With the world on the brink of a major Middle East war, Scott Ritter joins The World This Week to discuss the rationale, conduct and outcome of a devastating conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel. Watch the replay.
Host: Joe Lauria. Guest: Scott Ritter. Producer: Cathy Vogan. Time: 2 hr 30 min 24 sec.
For my part, I would be very happy to see as many US bases destroyed by Iran as possible. I hope Pete Headset evacuates the personnel first, before we go barnstorming in on this doomed mission.
What’s the opening music? Is that Coltrane? Just gorgeous.
It’s by Mr Snooze and it’s royalty free. hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYOvAO1rAM0&list=RDiYOvAO1rAM0
Why aren’t there a million people in Central Park or on the streets of DC?
Because they know their efforts will do nothing to change anything as was the case in the past, Vietnam war etc. Does Scott think Trump would even register what any protest occurs? If, as seems the case, that Trump is under Israeli compulsion then stay home.
F35 toilet design.
Can’t make this crap up .
Back to dirt floors and 5 gallon buckets . LOL
Israel is capable of using a nuclear weapon if the racist Zionists see themselves in danger of being defeated. It’s the Samson option. And the Iranians will fight harder than Israel expects. Scott, you keep saying “we” as if the US and Israel are the same. I hate that they are. The rest of the world should stop both these evil countries.
This is not going to be some kind of a cake walk. Iran is closely allied with Russia and China. I believe both of those countries have ships in Iranian waters. And they have armed Iran with state of the art weapons and an effective defensive “shield.” The US and Israel are now far from hegemonic in the Middle East. This is not the early nineties, far from it. Trump and his aids better take a good, hard look at the the real situation in Iran before they jump into this unhinged aggressive war. Iran is the size of Western Europe, with ninety million people. Both China and Russia, who are at this moment helping their ally, have the means of defeating the US and Israel. They can also cause major damage to Israel. The US/Israeli adventurist war with Iran, wholly a war of choice, wholly avoidable, is extremely risky to say the least. I believe strongly that most Americans do not want this war. Iran is not our adversary. There is simply no good reason for this war. Iran can close the Straits of Hormuz, which they control. That will lower the amount of oil Iran provides to the world by about 20 per cent, which will cause serious recession and runaway inflation here and elsewhere.
A1A
According to Chris Busby, nuclear scientist, who has investigated Israeli use of uranium fueled neutron bombs in Lebanon and Iran has found the residual decay products from such a weapon. He explains it in this interview :
hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJa7TqNsTM&t=4s
The Israeli technician who exposed the Israel nuclear weapons program revealed that neutron bombs were the focus of the Israeli project as they need less material for their production. There is a blast but the main out put is neutrons that can penetrate concrete and earth.
Busby worked in the past with Dr. Rosalie Bertell on the effects of Depleted Uranium which is similar in toxicity to lead but also a radioactive Alpha particle emitter. When ingested it irradiates from within and and is far more lethal than a similar external exposure. DU was used in Iraq and Yugoslavia where soldiers and civilians have experienced increased cancers and deformities in newborns.
It is impossible to overstate the value of this timely, wholly relevant, fearlessly frank, serious and daresay historic discussion between Joe Lauria and Scott Ritter.
Every American must obtain and/or grasp the facts as explained in this tour-de-force thorough examination of the current precarious state of international relations.
Pretty much straight up Reality (to badly paraphrase Franklin), if you can hear it.
No doubt, “we” are one Nation under siege. Hence, in the “USA”, it’s “our” time to make a move, i.e., “Strike!” Against The Empire? How many “ordinary” people does the Dept. of War presume will survive the USG/Israel vs. Iran war?
No $h*t, I presume when Iran strikes back, it’s curtains for my State. Instantly! My backyard’s “got” a cache of Nukes, not seen before; &, my front yard, Los Alamos National Labs. Everybody’s seen The Labs’ WMDs. F/eh, “we” will be done & dusted, first! C’est la vie, “Save the Planet NOT Nuke it!” or, are “we” Livin’ la Vida Loca, wherein everybody, “feels a premonition that” [The Empire’s] “gonna fall.” FAFO, eh?!?
The lights of LANL shine down on me…across the river, over the lava fields of the Caja del Rio and… but, it would take a bit more than Iran to bring a volcano’s worth of destruction to the inland west; not that this plutocratic cabal isn’t capable of that degree of misanthrope.
Oh, James Keye, w/o hesitation, I do, ACCEPT, An ode to the Caja del Rio.” Thank You!!!
…“jump’n jeezus, wholly cow,” a must see & hear, NOW! James Keye’s “ode” about the beauty & what matters in life, i.e., stability for prosperity; &, a call to live in the present. No doubt, James, “gifting” your lived experience is the key that unlocks the essence of “a continuum of human journey within and alongside the natural world” i.e., a “gentle” giant walking w/the “Sassi,” the doe, in sync w/the wildlife, it’s “One heart. One Love.” Imo, prove the existence of the Yeti! Oh yeah, I am on board! w/love, oh yeah, “An ode to the Caja del Rio.”
