Ray McGovern and Scott Ritter joined CN Live! on Sunday morning to discuss the U.S. bombing of Iran, its impact and what might follow.
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Volume 30, Number 190 —Thursday, July 10, 2025
Ray McGovern and Scott Ritter joined CN Live! on Sunday morning to discuss the U.S. bombing of Iran, its impact and what might follow.
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I refuse to call anyone on their opinions here. I’m no expert anything.
It does seem to me everyone except a very large segment of the Iranian population has processed the recent genocide Israeli prosecuted in Gaza.
Just another thought, everyone also seems to conveniently forgotten how the U.S. dragged Russia and Ukraine into a war, still in progress.
Iran simply have had their fill of all the bull crap coming from the west. Sounds as if the U.S. painted itself into a corner on the behalf of Israel.
Something the U.S. never should have done.
Scott in Iran people are dancing in the streets and pissed because the Iranian leadership did not destroy Israel.
And by the way Russia, Pakistan and China are lined up behind Iran. Dear leader is no intellectual for damned sure does not hardly sophisticated.
Great stuff from both of you fellas.
Yes I know, – quick change third line from the end. – ” . . . .for damned sure seems, hardly sophisticated. ‘I dunno what happened there!”
I believe the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenie in a moment of desperation rationalized breaking the law was his only choice. Israel never pays for it’s transgressions, for the sake of Dog they benefited from American aid while prosecuting a full fledged genocide in Gaza. Under the last two presidents and most everyone who is interested knows that Israel has been killing Palestinians on regular basis ever since, let’s remember the Israeli motto – “By way of deception!”
The U.S. pulled that lame shit with Putin, remember that!
So Scott’s understanding of present US policy on Iran and its nuclear program is that Iran must follow US orders as to the level of uranium enrichment or the US will use nuclear weapons to bomb Iran. I have not heard anyone purporting to be authorized to state US policy say that. However, if it is true that someone authorized to state US policy did say that, that is a blatant violation of international law. Of course, both the US and Israel routinely violate international law. However, to threaten a country with the use of nuclear weapons is a particularly egregious matter. If there is anyone in the Trump administration who can clearly articulate the official US policy on this matter, I would very much like to hear it or read it.
Scott is dead wrong to blame Iran for this debacle. The Blowhard In Chief created this problem by unilaterally terminating the JCPOA in 2019, proving that it is pointless to make agreements with the US because the US cannot be trusted to honor its agreements. Scott complains that, following the US termination of the agreement, Iran quit cooperating and allowing the inspections required by the agreement. So Scott apparently … for some unexplained reason, thinks that Iran should have continued to abide by the agreement after it was terminated by the US, which makes no sense. Iran was well within its right to not allow the cameras and other inspection regimens required by the agreement. The ” lesson” which Iran and all other countries which refuse to follow US orders should learn is that they should work as hard as possible to develop nuclear weapons because that is the only way to deter the rogue, lawless states of the US and Israel from attacking them at will. Both countries have a long history of waging illegal wars of aggression against countries deemed to be unfriendly to them. Neither country can be trusted. Neither country has any credibility.
On any Sunday Morning, “If the US government withdrew its $upport of Israel, the wars could stop today.” Obviously, the USG “just can’t quit him!!!” Many people, buhlieve,” the “cancer” in the Divided $tates of Corporate America, is the “marriage” between Israel’s “Gollum,” BiBi & his WH B*tch, “DONning” the One “Golden” Ring. Gollum’s “life revolves around the One “Golden” Ring, having had his mind destroyed & body deformed by its powers.” The PreNup dates back to 1963. Signed. Sealed. Delivered. If, you listen you can hear Bibi referring to ‘em, DJT & the “Ring” as, “My ‘Precious.”
……“Zionist elite have truly emerged as Those Who Reign Supreme in,” the Divided $tates of Corporate America—-*The New Jerusalem.” 1963: *“The proliferation of nuclear arms in the Arab & Muslim world has been a direct reaction to Israel’s nuclear build-up—-something that JFK tried to stop—-&, it is no exaggeration to say that had JFK succeeded in stopping Israel from achieving nuclear weapons,” the USG’s “cowboy fm Texas’” war in Iraq, woulda never happened.
“”Those Who Reign Supreme do so b/c on November 22, 1963, an American president who challenged their power was put to death in a very ugly public execution that, to this day, remains unpunished. Now today, we face the reality that came as a consequence of that crime in Dallas. JFK was making a strong stand against the demands of the Zionist lobby, particularly its desire to help Israel become a major world power; &, as a consequence, paid w/his life.” Michael Collins Piper.
All hail,” the truth: 1) *“Israel’s consistent attacks on Iran since 2023 have all been illegal, violations of the United Nations Charter (1945). Iran is a member state of the United Nations and is therefore a sovereign state in the international order.“ 2) “it is Israel that is a threat to the international order.” 3) “If Israel was so keen on eliminating any nuclear threat, it should have taken the offer for the creation of a nuclear-free zone heartily.” VIJAY PRASHAD.
