Joel Rayburn, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, joined NTD to discuss President Donald Trump’s objectives and successes in the early days of Operation Epic Fury in light of the president’s expected address to the nation on Wednesday evening, and to assess the accomplishments of the operation.
Rayburn says he doesn’t believe the Iranian regime can continue to suppress the people of Iran after being devastated on a military level and suffering such degradation of its leadership.
He also discussed Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments about the limits of the United States’ membership in NATO, and his characterization of the alliance as a “one-way street.”
Rayburn says that NATO is fundamentally sound, but that a few outliers—like Spain’s political stance against the U.S. and Israel—need to be scrutinized in the aftermath of the war in Iran.
He says some of America’s European allies have been forward-leaning in assisting Gulf partners and allies in their own defense and intelligence support, and have recognized the mounting frustration Trump and Rubio have had with NATO partners. Rayburn also suggested there will likely be a reckoning for those countries that overtly denied overflight and base access to the United States.