Foreign Policy Focus

On FPF #394, I cover several essential stories. The protests in Hong Kong continue, and the Western media continues with its biased coverage. Groups of protesters continue to act violently; however, only the violence from the police is ever discussed. 

Hezbollah has responded to Israeli strikes in Lebanon by destroying an Israeli military vehicle. The rising tensions provoked by Israel could spark a broader conflict in the Middle East. 

In Yemen, the Saudi's have deployed additional forces to southern Yemen to fight the UAE-backed separatists. I explain how it has become a new proxy war between Saudi and the UAE. 

Links

• Moon of Alabama
• Elijah Magnier 
• Iranian Sanctions
• Israel and ICE detain children

Adam Graham returns to the show for the Patreon's Q & A Livestream. Adam and Kyle answer questions about Venezuela, Cuba, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Yemen, and Syria. They explain why Trump's policies have failed across the globe and he has entered the US into several economic wars. Adam and Kyle explain why sanctions do not lead to people rising up and overthrowing their repressive governments. 

Adam's work has been published at the Libertarian Institute and he runs the No King But Christ blog. 

Links

FPF #292 - Hong Kong protests

FPF #316 - Remember the Maine

On FPF #392, I discuss a string of Israeli bombing across the Middle East. In Iraq, the US has disclosed Israel is targeting the Popular Mobilization Forces. The PMF is a Shia fought against IS and received support from the US and Iran. In Syria, Israel targeted Iranians supporting Assad's fight against jihadists. Israel has now admitted to bombing Assad 100s of times throughout the Syrian War. In Lebanon, Israeli drones targeted Beirut and a Palestinian. The Lebanese president said the attacks are like an act of war and Hezbollah said they would respond. Israeli has also suggested joining the fight against the Houthi in Yemen.

All the Israeli attacks risk starting a larger war that will drag the US into a war with Iran. The attacks are occurring in the leadup to the Israeli election. I explain that Israeli prime minister Netanyahu is likely trying to spin up nationalism in hopes it will help him to get reelected. 

Links

• Around the Empire - Hong Kong
• Twitter censorship
• Peace Agreement with the Taliban?
• Revolving Door
• Thomas Harrington - Catalonia V Hong Kong
• Lyle Goldstein - Ukraine V Hong Kong

On FPF #391, Scott Horton returns to the show to discuss the ongoing genocide in Yemen. Scott explains that the US is backing the Saudi's brutal war, and the war is not going well for Saudi Arabia. The UAE - a critical member of the Saudi coalition - recently announced they are no longer using their own troops to fight the Houthi. The UAE-backed southern separatists broke away from the Saudi coalition and seized the second capital of Yemen. The Saudi's are now bombing their former allies in an attempt to retake the city. Scott explains why the Saudi/US war amounts to genocide and describes the relationship between the Houthi and Iran.  

On FPF #390, I discuss a US drone being shot down over Yemen. The US claims that Iran supplied the Houthi with the weapons. The US media has focused their attention on the relationship between Houthi and Iran. However, the more important question is what was a US drone doing over Houthi held Yemen. Trump has no authority to wage a war against the Houthi, who oppose al-Qaeda. I explain how the downing of a US drone and Saudi losing Aden to separatists show the US needs to end its involvement in Yemen. 

Links

• Moon of Alabama - Chinese Cult
• Moon of Alabama - Crowd Size
• American Conservative - Yemenhttps://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/a-sycophant-not-a-statesman/
• Intercept - CIA Support for Afghan Militias
• Alastair Crooke - Yemen

On FPF #389, I talk about how calls to regime change other nations ignore the human rights abuses of the US empire. The US has waged several wars of aggression since the start of the century, leaving millions dead. The US ran a massive torture and drone program where the victims are often innocent and never receive justice. The US has the highest prison population, and whistle-blowers face more severe consequences than the criminals they expose. Police in the US gets to commit crimes with impunity. I argue Americans should focus on changing their own regime, rather than waging war against others. 

On FPF #388, I talk about the peace process in Colombia and Afghanistan. In Colomba, the new president Ivan Duque has opposed the peace agreement with the FARC. Now he plans to end funding for a program key to keeping the peace in Colombia. If the program end, the FARC could start to remilitarize. 

Official statements from both sides of the talks to end the Afghan War indicate the US and the Taliban are moving towards an agreement. However, there is some disappointment as the 8th round of talks did not end in a signed agreement as some expected. I break down some possible obstacles to peace. 

On FPF #387, I discuss Saudi losing the second capital of Yemen to southern separatists. The southern separatists were long allies of the Saudis in the war against the Houthi. However, the separatists recently went to war against the Saudi-backed government in Yemen and seized the city of Aden. Losing a capital city of Yemen for the second time is the latest in a long string of failures for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Saudi - with essential US backing - continues to wage the failing war in Yemen, and the people of Yemen are suffering under the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet. 

Links

Eric Margolis on Kashmir

Joanne Leon returns to the show to talk about the race for the Democratic Party nomination. Joanne breaks down the horrific plan offered by Mayor Pete in response to mass shootings. She explains his plan is likely to lead to the oppression of more Americans. 

Kyle and Joanne update the Tulsi Gabbard campaign. While Tulsi remains the favored candidate for most people in the antiwar movement, Rep Gabbard recently voted in favor of an anti-BDS bill. Joanne gives her take on why Tulsi casts the vote and how the vote was rejected by the candidates base.

Joanne also discusses the highlight of the second debate, Tulsi smashing Kamala Harris' disturbing record as an Attorney General. In response, Harris attacked Tulsi support of Assad. Joanne and Kyle take down the myth that talking for foreign leaders is an immoral policy. 

Joanne Leon is the host of the Around the Empire podcast. 

Links

• Doug Bandow on mandatory service
• Around the Empire - Danny Sjursen on the Tulsi effect

On FPF #385, I cover the US economic war against Venezuela. The US imposed sanctions on Venezuela under Obama. After John Bolton joined the Trump administration as National Security Adviser, the US ramped up the economic war against Venezuela by sanctioning the state oil company, and by supporting Juan Guaido's coup attempt. Trump slapped new sanction on Venezuela this week. Bolton says the sanctions can be used to punish anyone who trades with the Maduro regime. I discuss possible consequences of the reckless foreign policy and how Trump has used sanctions against other countries. 

Links

Caitlin Johnstone