguish inflicted upon the Americans by their Iranian captors, the surprise visitor he received while held captive, and how freedom felt after losing it for more than a year.