Oct 1, 2026 · 1h 5m
Westall and Knott clash over war, intervention, and historical mistakes
Why the Heck Are We Still Fighting These Wars? | Jared Knott
The discussion tests competing explanations for conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine while asking whether intervention, media narratives, and political disagreement distort public judgment.
- 1The debate contrasts arguments over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, Hamas’s responsibility, and the limits of proportionality in war.
- 2Knott and Westall dispute Putin’s objectives, battlefield momentum, and what a negotiated end to the Ukraine war might require.
- 3The conversation links public opposition to intervention with graphic war footage, media skepticism, and the value of civil disagreement.
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Westall and Knott sharply disagree over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, civilian casualties, responsibility, and whether the conflict can still yield to peace.
The brief
Vietnam combat veteran Jared Knott joins Sarah Westall for a contentious examination of Iran, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, U.S. intervention, and the interests shaping modern war.
The sharpest dispute concerns Israel’s conduct in Gaza: they argue over civilian casualties, responsibility after October 7, proportionality, and whether either side has acted rationally.
The conversation then turns to Ukraine, where drone warfare, disputed casualty claims, Putin’s motives, NATO’s role, and the prospects for negotiation expose competing narratives.
Beyond the battlefields, Westall and Knott examine military-industrial influence, democracy’s instability, media bias, campaign funding, and growing public resistance to intervention.
The closing exchange defends civil political disagreement before introducing Knott’s book about tiny mistakes whose consequences can include the collapse of empires.