How did Israeli intelligence miss an attack of this scale that Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah had allegedly been planning for the past year? What is coming next as Israel moves to possibly eliminate Hamas once and for all? And why did Israel's enemies choose NOW to attack? Glenn speaks with "The Terminal List" author and former Navy SEAL Jack Carr, who believes the timing is no coincidence, especially since the U.S. was pushing to influence Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. Plus, he and Glenn discuss how the United States should respond to the war.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: All right. Jack Carr is the New York Times number one best-selling author. He is the author of the Terminal List series. He's also a former Navy SEAL, and he's been digging into Israel and Hamas, researching a book that is coming out next year.
And so I wanted to give him a chance to maybe share some of the things that he's learned to give us some perspective on why now, what -- what is it this mean?
If Iran is involved, does that mean Russia is involved. What are we headed for?
Welcome, Jack. How are you?
JACK: Well, it's great to be here. How raw, sir?
GLENN: I'm very good. I'm very good. I'm not even an enlisted man. So I'm certainly not served.
So, Jack, the -- Israel thought -- they were duped. They thought that Hamas had been tamed some. They cared about, you know, making money, and taking care of their people.
And Hamas did a really good job. In reading some of the articles that are out now. Did a really good job of duping them into this.
But Iran seems to be involved, even though our president says, there's no evidence of that.
Is there any evidence?
I mean, that makes total sense. And what does that mean?
JACK: Oh, yes. There's a lot to unpack.
But really, the Israel that Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran was dealing with last week, that's a different Israel than they're dealing with today most certainly. And we talked about being duped into something that was really a form of quasi-tolerance. Meaning Israel had tolerated a certain level of violence from Hamas, and they thought they could contain Hamas. They could live with that certain type of violence. They thought Hamas was tolerable, containable in Gaza. Not today.
That has all changed over the weekend. But also violence perpetrated on Israel, is something they have never seen before at this -- in these numbers, grandmothers, children. Women. Killed, raped, tortured. And a friend in Israel, who is with the operation forces there, has been texting me throughout the weekend and the last couple of days here. And he said, what we're seeing in these videos that are coming out, is not even the half of it. It's so much worse than what they're seeing. And they're in the thick of it now.
GLENN: So you look at some of these things, and you see that 900 Israelis died. Some of them were Americans.
They died. In horrific ways. It was an execution squad, really. And a kidnapping squad. As we -- we watch these things, we have to understand, the -- the population is only 9 million people. Over in Israel.
So that's like casualties of 30,000 people being tortured and raped and killed here in America. This is a huge impact.
However, the -- the way Israel usually deals with it. I think what people don't understand is that it has changed. Normally, they will go and then as soon as they respond, then the world starts to say, oh, you've got to stop the killing. This is horrible.
I don't think Israel is going to stop this time.
JACK: I don't think so either. And for the last decade, they've had the same kind of policies towards Gaza, that have been remaining in effect. It has been semi-working. But I think that they're going to look at those policies, realize those policies were a failure. All they did was to set up Hamas to do what they did over the weekend. And, of course, there's a few wild cards in there as well. Hezbollah in the north.
There's something between 100,000. 150,000 rockets pointed right at Israel. If that was acceptable last week. I don't just that was acceptable for much longer.
Because soon that becomes 200,000 rockets. 250,000 rockets. 300,000 rockets. Eventually buying time, where there are enough forces to really do some damage in Israel. So I think things have shifted across-the-board. And Hamas will look at this as their most successful operation in history.
But, I mean, what this has been, an opportunity, is a horrible word to use here. But that's really what it is for Israel, to hit Hamas so hard, it will take them texting to recover. And I don't think you can eliminate them totally as we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan over 20 years, of trying to get with different factions over there, in those two areas.
They can certainly set them back decades.
GLENN: So this is really -- if you look at some of the videos. They were beheading people. One with a garden hoe. This is the same kind of stuff we had from ISIS. What is the difference between those two, if there is any. And where is the connection to Iran?
JACK: Difference is where they came from. We talked about terroristic tactics. What that means, that's focusing on civilian targets. Not focusing on military targets. That's really what differentiates us from our enemy. And why it's so important for us to maintain that high ground. But the question is: Why now?
