00:02:17.560The president's shown a willingness to use it.
00:02:19.420He also has a remarkable diplomatic team.
00:02:21.720He's shown a willingness to use that, too.
00:02:23.380And so what the president has been very clear with the Iranians, and actually I just talked to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner this morning about some of their negotiations, is the United States has certain red lines.
00:02:33.100Our primary interest here is we don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
00:02:37.800If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, there are a lot of other regimes, some friendly, some not so friendly, who would get nuclear weapons after them.0.52
00:02:44.340That would be a disaster for the American people because then you have these crazy regimes all over the world.0.81
00:02:49.420with the most dangerous weapons in the world. And that's one of the things the president has said
00:02:53.020he's going to prevent. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard today's edition of Human Events
00:02:59.120Daily. We're here live, Real America's Voice. Today is February 18th, 2026. Anno Domini.
00:03:07.720Is war with Iran imminent? Well, as we've been reporting for the last couple of weeks,
00:03:13.920We know that the president's team is meeting with Iranian diplomats and Iranian team up in Geneva right now.
00:03:21.860That's Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner. They're there on the scene.
00:03:25.660But what do we also see on the ground?
00:03:27.600We see massive naval artillery and massive naval armadas on the way to the Middle East, to the Persian Gulf,
00:03:38.600two aircraft carriers in the vicinity, as well as a number of options for the president should
00:03:46.480he choose to launch a bombing campaign of Iran. We know that Israel has been putting pressure on
00:03:54.320the administration saying that they want to see a bombing run done on Iran's ballistic missile
00:04:01.100capability. This, of course, coming on the backs of those widespread protests that took place in
00:04:05.880Iran, which, of course, were in response to the maximum pressure campaign. This idea that if you
00:04:13.120can hurt Iran's military, if you can hurt them economically, that it will lead to people, it will
00:04:19.280lead to pain in the streets, and that will lead to people coming out against the regime. With those
00:04:24.800protests, that's largely what was seen. People were protesting because of the economic conditions
00:04:31.600on the ground. But again, when you look at the amount of material, not only in terms I mentioned
00:04:37.620the Navy armada, the naval armada that was sent over, but also in terms of the air assets that
00:04:43.460the president is sending over that are currently in route. And if you look at just some of the
00:04:48.200stuff that you can find in open source reporting, you can see the tactical refuelers, the air to
00:04:53.380air refueling, much of the same type of equipment that was used in Operation Midnight Hammer was
00:04:59.680also being being sent over to the Middle East yet again. Put out a question earlier today. I said,
00:05:07.580this is my this is my email, you know, 1776 at humanevents.com, 1776 at humanevents.com.
00:05:14.560Question of the day. And the question of the day was, should the United States embark in a war
00:05:19.940with Iran this year? Should we conduct another military campaign with Iran? And the emails are
00:05:26.840coming in i'll just pick a few that have been sent to me uh first one is from int in pennsylvania
00:05:33.220says absolutely against it next one from nate says war with iran clearly is not in our best
00:05:39.160interests i'm in the midwest i've seen zero appetite for it absolutely zero this one from
00:05:45.200alex yeah i believe we should do something but it should have been done weeks ago when we still had
00:05:50.120the faith of the iranian citizens we will face much more headwinds toppling the regime and
00:05:55.040replacing it with a U.S.-friendly leader if they believe we abandon them to their oppressors
00:05:59.620after promising delivery. He goes on. Long email. You guys send the best emails. This one from
00:06:06.400Lavana. Anyone advocating to leave the Islamic regime in place after the 47-year history of them1.00
00:06:13.440is a fool. If they ever have a chance to nuke America or hit us with ballistic missiles, they1.00
00:06:17.800will. This one in from Robert. Wow. This is incredible. I live in the UAE. I'm a U.S.
00:06:24.180citizen. I've been associated with the region
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00:08:55.180You never agreed to share this information.
00:09:36.960Other people saying this, you know, a limited operation, something like that would be in the good of the world and for the good of the United States.
00:09:44.760Again, we're just we're we're getting everything.
00:09:46.800We're getting everything. And we, by the way, are going to report everything at the same time.
00:09:52.320We are not going to sit here and tell you, you know, what we're supposed to say or something.
