Foreign Policy in Focus columnist Conn Hallinan discusses the 150+ years of shameful US foreign policy in Latin America since the Monroe Doctrine; how the US is now losing political and economic influence to the BRICS in Central and South America; how Hugo Chavez has reduced demand for IMF predatory loans and the inevitable austerity measures that follow; the laughable "Iran is taking over South America" right-wing talking points; and the Obama administration's tacit approval of military coups...

Jeremy Keenan, professor at SOAS University of London, discusses his article "How Washington helped foster the Islamist uprising in Mali;" why the US and Algeria have spent ten years manufacturing terrorism in the Sahara with false-flag operations; the complex background of Mali's Tuareg rebellion; and how the French are inviting blowback at home from their intervention abroad.

Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files, discusses the campaign to pressure President Obama to finally close Guantanamo and "End 11 Years of Injustice;" how national security is endangered by leaving Guantanamo open; and the dozens of innocent men (cleared by a government task force for release) imprisoned indefinitely because of Obama's political cowardice.

Journalist Joe Lauria discusses the epidemic of rapes in India and the indifference of police and politicians; the popular discontent with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood; why Jordan might host the next Arab Spring revolution; the Gulf monarchies conspiring against democracy in the region; and the logistics of breaking up failing Middle Eastern countries.  

Independent journalist and historian Gareth Porter discusses a possible deal on Iran's nuclear program during Obama's second term; how Congress and the national security state could cramp Obama's negotiating room; the evolution from "smart" sanctions on Iran's elite to "crippling" sanctions on the poor and elderly; and why it's past time to cross Iran off the US "enemy of the state" list.

Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco, discusses the threat of Western military intervention in Mali; the next generation of Islamic extremists motivated by Saudi-funded madrassas and the US occupation of Iraq; and the non-governmental militias fighting for the spoils in Libya.

Blogger Marcy Wheeler discusses the dirt on CIA Director nominee John Brennan; how Brennan exemplifies the worst aspects of the Bush and Obama administrations on torture, renditions, wiretapping and more; the secret "The Gloves Come Off" Memorandum of Notification from 2001 that is still being used to justify all manner of illegal actions in the war on terrorism; and the bogus legal case for US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki's extrajudicial assassination.

Kevin Zeese, a lawyer and political activist, discusses Judge Lind's ruling on Bradley Manning's illegal treatment in military custody; how the US justice system debases the rule of law and enables human rights abuses; the upcoming court battle on whether Manning's nearly three-year detention violated his right to a speedy trial; how undue command influence (commander-in-chief Obama said Manning is guilty) is preventing a fair trial; and why David Coombs thinks a judge-only trial is preferable...