Judging Freedom - [SPECIAL] Prof. Gilbert Doctorow : Nearing the End in Ukraine.

Episode Date: September 9, 2025

[SPECIAL] Prof. Gilbert Doctorow : Nearing the End in Ukraine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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That's an equivalent to $15 a month. Limited time new customer offer for first three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gigabytes on unlimited. plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. Hi, everyone, Judge Andrew Napolitano here for Judging Freedom. Today is Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. Professor Gilbert Doctoro joins us now. Professor Doctor, I know you're traveling figuratively and literally, and I appreciate very much the time you've given us and what you've gone through to. make this connection so we can chat. I do want to spend my usual time with you about attitudes

in the Kremlin and events in Ukraine, but there is breaking news as we come on air this morning, and that is that the Israeli defense forces have attacked the Hamas negotiators who were about to enter a negotiating session in Qatar with their Israeli counterparts to address President Trump's proposals to bring about a cessation of military activity in Gaza. And as they were approaching wherever this place was in Qatar, in Doha, Qatar, the IDF attacked and killed 37 of them. If these facts are accurate, is the U.S. complicit? it in this murder? Oh yes, no question.

Tolerating all of the war crimes of Netanyahu, we don't have to take any one of them as spelling complicity, but a whole lot of them are a result of American complicity and refusal to deny Netanyahu what he needs in material to carry on his crimes. So, of course, as I say, any one element of their behavior is part of the big picture, which the United States is supporting. Notwithstanding its wealth, the people that, or their wealth, the people that run Qatar have made it pretty much subservient to the United States. The U.S. controls the airspace in Qatar.

So if the IDF was going to either use jets or missiles to enter the airspace, they would have to know about it, stated differently. The United States, which lured the Hamas negotiators to this negotiating site, would have known that they were luring them to deaths because the U.S. controls the airspace. The Israelis would need U.S. permission to enter the airspace, and it obviously was given. It's not a pretty picture, any of which way you look at it. But it's a subject I hope we can get into, as we, consider Mr. Trump in general and what I was discussing with one of the very well-informed

European deputy of the parliament what we can make about of Trump and where are the pluses that may offset the minuses like the one you just mentioned. I believe that that was the same conversation. Is this an EU member from Germany who has past experience living in Iran? Are we talking about the same person about whom you wrote to me recently? Exactly. Can you share with us what this person told you he believes was the communication between Washington and Tehran before Trump dropped those

huge bombs on Iran in June? Yes. What he interprets the scenario as follows, that Trump was aware of Netanyahu's plans to use Israeli nuclear bombs

on the Iranian sites if Israel were going to act alone. And in that knowledge, Trump approached Netanyahu and said, just sit still, we'll take care of it for you, meaning the bombing that eventually took place. But this did not just happen. The United States was in communications with Tehran, according to my conversational partner. They were in contact with Tehran. The Iranians knew perfectly what was about to happen. And of course, their response was calibrated accordingly. Moreover, they had every opportunity to remove personnel and critical material in the time between they had been given a forewarning

and the actual bombing by the United States. So was the bombing by the United States intended to make Netanyahu and company believe that the U.S. was really trying to destroy and set back the Tehran nuclear capabilities, but to satisfy Tehran that this was just for show and give Tehran time to get their nuclear material out of the way of our bombs? Is that what this argument is? I think the chief point here was to prevent an Israeli nuclear strike, and whether or not they would actually disarm Iran, do much damage, or whatever, it was not the key consideration. I don't know that this was sold to Netanyahu in that respect. It was just, don't make a move, we will do it. And this raises the whole question of how we interpret Trump's behavior, his major foreign policy decisions, including what we just talked about a couple of minutes ago, how he is supporting the genocide in Gaza. I found this very important to find a person who is so well informed by and by his present activities. within the Parliament, and by his past experience of dealing with other high officials across