00:09:57.520No, I don't get talking points from the admin or anything like that.
00:10:26.560So, Tom, what I want to get into on this is, you know, you're someone who served in combat.
00:10:31.660You're someone who served overseas when we're looking at the potential for what looks to me like like we could be seeing a bombing run come up on Iran, another bombing run.
00:10:44.040But perhaps more now with the nuclear sites already being neutralized, this one predominantly looking at ballistic missile sites, you know, enemy radar sites, of course, coming off the backs of the successful Maduro raid, that special forces operation, possibly some special forces action on the ground.
00:11:04.140What do you think that the American people should be looking for from the military side if it does seem as though President Trump gives the green light to this operation?
00:11:14.040Well, I think we're seeing a lot of it right now, like seeing all the tankers, the cargo flights heading over there.
00:11:20.040I mean, it's really we all know that it's all about logistics and getting the infrastructure there.
00:11:24.080I think that tells us a lot that and I'm not saying that any sort of strike is imminent, but also this is part of a negotiation and us letting Iran know that, hey, we're willing to talk with you in Geneva.
00:11:37.060right but at the same time uh we've got carriers you know steaming in you know the ford uh carrier
00:11:43.420strike group so they need to know that bluffing isn't happening now now we can all remember
00:11:48.140throughout the years where we say there's a build-up in iran it's going to happen this time
00:11:51.700and then for some other reason or another it doesn't really happen um but also it's key really
00:11:56.320key to point out that like that you know trump's strength when we talk america first and peace
00:12:01.300through strength it's the strength is really through deterrence and not entanglement so you
00:12:06.800know, it's not about boots on the ground and on Tehran or anything like that. And you know that's
00:12:12.380true because you're not seeing major troop movements heading over there, right? This is
00:12:16.320primarily air and naval assets. So it's also about forcing any sort of zero enrichment or anything
00:12:22.620like that. And like no more, you know, Iraq style, you know, forever moves. And I think when we're0.72
00:12:28.820talking about, hey, now is like the best thing for them, as Trump would say, would be a regime
00:12:33.240change. The thing is, it's only going to be if the Iranians do it themselves. Now, do we have0.97
00:12:38.180assets that are probably in Iran? I don't have any special information, but I'd be really surprised
00:12:42.900if we didn't. And we're backing, that's backing proxies, that's cyber operations like we did
00:12:48.920that supported the Venezuela operation. And, you know, hey, maybe we let them rise up like in 79,
00:12:55.800but smarter. And the thing is, is the neocons out there, they're the ones that they want us
00:13:00.740finishing this mess, but Trump's not going to play with that. And I'd say that diplomacy
00:13:04.860is going to be dead if the Iranians decide to cheat again. The Geneva talks might be a nice1.00
00:13:10.820photo op, but enriching uranium all the time, it's like, hey, if they walk or if they bluff or if
00:13:16.300they cheat, then that means we should probably strike them hard to let them know that we're not
00:13:20.840messing around. That means hitting what's left of their nuclear program, all their missile sites,0.95
00:13:27.020and then possibly pull back, but not any sort of occupation or anything like that.
00:13:31.680So, I mean, those are some of the big ones.
00:13:33.280But I got to keep in mind that, like, yeah, there are risks with this.0.93
00:13:36.980But I think us showing complete and total weakness to Iran is actually far more dangerous.0.80
00:13:44.360Well, and of course, look, this is that comes off the backs of the Venezuela operation as
00:17:44.020Yeah. And the one thing I'll throw out as well is, as we know that, you know, we know that the administration is trying to pivot towards economic issues.
00:17:51.280You know, this is an area, right? You get a flare up in the Middle East. That's going to do what is going to drive gas prices through the roof.
00:17:57.260And that's certainly something in an election year that I don't think any administration is going to is going to want in, regardless if you're Republican or Democrat.
00:18:04.680This, of course, as we know, is what threw Jimmy Carter out of office in the 1970s when he had the original the original Gulf crisis.
00:18:13.120So, you know, a lot to look at in terms of this. And to your point as well, I think I think President Trump and a lot of people in the administration are looking at this, knowing knowing the the story and the legacy and the aftermath of Iraq, Afghanistan, saying, look, the boots on the ground option is not an option anybody wants to get into.
