Rational Security: The “Exit, Pursued by a Bear Cub” Edition

Aug 8, 2024

Benjamin Wittes, a national security expert and co-host emeritus, shares insights on escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly the potential fallout from the assassination of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The discussion delves into Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's surprising intervention in 9/11 plea agreements, raising questions about military justice. Wittes also explores a significant U.S.-Russia detainee exchange, highlighting the moral complexities and implications for future negotiations. The conversation balances serious issues with humorous anecdotes, keeping listeners engaged.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Political Theater and Geopolitical Tensions

02:01 • 26min

Withdrawal of Plea Agreements in 9/11 Trials

28:00 • 6min

Exploring Services for Mobile, Weight Loss, and Personal Privacy

34:00 • 5min

Detainee Dilemmas at Guantanamo

39:15 • 11min

The Intricacies of U.S.-Russia Detainee Exchanges

49:55 • 16min

Reflections and Revelations

01:05:35 • 9min

Chalk, Parenthood, and Endless Connectivity

01:14:47 • 2min

This week, Alan, Quinta, and Scott were joined by co-host emeritus Benjamin Wittes to talk through the week's very big national security news stories, including:

“The Waiting Game.” The Middle East is on edge this week as it awaits a possible attack by Iran or Hezbollah on Israel in response to the suspected assassination of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders last week, including the chairman of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed while visiting Tehran for the swearing in of its new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. What might a response look like, if there is one? And what does it mean for the region, including the prospects of a Gaza ceasefire?
“Stay Weird, Austin.” Just days after the announcement of a long-negotiated plea deal for three of the four remaining defendants in the military commission trial relating to the 9/11 attacks, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin took the surprising and still largely unexplained move of intervening to rescind that deal and remove the convening authority that had approved it. What can explain Austin’s actions? What will they mean for the future of the military commissions?
“A Favorable Exchange Rate.” In a surprise move, the Biden administration and several European allies concluded a massive prisoner exchange with Russia, which resulted in the release of 16 detained U.S. and European nationals and Russian dissidents, among them Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. In exchange, Russia received eight Russian agents, including convicted assassin Vadim Krasikov. Is this a win for the Biden administration? What does it tell us about the state of hostage politics—and its future?

For object lessons, Alan expressed his new passion for pottery. Quinta endorsed synchronized/artistic swimming as her favorite Olympic event, thanks in part to a surprise cameo from Jason Momoa. Scott recommended the movie Thelma for a funny and compassionate take on aging. And Ben shared how a recent near-death experience led him to dump chalk dust outside the Russian Embassy.

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