Hamas, and, really, by proxy Iran and possibly Russia, chose the time and the place of this engagement. So that's the question geopolitically. Why right now?
And the question is, because Israel is so divided, they have issues with their judicial and executive branch. And so they're divided probably like never before. US is very weak. The world, Hamas, Israel, or Iran, Russia, saw our withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Saw the billions of dollars towards Ukraine. See the division here. See our leaders in the White House.
So there's a lot of things on the table with just those things.
And then we have the Israel, Saudi Arabia, just on the brink of essentially like a trilateral type of agreement, that deals with oil, increasing production, decreasing price, and a defense pact. I
You know, I think that's what it really is. I think that's what it is on the surface. I have no insider information here.
Is that it includes defense by nuclear weapons. So it would make -- possibly make Saudi Arabia the first nuclear power, in the Middle East, aside from Israel who doesn't talk about that sort of a thing.
Because on the other side, you have Iran, Russia, and China. And China is Iran's largest trading partner.
Two years ago, they signed a 25-year strategic partnership. So it is in China's interests, and Russia's interests to have Iran as the dominant nuclear power in the region.
So there's -- those are the two sides right there. US, Israel, Saudi Arabia. Iran, Russia, China. But I think what this does. What this Hamas incursion does really, is just delay possibly this agreement. I think it's going to happen. It just delays it. We'll see how long.
GLENN: Where would they be getting the nukes?
JACK: From -- well, from the United States. Yeah. So -- and after I talked about this last night, on a news hit, and someone sent me an article from the times of Israel, in which Netanyahu, actually says that that's a possibility on the table. I didn't know that before.
But so that was kind of nice to see that last night after I came off the air. But really, nuclear supremacy in the United States is what's on the table here.
GLENN: So we don't have a good relationship currently with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Or do we?
JACK: I think it's -- it is -- you never know what you're looking at from the outside. But what's drastically and logically what's happening behind closed doors there. Is that US, Israel, Saudi Arabia are going to lead the way with this trilateral agreement to really change the -- the nature of the Middle East going forward.
So that's -- that's on the table. And, of course, Iran doesn't want that. Of course, Russia doesn't want that. Of course, China doesn't want that.
STU: So if Iran was behind this. Is Russia?
JACK: And really manipulate them to get what you want, at the -- at the larger, more established power. So you can almost -- I was going to say, you almost feel sorry, that they're manipulated like that. But that's the way of the world.
GLENN: So, Jack, as I've been thinking about this. I mean, Israel is one of our strongest allies. One of our best allies. They're the most like us in the Middle East for sure, and the only ones that I think, you know, would fight on the right side. The other side is Barbaric and evil, I think. And, you know, I hate to abandon Israel. But I also hate to get roped into a war with Russia and Iran, and possibly do the things they want us to do.
Because I think -- and you would know better than I. I think they're doing to us, what we did to the former Soviet Union. We're bankrupt them. We're dividing them from the inside. We're roping them into wars.
And everybody knows we're on the brink of -- of destruction here. What should we do to help the Israelis?
Because I also feel strongly, we need to help them.
JACK: Right. And I don't think the -- I agree with your assessment. But the division seems to be coming. It doesn't take too much to divide us. A little prod here. A little comment there.
But we're pretty good at dividing ourselves from the inside, which is absolutely heartbreaking.
Obviously at the end of World War II, we surprised the world by saying we were going to essentially defend trade routes around the world, that was going to be a benefit for all countries, coming out of the Second World War, and we just moved to carry a battle group, to send a very strong issue to Iran.
So our administration says, that there's no evidence linking Iran to the attacks. We did move a carrier to send a pretty clear message to Iran and in support of Israel. So that's something right there.
But we do move traps around the world, quite frankly. Obviously from the end of World War II, up to today, is the major way we project our strength. And really keep the world safe. And protect trade. Has worked up to this point. But now we're kind of retreating from that.
We don't have as many ships as we used to have. China is obviously building up their Navy. So things are shifting geopolitically in the world, as far as the military powers go. No doubt about that.
How long will that take? Not exactly sure. But there is a shift going on. What else can we do to support Israel?
I'm not sure they need much from us. Meaning we put a carrier battle group right there, if things do escalate, and Hezbollah does more in the North.
