Mark Perry returns to the show to discuss his latest article in the American Conservative, detailing how Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has the president’s ear in the Middle East and how Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis have been attempting to clean up Kushner’s mess in the Gulf States. Perry also discusses why war with Iran has some supporters in the White House, but many in the Pentagon and military have grown wary of constant intervention in the Middle East—not to mention that regime change in Tehran would be all but impossible. And the never-ending war in Afghanistan: While Trump is skeptical about adding troops in Afghanistan, it looks likely that the U.S. will send 4,000 more troops to Afghanistan to continue fighting a war that’s already been lost.

Perry is the author of Talking to Terrorists: Why America Must Engage with its Enemies and The Most Dangerous Man in America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur. His next book, The Pentagon’s Wars will be released in October. Mark Perry is on Twitter @MarkPerryDC.

Discussed on the show:

• 1996 coup in Qatar supported by the Saudis
• “White House Officials Push for Widening War in Syria Over Pentagon Objections,” ForeignPolicy.com
• “James Mattis’ 33-Year Grudge Against Iran,” by Mark Perry
• “The White House’s Warning To Syria Was Kept Close — But Not From Russia,” Nancy Youssef
• Islamic Dawa Party
• (4,000) More troops in Afghanistan

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