00:18:34.200Tom Sauer, I want to say thank you for joining us.
00:18:36.520I know it was a short notice, but we threw this in
00:18:38.460because we saw what was going on in the Middle East
00:18:40.460and wanted to get some expertise on this.
00:18:42.600Where can people go to follow you and see what you're up to?
00:18:45.480You can always find me at Thomas B. Sauer,
00:22:20.120for long range bombing runs into the Middle East.
00:22:23.840So Diego Garcia is a place where those bombers can be run.
00:22:28.760However, the UK, which controls Diego Garcia, is currently looking at giving it away.
00:22:34.040They're going to give away Diego Garcia, which, of course, would affect what the UK base there
00:22:39.560and the ability for the United States to stage their air assets there.
00:22:44.060So President Trump very upset about this.
00:22:45.880And here's what he's saying, that the island, Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important island by claims of entities never known of before.
00:22:54.960In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.
00:22:58.100Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia and the airfield located in Fairford to order in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime,
00:23:11.400an attack that would potentially be made on the UK as well as other friendly countries.
00:23:15.880So he's describing Iran as a hostile actor here.
00:23:19.140Prime Minister Stommer should not lose control for any reason of Diego Garcia by entering a tenuous, at best, hundred-year lease.0.84
00:23:26.840This land should be not taken away from the U.K., and if it's allowed to be, it will be a blight on our great ally.
00:23:31.820We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of wokeism and any other problems put before them.
00:39:23.420And we know, just go look, folks, as gold is now back over 5,000 as reports of a potential military strike, another military strike, or a bombing campaign in Iran are imminent.
00:39:37.860Call 844-577-7676 or visit protectwithposo.com.
00:39:48.080protect your future and stand with me fighting for America. By the way, I wanted to get you guys
00:39:53.780this this map and we're working on pulling it up exactly where Diego Garcia Island is to give you
00:40:00.860a sense of where it is that we're talking about, what it is that we're getting into in terms of
00:40:05.860all this. We're working on pulling that up because it is important, right? Maps cut through the
00:40:10.580rhetoric. Why does this island matter so much? Why is President Trump tweeting about it? Why does it
00:40:15.560You know, why does it matter? This is why, by the way, the chief of the Israeli home front command major.
00:40:21.060Oh, wait, there it is. There's the map, actually. So blame the last. Here's here's the map.
00:40:24.980So if you look at the red dot, the red arrow, that is where Diego Garcia Island is.
00:40:30.480It is currently in control of the British, which allows the U.S. basing rights there.
00:40:36.800Then if you look at it, it's like I said, it's not directly south of the Gulf.
00:40:40.700But, you know, in relative terms, it's much closer than the United States and it allows because even though it is over two thousand nine hundred miles away from Iran, that is still within range, especially if you use those mid air refuelers still within range for long range bombers to be based in Diego.
00:41:02.060right where that arrow is, fly the 2,900 miles north, be able to conduct air strikes and then
00:41:09.000turn around. They may need one refueling within time and then make it all the way back. And of
00:41:16.160course, we saw that. And then you could have sustained runs. You could have all sorts of
00:41:21.060optionality for the president for these strikes. That's why the president is tweeting about Diego
00:41:26.280Garcia right now. And so it's why you think one of these little islands out there in the middle
00:41:30.940of nowhere it might be might be a place like oh i don't know the name of guam or it might be the
00:41:35.220name of diego garcia or midway or the philippines or hawaii suddenly can become extremely important
00:41:44.800for military air operations if you understand it's all about logistics logistics logistics
00:41:50.740this is also why by the way puerto rico became a u.s territory because of naval logistics for
00:41:57.240naval assets, those patrols in the Caribbean Sea and the now Gulf of America.
00:42:02.940I want to go back to your emails because they are so good.
00:42:06.000But before I do, I promise you this breaking update.
00:42:09.160So word out from the chief of the Israeli Homefront Command, Major General Shea Kalper.
00:42:16.080We are preparing for a large multi-front scenario, multi-front.
00:42:21.380So potentially, you know, looking at something that could be more than just Iran.
