Ambassadors Series Briefing with Amb Gary Grappo and Lt Gen (Ret) David J. Furness, USMC.
00:26– 2:58 Challenges and risks for the U.S. in the Middle East
3:00 – 8:02 The aftermath of the Oct 7, 2024 attacks by Hamas in Israel from various perspectives and Iran’s role
8:03 – 11:22 The future of Gaza and Hamas
11:23 – 14:39 Monarchies in the Middle East and North Africa and their role in the region
14:40 – 21:31 The future of Palestinians as an independent state; PLO in Jordan; Black September; Palestinians in Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait
22:58 – 24:43 The role of combatant command in the region
24:44 – 28:011 Sticky conversations around maintaining our current military footprint in the region
28:19 – 31:18 America’s armed forces levels and defense industrial base are inadequate to the international threats. It takes time to build ships and manufacture munitions.
31:19 – 35:31 Preventing Iran from getting a nuclear bomb without direct military action by Israel or the U.S.
35:32 – 38:12 Threat of proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region; Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure; America doesn’t want a war with Iran
38:13 – 39:48 Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are sharing technology and military expertise
39:49 – 40:27 4+one – Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and international terrorist groups working together
40:29 – 46:18 Being hopeful now for the future of Lebanon with the virtual elimination of Hezbollah; shutting down the terrorist pipeline through Syria; President Joseph Aoun and the alliances of political