Many people believe, “The Neti Pot,” Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu, the POTUS, Trump-Vance, Inc., the US Congress, is NOT fighting a war of self-defence. Itsa a war of aggression. Itsa war to occupy more territory. It’s ISRAEL, POTUS, the US CONGRESS cooking up their own intelligence for war!!! It’s 100% MADness (Mutually agree deception, destruction).
…… .1) “It is time, plain and simple, to give up the thought that anything good is to come out of Trump’s next three and a half years.” Patrick Lawrence; 2) “Rare is the politician who puts the public before the military or the King.” Joe Lauria;
3) “They Always Kill the Socrates.” Oliver Stone; 4) “Consider the warnings. Consider the deed. Consider the genocide.” Vijay Prashad; 5) “The world has been made audience to a live-streamed genocide & live-streamed war by Israel on Iran; 6) “We have learned nothing from those days.” Stuart Herrington (50 years on, the Ukraine war) “Here we go again.” Stuart Herrington, Intelligence officer, in the final years of the Vietnam war @ “Losing & Learning Nothing,” Patrick Lawrence, 4.28.25; AND, “[WHAT’S] required is a full, sustained comprehension that Trump may be incapable of.” JOE LAURIA!!!
Onward & Upwards. TY, Joe Lauria, Scott Ritter, Ray McGovern.
* hxxps://consortiumnews.com/2025/06/16/vijay-prasahd-the-illegal-attack-on-iran/
* hxxps://consortiumnews.com/2025/05/19/rooting-out-the-root-causes-in-ukraine/
I really like what Scott has to say 99% of the time. However, I completely disagree with Scott’s logic that Iran did what it legally had the right to do (60% enrichment) but Israel didn’t like that so it is okay for Israel and the U.S. to bomb their facilities – Iran just brought it on themselves. Say what? Does he even hear himself.
And Michael Kritschgau your comparison to Ukraine makes less sense! Russia never took the position that Ukraine couldn’t be independent of Russia. It said that the Russian speaking areas had the right to be part of Russia as they were before. And that is realistic especially sense Ukraine was irrationally punishing them for daring to speak their native language (Russian).
I can relate to Scott´s frustration and depressive mood. I am British but live in Germany. I have worked in Germany, but also in Africa and in the UAE. I have never understood the attitude in Europe vis a vis Russia and Israel.
The Germans are looking to Israel as if they are paving the way for the second coming. There is no official criticism and if you go in that direction you are antisemitic and are socially in real trouble. If you talk peace with Russia you are a Putin apologist and next door to the devil and you are socially in real trouble. It goes as far as job loss, no promotion is the least to expect.
I am just as frustrated and see no way to actively influence the situation. The European politicians and EU officials are just hopeless and corrupt to the eyeballs. It saddens me to think a big bang is needed.
Thanks, Joe Lauria, for having arranged for this necessary conversation.
Regardless of how one assigns blame for the attack on Iran, the enrichment of uranium to 60% allowed the argument for weapon development to be made beyond typical propaganda. But, the antipathy toward Iran must be seen in historical and geopolitical terms, not simplistically as the concern that Iran might produce a nuclear weapon— that is and always has been a propaganda point to shroud more self-serving intentions.
Scanning the comments on an article in the Guardian, a significant segment of the literate commenters (100s of comments as opposed to the 9 so far on this far more important and informed source) focus only on “Iran can’t be allowed a nuclear weapon “, just as the western governments and media have taught them; plutocracies require a misinformed and manipulated public.
I, personally, am weakly agnostic on the arguments presented here, but find them much more compelling, rational and supported than the more widely spread arguments that seem required to include many of the clearly recognized dishonesties.
Like North Korea, Iran would be SAFE if they already had made nuclear weapons.
The West including Israel, has no credibility, just naked greed and smug superiority. Who can trust any agreement the US or Israel makes? Much better to have the deterrence of nuclear bombs. Would Israel be able to get away with genocide and unprovoked attacks everywhere if they (and the US) had no nukes?
Who is more likely to nuke the other, Israel or Iran?
So, it was President Trump pulling out of the JCPOA that caused Iran to enrich to 60%.
As I explain in another reply, I brought this up to Scott after the show and he agreed it was Trump’s fault for starting this but that Iran still shouldn’t have increased enrichment giving Trump and Netanyahu a pretext to attack.
Mr Ritter’s argument doesn’t make sense, on the one hand he says there is no doubts that the bombing of Iran, its Pearl Harbour moment by Israel was for regime change but on the other hand he says that it is Iran’s fault if was bombed because of its enrichment to 60%. Any analyst or anyone following Israel/US politics in the Middle East knows that Iran’s nuclear enrichment is not the real reason for the attacks, the real reason is regime change. So, even if Iran had 0% enrichment, the US and Israel would want regime change and therefore bomb Iran. Very strange take from Mr Ritter, in my view.
