Is the war going well? - a debate between Dan Shapiro and Mark Dubowitz
4/13/202651 min
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According to a recent CBS / YouGov poll, 41% of Americans think that the war with Iran is going well, while 59% believe it is going badly.
Can a war be won when the country fighting it doesn’t agree on whether it’s going well?
As the U.S. moves to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following failed negotiations, the debate is no longer just about battlefield gains, it’s about strategy, legitimacy, and what success really means. Dan Senor brings together former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and FDD CEO Mark Dubowitz for a good-faith debate on where the war stands and where it should go next. From military progress to political will, and from alliance dynamics to endgame scenarios, this conversation unpacks the fault lines shaping the American debate.
In this episode:
- Where do things stand after the failed U.S–Iran talks and the Hormuz blockade?
- How Dan and Mark define whether the war is “going well”
- What the U.S. and Israel have actually achieved militarily
- Can the war be won if the Iranian regime remains intact
- What economic, political, and human costs should Americans expect from this war?
- How is the war affecting U.S. alliances and global standing?
- Is the best path forward to escalate, contain, or shift strategy?
- What happens if the war ends before achieving its core objectives?
This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.
Listen to Mark’s podcast The Iran Breakdown.
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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDan Senor· Host0:00
[instrumental music] War has returned to Israel. Israelis have spent the last days in their safe rooms and in public bomb shelters. Buildings have been hit, and tragically, civilians have been killed. As Israel and the United States continue their military offensive, Israelis brace for sustained rocket fire. And at the scene of these attacks, United Hatzalah volunteers, EMTs, medics, paramedics, and doctors are working to save lives, often showing up in the first minutes to evacuate people stuck in buildings, supply medical care to the wounded, and provide first aid to many others impacted. Their volunteers are often in the critical first minutes after rocket impact. Their services, which are always free, are a vital lifeline to the people of Israel. You can make sure that they have the life-saving equipment and supplies they need right now; bulletproof vests and helmets, tactical stretchers for evacuations, oxygen kits, and whatever else they need to meet this moment in Israel. Visit israelrescue.org/callmeback. That's israelrescue.org/callmeback. Or go to the link in my show notes to learn more and support United Hatzalah's critical efforts.
Speaker 11:16
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