Global in the Granite State

Episode 87: What's Behind War with Iran

47 years. That is how long the U.S. and Iran have been circling each other, probing for weaknesses, and demonizing the other (in many cases for good reason). Tensions reached a tipping point on February 28, 2026 and the United States, along with Israel, initiated a new wave of strikes which has lead to chaos across the Middle East. 11 countries have been targeted by retaliatory strikes from Iran and the death toll on all sides continues to rise. How did we get here? Why was now the time to act? Where does it all end and what decisions will shape the final outcome of this latest use of military force? In this month's episode, we speak with Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, where he focuses on Iran. We review the terse relationship between these two countries since the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and outline the litany of moments that have shaped the course of history. In addition, the conversation outlines how this war got started and what shape it has taken in the early days, providing key insights into possible outcomes. While much is left to be written in this story, the key moments have been set in motion. Listen to gain critical insights into this fast moving and ever changing conflict that will reverberate across the world for years to come. (Please note: This episode was recorded on February 27, one day before U.S. and Israeli airstrikes started. We have tried to capture the latest updates to the fighting, but understand this conflict has shifted rapidly in the first few days). Alex Vatanka is a Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute. He specializes in Middle Eastern regional security affairs with a particular focus on Iran. He was formerly a Senior Analyst at Jane’s Information Group in London. Alex is also a Senior Fellow in Middle East Studies at the US Air Force Special Operations School (USAFSOS) at Hurlburt Field and teaches as an Adjunct Professor at DISAS at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He has testified before the US Congress and lectured widely for both governmental and commercial audiences, including the US Departments of State and Defense, US intelligence agencies, and a list of international corporations. Born in Tehran, he holds a BA in Political Science (Sheffield University, UK), and an MA in International Relations (Essex University, UK), and is fluent in Farsi and Danish. He is the author of two books: The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran: The United States, Foreign Policy and Political Rivalry Since 1979 (2021) and Iran and Pakistan: Security, Diplomacy, and American Influence (2015). He has also written chapters for a number of books, including Authoritarianism Goes Global (2016); Handbook on Contemporary Pakistan (2017); Russia in the Middle East (2018), Winning the Battle, Losing the War: Addressing the Drivers Fueling Armed Non-state Actors and Extremist Groups (2020); Global, Regional and Local Dynamics in the Yemen Crisis (2020); Routledge Handbook of Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare Operations (2021); and Understanding New Proxy Wars (2022). He is presently working on his third book, Iran’s Arab Strategy: Defending the Homeland or Exporting Khomeinism?

Episode 86: Ukraine Four Years On

This month marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine—a conflict that has reshaped global politics, security, and the international order. To reflect on this grim anniversary, Global in the Granite State welcomes a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Sviatoslav Yuras, Ukraine’s youngest member of parliament and a recent participant in the Open World Leadership Program hosted in New Hampshire. Drawing on his experiences as both a lawmaker and a frontline soldier, Yuras offers rare insight into how Ukrainians view the war, the prospects for peace, and the hard lessons learned from broken agreements with Russia. He speaks candidly about why Ukrainians remain deeply skeptical of ceasefires without real security guarantees, how morale endures amid staggering personal sacrifice, and what “Live Free or Die” truly means when national survival is at stake. The conversation also explores the broader global implications of the war—from the authoritarian coalition backing Russia to the role of democratic accountability inside Ukraine itself, including how the country confronts corruption even in wartime. Above all, this episode asks a critical question for Americans and Granite Staters alike: why does Ukraine matter to us—and what role can citizens play in shaping what comes next? This is a sobering, hopeful, and ultimately urgent discussion about sovereignty, democracy, and the cost of indifference in a world where might is once again testing right. Sviatoslav Andriyovych Yurash is the youngest ever Ukrainian MP and a public figure. An active participant in the Revolution of Dignity [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_of_Dignity]. MP of Ukraine of the IX convocation from the "Servant of the People" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_of_the_People] party. Initiator and Chairman of the largest caucus in the history of the Parliament "Values. Dignity. Family", Initiator and Secretary of the second largest Parliamentary Caucus "Intermarium". Member of the Verkhovna Rada [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkhovna_Rada] Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Relations and Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Ukrainians Abroad.

