Al Jazeera is essentially the state run media outlet of Qatar. Secretary of State Rubio sat down for a lengthy interview with Al Jazeera that will be shared throughout the Arab world.
“In an exclusive Al Jazeera interview, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Trump always prefers diplomacy, with messages and indirect talks ongoing between the US and figures inside Iran. Rubio demanded that Iran abandon all nuclear weapons ambitions, end its missile and drone programmes, and stop sponsoring terrorism across the region. He rejected Iran’s conditions for ending the war — including sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and financial compensation — calling the strait demand illegal and a dangerous global precedent. Rubio declared that the strait “will be open one way or another” after US military objectives are achieved, whether through Iranian compliance or an international coalition.”
“He outlined those objectives as the destruction of Iran’s air force (achieved), navy (largely achieved), missile launchers, and weapons factories — all to be completed in weeks, not months. Rubio expressed disappointment with NATO allies like Spain for denying basing rights and airspace, warning that the US would re-examine its NATO commitment. He confirmed the US would welcome regime change in Iran but insisted it was not the official objective of the current military operation. The interview also covered post-Maduro stabilisation in Venezuela and called for serious economic and political reforms in Cuba.”
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When I was overseas, I was surprised that the best available news coverage of the States was from the English newsroom of Al Jazeera. Of course all I had access to was CNN, BBC, and SkyNews so the bar is pretty low. But on balance 15 years ago they did a decent job of giving you the news and letting you decide.
Al Jazeera has some of the best reporting on Latin America
Rush used to get better news about America from Europe than from America. But that faded away.
I was ready for the Al Jazerra propagandist to make this about Israel. He asked one question and it was relevant. Extraordinarily revealing because that would NOT have been the case even a couple years ago. The Gulf States have moved on from making Israel the boogie man. (This is not a comment on our own gov’t and whether that is the correct decision).
Rubio’s answer was very interesting. The Israelis have one set of targets, those that impact them and the US is handling the others that impact world trade, their military infrastructure, etc. Its really two separate operations that are coordinated.
I was pleasantly surprised by the conduct of the interviewer as well.
The screeching hyenas of the American media could learn a few things from him-if they had the ability to learn.
Exactly what I was thinking! No nasty shrews, just a calm laid back interview.
“Its really two separate operations that are coordinated.”
This is a problem. IMO, of course. For example, on the so-called “coordinated” front, Israel keeps taking people out, as the U.S. is trying to open channels of negotiations, particularly via Pakistan. And Pakistan has expressed… shall we say… significant concern… recently.
“”They had their coordinates’: Israel dropped Iran’s Aragchi, Qalibaf from hit list on Pakistan’s request?”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/they-had-their-coordinates-israel-dropped-irans-araqchi-qalibaf-from-hit-list-on-pakistans-request/articleshow/129818457.cms
Pakistan on Thursday claimed Israel took Iranian foreign minister Abbas Aragchi and its parliament’s speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf off from its hit list on Islamabad’s request to Washington to “not to target them”.
A Pakistani official told Reuters, “The Israelis had their … coordinates and wanted to take them out, we told the US if they are also eliminated then there is no one else to talk to, hence the US asked the Israelis to back off.”
According to the official, Israeli forces earlier had obtained precise coordinates of the two senior Iranian leaders and were preparing for possible strikes. However, Pakistan intervened diplomatically, urging the United States not to approve any action against them.
Islamabad argued that eliminating both officials would leave Tehran with “no one else to talk to,” complicating efforts at de-escalation amid the widening conflict involving Israel, the US and Iran.
This comes a day after reports of Israel granting a “temporary immunity” to both Aragchi and Qalibaf.
According to Israel’s Channel 14, the immunity being extended to Iranian figures on Wednesday is to remain in force for at least the full five days the negotiations with Tehran are said to be under way.
The revelation comes after US President Donald Trump said discussions were taking place with Iranian officials and suggested the war could be nearing an end, claims that Iran’s government has publicly denied.
Trump has described the contacts as “productive” and suggested progress was being made, but Tehran’s authorities have rejected such claims.
If anybody thinks this is a great strategy, then we’re on different pages entirely.
So… yah… a real Sh*t Show over there with Israel just doing it’s own thing… IMO, of course.
On the other hand Israel wants to kill you, but….. if you play nice with America we can you know… keep them on a leash.
Of course there is no leverage there whatsoever……
But Pakistan was the central figure here, and I think that’s the critical piece that drives home the disconnect. If it’s just “sources in the White House”, or whatever, the story would be different.
I’m curious as to what kind of negotiation would be done with advocates of ‘death to America’, or America is the ‘great Satan’. Negotiations with Iran have not worked for 47 years. It’s folly to think they would be honorable in negotiations now, or that any negotiation would change the tenet of Islamic radicalism.
Well, Trump thinks it’s possible to negotiate with them… he keeps talking about it…
Another unnamed source in the article, no different then our msm.
Yes, I’m sure the Government of Pakistan has an ulterior motive to lie about something of critical importance to their own national security.
Rubio speaks authoritively and briskly. Very impressive.
I’m very impressed with Rubio and starting to believe President Trump has made a Great impression on him !!!!
I’m waiting to hear all enriched uranium Iran now has in their possession is in the custody of the US.
