James O'Brien Daily Hundreds of Iranian protestors killed - should the US intervene?
Jan 12, 2026
The podcast dives into the alarming death toll of over 500 protesters in Iran and debates the potential for US military intervention. It explores the historical context of past interventions and the mixed opinions among Iranians about external help. The discussion shifts to a surprising UK poll highlighting misconceptions about immigration, revealing how perceptions can often cloud the truth. Insightful callers weigh in on the risks of both intervening in Iran and the rising anti-immigration sentiment in the UK, fostering a rich dialogue around these pressing issues.
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History Warns Against Western Intervention
- James O'Brien argues Western military interventions in the Middle East rarely end well based on recent history.
- He questions whether US-led action in Iran would truly help Iranians given past failures in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan.
Question Who Benefits From Intervention
- James urges listeners to consider whether Western intervention is driven by geopolitics and who benefits.
- He advises scepticism about US motives given its leadership and historical self-interest.
Organic Change Versus Imposed Regimes
- James highlights Syria as an example where non-intervention left outcomes that, while imperfect, were domestically driven.
- He contrasts organic internal change with externally imposed regimes and doubts imposed solutions succeed.