Rational Security: The “Sara-FIN” Edition

Sep 24, 2023

Lawfare colleagues Eric Ciaramella and Saraphin Dhanani join Quinta and Scott to analyze President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's speeches. They discuss Canada's serious allegation against the Indian government and the implications for U.S.-India relations. The Biden administration's deal with Iran, involving the exchange of imprisoned nationals, is also debated. They explore the historical context of Sikh separatist movements and the challenges of extradition. The power of the Indian diaspora and India's response to criticism are examined, as well as the complexities of the hostage exchange with Iran.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

Discussion of New York City weather and guest appearances

02:32 • 2min

Supporting Ukraine, India's Allegation, and Deal with Iran

04:56 • 26min

Tensions between India and Sikh diaspora, Modi government's crackdown, and international implications

31:00 • 3min

Extradition Challenges and the Backsliding of Indian Democracy

34:00 • 3min

India's Response to Criticism and the Power of the Indian Diaspora

36:51 • 11min

The Biden administration's hostage exchange with Iran

47:32 • 18min

Recommendations and Concluding Remarks

01:05:28 • 2min

This week on Rational Security, Quinta and Scott were joined by Lawfare colleagues Eric Ciaramella and Saraphin Dhanani, the latter for her last episode of RatSec before departing Lawfare, to break down the week’s big national security news stories, including:

“UNGA UNGA Party.” President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy made back-to-back addresses to the U.N. General Assembly, which is gathered in New York for its annual summit this week. What should we make of their statements? Might this be a turning point for the conflict—and, if so, in which direction?
“Et Tu, Modi?” Canada has leveled a serious allegation against the government of India: that it was directly involved in the recent assassination of a Sikh separatist leader (and Canadian citizen) on Canadian soil—something that promises to complicate U.S. efforts to bring India into the fold as a balance to China. How credible are these claims and what might they mean?
“Ransomwhere?” The Biden administration has struck a deal with the government of Iran, exchanging several imprisoned Iranian nationals and $6 billion in frozen oil revenue for five U.S. nationals held by Iran and their spouses. Is this negotiating with terrorists, a new opening for Iran negotiations, or something else entirely?

For object lessons, Quinta recommended Tyler Austin Harper’s penetrating review of Richard Hanania’s “The Origins of Woke.” Eric also went the critic’s route and passed along Gary Shteyngart’s withering review of Walter Isaacson’s new Elon Musk biography. Scott urged anyone with a junior mycologist at home to run out and find Elise Gravel’s charming “The Mushroom Fan Club.” And Saraphin gave a double-headed finale: BBC’s controversial documentary “India: The Modi Question,” which has been banned in India; and David Brooks’ recent article, “How America Got Mean.”

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