That and nothing less, to declare mission accomplished.
According to a prof of mine, if they kept the enrichment pace they had in 2007, they have enough….
Am healthy, brakes work, not suicidal….
Rubio is the epitome of articulation.
Again, a clear articulation by Sect. Rubio of our nearly accomplished objectives that do NOT include regime change. That may be an objective of Israel but only a possible by-product for us. I doubt the consistent message will convince the surprising number of neocons in our movement (MAGAcons) who want US troops to accomplish regime change. But if it does happen, it will be a by-product, not an objective, hopefully achieved without ground troop intervention.
But it DOES include regime change!
It is a priority that the current regime goes away.
What most people think of when the term “regime change” is used is that we would ALSO install tne replacement.
Rhat is not happening. We really don’t care who takes over as long as they don’t want nukes and missles.
Think Venezuela. Madura gone. But WE did not install tne replacement.
You are projecting. The Secretary specifically said regime change is not an objective. Can’t be clearer.
It is not a stated objective of ours but it is something Israel wants.
At the start of the interview Sec. Rubio said if we have an opportunity to see Iran led by people who want to serve the Iranian people (in other words not the IRGC), we would take it. See approx. 1.30.
“something Israel wants”
Not “America First”, by definition.
There doesnt have to be new people in place, just in a change the regimes attitude.
an adjustment is as good as a new regime.
one can even say the regime changed
When you start off by killing the leader and most of those in power, you have already accomplished Regime change.
Such semantics!! Our objective is not to change the regime, but to kill or at least neutralize it from the top down. We are playing whack-a-mole every time a new leader is announced.
If a regime ceases to exist, you don’t have to change it. If they don’t have weapons, they can be beat to death with sandals by the actual Persian citizens.
Who’s we? Israel is targeting and killing Iran’s leadership. Sect. Rubio has stated our four objectives multiple times at every presser and killing mullahs isn’t one of them.
I want Rubio for president.
He has definitely improved his resume and gained a lot of experience since becoming Secretary of State along with wearing all of the hats the President keeps giving him.
Plus he has the best example to follow of how to be President in PDJT.
IMHO, JD wouldn’t be a shoe-in for the nomination if Marco hadn’t said he won’t run if JD does.
But is he a natural born citizen?
If President Trump does not claw back the term that was denied to him by the BIG STEAL, I also want Rubio for President. I think I can get some sleep tonight after listening to him in this interview. Peace To All.
He really had two terms stolen from him. They trashed his first term with lack of cooperation, his second by the steal, and they falsely tried to arrest him, slam him, neutralize him. Then while campaigning, his campaing and prep time for president was lost.
I pray he is still able to serve us in 2030. It might be a better victory to undo all the malicious and illegal things that were done during the biden presidency: Laws, borders, illegal immigrants, policy decisions, court appointments, DA appoitnments, executive directives
Also, once Obama is convicted of dishonestly running, and his criminal intent from the beginning, lets undo every destructive thing he did during his two stolen terms. Take everything from 2009 to 2017
Are you thinking anytime soon…after a pair of resignations perhaps? Although Vance would probably do a fine job as President…he would prove a more fitting choice than Ford was.
In my opinion, this whole Iran thing is actually about kicking Qatar out of the gas market.
Remember that the war in Syria started because Qatar wanted a gas pipeline from Qatar to Turkey (through Syria, among others) and then to Europe. Of course, the Russians did not want that and their puppet in Syria said no. And for that the civil war started with the goal of removing the guy who said no. But as their gas was banned in Europe, the Russians no longer cared about the Qatari gas and about Bashar, whose regime was quickly removed.
Now, Israel is about to become a big player on the gas market due to the huge reserves discovered in the Mediterranean. They already built a pipeline to Egypt and they are building one to Greece. So they absolutely don’t need Qatar to bother them with its gas. Since Syria is now run by an Israeli puppet, that route is gone for the Qataris. And with their energy infrastructure being bombed now by Iran, Qatar screwed.
Tehran getting brutally pounded…
https://x.com/FazelHawramy/status/2038257610080632941?s=20
Marco Rubio is always a pleasure to listen to. I will say, however, that this interview doesn’t really address the elephant in the room, and that’s the ‘death cult’ ideology of the Islamic clerics that have been running Iran. These are people that honor and reward death, where they and their followers gladly put themselves in situations where, through death, they will be martyred. There is no way that sun a culture can govern a country into prosperity.
Marco Rubio calmly and dispassionately explains the crucial United State’s role in the Middle East, NATO, and the Western Hemisphere.
Trump, walking heavily and wielding a very huge stick, Trump says the same things with more passion. The love for America are in both these men!
Rubio is stellar
It is still amazing to me just how far a bunch of madmen managed to get, in 47 years, by means of ruthless intimidation.
Marco Rubio:
Iran — “Regime change has never been our objective.”
Cuba — “To fix Cuba, you have to change the government.”
So it’s regime change for Cuba, but not for Iran. I don’t understand, but then I don’t have a dedicated cheering section of adoring fans and groupies.
I have long thought that Al Jazeera was less anti-American than the NYT. (Low bar alert.) But seriously, they do a better job than any of the MSM in the US or Europe.