Jonathan Cristol

The reality is that in 2025, when you teach Middle East Politics, American Foreign Policy, and stuff like that, Chatham House rules protect everyone (whereas an “off the record class” is almost a contradiction in terms).

And 2) I tell my students that, “obviously, it’s a college class, so please do talk about everything I have to say to anyone and everyone… but what you cannot do is to quote me or your classmates word-for-word.” There’s nothing nefarious about it.

Chatham House rule is that you not directly quote or attribute quotes. Off the record = no acknowledgment that the discussion took place.

I use Chatham House rules in all my classes…

Ok. I am a huge fan of @lastweektonight.com; but I’m watching right now and two minor quibbles.

He takes issue with the “University of Austin” using the Chatham House rule in its classes.

But 1) he conflates CHR with “off the record” but they are not the same…

(Say hello if you’re there, too!)

Looking forward to seeing my fellow moderates @thebulwark.com live tonight… and close enough to home that I can walk!

It’s time.

#TaylorSwift

Look what I found.

Jealous, much?

And as it happens, my book — The United States and the Taliban before and after 9/11– is on sale today. It’s still a bit pricey, but well within reason and worth picking up if you’re interested in the topic.

link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

It was a pleasure to talk to Straight Arrow News for this article!

At #UNGA80 China decries "might makes right mentality," as it assists Russia's imperial ambitions.

Netanyahu is finished, and Pakistan is up next.

The part I suspect he was referring to, was that Indonesia said it would contribute 20,000 troops to a multi-national force for Gaza when the war ends.

(It may not come across in writing, but the Indonesia speech was conciliatory in tone.)

He mentions the speech given by Indonesia on Tuesday as showing a hopeful future. He doesn't give details, but it's worth noting that Indonesia's statement was that if Israel recognizes a Palestinian state, Indonesia will immediately recognize Israel.

And on Lebanon "If Lebanon takes genuine action to disarm Hezbollah, I am sure [peace can be achieved]."

He says he is hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the new Syrian government that settles borders and guarantees rights for the Druze in Syria.

I just find that an interesting juxtaposition with the (accurate) list of IDF military successes he presented at the start of the speech.

He calls the creation of an SOP-- "national suicide."

Netanyahu is a great communicator -- but the total lack of, you know, credibility (in general, not specific to this issue), is a problem.

He is making the case that recognizing an SOP rewards Hamas; and while it's a bit more nuanced that Trump's bluntness about that, the French/KSA proposal does address that head on.

He says that many states "unconditionally recognized" a Palestinian state, which is not exactly true of all of those.

I mentioned earlier that a lot of delegations walked out. Obviously, that is prima facie performative. But it's worth mentioning that the # of people in the room now is about the norm for Friday morning... so it isn't that people were there and walked out in protest. They showed up *to* walk out.

The part of Netanyahu's speech attacking other world leaders is what Trump might sound like if he spoke at above a first grade level.

Here is a good thread on this question...

bsky.app/profile/ecfr...

"Many of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us."

He also says that the speech is being broadcast out of all cell phones in Gaza, and calls on Hamas leadership to lay down weapons and release the hostages. Thankfully, he also says that if that happens the war would end.

He gives a message to the hostages -- which is why I figured they were blasting the sound throughout Gaza. He says in Hebrew and then English, that they will not rest until all of the hostages are brought home.

Another brief disruption... but you know, there's a lot of security here.

He asks people to zoom in on the QR code on his lapel.

Seriously -- don't do that.

That is not a political statement on my part -- that is a personal security statement.

Don't scan QR codes you didn't personally seek out.

It seems like he is leaning into Trump's claim that the IRI nuclear program has been eliminated... but "we must not allow them to rebuild." He also calls for UNSC sanctions on Iran to be snapped-back, which they likely won't be.