Afghan war whistleblower Daniel Davis returns to the show to talk about his latest article, “I Interviewed the War-Weary Residents of Mosul. The Fight for the City Is Far From Over.” Davis talks about his trip to northern Iraq, heroic stories of everyday people resisting ISIS in Mosul, and rumors of Iraqi soldiers committing atrocities against suspected ISIS members.
Davis explains that the war against ISIS isn’t over: ISIS members are supposedly shaving their beards and pretending to be fleeing refugees leading to rumors of ISIS sleeper cells. The fight against ISIS is part of an ongoing Sunni insurgency in Mosul against the Shia, Kurd, and Christian population that goes all the way back to 2004. The U.S. latest worry is that the fall of ISIS in Mosul will create a true “Shiite Crescent,” necessitating U.S. presence in eastern Syria to break up the Iranian power corridor. Scott and Danny discuss how this is just the latest in a long line of U.S. foreign policy decisions that have ultimately empowered Iran in the Middle East. Davis explains that the U.S. can’t kill its way out of the Middle East and that there are good people throughout the region who are suffering immensely. Finally, Davis suggests that Kurdish rule in Iraq seems like it might be the best way to bring about peace and he and Scott discuss whether the United States should help the referendum for a fully autonomous Kurdish state.
Retired lieutenant colonel Daniel Davis did multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his time in the army. He now writes for Defense Priorities and National Interest.
Discussed on the show:
- “The Torture Tapes: Iraqi troops torture and execute civilians in secret videos,” by Brian Ross (ABC News)
- “Mosul killing video: Footage purportedly showing Iraqis getting revenge on ISIS militants sparks probe, outcry” (Fox News)
- Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
- Hashd al-Shaabi (at least 8,000 in Mosul)
- Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
- Mujahideen in Iraq
- “Isis ‘chops off three women’s hands and flogs men for using mobile phones’ in Mosul,” (The Independent)
- “In Their Own Words: Sunnis on Their Treatment in Maliki’s Iraq,” (Frontline)
- “Iran Dominates in Iraq After U.S. ‘Handed the Country Over’” (New York Times)
- “Oren Sunnis“: former Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren explains to Jeffrey Goldberg that Sunnis are the lesser of the two evils
- Ahmed Chalabi
- “The Redirection,” by Seymour Hersh (The New Yorker)
- “How Ahmed Chalabi conned the neocons,” by John Dizard (Salon.com)
- “The Manipulator: Ahmad Chalabi pushed a tainted case for war. Can he survive the occupation?” by Jane Mayer (The New Yorker)
- “Remember the Golan Heights?” by Eric Margolis (EricMargolis.com)
- Ba’ath Party
- “To them, a woman’s smile is a crime”—”Shiites bring rigid piety to Iraq’s south” (Christian Science Monitor)
- Mullah government (Iran)
- Muqtada al-Sadr
- Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
- David Petraeus
- “Rice says U.S. must give Maliki ‘breathing space’” (Reuters)
- “Sistani stresses need for unity over sectarianism in battle for Iraq” (Al-Monitor)
- Video: “The Middle East Cold War, Explained” (Vox)
- “Why There Is No Peace On Earth,” by David Stockman (David Stockman’s Contra Corner)
- Bashiqa
- Dawah Party
- Brett McGurk
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