Episode 85: What's Next in Venezuela

In the wake of the U.S. capture of Nicholás Maduro, a lot of questions have swirled around this major international event. Two things seem indisputable at this point. First, this was a near flawless and impressive operation by the U.S. military. Second, Nicholás Maduro is not a good guy. Beyond that, people around the world seem to fall into two main camps, this was a law enforcement operation taking a dangerous person off the "streets" or this was an illegal capture of a sitting leader that sets a bad precedent. As with most international events, the truth probably lands somewhere in the middle.  For this month's episode we brought back Henry Ziemer, associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, to update us on the latest information about the raid, the future of Venezuela, and what this all means for the region. This episode does not aim to decide the legality of the U.S.' action, but rather to provide key insights and context into how this may shape the world moving forward. From providing insights into the background of interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, to how the U.S. is reshaping its relationship to Latin America, listeners will come away with greater insights on this major geopolitical shake-up. Henry Ziemer is an associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he supports the program’s research agenda and coordinates event planning and outreach. He previously served as an intern for the Americas Program. His research interests include transnational organized crime and human rights and security in Central America. Mr. Ziemer holds a BA in global affairs and history from Yale University. The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is a non-partisan, non-profit, community supported organization. We do not take stances on policy, politics, politicians, or Parties. We rely upon a strong community of supporters to ensure these programs remain free and available to the public. Please consider a donation to support this engaging work.  [https://wacnh.org/donate]

Episode 84: The War the World Ignored

Sudan, once one of Africa's largest countries, has had a tumultuous history since independence in 1956 from Egypt and the United Kingdom. Over that 70 plus year history, the country has struggled through multiple civil wars, coups and coup attempts (20 overall and 7 successful), creating a very unstable and violent history. That violence continues today with a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) each holding power over vast parts of the modern day country. The most recent fighting, which kicked off in 2023, has caused over 400,000 deaths and the world's worst displacement of people, numbering over 11 million. In addition, hundreds of thousands are on the brink of starvation and the number of documented atrocities continues to rise. Yet, this is the issue the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire consistently gets asked about why this conflict does not draw more attention. In a follow on to our conversation with Susan Stigant from 2023 (you can view here [https://wacnh.org/Sudan-Conflict]), the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire spoke with Husam Mahjoub, a Sudanese journalist and activist, to gain insights into the roots of this intractable conflict and why the United States has seemed disinterested in getting involved in over a decade. This episode aims to bring valuable attention to this critical issue and to provide key insights for the listener. By engaging with this conversation, you will better understand where things stand today and hear why your voice matters in this all. To support this program, please visit wacnh.org/donate [https://wacnh.org/donate] to show the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire [https://wacnh.org] and its global community the value you find in these episodes.  Husam Mahjoub is a cofounder of Sudan Bukra, an independent nonprofit TV channel watched by millions of Sudanese viewers. A telecom professional and activist, he holds master’s degrees from the London Business School and Georgia Tech and currently lives in Austin, Texas. He has published articles on politics, human rights, the economy, culture, and international affairs

Episode 83: Is War with Venezuela Inevitable?

You have likely heard about the buildup of American naval forces in the region around Venezuela. You have also, probably, heard conflicting reports on why this is happening. Does the United States want only to target drug trafficking groups and use all tools of the US military to stop it? Are they instead building up forces to scare Venezuela's government, led by Nicolas Maduro, to fold and flee the country? Is this the prelude to a war designed to completely reshape the future of this once democratic country? In this month's episode you will hear a deep conversation about the history of this impending crisis and where things go from here. Speaking with Henry Ziemer, associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Tim Horgan outlines the various voices leading these countries down this path, explores the rhetoric and highlights the complex realities, as well as provides some predictions on outcomes, understanding there are many factors that will shape this over the next weeks, months, and perhaps years. Whether designed to simply target drug boats or something more, the clock is ticking on the potential for conflict and the public relations battle that will follow no matter what happens. Henry Ziemer is an associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he supports the program’s research agenda and coordinates event planning and outreach. He previously served as an intern for the Americas Program. His research interests include transnational organized crime and human rights and security in Central America. Mr. Ziemer holds a BA in global affairs and history from Yale University.