And something spills over into Iran. And then perhaps. But gloves are off right now.
Israel restraint is out the window.
They have restrained themselves over the last at least decade, towards Hamas. Maybe towards Hezbollah.
Ever strange now, completely out the window.
And Hamas has really thought that other insurgent groups, thought of Israel as an occupying nation, a colonial nation for lack of a better term. And they looked to the past, to the French Nazi area. They looked to the British in Kenya or India.
But the difference is, and for some reason, Hamas and other groups don't recognize this.
The French has France to go back to.
The British had Britain to go back to. Israel doesn't have anywhere to go. They're going to stand and fight. They have no other choice
NAFTA, their president. President Herzog, he addressed the nation in the weeks of the attacks. Concluded his remarks with something along the lines of, this time the state of Israel will win. We have no other choice.
GLENN: Okay.
Jack, I want to take you one more place. Hang on for 60 seconds.
And then I want to talk to you about our readiness as a nation.
In Land O' Lakes Florida, Tunnel2Towers Foundation is building a community called the Let Us Do Good Village, which will have about 100 homes for the program participants.
Now, there are already two families that moved in, a gold star family, and a severely injured hero who served our nation, and more will come.
This is a special place where families will be able to come together and heal. It's a place where their children can grow up and experience life together, and it's all thanks to an amazing donation for the land on which it sits.
Of course, it's also thanks to your generosity. The Let Us Do Good Village.
It can be the first of many communities all over the country like it, that this is your opportunity to help America's greatest heroes and their families heal together and grow together.
With every mortgage-free home. The foundation makes good on its promise to do good. And a never forget the sacrifices you're heroes have made for our country and our communities. Donate $11 a month, at Tunnel2Towers, T2T.org. That's T2T.org.
Ten-second station ID.
(music)
So the White House, we're talking to Jack Carr, said the president will struggle to help Israel replenish stockpiles of ammunition, as it gears up for full-scale war against the Iranian-backed terrorists in the back region.
The congressional official told the Wall Street Journal that they expect Israel to request advanced US-produced GBU 39 small diameter bombs.
Small arms. Ammunition. And 122-millimeter tank rounds, mortars, and more.
The officials said, being able to supply Israel with enough to mere interceptors to replenish their Iron Dome was most worrisome. And the biggest problem the administration will face.
How -- how -- how prepared are we, or are we just giving everything away?
JACK: Yeah. That's a great question. And one that our enemies are certainly asking. And certainly watching. They're seeing untold billions go to Ukraine, along with arms. And in other places around the world, of course, as well. Which begs the question: Well, how able are we to defend ourselves in a one-front war? A two-front war? A three-front?
And the answer to that, if you're looking from the outside, is we're probably not as prepared as a decade ago, two decades ago, even three, when we really draw down -- drew down at the end of the Cold War.
So the other side of this though, is that we have experience as a tactical level. We bring it at the strategic level. We have to be so adept with the senior level military leaders and politicians, even bureaucrats. But at the tactical level.
We have the most experienced force that we have ever had. Because that tactical level. Those E2s, E3s, E4s, E5s, E6s, E7s. Those officers who are now majors and lieutenant colonels.
They were once brand-new officers in '01, '02, '03, fighting in Iraq, fighting in Afghanistan. And they're coming up the ranks. They don't have as much to work with. But they have experience. So that's what we have. And that's something we need to capitalize on.
But experience without some of those tools. It makes things a little more difficult. So it's certainly something that we need to be aware of, that the next administration, needs to be aware of.
And if you want to capitalize on this experience, not let it go to waste. You want to turn those lessons we've turned in the last 20 years into wisdom, going forward.
Well, now we need to equip those soldiers, sailors, Marines. That have the experience. Sacrifice so much. With the tools they need to defend the nation.
GLENN: Jack Carr. Thank you so much.
When does your new book come out?
JACK: Next May. It's on the books right now. But my first non-fiction which actually has the Hezbollah connection. It's called Targeted.
My first non-fiction. 1983. Marine Barracks bombing.
GLENN: Wow.
JACK: It's coming out next fall.
So two books in the works for 2024.
GLENN: Great. Thank you, Jack. I appreciate it.
JACK: Thanks so much, take care.
GLENN: You bet. Jack Carr.
