Like flies to honey, each year, a bipartisan array of senior American politicians and former officials flock to France, Albania, or, in the age of COVID-19, Zoom in order to speak to the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s annual conference and rally. It is a lucrative gig, even by the standards of Washington A-listers: Five and six-figure honoraria and speakers’ fees are common for retired officials — not a bad deal for a three- or four-minute speech. Sitting officials expect to receive lucrative campaign contributions.
Former New York City mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani is a repeat speaker, as is former senator and United Against Nuclear Iran Chairman Joe Lieberman. Former national security adviser John Bolton is also a frequent speaker. Earlier this week, Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense and perennial hopeful for the Pentagon’s top spot, made her debut, as did Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The retired four-star U.S. Army general and Fox News contributor Jack Keane also spoke.
