Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "The Maximum Pressure Campaign Against Iran Is Working" at Stanford and Online, March 4

The targeted killing of General Suleimani sent shockwaves around the world. The strike came more than a year after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Deal and began economic sanctions that have reduced Iran's oil exports and crippled its economy. The administration's defenders argue that this "maximum pressure" campaign is necessary to protect American interests, quell Tehran's human rights abuses, and halt Iran's support of terrorist networks across the region. But opponents see maximum pressure as dangerously misguided. They contend that abandoning the Iran Nuclear Deal - a historic diplomatic achievement - increases the risk of war and undermines key allies. Further, critics say, economic sanctions target civilians and fuel anti-American sentiment in Iran and beyond. On Wednesday, March 4, in partnership with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and Foreign Affairs, nonpartisan debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. explores these questions with a live debate on the motion "The Maximum Pressure Campaign Against Iran Is Working."

Arguing for the motion are former National Security advisor H.R. McMaster and military historian Victor Davis Hanson. Arguing against the motion are terrorism studies professor Martha Crenshaw and co-director of the Iran Democracy Project Abbas Milani.

The debate will be held at Stanford University and stream live online, then air soon after as part of the syndicated public radio show, podcast, and video series "Intelligence Squared U.S." On March 4, online viewers can tune in at IQ2US's website: https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/debates/maximum-pressure-campaign-against-iran-working

WHAT: Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates "The Maximum Pressure Campaign Against Iran Is Working"
WHEN: Wednesday, March 4 / 6:30-8:00 PM PT
WHERE: Hoover Institution at the David and Joan Traitel Building / 435 Lasuen Mall / Stanford, CA
TICKETS: Free with RSVP. To reserve, visit http://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/

FOR THE MOTION

* Victor Davis Hanson: Military Historian & Author, "The Case for Trump" 
Victor Davis Hanson is a leading scholar of classics and military history. He has written or edited more than 20 books, including "The Case for Trump." Hanson is the host of the National Review's "The Victor Davis Hanson Podcast" and is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

* H. R. McMaster: Retired Lieutenant General, U.S. Army & Former National Security Advisor 
H. R. McMaster was the National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump and served as a commissioned officer in the Army for 34 years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in 2018. McMaster is now the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

AGAINST THE MOTION

* Martha Crenshaw: Terrorism Studies Expert & Author, "Explaining Terrorism" 
Martha Crenshaw is a pioneer in terrorism studies. Her recent books include "Explaining Terrorism" and "Countering Terrorism." Crenshaw is a senior fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and a professor emerita of political science.

* Abbas Milani: Iran Scholar & Co-Director, Iran Democracy Project 
Abbas Milani is a widely published and cited scholar with expertise in U.S.-Iran relations and Iranian cultural, political, and security issues. He is the author of several books, including "The Myth of the Great Satan: A New Look at America's Relations with Iran." Milani is a research fellow and co-director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in 2006 to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Their mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse. The award-winning debate series reaches millions of viewers and listeners through through multi-platform distribution, including radio, live streaming, podcasts, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps on Roku and Apple TV. With over 170 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008.

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