00:42:25.720If you're talking about multi-front or perhaps would they consider Iranian proxy, southern Lebanon, going back to those elements of Hezbollah that are there, again, Shia militias in Iraq, a lot of different potential that could mean.
00:42:39.680So that's the word that we're getting right now out of Israel.
00:42:43.440uh it's interesting tucker just seeing this headline tucker carlson is claiming that he
00:42:50.760was detained in israel dragged into an interrogation room uh and claims that this
00:42:58.020happened following an interview with mike huckabee so more to come on that i have no idea
00:43:04.360what that means and in fact the last i had heard that he had left israel so perhaps this uh perhaps
00:43:10.860this happened before all of that took place so again i promised you guys the email 1776
00:43:17.060at humanevents.com 1776 at humanevents.com a little bit of housekeeping so tomorrow
00:43:23.000um just come out and say it i will be traveling with the president all day tomorrow at the
00:43:30.380board of peace meeting as well as traveling with him down to georgia where he's expected to speak
00:43:37.400on economic issues, but of course, you know, if more military issues do come up, if he does
00:43:44.060decide to make a decision with Iran, perhaps we may get a speech regarding that as well. So I'll
00:43:51.080be in and out of Human Events Daily as best I can. I'm not going to try to leave you guys hanging,
00:43:57.200so we're going to bring on some incredible support from some folks that are in the family,
00:44:02.820but of course, I'll be able to come in as best I can. But of course, you know what the
00:44:07.220president's travel with his schedule. It's always as literally up in the air. But we'll give you
00:44:13.840guys the latest from inside the room where I will be one of the only people in terms of new media
00:44:21.460allowed in the room during the private part of the Board of Peace meeting tomorrow morning,
00:44:27.520Washington, D.C. at the Institute of Peace. We'll get back to these emails and keep sending them
00:44:32.540in. We're going to read them. We're going to keep going them through them. Here's one from
00:44:37.200Kimberly in Michigan. She says, Hello, Jack. No, I don't think we should get involved in Iran. We
00:44:42.560need to worry about our home. There's too much going on in this country. This one from Matthew,
00:44:49.860who says he is a Christian author, pastor, and servant. I wanted to write in to share that I
00:44:55.700believe the buildup in Iran is prophetic to Ezekiel 38 and 39. See, the nations mentioned
00:45:01.400that Ezekiel mentioned in the picture below. He's got an attached picture. I see. I believe
00:45:06.640the Lord is about to move very soon. And I believe that we are fully in a pre-tribulation
00:45:12.120rapture and this is pre-tribulation dispensation theory and believe that all of the military
00:45:19.420buildup is exactly as foretold. And of course, we talked about that in our Tales of Regime
00:45:24.340Change series with Joshua Lysak. Dear Mr. Posobik, I am an Iranian citizen who strongly
00:45:29.740opposes war and military escalation. The financial, human and social cause of conflict
00:45:36.260are immense, and they are born almost entirely by ordinary people, not by political actors.
00:45:41.760I'm also concerned with certain opposition movements that appear to prioritize foreign
00:45:45.900support over domestic legitimacy. Political change that depends primarily on external backing
00:45:51.340risks undermining national sovereignty and public trusts. History shows that such arrangements
00:45:57.240often serve external interests more effectively than the needs of local populations. So he's,
00:46:03.460You know, really talking about how the Iranian people should determine the future of Iran.
00:46:08.880And of course, when we look at the history of regime change in Iran done going going back to the United States, getting rid of the Shah, going back to the British and British petroleum and everything that happened there years even before that, you really get this sense of when you push for a regime change.
00:46:30.300I'll say this. When you push for a regime change, you never know what's going to happen on the other side.
00:46:36.780This has been the story of regime change from every single one that we've looked at.
00:46:43.760Does it get better? Does it stabilize the situation?
00:47:27.440So, folks, please keep your emails coming and we are going to read them.
00:47:30.800We're going to pass them on wherever we can.
00:47:32.940As you know, I mentioned I'll be spending the day with the president's team tomorrow from the White House en route to the Board of Peace, as well as down to Georgia.
00:47:45.660Ladies and gentlemen, as always, if you have my permission, lay ashore.