Caja del Rio is, no doubt, “a place of cosmic connection and cultural convergence” w/a view from the hilltop’s Sasquatch Avenue. “Turning on the light!” James Keye, it’s awesome knowing you!!!
In the words of Josh Lees of Palestine Action, “Solidarity with you always”!!!
I live on the East Coast Our days are numbered if Russia gets provoked.
Awh, Gentlemen (James Keye, Wendell Ignatin) TY! imo, in unison w/ the many “gentle” giants, rock’n the truth, about our “sacred” land & water. Everybody, knows, “all living things on Earth require water.” [“Mní wi?hóni”, “Water is life”]. The oceans, like “ordinary” people have been used, abused, abandoned; and, like the land, sacred.
Inphkndeed, SAVE “Caja del Rio” (Box of The River”), the East Coast, the West Coast, the Planet, NOT Nuke’em!!!
The enemy within, LANL “the world’s largest & most advanced scientific institutions” lives large, in that “thar valley of LANL “Lights,” that leads to the river so deep, wide; and, “Caja del Rio’ a sacred plateau, situated between the Rio Grande and Santa Fe Rivers, connects us to the past, the future, each other, and ourselves. It’s a continuum of human journey within and alongside the natural world….a place of cosmic connection and cultural convergence: “The Caja del Rio”; AND, “our” East Coast Lighthouses, the “Guiding Lights of the Sea.” From Maine to Florida, each lighthouse holds a unique story. The East Coast is home to a vast array of lighthouses, each offering a glimpse into the maritime heritage of its region, “Made In The Sea.”
Fingers crossed, the American Eagle, rock’n “cotton candy hair sprayed w/piss,” a “golfer” heeds the Russian Bear’s advice, “Always aim for the fairway.” In sum, the West’s “Kill, first. Think, later,” foreign & domestic policy, reflects DJ Trump’s Aggressive Criminal Engagement, his A.C.E., in-the-hole. The ask, “REPENT, Mr. Trump!”
An ode to the Caja del Rio, just for LeoSun…if you choose to accept it.
hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaPOCAsnWlQ
Good Mourning,” America,
W/o a doubt, “every, day, is a day of mourning.” Particularly, in the “USA” nka, The Divided $tates of Corporate America. Yes, Scott Ritter, I am, sitting on my fat ass streaming, ‘The World This Week” & watching an Olympic Finalé, the USA Men’s Hockey Team kick ass, in overtime, USA: 2, “Oh!” Canada: 1 & Done!!! Game Over!
Not only has Sy Hersch been put on blast; but, Trump-Vance, Inc., have been put on blast, “DJ Trump Is Going Down!” Now, “we” the people, of the “USA,” have been put on blast: “Oh my sisters, help me to open their eyes. From up in the” [White House], “we must all look like ants to them. Wake up motherfuckers. We are women and men. Well up unashamed my bleeding heart.” Roger Waters, “SUMUD.”
Hence, a call for action, in “The New Jerusalem” aka The Divided $tates of Corporate America absophknlutely needs to “WAKE UP!” IT’S ISRAEL, FIRST! Point blank & period., i.e.,” The end result in the Zionist grand scheme, is the establishment of a global empire, ruled from America, The New Jerusalem. While the “real” Jerusalem in the occupied land of Palestine may function as the spiritual capital of international Zionism, America will provide the money, the arms, the young men and women who will fight and die to make the world safe for Zionist wealth and supremacy, all in the name of “Americanism” which is now the great Jewish mask.
Thus, in the end, the thesis put forth in “The New Jerusalem” – is not some horrific or hate-filled “anti-Jewish conspiracy theory.” In fact, according to the Zionists themselves, the concept that America is The New Jerusalem is the very foundation of Zionism in the 21st century. The conclusion is inescapable. The question that remains is what Americans- and others worldwide-intend to do about it.” Michael Collins Piper-American Free Press-First published “The New Jerusalem,” February, 2005.
…..“If, you can’t be the lighthouse, be the candle,” i.e., FEBRUARY 9, 2026, in Australia, “bodies on the line, for Community!” The Owl asks, “WHO’S street? The Birds tweet, “OUR” Street. “ WHO’S World?” OUR” World;” AND,
“OUR” World’s “GOT” Context, “WATCH: ‘Arrest Herzog!’ @ hxxps://consortiumnews.com/2026/02/18/watch-arrest-herzog/
…. “All, Hail,” the Three Hundred Thousand+ (300,000 PLUS) “Candles” + The “Lighthouse,” Palestine Action Group, Cathy Vogan, Joe Lauria, Mandy King, Fabio Cavadini, Maher Zain w/Music: Free Palestine., living, loving, laughing, crying, standing shoulder to shoulder, against the occupation, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity from the river to the sea. Yes, Palestine will be free!” “Solidarity with you always,” Sincerely, Palestine Action Group.
