National leaders spoke with students at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy about the ongoing conflict in Iran and other international priorities, according to an April 28 announcement. The event brought together senator Rand Paul and former national security advisor Jake Sullivan, who shared their perspectives on foreign policy and public leadership.
The discussion focused on current challenges facing U.S. national security, including military actions in Iran that began with Operation Epic Fury on February 28. Kiron Skinner, Taube Chair of International Relations and Politics at Pepperdine, led the class through these complex issues as part of her course examining modern U.S. foreign policy.
Senator Paul addressed more than 25 graduate students virtually, emphasizing constitutional limits on military intervention. “The initiation of war was something that they [the founding fathers] put in [to the Constitution], and I think really intended that the people would vote on this issue,” said Paul. He questioned long-standing warnings about Iran’s nuclear capabilities: “If you look at statements from both Israel and the United States, people who have been proponents of a preemptive war with Iran, they’ve been saying that Iran is one week away from nuclear weapons for literally 25 years.” Paul described voting for war as a personal moral responsibility: “I see it as if I’m sending you or sending one of my kids to fight the battle.” He also cited domestic concerns such as national debt: “I actually judge the threat to our national security of the debt being greater than the threat of Iran invading New York or sending ships or people to our country up through Mexico to invade our country.” He acknowledged political difficulties around his views: “These will be difficult votes and difficult for people who then interpret them as somehow not supportive of our young men and women fighting.”
Jake Sullivan spoke weeks later about efforts by multiple administrations to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. “Stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon has been a bipartisan commitment in multiple administrations,” said Sullivan. He emphasized diplomacy: “My view is the best way to do that is through diplomacy, and that, to me, has to be the real focus for the United States.” Sullivan discussed new threats such as drone warfare disrupting shipping routes and urged students not to lose sight of long-term challenges in regions like Indo-Pacific Asia: “Much of the history of the 21st century is going to be written in the Indo-Pacific region.” He outlined competition with China across five areas involving artificial intelligence.
Sullivan also encouraged future policymakers to value viewpoint diversity within higher education settings: “I think there has been a shift over the last year or two where more attention is being paid to think about viewpoint diversity and how to disagree agreeably…” The School’s approach includes guest speakers like these leaders alongside writing assignments and documentary analysis.
In closing remarks, Sullivan advised students preparing for careers in national security: “As you think about a career in national security – being…at least conversant in economics and technology will be vital…” He urged them “to hold fast to their convictions but be prepared to change their opinions if they get different information or hear different arguments or different perspectives.”