Ep 257  Checkered Relations of US and Russia Through History feat Peter Kuznick

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Guest: Peter Kuznick. We talk about the checkered history of relations between the United States and Russia (and the USSR). We talk about the book “The Untold History of the United States” including a second edition with some new chapters on more recent history. In a bonus question we talk about possible Russian revanchism and whether the Baltic states and other former USSR states in the region are now in danger if Russia begins to feel threatened by NATO activity in those states and in the context of the current invasion of Ukraine.

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Ep 257EXTRA  Russian Revanchism? feat Peter Kuznick

WATCH / LISTEN ON ROKFIN AND PATREON

Guest: Peter Kuznick. We talk about the checkered history of relations between the United States and Russia (and the USSR). We talk about the book “The Untold History of the United States” including a second edition with some new chapters on more recent history. In a bonus question we talk about possible Russian revanchism and whether the Baltic states and other former USSR states in the region are now in danger if Russia begins to feel threatened by NATO activity in those states and in the context of the current invasion of Ukraine.

Continue reading “Ep 257EXTRA  Russian Revanchism? feat Peter Kuznick”

Ep 225 Business, Politics and Organized Crime feat Jeremy Kuzmarov

Ep 225 Business, Politics and Organized Crime feat Jeremy Kuzmarov

Guest: Jeremy Kuzmarov. We talk about Jeremy’s new article in Covert Action Magazine, titled How Organized Crime Infiltrated American Business After WW II and Corrupted National Politics from Truman to Trump. In it, he talks about a book by Jonathan Marshall, titled Dark Quadrant: Organized Crime, Big Business, and the Corruption of American Democracy. In a bonus segment, we talk about the January 6th riots. 

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Ep 221EXTRA NATO’s Mini Empires feat Danny Sjursen

Ep 221EXTRA NATO’s Mini Empires  feat Danny Sjursen

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Guest: Danny Sjursen. Franco-American imperial projects. We talk about reasons for the 2011 regime change in Libya, the complex power struggle and foreign intervention that has ensued ever since and the importance of that story in understanding everything else in the Sahel areas of Africa and the broader region. We also discuss the 21st century American-enabled version of the French and British empires, European influence in African countries and how military operations in Africa are largely hidden from the citizens of the NATO countries who are driving them. 

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Ep 221 Franco-American Imperial Projects feat Danny Sjursen

Ep 221 Franco-American Imperial Projects feat Danny Sjursen

Guest: Danny Sjursen. We talk about reasons for the 2011 regime change in Libya, the complex power struggle and foreign intervention that has ensued ever since and the importance of that story in understanding everything else in the Sahel areas of Africa and the broader region. We also discuss the 21st century American-enabled version of the French and British empires, European influence in African countries and how military operations in Africa are largely hidden from the citizens of the NATO countries who are driving them. 

Continue reading “Ep 221 Franco-American Imperial Projects feat Danny Sjursen”

Ep 194 A Biden Foreign Policy, US/UK and Media feat Afshin Rattansi

Ep194 A Biden Foreign Policy, US/UK and Media feat Afshin Rattansi

Guest: Afshin Rattansi. Hosts: Joanne Leon and Kelley Lane. We discussed the Biden transition team, the direction that a Biden cabinet would take in war and foreign policy, Brexit and the US/UK and EU relationship, and the current state of the media. 

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Ep 186 Withdrawal From Iran Deal Snaps Back feat Neda Bolourchi

Ep 186 Withdrawal From Iran Deal Snaps Back feat Neda Bolourchi

Guest: Neda Bolourchi. We talk about the recent developments with the JCPOA, withdrawal from Iran deal and how the Trump administration is trying to “have its cake and eat it too”. We discuss the happenings in the UN general assembly and UN Security Council, the news of troop withdrawals from Iraq and a lot more. There is an extra bonus segment for patrons: Ep 186EXTRA Middle East Prospects in the New Cold War Era. 

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Ep 186EXTRA Middle East Prospects in New Cold War Era feat Neda Bolourchi

Ep 186 EXTRA Middle East Prospects in New Cold War Era feat Neda Bolourchi

LISTEN ON PATREON

Guest: Neda Bolourchi. We talk about the recent developments with the JCPOA Iran deal and how the Trump administration is trying to “have its cake and eat it too”. We discuss the happenings in the UN general assembly and UN Security Council, the news of troop withdrawals from Iraq and a lot more. This is an extra bonus segment for patrons: Ep 186EXTRA Middle East Prospects in the New Cold War Era. 

Continue reading “Ep 186EXTRA Middle East Prospects in New Cold War Era feat Neda Bolourchi”

Ep 156 Western Denial About Syria feat Régis Le Sommier

Ep 157 Western Denial About Syria feat Regis LeSommier

Guest: Régis Le Sommier. We discuss the fact that the United States and its western allies are in denial about having lost the war in Syria. Calls to reboot that war are unrealistic and against the wishes of the majority of Syrian people who are living in government controlled areas, still suffering under sanctions and whose voices are rarely heard in western media. The sanctions are being used in an effort to keep options open for regime change and to deny the Assad government the opportunity to rebuild and stabilize the country. Western leaders and media are also in denial about the nature and objectives of the people who control the opposition held areas. Régis brings us insights from Syria having spent time on the ground there in both government and opposition controlled areas. 

