Foreign wars opening statements

This is what human decency demands. You don't let a radical regime close off the global economy by firing Shahid missiles into nations that did nothing, right? They're firing into civilians in the United Arab Emirates even just this week. Um, that's just not something that the world can accept, and so this monster is worthy of a hunt.

You, you, you do know, Mike, that we started the war [audience applauding].

No, absolutely not. Absolutely not. Oh, no. No, no, no. Stephen-

They w- they weren't firing those missiles until-

Welcome-

... Israel and the United States attacked Iran

... wel-

You do understand this, right?

Wel- wel- welcome to 1979 when the revolutionary regime began to kill Europeans.

You, you do know that we overthrew the democratically elected government in 1954? [audience applauding]

Well, just, just for the record, you talk- you, you were talking about this-

You, you, you don't think Iran has ... You think Iran's forgotten about that?

No, I suspect they've not.

You don't think Iran remembers that we supported Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq War?

I, I, I know, I know this.

You think they've forgotten about this?

I, I know this.

Other countries have history.

Do you think Iran is a monster?

No.

[instrumental music] Welcome to this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast. On this episode, we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk debate on foreign wars, which took place last Wednesday, May 20th, in front of a packed audience at Toronto's Meridian Hall. Against the backdrop of America's war with Iran, and after nearly three decades of disastrous Middle East interventions, the debate asked whether the US should continue intervening abroad, and what that means for the future of geopolitics. The resolution was, be it resolved, don't go hunting monsters. Arguing against the motion was Mike Pompeo, the 70th US Secretary of State, former director of the CIA, and four-term US congressman. He was joined by Toria Nuland, whose 35-year career in the US Foreign Service includes roles as Acting Deputy Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs, and US Ambassador to NATO. Arguing in favor of the motion were two former Munk debaters and the world's leading proponents of US foreign policy and military restraint, John Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, and Stephen Walt, Professor of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School. As with all of our Munk debates, the live audience voted on this resolution prior to hearing the debate. Initially, 55% of attendees favored the debate motion, and 45% were opposed. Let's now join the debate in progress with Stephen Walt giving his opening statement, arguing in favor of the motion, be it resolved, don't go hunting monsters.

This is a debate between realists and crusaders. We all believe the United States should be actively engaged in the world and support a rules-based order. What we're debating is whether America should be a crusader state that tries to remake the world by overthrowing other governments. Our opponents say yes. We say no. In our view, the United States should use its power