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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: March, 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.

Mar 30, 2018

On FPF #174, I update the Syrian Civil War. The Syrian Civil War recently passed its 7th year but remains exceptionally complex. Assad has liberated Damascus from most al-Qaeda linked factions. Turkey has conquered the Afrin District from the Syrian Kurds and now Turkey looks to move its military operations to Manbij. ISIS controls various pockets around Syria. The US continues to have thousands of troops in Syria. However, Trump announced the troops were leaving very soon. 

Links

Peace and Liberty Podcast

Liberty Weekly Podcast 

Elijah Magnier updates the Syrian battlefield 

Mar 28, 2018

On FPF #173, I discuss the US expelling 60 Russian diplomats. Several other countries also expelled Russian diplomats in response to an alleged Russian nerve agent attack in the UK. I look at the evidence behind the allegations and respond to US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman.

I break down new developments in the Yemeni Civil War and the Afghan War

Links

Hawks Always Fail Upwards

Andrew Cockburn on the Afghan Opium Trade

Moon of Alabama UK Nerve Agent Attack 

 

Mar 26, 2018

On FPF #172, I discuss Trump's announcement that John Bolton will replace HR McMaster as National Security Advisor. Bolton continues to support the Iraq War and he was involved in lying us into the war. Bolton has been a long opponent of the Iran Nuclear Deal. He has suggested preemptive strikes against North Korea and Iraq. Bolton supported Obama's war in Libya. I also give some analysis of what this means for US foreign policy. 

Links

 
Mar 23, 2018

On FPF #171, I discuss Ahed Tamimi. Ahed is a 17-year-old Palestinian who was jailed for confronting an Israeli soldier who shot her younger cousin. Ahed was denied a public trail and remained in jail while awaiting trial at an Israeli military court. Ahed agreed to a plea deal and spend 8 months in prison. Ahed has become a symbol of resistance for Palestinians. I also update Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan

Link

Ahed Tamimi's cousin arrested

Taibbi: The Legacy of the Iraq War

Veterans for Peace go to Palestine

Maj. Danny Sjursen: The Iraq War has been a 15 year long failure

Mar 21, 2018

On FPF #170, I discuss the Senate killing the Yemen War Powers Act. The Senate voted 55-44 to table the bill. The bill was killed by a lie from the War State. By tabling the bill, the Senate continues to allow the US to aid the genocide of the people of Yemen. 

I address the reelection of Putin in Russia. Russia is facing condemnation from the EU and NATO for the evidenceless allegations by the UK government. 

I also update the Syrian Civil War.

Link

FPF#159 - Yemen Cheat Sheet 

Mar 19, 2018

On FPF #169, I discuss the Syrian Civil War. Turkey has taken control of Afrin City after it was evacuated by the Syrian Kurds. The Turkish Forces immediately announced their occupation by tearing down statues and flying Turkish flags. Assad Forces continue to make progress against the Syrian Rebels in Eastern Ghouta and civilians in the area continue to suffer. I examine the possibility of a US attack on Assad and a possible Russian response.

I correct my previous statements on Gina Haspel's role in the torture program

I look at the status of the Yemen War Powers Act. The Pentagon and Establishment Senate Leadership are seeking methods to prevent the bill from being passed. I also update Iraq, Philippines, South Africa, and Mali

 

Mar 16, 2018

On FPF #168, I discuss the nerve agent attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The British Prime Minister rushed to condemn Russia. The media quickly picked up the narrative presented by the UK. The UK has been joined by the leads of the US, France, and Germany blaming Russia for the attack. However, this allegation lacks evidence and creates tensions between nuclear powers. 

Links

  • Moon of Alabama explains the UK or US have presented no evidence that Russia was behind the attack. [Link]
  • Justin Raimondo: Who Poisoned Suegri Skripal? [Link]
  • James O’Neil looks at who had the motives and who benefits from the nerve agent attack. [Link]
Mar 14, 2018

On FPF #167, I discuss the new changes to the Trump Administration. Trump announced the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Twitter. CIA Director Mike Pompeo has been nominated to replace Rex Tillerson. Pompeo is an Iran hawk who wants to break the Nuclear Deal. Gina Haspel has been nominated to replace Pompeo as head of the CIA. Haspel oversaw a torture site under Bush and later ordered the destruction of the evidence. 

Mar 12, 2018

On FPF #166, I discuss Max Boot's Washington Post article North Korea and South Korea Snooker Trump. Boot argues that Trump talking with Kim Jong Un is very dangerous. Boot even claims that a deal with North Korea could lead to North Korea conquering the Korean Peninsula. I debunk all of Boot's fearmongering in the article. 

This is the first episode of my bonus podcast where I take down Max Boot's articles. For those who support the show at Patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus, I will put out two bonus shows a month.

Links

Peter Van Buren: What Critics Get Wrong About North Korea

Jonathan Marshall: Whos Afraid of Talking with Kim Jong Un

Lt. Col. Daniel Davis on Fox News

Tim Shorrock on the Sunshine Policy success

Mar 9, 2018

On FPF #165, Will Porter joins the show to discuss the Afghanistan War. Will and Kyle co-authored an article at Consortium News on the subject, Record Afghan Opium Crop Signals Violent Year for US Forces. The article focuses on the growing Afghan opium market which, combined with Trump's Afghan policy, will lead to added violence for US forces in the country. The Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan admits the Trump policy will be more dangerous for US troops, while the Taliban continue to use profits from record opium crops to fund their offensives.

Will Porter is a journalist who specializes in U.S. foreign policy and Middle East affairs. He writes for the Libertarian Institute and tweets at @WKPancap.

Mar 7, 2018

On FPF #164, I discuss peace talks in Korea. South Korea sent high-level officials to North Korea to talk with Kim Jong Un. The Koreans agreed to work towards talks with the countries leaders and the US. The South Koreans are also signaling to the US that North Korea is willing to denuclearize. I give Justin Raimondo's take on Putin's new nuclear weapons. I also update Syria, ISIS, Iran, and Libya

Mar 5, 2018

On FPF #163, I discuss several events occurring around the world. Trump has proposed new steal and aluminum tariffs. Putin announced that Russia has developed nuclear-armed cruise missiles. At the UN, the US is looking to punish North Korea and Assad. I also update the Syrian battlefield

Links

US moves Afghan Army to M4/M16

Walter Jones Letter 

Europe Nuclear Agreement add-on

Daniel Larison on North Korea

Mar 2, 2018

On FPF #162, I discuss Congress looking to limit presidential war powers. Senators Sanders, Lee, and Murphy have introduced S.J. Res. 54 to end the US war in the Yemen Civil War. The bill has bipartisan support, and Senator Sanders explains the importance of the bill. In the House, Representatives Lee and Amash hosted a hearing on the use of military power. The hearing allowed for several Representatives and experts to speak on the overreach and failures of the 2001 AUMF.

Link

FPF #159 - Yemen Cheat Sheet

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