TY, Joe Lauria, Scott Ritter, Cathy Vogan, “keep It Lit!”
thank you for putting things in perspective for us,
however gruesome, yet again. i’d feel ill-informed
if it wasn’t for reliable sources like yours!
that stated, i’ll ask: what are “american values“?
when you start out on a genocide.
pile slavery on top,
start all kinds of wars “to combat communism!“
throw two nuclear bombs,
overthrow x number of foreign governments,
kidnap or kill foreign leaders
put short of 800 military outposts across the globe.
condone and enable yet another genocide?
bent on wreaking even more havoc in west asia.
UTTER DISREGARD for human life, value, dignity.
by what right?
IT’S THE HABIT OF HEGEMONY.
cares for nothing but its psychopathic leaders’
wish to permanently rule the world.
and i’m ashamed to say that my european country
never found the strength to break away from it all.
its leaders have been foolishly flattering themselves
into thinking, for decades: „the USofA are our friends!“
that is why we’ve been providing them space for the
largest US airbase in europe, deploying new missiles
this year etc.. nuclear war looming large.
i’ve long put a K in demockracy, by the way.
given the utter mockery WE have let them make of it.
and with the white supremacist way things are going
i’m quite inclined, alas, to put two more in.
OUR UPRISINGS in outrage! just take too much time.
as to young americans doing their duty?
this is not a legal war.
who’ll be strong enough to disobey illegal orders?
Just another day or year in the fantastic US
Sorry Scott, I do not think Americans are arrogant. I think they are ignorant and we all know Ignorance is Strength as GO said. I believe the sales of 1984 have rocketed in north America.
while ignorance is manufactured on the inside,
arrogance is on the outside, as everybody on earth
and below it is supposed to acknowledge, accept
that THE AMERICAN WAY of LIFE is the ONLY
way of life – or death, if you dare to disagree.
I984 has been at the door since Reagan.
I have listened to Scott Ritter’s analyses of global events for a very long time and this is the most devastating one to date. I hope, as I know he hopes, he’s wrong, but the picture he paints is not encouraging. Perhaps the most frightening thing is that there are no remaining obstacles to the lawless madmen and criminals who now hold the reins of power.
The only obstacle i can see is revolution. But i don’t hold out much hope for that.
I didn’t realise the extent of the evil corruption. Thankyou for the eye opening information.
I think you’re right, Joe, that Epstein may very well have been the most important operative they had. He struck Ari Ben-Menashe early on as crazy. He may never have made an effort to come off as un-crazy, since, if people thought that’s what he was, they wouldn’t be inclined to think he’d have the smarts to set up and maintain that many honey traps, keep all the trapped guys quiet for years, and in so doing help enable a nation’s ascendency like nobody’s business? So he was the most important for a while, but the most important soaks up power. And receiving that much at first, if you then become a hardened addict to it, you will end up wanting so much that the amount eventually becomes impractical?
Excellent show! Thank you Joe and Scott. Depressing as hell.
Thank you (I think) for this comprehensive analysis. I feel no shame in saying I hate my own country and its government. I don’t think I could hate it more right now.
Most American bases in the Persian Gulf are within range of Iran’s short-range missiles, which they have a lot more of than they do missiles that can reach Israel, and they’re a lot more mobile as well. They can probably fire thousands of such missiles at American bases in the first day of the war, and overwhelm any THAD or Patriot defense. They can also mine the Straight of Hormuz in a matter of hours. So I’d be a bit surprised if this plan could be executed so flawlessly …
Starting with helping Iraq in a war with Iran in the 80’s after Bush/Casey urged hold embassy hostages until Reagan/Bushes was inflicted on us for 60 years and counting with the Trump/Reagan religious culture war.
During Vietnam we rose up to defy an unjust, undeclared war of choice. As appeasement, the draft was cancelled with no requirement for government service at any level. 50 years, a few generations with no concept of We The People. Couple that with the almost complete abandonment of teaching civics in public schools. And we have what we have, a people and their government light years apart. “Thank you for your service” is my least favorite common American phrase. Usually addressed to military and former military. It divides us. A government of the people without the people is a tyranny. A rigged popularity contest every 4 years and paying some taxes is the limit of civic involvement for most Americans. Why? Because that is all that is asked of them.
West coast time?
5 pm
Required watching. Ritter is a patriot’s patriot hugely knowledgeable about geopolitical, historical and military matters relevant to what appears to be Israel’s long wished for but now imminent war on Iran, fought mostly by U.S. warriors. I hope he’s wrong. I have my pocket-sized copy of the Constitution out and will look for my dusty copy of the Federalist Papers.
Curtain Raiser:
hXXps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXfuqUhzESg
How Britain Started the Arab-Israeli Conflict (52 minutes)
Unfortunately the uploader of that video has not made it available in my country. But here is a written history account of Britain’s struggle with America to dominate the Middle East:
“Lords of the Desert” by James Barr.
Valerie, It works on Rumble!