Europe, and not only, but also in Iran and other countries where he was stationed for long periods of time, I was very heartened to see that he had a similar reading to myself about the pluses and minuses of Mr. Trump and tends to believe that the pluses outweigh these awful minuses that we were just discussing. So the Qatari foreign minister has just released the following statement. The state of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha. This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms

and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar. While the state of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty. A close quote, interestingly no condemnation of the United States, since the Americans obviously knew about this and facilitated. Yes, that's clear. But you can understand that this rather small power, regional power, Qatar, would keep its mouth shut about the United States and not issue public condemnation. It's suffice to say that they have roundly condemned Israel. What will come from this is another question. It's hard to believe that this will go unnoticed, and there will be no reaction from the neighborhood or,

father of field, it is utterly unbelievable that raise the nature of this act. When the U.S. bombed Tehran, whether by knowledge and consent, or whether it was a surprise, the Iranian negotiators were about to attend a negotiating session. So we have seen, if all of this is true, we have seen yet again President Trump lure people into a negotiation only to attack the negotiators or their colleagues or their homeland at the very time that these people thought they'd be negotiating under the auspices of or directly with the United States. That may well be, but there is a butt that I throw into this. it was not the united states that made that attack on either case it was israel that did the dirty work whether the united states believed it was luring diplomats into negotiations only to have them killed by the israelis that is an open question one can assume the worst and i i agree

with your with your interpretation but it isn't necessarily what happened understood understood Let's transition to the area that you have scrutinized so nicely for us. How close do you think the Ukrainian military is to the end? I mean, by the end, I mean, either the Russians have clearly achieved their military objectives or there's no firepower left, insufficient human beings or insufficient equipment for the Ukrainian military. to resist the Russians. The Ukrainian military is suffering disastrous losses across the Donbos, in Donetsk, in particular, in the neighboring obelists, Zaporosia, in Kershon, on the right bank of the Nepper River.

In various top points, they are losing a lot of soldiers, and they are withdrawing under pressure from the Russians. That is not the same thing as speaking of a complete Ukrainian collapse. The Russians have no plans to go beyond the NEPA River. What they may do is seize Odessa. What they may do is seize large parts of these other oblasts in the neighborhood, in particular, Neptu Petrovsk. That may happen, but it's not the same thing as wiping out the Ukrainian army. And the question is, within Ukraine, will the power structure survive these devastating defeats, or will it not? It's not the same thing as saying there's no Ukrainian army left. There is. But these are very embarrassing, politically very sensitive losses, and they should bring down the government.

As for the Russians, what is the Kremlin thinking and doing? On Russian state television, A lot of attention is being given to the defection of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Koliabam, who is now in Krakow, having by stealth across the border, when just after Zelensky had put in effect an edict that barred diplomats and former diplomats from leaving the country. That is looked at. we can, as a really sign of the breakup of the power structure in Kiev. And the Russians are also looking at the breakup of the power structure in Western Europe. There was a lot of attention to the fall of the Macron government,

Mr. Beiru, who lost his vote of confidence yesterday. They are paying great attention to the political collapse as well as to the military defeats on the battlefield in Ukraine. Both elements are receiving close attention of the Kremlin, and they are feeding this to the general public of ISA television. Do you accept the theory that President Putin is very slow, methodical, and patient in the manner in which he wages the war, not because he's virtuous, not because he possesses the virtue of patience, but because he wants to obliterate the Ukrainian army and kill as many soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers as he can, so that Russia doesn't have to go through this again for at least. another generation do you accept that thesis there's a lot of merit to that thesis of course nobody can prove it but when you when you consider how the russians have not pressed to the highest advantage their their gains on this out part of the front or that part of the front the pure military doctrine would suggest that they would keep on running

that they would pursue the enemy in his flight not doing that Instead, they advance, then they stop, and they are baiting the Ukrainians to make a counter-attack, which they do when they get slaughtered. So there is a large merit to that interpretation that the Russians could move faster if they wanted to, but would rather destroy the manpower of the Ukrainian army. Apologies for going back and forth, but breaking news and commentary keeps coming. from this attack in Doha. Prime Minister Netanyahu on his ex-account,

quote, today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility, close quote. A professor Said Muhammad Mirandi, who's been a guest on this show, has said, And why weren't U.S. regime anti-missile systems activated to help protect Qatari airspace because Washington was helping Netanyahu?

So the words are flying thick and fast. I think the most profound words I heard were yours a few minutes ago, and that is expect some sort of a serious response to this. I don't know. The Israelis ever attacked the Qataris before? This is the location of the negotiations, the Israeli negotiators were there as well. They obviously weren't in the building that was being attacked, but they were all getting ready to meet. I don't even know if Whitkoff was there, but they're meeting over supposedly Trump's proposal, the essence of which we don't know. This is totally outrageous. It is in line, if you want to speak of a moral level, with the outrageous behavior. of Israel under Netanyahu in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Syria, in Lebanon. This has gotten totally out of control, and it's hard to see how this can go on without some violent response.

