Gareth Porter, an award-winning independent journalist and historian, discusses the Obama administration's change of heart on Syria policy, where they are no longer entertaining the fantasy that "moderates" will depose President Assad and defeat the radical Islamists also.

Mitchell Prothero, a McClatchy Foreign Staff journalist, discusses the Islamic State's apparent overreach in Kobani (Syria) where Kurdish fighters backed by US airstrikes forced their retreat.

Adam Morrow, a Cairo-based journalist with IPS News, discusses the Egyptian government's violent crackdown on protests commemorating the 2011 uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak; and the beginnings of another revolution against Egypt's new military dictatorship.

Gabriel Schivone, a writer and humanitarian volunteer in Tucson, discusses his article "Gaza in Arizona: How Israeli High-Tech Firms Will Up-Armor the U.S.-Mexican Border."

Eric Margolis, journalist and author of American Raj, discusses Charlie Hebdo and the free speech double standard; French President Hollande's popularity-gaining (and blowback-generating) invasions all over the Muslim world; and what comes after the death of Saudi King Abdullah.

Jim Lobe, chief of the Washington bureau of IPS News, discusses Republican House Speaker John Boehner's protocol-breaching invitation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress - conveniently timed to bolster Netanyahu's reelection chances and sabotage an Iranian nuclear deal.