What happens when the truth comes too early, and no one listens?
He wrote the memo that warned the Iraq war could ignite a regional storm. Then he was sent into the storm.

In this episode of The Diplomat, Ambassador James Jeffrey reflects on what Washington refused to see, from Iraq’s fragile sovereignty to the myth of unlimited U.S. support. Joe Kawly pulls back the curtain on the delicate line between blunt honesty and diplomatic risk.

This is not a history lesson. It’s what happens when diplomacy runs up against denial.

Perfect for listeners who follow geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, or still ask: how did we get here?

• Joe Kawly brings extensive experience from conflict zones in the Middle East to the power corridors of Washington. As a journalist, he’s seen how words can escalate a crisis or open the door to peace. A Georgetown graduate and former CNN Journalism Fellow, he’s known for connecting the dots others miss, so people don’t just hear what happened, they understand why it matters. As producer and host of The Diplomat, Joe brings clarity to diplomacy and politics, one conversation at a time.