Trump said he wanted to re-negotiate when he pulled out of the JCPOA.
But John Kerry, a private citizen with no FARA to act with Iran, advised Iran to wait Trump out and get a better deal later (with Biden.)
When Trump pulled the US out of the JCPOA in May, 2018, Iran should have become a nuclear power as quickly as possible.
Intent and capability
Iran’s enrichment to 60% gave them the capability to produce a nuclear weapon in about a month (according to Scott Ritter). Iran says they enriched to 60% to give them negotiating leverage. I don’t think they had the intent to actually produce some. I could be wrong on that point. As everyone here agrees, it didn’t/doesn’t give the US or Israel the right to bomb Iran. You all agree on that.
I hope this doesn’t spin totally out of control. Peace
I couldn’t watch Scott’s diatribe in its entirety. Did he mention that the United States (Trump) announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the “Iran nuclear deal” or the “Iran deal”, on May 8, 2018? It would seem to me that this current situation is not Iran’s fault since it was abiding by the treaty until Trump cancelled it. Had he not done so, the present situation would not exist. Based upon the situation in the ME today, I think that even if Iran had left enrichment as per the treaty, Trump and Netanyahu would have invented another reason to bomb it.
In the discussion after the program I told Scott that if Trump had not pulled out of the deal Iran would not have enriched to 60 percent. He said he completely agreed but said that just because Trump did that does not mean Iran should have made the mistake of increasing enrichment, giving Israel and the US the excuse to bomb them — Joe Lauria
Scott’s interview led viewers to believe that the bombing was entirely Iran’s fault, which it was not. He should have stated clearly that Trump had pulled out of the treaty in 2018 without sufficient cause (although it should have been obvious to anyone with even a minor interest in the ME situation as to why he did). I doubt his omission of this vital piece of information was simply because he forgot to mention it. My impression was that he attempted to shield the US from culpability. While in the past I have found his videos interesting, I no longer do, and will ignore any further comments he may make about anything. In my opinion, this interview destroyed his reputation and credibility.
Iran has a right to defend itself.
I recognize Ritter’s expertise, personal sacrifices, and his passion for justice but his emotionalism undermines the points he tries to make. It also NEEDS to be said that Ritter thought Trump would NOT go to war, that he was the “peace” candidate, and Trump’s election was a “revolution” against the Deep State. It also seems that Ritter points are weak in direct proportion to the emotionalism makes him interrupt people when they are speaking.
Scott, Iran is NOT at fault. Israel causes all the problems in the middle east. Everything that goes bad there is caused by Israel. THEY HAVE enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world. Talk about THAT. Iran doesn’t want a war but SHOULD have nuclear weapons for self-defense. Why don’t you talk about that from the Iranian perspective? They’ve known for 25 years that Israel wants to drag the US into a war against them. Shouldn’t they have the right to counteract Israel’s stockpile of nukes? Of course they do. Every time some idiot says that Iran can’t have nuclear weapons, I ask, why does Israel get to have them? In all the talks leading up to the JPOA, not ONE reporter asked that simple question.
Dear Rob Roy. Scott’s point of view is that of realism.
Iran’s mistake of enriching uranium (though it is in their right) to 60% and boasting about it is similar to Ukraine’s mistake of believing that it can be independent of Russia via the use of force.
In both cases both countries invited the Might to Make things Right.
We live in a world where the small country (or the country that doesn’t have nuclear weapons) must play a smart game so not to invite a punch in the face by the big/nuclear country.
I am Romanian and Romania, more often than not, has played a smart game of being a Jolly Joker (though it is a shameful, cowardly game) of pivoting or placating or being a vassal to greater powers. We perfected this game when the Ottomans were at our borders.
We payed heavily taxes and tributes but we kept mostly our of conflicts, we chose our battles and ended up keeping our culture, language, customs and borders (and actually increased our borders).
In such cases, it is best to go along with the Mighty country up to a point so one doesn’t get bombed.
Ukraine, if it would have been smart, it should have placated the US and Russia by making deals with both sides. Maybe allow the US control of certain parts of Ukraine with the condition that no war is to be pushed with Russia. If the Ukrainians didn’t really wanted a war, the US could not have forced them into it.
Iran could have not enrich it’s uranium to 60% (or at least make it appear that it doesn’t). Iran boasted about it and that was a mistake. Just go along with the inspections, keep denying enriching, don’t enrich (yet, create all the opportunities for further enriching in secret). Or, while you placate the Americans, boost your hypersonic missile capability production and your anti-air production facilities, invite small Russian bases and Chinese Bases next to its nuclear facilities in exchange for cheap oil.
Play the realism game.
This is realism.
Idealism only brigs about a punch to the face.