To moderate this extremely timely panel about the iranian elections and also about President Trumps visit to the middle east. Before we start, i want to thank congressman jared huffman, thanks to him we have the room. Also the fund and the Rockefeller Fund for supporting the work that we do. Weve got a great panel. E work. Weve got a great panel. We will start with a bestselling author of fabulous books about iran including the ayatollah begs to differ and the ayatollahs democracy. He has spent a lot of time going back and forth between the u. S. And iran and he certainly understands the political dynamics of the country very well. Then we will have a cofounder and executive director of the International Civil Society Action network. She has published extensively on gender, peace and Security Issues and also knows a great deal about iran and regional dynamics. Finally nyack Research Director and he came here after serving at the state department in the office of iranian affairs. We wil
To moderate this extremely timely panel about the iranian elections and also about President Trumps visit to the middle east. Before we start, i want to thank congressman jared huffman, thanks to him we have the room. Also the fund and the Rockefeller Fund for supporting the work that we do. Weve got a great panel. E work. Weve got a great panel. We will start with a bestselling author of fabulous books about iran including the ayatollah begs to differ and the ayatollahs democracy. He has spent a lot of time going back and forth between the u. S. And iran and he certainly understands the political dynamics of the country very well. Then we will have a cofounder and executive director of the International Civil Society Action network. She has published extensively on gender, peace and Security Issues and also knows a great deal about iran and regional dynamics. Finally nyack Research Director and he came here after serving at the state department in the office of iranian affairs. We wil
Seats. We are almost ready to start. Welcome everyone. I am barbara slavin. I am absolutely delighted that the National Iranian American Council has asked me to moderate this timely panel about the iranian elections. Before we start, i want to think congressman jared huffman, thanks to him we have the room. The Rockefeller Brothers fund for supporting the work that we do. We have a great panel. Hooman majd. T with he spent a lot of time going back and forth between the u. S. And ironic. He understands the political dynamic. We will have sanam naraghianderlini. Also, knows a lot about regional dynamics. Reza marashi. We will again up with a few questions from me and we will open up to you. Lots and lots to talk about. Let me begin by asking the panelists for their impressions of a split screen reality that we had over the last few days. We had a iranians dancing in the streets because they elected the elected president rouhani and we had President Trump giving a stern warning. What are
Group. President s that have had key advisers, the kissingers, the brzezinskis, the cheneys that sort of dominate the advice in one way or another. President s that have used their cabinet. President s that rely on the National Security council or a handful of trusted adviser. So the analysis, the intelligence which has sometimes been good and sometimes catastrophic in misjudging events and how that has led us to a decision. I talk about president ial decisions in the book, whats going through the president s mind . Is there a degree of emotion . Is there Something Else thats happening . Did this catch him by surprise, or is there something beyond just the cool and cold analysis that leads to that decision . Also the strategy thats created. Before you even decided decide p onto a battlefield, i can tell you from a military generals point of view, tell me what you want me to do. You know, i was a student at the National War College as a lieutenant colonel, and we had a representative fr