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Ep 149 US vs Iran Conflicts feat Danny Sjursen

Ep 149 US vs Iran Conflicts feat Maj. Danny Sjursen, USA (ret.)

Guest: Maj. Danny Sjursen, US Army (ret.) We talk about two articles that Danny wrote about US vs Iran conflicts over the last seven decades and what he calls a “timeline of provocations and retaliations”. Also we talk about Iran’s history of relative restraint. 

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Ep 138 Crazy US and UK Politics feat Gordon Dimmack

Ep 138 Crazy US and UK Politics feat Gordon Dimmack

Guest: Gordon Dimmack. We chat about the crazy politics in the US and UK, the high level of propaganda, and the election in the UK that will be held this week with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn as top contenders for Prime Minister. We talk about the Tory, Labour and other UK parties, likely coalitions and the top issues like Brexit and the NHS. We also touch on Russigate and the recently released IG Report. 

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Ep 129 The Borg Freaks Out Over Syria (Swapcast)

 Ep 129 The Borg Freaks Out Over Syria (Swapcast)

Swapcast with Foreign Policy Focus podcast host Kyle Anzalone, on the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria and the Kurds/SDF new partnership with Syria with Russia as the guarantor. The Borg freaks out.

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Ep 127 Iraq Protests, US-Iran War, Regime Change feat Elijah Magnier

Ep 127 Iraq Protests, US-Iran War, Regime Change feat Elijah Magnier

Guest: Elijah Magnier. We discuss the uprising and protests across Iraq that turned violent this week, with over a hundred deaths and thousands of injuries. 

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Ep 68 Iraq Politics & Stalled Idlib Op in Syria feat Elijah Magnier

Elijah Magnier returns to the show for an update and insight on the political situation in Iraq where the prime minister selection process (also a proxy battle of sorts between the US and Iran) is still ongoing. See Around the Empire Episode 56 for our first conversation on this topic. We also talk about the stalled operation in Idlib and the power players involved.

Iraq Politics & Stalled Idlib Op in Syria feat Elijah Magnier

Elijah is a veteran war correspondent, a terrorism/counterterrorism analyst specializing in the Europe and the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya. He recently left Iraq and is speaking to us today from Lebanon.

FOLLOW Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work at ejmagnier.com. Support him by using the Paypal link at the bottom of every page on his website.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com.

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on September 14, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

  1. A Weak and Divided Iraq is Stumbling Towards an Unbalanced Future (6/8/18), Elijah Magnier
  2. The US Forces in Al-Tanf are Beleaguered on both the Syrian and Iraqi Sides. Tehran is Challenging Washington in Iraq Abadi is No Longer the Agreed Favourite Candidate (7/23/18), Elijah Magnier
  3. Which War for Mesopotamia? Iraq Must Choose Between Iran and the US (8/21/18) , Elijah Magnier
  4. Faleh Al-Fayyad is the Official Anti-US PM Candidate in Iraq, While the US is Trying to Hit Iran Below the Belt (8/31/18), Elijah Magnier
  5. The US Horse Fell at the First Jump in Iraq (9/4/18), Elijah Magnier
  6. The USA Oblivious to the Rise of a Resistance Movement in Response to Its Interference in Iraqi Elections (9/5/18), Elijah Magnier
  7. A Wake-Up Call to the US in Baghdad: Will Haidar Abadi Become the Mohammad Morsi of Iraq? (9/7/18), Elijah Magnier
  8. Haidar Abadi Has Fallen With the Burned Walls of the Iranian Consulate in Basra (9/10/18), Elijah Magnier
  9. The Liberation of Idlib: Turkey is in the Way, With Russia Slowing Down (9/14/18), Elijah Magnier
  10. Syria – The Rationale Behind The Delay Of Idleb’s Liberation, Moon of Alabama
  11. Can Erdogan intimidate Assad into backing off Idlib?, Amberin Zaman, Al Monitor
  12. Turkey reinforces military in Syria’s Idlib after ceasefire call fails”, Orhan Coskun, Reuters
  13. Turkish Strategy in Northern Syria Military Operations, Turkish-Backed Groups and Idlib Issue, SouthFront
  14. Notorious Terrorist Commander Eliminated By Syrian Troops In Idlib”, Muraselon/The Syria Reporters

 

Ep 63 Helsinki Summit and the New Great Game in Eurasia feat Pepe Escobar

Journalist and analyst Pepe Escobar, speaks to us from Bangkok about the new Great Game in Eurasia and why the critical military and geopolitical situation requires that the US resume relations with Russia despite the massive forces working against that.

Escobar is the correspondent-at-large for Asia Times and a frequent contributor to websites, TV and radio shows ranging from the US to East Asia. Born in Brazil, he’s been a foreign correspondent since 1985, and has lived in London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Washington, Bangkok and Hong Kong.  FOLLOW Pepe Escobar on Facebook and find his work at Asia Times.

We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com

FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow,  @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook.

Recorded on July 26, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

  1. Here’s the real reason the US must talk to Russia, Pepe Escobar, Asia Times
  2. Losing Military Supremacy: The Myopia of American Strategic Planning, Andrei Martyanov