Foreign Policy Focus

Will Porter joins Foreign Policy Focus to analyze foreign policy in 2017. We review all the big stories from Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Africa, and North Korea. Will and I break down Trump's first year as Commander in chief and biggest blunders. We discuss the media's lack of critical coverage of Trump's foreign policy. Then, we give some big stories to watch in 2018. 

Articles 

Muhammad Sahimi on the Iran deal [Link] 

On FPF #135, I discuss the big news from over the Christmas weekend. Saudi Arabia is increasing airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi airstrikes killed at least 70 civilians on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The US announced, under the cover of Christmas, that the US would begin supplying Ukraine with lethal weapons. I examine the article Scott Ritter released of his analysis of Nikki Haley claim that Iran is supplying missiles to the Houthi. 

Will Porter returns to Foreign Policy Focus to discuss Trump's National Security Strategy. In the report, Trump lays out his plan to secure America. Trump calls for lots of interventions around the world. Trump mentions China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran by name as threats to America. Will helps me explain how Trump's policy is more of the same and it will fail in creating a safer world for Americans. Will also assists is debunking some of the worst lies in the NSS. 

On FPF #133, Biran Saady comes on the show to discuss the drug war and how it devastates Mexico. Brian explains how the American drug habit creates a $100 billion black market for deadly cartels to get rich on. Brian describes how the cartels influence Mexican politics, media, and police. Brian focuses on the impact of the drug war on Mexican citizens. 

Brian is a freelance writer and he has been published in the American Conservative, The Libertarian Insitute, and The Mises Institute. Brian is the author of several books including America's Drug War is Devastating Mexico and The Drug War: A Trillion Dollar Con Game. Brian's website, Twitter, and Facebook.

On FPF #132, I discuss the Yemen war at 1,000 days. Iona Craig is now working on a Yemen database revealing key stats about Saudi's war in Yemen. I explain how US Amb to the UN Nikki Haley is trying to provoke a war with Iran. I talk about the US sharing intelligence with Russia to prevent a terror attack. I also update North Korea, Libya, and Egypt. 

Articles 

• Saudi Arabia kills ten Yemeni women going to a wedding in an airstrike. [Link]
• The US and South Korea continue to drill the invasion of North Korea. North Korea sees the drills as a threat and has asked the US to end the drills. [Link] 
• Senator Lindsey Graham says there is a 30% chance of war with North Korea. [Link] 
• Italy and the EU will work to strengthen the Libya coast guard to prevent migrants from reaching Europe. [Link]
• US shares intelligence with Russia that allowed Russia to prevent a terror attack. [Link] 
• Reza Marashi explains that Nikki Haley is bad at foreign policy. [Link]  
• Many are expressing skepticism of Nikki Haley’s claim that Iran is supplying missiles to the Houthi. [Link] 
• James Mattis says there is no reason for the US to step up militarily against Iran. [Link]

On FPF #131, I address several claims of Russian Aggression. I refute a tweet from Mitt Romney. I explain how the Crimea crisis started with a US coup. I detail how Russia was welcomed into Syria, and the US continues to stay in the country without an invitation. I talk about Putin's trip to the Muslim world. I also update Yemen and North Korea. 

Articles 

• US Amb. to the UN Nikki Haley claims to have proof Iran is supplying the Houthi with missiles. [Link] Trista Parsi responds. [Link] Iran issues a statement claiming the US evidence is fabricated. [Link]
• The House is looking at a sanctions bill against Iran for their alleged role in the Yemen Civil War. [Link]
• Doctors Without Borders finds the Myanmar military’s ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya killed 6,700 people. [Link]
• The US government will provide additional weapons to the Lebanese Army. [Link]
• IS was armed with weapons the US gave to Syrian rebels. [Link]
• Two US F-22s intercepted two Russian fighter jets over Syria. [Link] 
• The White House walks back Tillerson’s statement that the US is ready for talks with North Korea. The White House reaffirmed that Trump sees talks with North Korea as pointless. [Link]
• The US Ambassador to Yemen prevented critical humanitarian infrastructure from reaching Yemen. The ambassador has also been unwilling to present the Houthi with an acceptable offer. [Link] 
• A Saudi airstrike killed at least 39 people in Yemen. The airstrike hit a police building and prison. [Link] 
• The Houthi and factions loyal to the deceased former president Saleh are close to making a deal. The Houthi have released several journalists who were loyal to Saleh. [Link]

On FPF #130, Will Porter returns to the show to discuss his new article on Yemen and the situation in Israel. Will's article explains how deaths in Yemen have been undercounted during the Saudi/US war against Yemen. Will talked with several sources to gain a better understanding of the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen. Will also discussed the NY subway terror attack and how that it was blowback from Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. 

On FPF #129, I take questions for the first Q and A show. I answer questions on Yemen, Trump, and Israel. I explain Trump's possible reasons for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. I also discuss CNN's fake bombshell report on a connection between Wikileaks and the Trump Campaign. 

On FPF #128, I discuss the execution of Daniel Shaver by police officer Phillip Brailsford. The shooting occurred in January 2016 and Brailsford has been acquitted by a jury of all charges. A judge finally allowed the body cam footage to the public. I react to the video and give some analysis. I also explain how America's are not holding out military and police to a high enough moral standard. 

Link to video

On FPF #127, I look at current events from the perspective of people in other countries. I explain how US war games create fear among North Koreas. I describe how the US moving of the US Embassy in Israel impacts the Palestinians. I update Lebanon's Prime Minister Hariri announcing his resending of his resignation and how the could delegitimize him in the eyes of the Lebanese people. I also detail how the current US occupation of Syria could upset the Syrian people. 

Articles

• The US plans to spend $14.4 million to reopen a Cold War Era base in Iceland. [Link]
• Trump is expected to announce the US embassy in Israel will move from Tel Aviv to Jerulesum. [Link]
• Saudi Arabia and the UAE announce new partnership separate from the GCC. [Link]
• Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced he will no longer be resigning. [Link]
• Fighting between ISIS-K and the Taliban breaks out in Afghanistan. [Link] 
• The US has increased the number of airstrikes in Afghanistan and killing more Afghani civilians. [Link] 
• The Pentagon says the US will remain in Syria “as long as we need to.” [Link]
• Iona Craig details the horrors Yemeni children live under. [Link] 
• US bombs being used on civilian targets in Yemen. [Link]
• Honduran President Hernandez is said to be still ahead in the voting after a partial recount of the presidential election. [Link]
• The US and South Korean air forces are holding massive war games in South Korea. NSA McMaster says war with North Korea more likely. [Link]
• Former SDF spokesmen speaks out about SDF ties to the PKK.  [Link] 
• Israel carried out more airstrikes on Assad allied targets near Damascus. [Link] 
• The US missile defense system likely failed to hit Houthi converted SCUD missile fired at Saudi Arabia. [Link]