Foreign Policy Focus

On FPF #344, I discuss how Trump is expanding the President's powers.  The US joined the Yemen War without Congressional approval under Obama. Trump's veto of the Yemen War Powers bill proves Congress has no ability to check the war powers of the president. The Pentagon is adding 300 more troops to the southern border. The troops continue to break American military tradition by expanding their roles and putting the troops in more contact with suspected illegal immigrants. The DoJ's persecution of Julian Assange is an attack on journalism and truth. The attack makes it easier for the government to control the media narrative and decide what information is allowed to reach the public. 

Links

• Moon of Alabama - Failed Coup
• FPF - Grey Zone guest Will Porter
• FPF - Turkey
• FPF - Wikileaks guest Will Porter

On FPF #343, I discuss Juan Guaido's latest failed coup attempt against Maduro. Guaido posted videos with a few Venezuelan soldiers and they took control of a small area outside of an airbase. Thousands of protesters joined Guaido. Maduro called for Venezuelans to take to the streets to show support him and massive crowds turned out to protect the presidential palace. The coup was broken up with some violence from the government. 

Links

• Moon of Alabama - Random Guy's coup attempt 
• US sanctions on Iran are leading to war
• Proposed sanctions may push Iran out of the Nuke Deal
• US sanctions are isolating the US

On FPF #342, I discuss DNC Chair Tom Perez statement, 'we are at war' with Russia. I explain how this hysterical thinking is reflective of the current DNC political leadership. The Democrats are at fault for losing the 2016 election. However, they continue to try to blame Russia for the loss. The hysteria is doing damage to the critical US/Russian relationship. I update Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Pentagon corruption. 

Links

• Tom Perez: We are at war with Russia
• SHS - Peter Van Buren
• FPF - Grey Zone guest Will Porter
• DoJ - Assange Espionage Act

On FPF #341, I discuss a former Marine being held on an extradition request from Spain for stealing electronics from the North Korean embassy in Madrid. The break-in occurred in the days leading up to Trump's second summit with Kim Jong-un. While few details of the break-in are known, the case against the Marine may help to shed some light on who broke into the embassy and what they were after. I update the planning for regime change in Venezuela, human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, and SEALs being told to keep quiet about war crimes. 

Links

• Max Blumenthal - CSIS meeting
• Moon of Alabama - NK embassy break-in 
• SHS - Jason Ditz
• SHS - Max Blumenthal

Will Porter returns to FPF to discuss his recent articles published at RT. The appointment of a new IRGC leader - who is considered a hardliner - is a sign that Iran is reacting to the US withdrawing waivers for oil sanctions. Will and Kyle give an analysis of the impact of Trump's decision to reduce Iran's oil imports to 0. 

Chelsea Manning remains in jail and was denied bail at an appeals hearing. Manning is jail for refusing to testify in front of a secret grand jury. Will and Kyle look at the greater problems in the US bail system. 

Will Porter is a staff writer at RT and an analyst of US foreign policy. You can find more of his work at Antiwar.com, the Libertarian Institute, and Consortium News.

Links

• Will's Archive
• IRGC leader
• Chelsea Manning
• Detroit Bail Abuses

On FPF #339, I discuss the Mueller Report. #Russiagate's true believers saw the report as a vindication of their false narrative; I debunk many of their claims. I break down the best analysis of the Mueller Report, showing it for what it really is.

I update Trump's Iran policy, Sri Lanka Easter bombings, Zelensky's election as Ukrainian president, and Trump's veto of the Yemen War Powers bill. 

Link

• Doug Bandow - Zelensky
• Trump's Second Veto
• Scott Horton - Mueller Notes
• Peter Van Buren - Mueller Report
• Mate and Doore discuss the Mueller Report
• Politico - Libya 

Scott Horton returns to Foreign Policy Focus to explain the importance of Wikileaks. Scott discusses some of the cruelest crimes of the American Empire and our allied states. He details Wikileaks documents that show Israel is an apartheid state. 

Scott Horton is the Editorial Director at Antiwar.com and Managing Editor of the Libertarian Institute. He is the author of the book Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan and the Host of the Scott Horton Show.

Scott Horton returns to Foreign Policy Focus to explain the importance of Wikileaks. Scott breaks down how leaks from Chelsea Manning helped to expose the cruelty of the Iraq War. He debunks so of the most common lies about Wikileaks. Scott also discusses some soon to be released books by the Libertarian Institute. 

Scott Horton is the Editorial Director at Antiwar.com and Managing Editor of the Libertarian Institute. He is the author of the book Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan and the Host of the Scott Horton Show. 

On FPF #336, Will and Kyle discuss how the indictment of Julian Assange is an attack on journalism. Will exposes errors made in the mainstream media about the charges. The errors have led to the false belief that Assange's work did not fall under the category of journalism. Will and Kyle review the statements from key figures to the arrest of Assange. 

Links

• Will's first RT article
• Glenn Greenwald
• Trevor Timm

On FPF #335, I discuss the arrest of Julian Assange. Assange was arrested by the UK after Ecuador's president rescinded his asylum. Assange now faces the potential of being extradited to the US; an indictment against Julian Assange charges him with crimes related to Chelsea Manning's leaking of documents in 2010. I argue the persecution of Assange is an attack on journalism. 

Links

Cassandra Fairbanks