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Foreign Policy Focus

Foreign Policy Focus is a podcast hosted by me, Kyle! It covers current events overseas and how those events affect you at home. While US military operations in the Middle East seem like they are on the other side of the world, they have real impacts on the everyday lives of Americans. Wars are the most costly of all US government actions and politicians use them to strip away rights of Americans. Knowing what your government is doing around the globe will give you insight into what they are doing at home.
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Now displaying: August, 2018

Foreign Policy Focus is a podcast hosted by me, Kyle! It covers current events overseas and how those events affect you at home. While US military operations in the Middle East seem like they are on the other side of the world, they have real impacts on the everyday lives of Americans. Wars are the most costly of all US government actions and politicians use them to strip away rights of Americans. Knowing what your government is doing around the globe will give you insight into what they are doing at home.

Aug 31, 2018

On FPF #240, I break down false and misleading information on Russiagate and North Korea. I discuss an article by Gareth Porter that debunks the claim that Russia hacked 21 state voter registration sites. Recent reporting on North Korea suggested that Donald Trump canceled a meeting with North Korea after reading a "belligerent" letter from Kim Jong Un. I review an article by Justin Raimondo that argues the truth is nuanced and the Trump/Un relationship is as bad as it may seem. 

Links

Gareth Porter on DHS Election Hacking Report

Ted Galen Carpenter on Macedonia

Justin Raimondo on North Korea 

38North.Org on the direction of Kim Jong Un

 

Aug 29, 2018

On FPF #239, I discuss how Turkey is a loser in the Syrian Civil War. I break down an article by Joost Hilterman on Turkey's role in the Syrian Civil War. Turkey's plan to back Sunni resistance to Assad failed as it looks like Assad will retain power in Syria. The US has backed and armed the Syrian Kurdish YPG, a group Turkey identifies as terrorists. 

I update Trump calling off Pompeo's visit for North Korea and Trump's push for military intervention in Venezuela. 

Links

Joost Hilterman on Turkey

Doug Bandow on Venezuela

Aug 27, 2018

On FPF #238, I discuss Russian President Putin's trip to Germany and Austria. I explore an article by Gilbert Doctorow on the importance of the trip and how Trump's foreign policy has impacted Russia's relationships with Europe. I update news on North Korea, Syria, and John McCain. 

Links

Zerohedge on John McCain

Gilbert Doctorow on Putin's trip to Germany and Austria 

Aug 24, 2018

On FPF #237, Will Porter and Pat McFarlane join the show to discuss why we are anti-war. Will gives his take on how the war state is destroying journalism. Pat explains how the war state is eroding the checks on government power. The Libertarian Institute is asking #WhyImAntiWar on Twiter, we give out answers. 

Tweet #WhyImAntiWar to @libertarianinst & @Kyaaale

Patrick McFarlane is the host of the Liberty Weekly Podcast

Will Porter is a freelance journalist specializing in US foreign policy and Mid East affairs. His work can be found at The Libertarian Institute, AntiWar.com, and Consortium News.

Links 

Liberty Weekly - Conditioned Killers in War

Aug 22, 2018

On FPF #236, I discuss Senator Rand Paul's effort to ease tensions between the US and Russia. Rand has taken a trip to Russia and is now asking Trump to remove sanctions from Russia lawmakers so they can enter the US. Senator Paul is also making an effort to halt NATO expansion. 

I also update North Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan.  

Links

Matthew Bankert - Send in the Tanks 

Aug 20, 2018

On FPF #235, Steven Clyde comes to the show to discuss the economics of war. The 2019 NDAA authorized $717 billion in defense spending for a single year. Steven gives his take on Austrian Economics and his analysis of what massive "defense" spending does to the economy.  

Steven Clyde is the host of the Peace and Liberty Podcast. 

Aug 17, 2018

Scott Horton returns to FPF to discuss the first year of Trump's policy for the Afghan War. Scott explains how the drug war in Afghanistan has been a failure. He looks at the US goal of securing the capital Kabul and how the additional US troops have been unable to curb violence in the city. Scott gives his analysis of the recent talks between the US and Afghanistan.

Scott argues that the US efforts in the Afghan War are futile and we should just come home. 

Links 

Scott's book Fool Errand 

SHS - Eric Margolis on Imran Khan

SHS - Andrew Cockburn on the Afghan opium trade 

Scott Horton on the Ron Paul Liberty Report

Aug 15, 2018

On FPF #233, I discuss Trump signing the 2019 John McCain National Defense Authorization Act. The overly costly and hawkish Pentagon spending bill is a perfect reflection of John McCain's horrific foreign policy record. I explain how parts of the bill will move the US towards more war. 

I also update the Syrian Civil War and recent US reports on the strength of ISIS. 

Links

FPF #228 - A $700 Billion Waste

UN report on ISIS fighters

Russia supports bilateral trade in national currencies

Aug 13, 2018

Will Porter returns to FPF to discuss a Saudi massacre of Yemeni children on a school bus. The US continues to back Saudi's slaughter of Yemen children. Will discuss his updated numbers of Yemenis killed in the civil war. Will and Kyle also debunk the most common myths of the Yemen Civil War. 

Links

SHS - Nasser Arrabyee

SHS - Iona Craig

 

 

 

Aug 10, 2018

Will Porter returns to FPF to discuss renewed US sanctions on Iran. Will explains the logistics of sanctions and what could happen if states defy US demands. Will and Kyle review the history of American sanctions against Iran and the Iran Nuclear Agreement. They provide analysis on the potential effectiveness of the new sanctions and what could happen if other states, including allies, don't comply.

Will Porter is a freelance journalist who focuses on Mid East affairs and US foreign policy. His work can be found at Consortium News, AntiWar.com, and LibertarianInstitute.org.

Links

Iranian Sanctions Aren't Just Counterproductive, But an Act of War - Will Porter

Aug 8, 2018

On FPF #230, I discuss Senator Rand Pau's recent trip to Russia. Rand's trip to Russia is a good thing and could help lawmakers in both countries realize their common goals. 

I also break down Saudi's diplomatic split with Canada. The Saudis have kicked the Canadian ambassador out of the kingdom and announced that Saudi students would be moved out of Canada. 

Links

Saudi provocative Tweet

SHS - Andrew Cockburn

Aug 6, 2018

On FPF #229, I look at the difference between the US media portrayal of the Korean peace process and what is actually happening in the region. The US media has focused on stories that indicate North Korea and Trump are ruining the peace process. However, North and South Korea military leaders are meeting to discuss reducing conventional weapons near the DMZ. Japan is removing anti-missile systems citing a reduction in the threat from North Korea. 

Links 

SHS - Nassar Arraybee

Aug 3, 2018

On FPF #228, I discuss the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Congress recently passed the 2019 NDAA, authorizing $716 billion in defense spending. The spending is largely for offensive purposes and does not benefit the protect the American people. I break down some of the mandates Congress placed on the money. 

Links 

FPF #226 - NDAA with Will Porter

 

Aug 1, 2018

On FPF #227, I discuss Trump's foreign policy. It appears Trump is using the same plan with Iran that he believes brought North Korea to agree to denuclearize. I explain how Trump misunderstands how the peace process developed in North Korea and why a similar US policy in Iran will have far different results. 

I break down recent talks between the US and the Taliban and how Pakistan's new prime minister may impact the Afghan War. 

Links

Moon of Alabama - Afghan Talks

Rand Paul's Middle East Peace Plan

Moon of Alabama - Imran Khan

SHS - Eric Margolis on Imran Khan

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