Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses the minimal impact Osama bin Laden’s death has had – or will have – on US foreign policy; how the Obama administration’s insta-bragging makes clear the operation was a domestic political ploy rather than a blow against terrorism or an intelligence bonanza; keeping US troops in Afghanistan long past 2014 through a strategic partnership with the Karzai regime; how the security situation in Afghanistan is getting worse,...

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses his article “Why US and NATO Fed Detainees to Afghan Torture System;” ambiguous statements from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the July Afghanistan drawdown; perpetuating failure with the “long war” doctrine; how Gen. David Petraeus’s new role as CIA chief puts a damper on civilian oversight of military operations; the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden (sorry for the extreme delay in posting interviews the past...

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2007 offer of political favors to Ehud Olmert in exchange for attacking Iran; why an Israeli “solo” attack on Iran would still make the US complicit – requiring a presidential decision to allow it to happen; the pusillanimous tendencies of Barack Obama; and the finally-concluded 2010 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran.

This recording is from the KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles broadcast of April 15th. In a partial reprisal of his recent Antiwar Radio interview, Gareth Porter discusses Pakistan’s condemnation of out-of-control US drone strikes and espionage in the wake of the Raymond Davis affair; the surprisingly expansive US spy network in Pakistan; targeted drone assassinations that serve little purpose in the “war on terror;” and how a military coup against Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki might help the...

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses his article “Pakistan Moves to Curb More Aggressive US Drone Strikes, Spying;” the expansion of US drone strikes – initially limited to Al Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban – to groups allied with the Pakistani military; why a post-occupation Afghanistan would be far more open to political reconciliation than it is at present; how US economic conditions will force military budget cuts and curtail the “empire of bases;” the...

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses the internal political pressures on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that may prevent him from inviting the US military to stay past 2011; how Obama has joined the Pentagon’s attempt to subvert the Status of Forces Agreement; how Moqtada al-Sadr’s influence may tie Maliki’s hands – whereby acquiescing to US wishes could very well cost him his job; the popular Iraqi outrage about Saudi Arabia’s brutal repression of...

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses how the joint congressional testimony of Gen. Petraeus and Michele Flournoy betrays the Obama administration’s intent to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely; why a never-ending military presence greatly hinders negotiations with the Taliban; why pipeline politics remain a peripheral issue in US war-making decisions; the resilience of loyal Obama supporters who still see hope and change in this train wreck of a presidency;...

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses his recent visit to Lebanon; the hybrid UN-Lebanon tribunal on Rafiq Hariri’s assassination that is rumored to have indicted Hezbollah members; allegations that the special tribunal is a politically motivated tool of the US and Israel; how Israel has fabricated telephone records and used them as evidence against her enemies; and how US operations in Pakistan are destabilizing the country.

Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses the eight indicators of fraud in the Iran nuclear “alleged studies” documents; the smear campaign against IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei for daring to question their authenticity; how the (probably Mossad created) documents form the foundation of US allegations that Iran has, or had, a nuclear weapons program; Iran’s objection to IAEA demands for secret military information; and the unexpected developments in...

Please excuse the technical difficulties that cut this interview a bit short. Gareth Porter’s article can explain any partially-answered questions. Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses US frustration with the Taliban’s highly effective IED attacks, which led to a change in strategy from house-to-house clearing to razing entire villages with airstrikes and bulldozers; problems with the official story, that Tarok Kalache residents abandoned their...