GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution

The War in Israel and the War at Home | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution

Oct 18, 2023

Hoover senior fellow John H. Cochrane, along with Niall Ferguson and H.R. McMaster, discuss the recent conflict in Israel, failures in intelligence gathering, and America's strategic choices. They also reflect on the anti-Israel backlash in American universities and the current state of higher education. The conversation further explores topics like Iranian influence, discrimination in academic jobs, dissatisfaction in Iran, and the need for regime change. They conclude with discussions about reading materials, ideal guests, and technological advancements.

56:43

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John H. Cochrane

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Quick takeaways

The US should impose strong sanctions and demonstrate deterrence to limit Iran's ability to promote instability and disrupt international security.

Staying informed about the Middle East requires going beyond mainstream media and relying on experts, think tanks, and academic institutions for nuanced analysis.

Deep dives

Approach to Limiting Iran's Influence

To limit Iran's ability to promote instability and disrupt international security, the US should act decisively and impose costs on Iran beyond what they factor into their decisions. This can be achieved through imposing strong sanctions, interdicting Iran's resources and support for terrorist groups, and demonstrating deterrence through resolute responses to any aggression. Additionally, supporting the Iranian people's desire for regime change and fostering opposition groups can pave the way for a more liberal and democratic Iran.

Why Hamas Started War

00:55

The Complexity of Israeli Intelligence

01:20

Sources for In-depth Analysis of Middle East Dynamics

02:21

Introduction

5min

Israel's Concerns and Need for Support

17min

Israel, Palestine, and the Response of the Arab World

11min

Political Activism and Discrimination in Academic Jobs

16min

Desire for Regime Change and Popular Dissatisfaction in Iran

4min

Reading materials, ideal guests, and the lack of the Churchillian Spirit

2min

Speculating Ben Franklin's Reaction to Technological Advancements and Material Prosperity

2min

Recorded live at the Hoover Institution’s fall retreat: Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss unfolding events in the Middle East—Israel’s response, failures in intelligence gathering, plus America’s strategic choices vis-à-vis a complicit Iran. The trio then reflects on what an anti-Israeli backlash on the campuses of America’s elite universities—students and faculty denouncing the initial victims as aggressors, university leaders offering only lackluster “word salads”—says about the current state of higher education in the United States.

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