Who will leave that response is unclear. But Mr. Netanyahu has done his best to destroy the state of Israel, and certainly to destroy the moral weight of Judaism. It's an enormous attack on the religion, his behavior. And that will take a generation of war for any recovery. Back to Ukraine, if I could. How do you read, you alluded to this a few minutes ago, the fact that French President Macron is now confronted with choosing his fifth, one, two, three, four, five. Prime Minister in two years. Is this personal unpopularity of him?

Is this a rejection by the French General Assembly of his bellicose attitudes toward Russia? How do you read this, Professor Dr. O? I wish you were to last, but I don't believe it is. That is your last comment, that the bellicosity towards Russia

has some impact here. I don't believe so. I think it was largely to decided on domestic issues, although the domestic issues themselves are shaped by the war in Ukraine and Macron's taking the lead in the coalition of the willing and in promising all kinds of financial and arms assistance to Ukraine. The fact of the matter is the Mr. Beru's budget, which was the reason for his defeat, introduced austerity to everything in the French budget except defense. which would rise. They would be cutting medical care. They would be cutting back on national holidays,

two major national holidays would be taken off the calendar. There were a lot of economic hardship being imposed on the general French public while the military would be rising. I think that is the area where the two meet, the domestic opposition to Macron, for his many reforms, which were hated by large segments of the population and brought his approval ratings down below 20%. I think his Bayru had 15% approval rating. The domestic side of it has been impacted by his belligerency towards Russia and support, unqualified support for Ukraine with money coming from those taxpayers in France. the likelihood that France will find itself in the arms of the IMF for emergency funding

because they cannot meet their budget requirements from taxation presently and there are 5% or more of a budgetary deficit, which is more than two and a half times what is allowed under your EU and central bank regulations. This cannot go on. So the Russians, of course, are following this very closely because of Macron's leadership. leadership of the coalition of the willing and with good reason. I want to ask you a few more questions about Stormer and Mertz, but more breaking news, but this is news in respect of allegations.

The Israelis are claiming that the senior Hamas officials were eliminated, Qatari TV, says Hamas delegation survives assassination attempt in Doha. So we don't know which is the truth. Obviously, we'll find this out as time progresses. But I thought I would mention that because it's coming across what used to be called the wires as we speak. Do you foresee Chancellor Mertz and Prime Minister Starrmer suffering a similar fate, either personal popularity so low that they can't govern or personal popularity so low that the legislative bodies vote no confidence. Let's separate these cases.

Starrmer, yes, he can suffer that fate. The government is in disarray. They have had a series of scandals. Once again, the belligerency towards Russia, as expressed in appropriations for Ukraine and arms deliveries to Ukraine, they are in contrast with the attempts to cut back on benefits to the population. And he has had a recent scandal in his deputy, the deputy prime minister. This was over domestic issues entirely. But nonetheless, he is being challenged now very effectively by Farage.

And he is being challenged within his own party. So the chance of his surviving, I say, is also declining. As for Merritt, it's a different story. The real issue here is money. Money talks. Merritt has got it. Starmor doesn't have it. Macron doesn't have it.

And that, when they try to cut the benefits of the general population, then there is seething, loathing, and they are at risk. Mr. Merritt doesn't have that problem. He may not be liked, and he certainly is. isn't liked. But is appropriating one trillion euros for defense, a large part of it, to encourage production, long-range

contracts with Germany's arms manufacturers. That is going to pump some vigor into the economy. This may not be the best way to raise the economy. We certainly don't believe that, but it has an impact. Money

speaks, and he's got the money. Professor Doctor, thank you very much. Thanks for allowing me to question you all across the board here. And thanks for taking the time out of your unique day and your travels to find time for us. All the best. Godspeed and your travels. We'll look forward to seeing you again next week. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. And coming up very shortly, we'll have all the latest for you as we can gather it. on the Israeli attacks in Qatar and truly one of the more profound people on the planet to analyze it for you at 11 o'clock, Colonel Douglas McGregor at 1 o'clock, Scott Horton at 2 o'clock,

excuse me, at 1 15, Scott Horton, at 2 o'clock, Max Blumenthal, at 3 o'clock, Colonel Karen Kutkowski. Judge Napolitano for judging freedom. Thank you.