On FPF #116, I update the geopolitical mess in Arabia and the Levant. In Yemen, the US now blames Iran for supplying the Houthi with the missile that targeted Saudi Arabia. The Lebanon Prime Minister remains under house arrest in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince bin Salman continues to arrest officials and princes on corruption charges. I also update Catalonia, Russiagate, and ISIS.
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Will Porter returns to FPF for ep. 115. Will discuss the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Will starts with the origins and founders of the group that would one day declare a caliphate. Will analyzes the US role in Iraq, Libya, and Syria led to the rise of IS. Will then explains the narrative of IS as it reaches its peak and anti-ISIS coalitions start to build.
This is part one of a two-part series of the rise and fall of ISIS.
Will Porter is a journalist and commentator with a focus on U.S. foreign policy and Mid East affairs.
His freelance work can be found at the Libertarian Institute and Antiwar.com.
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The Redline and the Rat Line [Link]
2012 DIA memo [Link]
Press report of U.S. weapons in militant hands [Link] [Link]
On FPF #114, I discuss all the news from a significant foreign policy weekend. Yemen shoot a ballistic missile at Saudi's capital. Lebanon's Prime Minister resigned. Saudi's Crown Prince arrested several members of Saudi's royal family. Shortly after, several high ranking Saudi officials were killed in a helicopter crash. The Catalan President has also turned himself into Belgian authorities.
Further reading
Lebanon Prime Minister Resigns
On FPF #113, I look at some recent wins for the empire. The empire makes a significant gain by getting Nigerien government permission to carry out drone strikes in Niger. A new lie linking Iran to al-Qaeda will help the empire win US support for war with Iran. The House also killed H.Con.Res 81, preventing an end to the war in Yemen.
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On FPF #112, I give my initial thoughts on the terror attack in NYC. I also cover the other important news of the day. Iran has self-limited their ballistic missile range to 2000 km. Mattis and Tillerson tell Congress that the 2001 AUMF allows for war in Africa. In Iraq, the central government looks to end Kurdish autonomy. I also update H.Con.Res 81, Syria, and Lebanon.
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On FPF #111, I discuss House Concurrent Resolution 81. H.Con. Res 81 is a bill invoking the War Powers Act to end US support for Saudi Arabia's war against the people of Yemen. The US is currently providing vital support to Saudi Arabia's war effort. The US is selling Saudi Arabia billions of dollars worth of weapons, providing ships to support the blockade, and providing mid-air refueling to Saudi warplanes. Ending the US support will help the people of Yemen and weaken al-Qaeda in Yemen.
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On FPF #110, I discuss the Catalan Parliment declaring independence from Spain. The Catalan Parliment voted in the face of several threats from the Spanish government. The Spanish President is hoping to invade Catalonia in response. I also call on my audience to contact their Representative and ask them to support H.Con.Res 81.
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On FPF #109, I discuss the expanding US war in Africa. US operations in Africa have greatly expanded since AFRICOM was created in 2008. The US now has 6,000 troops in Africa and the troops are involved in 3,500 military operations every year. Now Sen Lindsey Graham says the US will expand the war to Africa.
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On FPF #108, I discuss several current news events. CIA Director Pompeo said the CIA will become a more vicious agency. The CIA will also begin an operation in Afghanistan against Taliban leadership. The US is preparing to put nuclear bombers on 24-hour alert. The USS John McCain has taken on additional damage. The story of how US soldiers died in Niger is becoming clear. I also update Iran, Syria, Rex Tillerson's trip to the Middle East.
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On FPF #107, I look at the Neocons pushing Trump to war with Iran. The push has lead Trump to decertify the Iran nuclear deal. The Neocons are now claiming Iran destabilizes the Middle East by making up a fake narrative about the Iraqi Kurds. The Neocon push will be based on lies and half-truths. In this show, I expose some of the lies.
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On FPF #106, I discuss the terror attack in Somalia that killed over 300 people. I look at blowback and how US policy possibly motivated the bomber. I explain that while Americans may not care about dead Somalis, people in the Muslim world do. I update Marawi, Kurdistan, Syria, and Israel.
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On FPF #105, I discuss Trump's Iran policy speech. Trump's speech was filled with lies and half-truths meant to make Americans scared of Iran. Trump then uses the lies to justify decertifying the P5+1 Nuclear Agreement. I debunk the lies and explore why Trump's policy will fail.
On FPF #104, I update the news on all of American's wars. In Syria, the Islamic State continues to kill civilians. The US is moving a second aircraft carrier to the Korean Peninsula. Trump is looking at a new more hawkish Iran policy. In Afghanistan, Pakistan is attempting to build a border wall. The House Resolution to end US support for Saudi's war in Yemen was postponed to November 2nd.
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On FPF #103, I discuss how we can prevent some disasters. I base my discussion on Jason Ditz's article The Hurricanes You Control Vs. The Hurricanes You Don’t. In this article, Jason explains how some disasters, like hurricanes, are uncontrollable. While some disasters, like Yemen, are very controllable. I also discuss burn pits, Iraq, Syria, and North Korea.
