Tag: United States

Ep 59 US-Backed Rebels and Al Qaeda in Southern Syria feat Sharmine Narwani

Dan and Joanne talk with Sharmine Narwani about the Southern Front — US-backed rebels based in southern Syria — and their affiliation with al Qaeda. We also discuss how the Syrian war is like an irregular world war and how it has played a role in accelerating a global shift in power.

Sharmine is a commentator and analyst of Mideast geopolitics based in Beirut, speaking to us today from the United States. She is a former senior associate at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University and has been published by a wide variety of publications, including the New York Times, the Guardian, Asia Times Online, al Akhbar English, Al Jazeera and RT.

Follow Sharmine @snarwani and find her work at her website mideastshuffle.com

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Recorded on June 28, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

Are al-Qaeda Affiliates Fighting Alongside U.S. Rebels in Syria’s South?, Sharmine Narwani, The American Conservative

Ep 49 Leaving Syria feat. Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, USA, Ret.

Joanne talks with Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret.about his recent article, “President Trump is right: Withdrawing from Syria strengthens US security,” and about the current precarious situation where Trump has changed his mind and is signalling an imminent attack on Syria and Russia, using an alleged chemical weapons attack in Ghouta as justification.

Col. Davis served for 21 years, including four combat deployments. He retired from the Army in 2015 and is now a Foreign Policy/Defense Analyst and a senior fellow for Defense Priorities. His areas of expertise are American foreign policy, Middle East policy, Asia policy, grand strategy, international relations, international security, and counterinsurgency.

In 2012, he wrote a classified whistleblower report for Congress about the war in Afghanistan and released an unclassified version to the public. Col Davis regularly appears on news shows and is published in national and international publications.

Follow Col. Davis on Twitter at @DanielLDavis1

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Recorded on April 11, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

  1. President Trump is right: Withdrawing from Syria strengthens US security, Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret., CNBC
  2. Truth, lies and Afghanistan, Armed Forces Journal (2012), Daniel L, Davis
  3. Fools Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, Scott Horton

Ep 48 Dispatch From Damascus: Syrian War Big Picture & Power Players feat Elijah Magnier


 

Joanne talks with veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier, from Damascus, about recent developments in Syria and his recent three-part article about the big picture and power players in the Syrian war. We also talk about the new crowd-funded book that he is writing on the history of Hezbollah.

Elijah is a journalist and a senior political risk analyst with over 32 years experience covering Europe and the Middle East.

Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work (in multiple languages) at ejmagnier.com

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Recorded on April 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

  1. “Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 1)”, Elijah Magnier
  2. “Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 2)”, Elijah Magnier
  3. “Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 3)”, Elijah Magnier

Ep 36 New Axis of Evil, Eurasia Great Game feat Pepe Escobar

Dan and Joanne talk with correspondent Pepe Escobar about the new axis of evil. We discuss the geopolitical and economic importance of the New Silk Road and newly developing alignments on trade and security in Eurasia.

Pepe is the correspondent-at-large for Asia Times, author of several ebooks, and commentator. He is 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.

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Recorded on October 2, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

 

Reference Links:

  1. “Unmasked: Trump Doctrine vows carnage for new axis of evil,” Asia Times, Sept., 2017

“Shadow play: the New Great Game in Eurasia”, Asia Times, Jan., 2017