Reese Erlich returns to the show to discuss his latest article for Antiwar.com, “US Sells Out the Kurds—Again” Erlich discusses the history of the Kurds in Iraq, America’s yo-yoing approach to first supporting then betraying the Kurds, and how it all relates back to today. Scott then brings the discussion to the political turmoil in Saudi Arabia, and what the apparent coup means for the U.S.-Saudi relations and the Middle East generally.

Reese Erlich is a nationally syndicated columnist and the author of Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect. Erlich’s next book” The Iran Agenda” will be published in 2018. In the meantime read his work at his website and follow him on Twitter.

Discussed on the show:

• “Kurds rescue Yazidis from Iraqi mountain” (Al Jazeera)
• “Of Kurds and Kissinger, Carter and Conscience” (The New York Times)
• “Kurdish leader Barzani resigns after independence vote backfires” (Reuters)
• “Musings on Iraq” (Joel Wing – @JoelWing2)
• Badr Brigade
• Iran-Iraq War
• Anfal Genocide
• Masoud Barzani
• “Iraqi Forces Sweep Into Kirkuk, Checking Kurdish Independence Drive” (New York Times)
• Moon of Alabama
• Mohammad bin al-Salman
• “Would very much appreciate Saudi Arabia doing their IPO of Aramco with the New York Stock Exchange. Important to the United States!” (@realDonaldTrump)
• “THE STRUGGLE FOR IRAQ: DIPLOMACY; Iraq Said to Have Tried to Reach Last-Minute Deal to Avert War,” by James Risen (The New York Times)
• “Saddam’s desperate offers to stave off war,” by Julian Borger (The Guardian)

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