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On Foreign Policy Focus #102, I discuss the Yemeni Civil War. I review the history of the war and the destruction of Yemen. Americans remain apathetic about Yemen as it is destroyed with American weapons. Saudi Arabia was blacklisted for a second year for killing Yemeni children.
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On FPF #101, I discuss the Catalan independence vote. 90% of people who were able to vote, voted for independence. The Spanish police brutally cracked down on people trying to vote. Catalans have responded with massive peaceful protesters.
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Scott Horton joins me on Foreign Policy Focus #100 to discuss his new book Fool's Errand. Scott debunks the idea that 9/11 was the start of US interventionism in the Middle East. Scott explains Bush's war in Afghanistan and what happened at Tora Bora. Scott discusses ISIS in Afghanistan and where these jihadist came from. Scott also analyzes Trump's strategy for the American's longest war.
The web page for Fool's Errand FoolsErrand.Us
Scott Horton, managing director of the Libertarian Institute, is the host of Antiwar Radio on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, and Opinion Editor of Antiwar.com. Scott is the host of the Scott Horton Show.
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No Good Men Among the Living (Anand Gopal) http://anandgopal.com/
Afghan Analyst article on ISIS. Afghanistan-analysts.org
On FPF #99, I provide quick updates on several big current events. In Catalonia, the Spanish government is trying to censor the independence movement. In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Iraqi government has shut down airspace as a punishment for voting for independence. In Afghanistan, Mattis made a visit and had to be rushed to safety.
This is a short show because I am not feeling well.
On FPF #98, I discuss Trump bombing Libya. This is the 6th country that Trump has bombed during his presidency. Congress has not authorized Trump to carry out any military actions. I discuss Trump's tweet on Iran's missile test. I also update Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.
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On Foreign Policy Focus #97, I discuss Trump calling Kim Jung Un a madman on Twitter. This is Trump's most dangerous Tweet so far. If Trump thinks Un is a madman, then Trump could decide to wage preemptive war North Korea. I review the road that led us to the mess in North Korea. I also update Syria, Yemen, and Myanmar.
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On FPF #96, I look at independence votes and movements around the world. Catalonia and Iraqi Kurds have upcoming votes for independence. Syrian Kurds are looking to form their own parliament. Taiwan and Palestine continue to fight for their own states. Several other countries also have populations looking for more freedom.
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Will Porter returns to Foreign Policy Focus to breakdown Trump's speech to the UN General Assembly. Trump's speech was hawkish and full of lies. Will debunks Trump's lies. Will also provides key insights into the real situation in Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Yemen.
Trump gave a speech to the UN General Assembly. [Link]
On FPF #94, I discuss why US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is awful. Haley continues to advocate for war and refuses to do her job as a diplomat. I also update Israel, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
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Harvard canceled plans to make Chelsea Manning a visiting fellow. The plans were canceled after CIA Director Pompeo refused to speak at the school. [Link]
Congressman Rohrabacher attempted to offer Trump a deal where Assange provides Trump proof that Russia did not provide the leaked emails. In exchange, Trump would give Assange a pardon. [Link]
15 Marines were injured in a training accident. [Link]
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley advocates for war with North Korea and Assad. [Link]
Josh Stimpson argues Trump needs to go to North Korea to meet with King Jung Un. [Link]
A bomb exploded on a UK subway injuring 30. Two men have been arrested in connection with the bombing. [Link]
Trump says the US is prepared to “defend our civilization” from North Korea. North Korea says it is seeking weapons to achieve equilibrium with the US. [Link]
Isreali settlers destroyed 70 Palestinian olive trees in two raids. [Link]
The CIA is looking for authority to carry out drone strikes in Afghanistan. [Link]
The Iraqi government is beginning a military operation against the Islamic State in the Anbar Province. The US will support the operation. [Link]
Bin Laden’s son calls for jihadists to continue the fight against Assad. [Link]
US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria said they would not allow Assad government troops to cross the Euphrates River. Russia said Assad allied troops have already crossed the river. [Link]
Reports have claimed that Russia carried out airstrikes against SDF forces outside of Deir Ezzor. Several SDF soldiers were injured. [Link] Russia disputes the claim they carried out the airstrikes. [Link] Syria Fyle
Reports claim that the US has given YPG and SDF militias $2.2 billion in Soviet-style weapons. [Link] Syria Fyle
On FPF #93, I discuss the US and Russia relations. A new story said Russia offered to reset relations with the US in March. While that offer was passed on, Russia's Foreign Ministry and the US State Department now agree there is no need to continue in the downward spiral in relations. I also update Syria, Yemen, North Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
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Jerrod Labor argues no one should ever listen to John Bolton again. [Link]
After 9/11, the US developed a surveillance centers in Ethiopia to spy on Ethiopians and others in the Horn of Africa. [Link]
An Army officer explains the harsh truths Americans must accept about the war in Afghanistan. [Link]
On FPF #92, I discuss the attempt by Senator Rand Paul to repeal the 2001 AUMF. The 2001 AUMF was passed in the week after 9/11 and was intended to be a war resolution for Afghanistan. Since 2001, the AUMF has been used to justify military actions in at least 14 countries. The repeal vote failed but gained some traction. I also update Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan.