Patrick Cockburn joins Scott from Baghdad to discuss the liberation of Raqqa from ISIS and the battle in Kirkurk between the Iraqi army and Peshmerga. Cockburn describes how ISIS is still in business as a guerrilla force, but the caliphate has been destroyed. Cockburn further details which powers in the region have gained in influence and power and who faces even more pressure—in particular the Kurds, who have seen major losses since the referendum for independence, which Cockburn believes was a major mistake. Cockburn then discusses the always fragile relation between Sunnis and Shias and the bizarre role the United States plays in the middle and on both sides.
Patrick Cockburn is the Middle East correspondent for The Independent and the author of “The Age of Jihad” and “Chaos & Caliphate.”
Discussed on the show:
- Battle of Raqqa (2017)
- Iraqi army
- Peshmerga
- Kirkuk
- “10/2/17 Joe Lauria on the consequences of the Kurdish Referendum” (Scott Horton Show)
- Haider al-Abadi
- Badr Brigade
- Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
- Hezbollah
- Yom Kippur War (1973 War)
Quote of the show: “On the other hand people are fairly cock-a-hoop in Baghdad—they feel we’ve been pushed around by these Kurds long enough, let’s really make sure we’re in control in future.” —Patrick Cockburn
Today’s show is sponsored by: NoDev, NoOps, NotIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; 3tediting.com; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott
Check out Scott’s Patreon page.
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