On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to Prof. Steven Simon, NSC senior director for transnational threats under President Bill Clinton and NSC senior director for Middle East and North Africa under President Barack Obama. He discusses his reaction to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee meeting convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, responsible for the biggest breach of US intelligence in history, the lack of any real set compass for Donald Trump as regards foreign policy with constant U-turns, Russia’s standing in the Middle East following the fall of Bashar Assad in Syria, and Trump’s welcoming of Al-Sharaa/Al-Jolani to the White House. In the second half of the interview, Afshin Rattansi challenges Simon on why the US had been meddling in Syria, leading to more bloodshed, and the infamous admission by Jake Sullivan that the US was on Al-Qaeda’s side in Syria. The conversation then moves into Iran realizing that negotiations with the US over its nuclear program are pointless and the threat of attack by the US and Israel again, how long Al-Jolani/Al-Sharaa can remain in power, and more.
