5/9/18 Jon Schwarz on the new AUMF, indefinite detention of Americans, and Syria

by | May 9, 2018 |

The Intercept's Jon Schwarz returns to the show to discuss his article latest work for the Intercept about the new AUMF, the Trump administration's strikes on Syria, and indefinite detainment of U.S. citizens. Schwarz makes the case that the new AUMF, meant to cure the ills of the old AUMF, is actually an even graver threat and has codified permanent war. Schwarz then describes the twisted logic used by the Trump administration to apply the AUMF to the strikes against Assad. Schwarz says that...

2/6/18 Eric Margolis on America’s permanent presence in Syria

by | Feb 6, 2018 |

Veteran journalist Eric Margolis returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "The Syrian Madhouse Gets Even Crazier." Margolis explains why Rex Tillerson's recent decision to maintain a long-term presence in eastern Syria has created an even bigger mess and how the Turkish-Kurdish conflict has come to a head. Scott then details the long history of U.S. support for and betrayal of the Kurds. Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of “War at the Top of the World” and...

1/26/18 Joey Lawrence on the Turkish assault on Syrian Kurdistan

by | Jan 26, 2018 |

Joey Lawrence returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in northeast Syria, where the Kurds and Turks are facing off—with the U.S. potentially caught in the middle. Lawrence breaks down the Turkish strategy in the battle against the Kurds, gives his thoughts on the new American bases in Syria, and explains how the Kurds negotiate their relationship with the U.S. and what their longterm goals are. Lawrence then details the Turkish bombing of Syrian Kurdistan. Finally Scott asks...

1/26/18 Daniel McAdams on Syria, Trump, and Twitter’s investigation into Russia-gate

by | Jan 26, 2018 |

Co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report Daniel McAdams returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in Syria where the Turkish government is threatening to confront American forces in eastern Syria. McAdams and Scott talk about Donald Trump's disappointing presidency (to put it mildly), how Ron Paul's anti-war views have become even more radical, and Twitter's latest policy of alerting its users who follow supposed Russian bots. Daniel McAdams is the executive director of the Ron Paul...

1/5/18 Elijah Magnier on U.S. occupation of eastern Syria following fight against ISIS

by | Jan 5, 2018 |

Middle east correspondent Elijah Magnier returns to the show to discuss the U.S. presence in eastern Syria. Magnier explains what the United States' goals are, why they won't leave without guaranteeing a political transition and how they've, for the time being, partitioned the country along the Euphrates river. Magnier then details how the United States is essentially acting as the undeclared protector of the Islamic State for the time being as they've stopped bombing the Northeastern region...

11/6/17 Elijah Magnier on the mayhem in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia

by | Nov 6, 2017 |

Middle East correspondent Elijah Magnier returns to the show to discuss the latest turmoil in the Middle East and his recent article "ISIS into History’s rubbish bin and Iraq neither Iranian nor American." Magnier shares what he knows about the resignation of Saad Hariri in Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia's role in the latest Middle Eastern mess. Magnier then discusses the history of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the distinction between the terrorist group and the parliamentary party, which has considerable...

10/13/17 Jason Ditz Updates the Situation in Syria

by | Oct 13, 2017 |

Managing news editor of Antiwar.com Jason Ditz returns to the show to discuss the war in Syria where two separate wars are taking place—against ISIS in the East and al Qaeda in the east. Ditz details all of what we don't know thanks to increased secrecy from the Trump administration, explains what we do know about the continued fight against ISIS in Raqqa, where the U.S. air war has created lots of civilian casualties, and how the Kurds in Syria factor into the U.S. future plans. Scott and...

9/27/17 Muhammad Sahimi debunks neoconservative lies about Iran

by | Sep 27, 2017 |

USC professor Muhammad Sahimi returns to the show to discuss his latest article “Deconstructing Neoconservatives’ Manifesto for War With Iran.” Sahimi debunks the misinformation and lies being spread by John Bolton and other neoconservatives about the Iran Deal, explains in detail the steps Iran has taken to ease tensions with the United States, and lists the many hypocrisies of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Sahimi hammers home the fact that, should the U.S. void the Iran Deal, no...

9/20/17 Gareth Porter reviews the evidence of the supposed Syrian sarin attack of 2016

by | Sep 20, 2017 |

Gareth Porter returns to the show to discuss his latest story for Alternet, "Have We Been Deceived Over Syrian Sarin Attack?" Porter takes a deep dive into the evidence of the supposed Khan Sheikoun sarin attack and explains why we have good reason to doubt the narrative and evidence presented by the Trump administration, what's still in dispute, and raises questions that still need answering. Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state and author...

9/6/17 Patrick Cockburn on al-Qaeda’s resurgence in Syria

by | Sep 6, 2017 |

Author and journalist Patrick Cockburn returns to the show to discuss his reporting on the heavy casualties in Mosul and why they've been underreported in the media. Cockburn explains how ISIS's guerrilla war tactics increase civilian casualties, why the Syrian Kurds fighting against ISIS in Raqqa have considerable incentive to extend the fight against ISIS, and discusses his latest article for the Independent on al Qaeda's power grab in Syria, "While defeat of Isis dominates global attention,...