Jason Ditz updates Scott on the news from the Middle East. Recently, a missing Emirati tanker that some claimed had been seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz was revealed to have simply been towed there voluntarily for repairs. In other news, the UAE has announced...
Iran
Lebanon Civil War Explained for Dummies
In 1982, Israeli tanks crossed the border into Lebanon to hunt down the PLO. It was supposed to be a quick simple mission to push the Palestinian resistance groups north 25 miles to protect Israel. However, the mission quickly became more complicated with Israel...
Is the U.S. Going to Take a More Active Role In The Saudi War On Yemen?
David D. Kirkpatrick writes in the N.Y. Times that the pullout of U.A.E. forces from Yemen has left Saudi Arabia in a stalemate position. They can bomb from the air but the U.A.E. forces were doing most of the ground fighting. While the Saudis have fought almost...
Rand Tries Diplomacy with Iran
On FPF #377, I discuss Senator Rand Paul's attempt to engage in talks with Iran. Rand played a round of gulf with Trump and got the go-ahead to talk with the Iranian foreign minister. While Trump still seems committed to his maximum pressure campaign, the realistic...
7/17/19 Daniel McAdams on America’s Dangerous Posture Toward Iran
Scott interviews Daniel McAdams about the influence of Mike Pompeo and John Bolton on President Trump's foreign policy. Lately they've made sure to keep up a policy of maximum pressure through economic sanctions, and to avoid negotiations at all costs. It's clear from...
7/17/19 Mark Perry on the Year America Didn’t Go to War
Mark Perry talks about the history of America's near misses on war with Iran, starting with the 1983 Beirut barracks attack that almost led to an American bombing campaign against the Iranians. According to Perry, President Reagan realized that such an attack would be...
News Roundup 7/18/19
US News The police officer who killed Eric Garner will not face charges. [Link] Trump reallocates $42 million in aid funds from Central American to Juan Guaido’s regime change effort in Venezuela. [Link] Peru’s former president has been attested in the US and is...
Rand Paul Wants To Work Things Out With Iran
He wants Trump to make him an envoy to Iran. Sure hope the report is true. The hawks in it complain that it reduces "maximum pressure," but if the point is a "better deal" and not war, then they need to be able to discuss things then don't they? That's why the hawks...
Blog
Podcasts
Shop Our Books
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.