Scott interviews activist Basir Bita about the economic calamity that’s hit Afghanistan since the U.S. withdrawal this past summer. With the U.S. and IMF freezing Afghan government funds as well as widespread market corrections after the fall of the previous regime, Afghanistan has been thrown into turmoil. Food prices have tripled since the summer and many Afghans face issues with food security. Bita argues that the Biden Administration and others should get over their hesitation to work with the new government of Afghanistan. And that a refusal to do so reveals how little they truly...
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Vaccines, Autonomy, and Mandates: A Libertarian Analysis
Prefatory Note Given the subject matter discussed below, I believe it prudent to state at the outset that I am not at all opposed to vaccinations themselves: indeed, I have received a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as all other normal-course vaccinations recommended for someone my age. Yet there are, it seems to me, interesting, difficult questions surrounding the state’s role in promoting or mandating vaccines. The goal here is to start a conversation not about the effectiveness of vaccines, but about the individual’s sphere of autonomy and what kinds of medical decisions are within it, and...
Salafis Throwing Bombs: How American and British Planners Partnered With Al-Qaeda Affiliated Groups At the Start of the Syrian Civil War
Introduction In the mainstream view, al-Qaeda did not play a role in the Syria conflict until Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dispatched his deputy, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, to Syria in August 2011 to establish a wing of the group there, called Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Nusra Front. Additionally, al-Qaeda allegedly did not carry out any military operations until December 2011 and did not announce its establishment until January 2012. However, there is evidence that al-Qaeda affiliated militants were involved in the Syrian conflict much earlier. Saudi intelligence...
Lunatic With a Plan: Erdogan and Turkey’s Economic Woes
Since the first assault on Turkey’s finances in 2018, which I wrote about multiple times (here, here, and here), I’ve been the lone voice telling everyone that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a lunatic but he’s a lunatic with a plan. That plan is to de-dollarize the economy of a valuable member of NATO geostrategically. Since the first shots across the bow by the Trump administration at Erdogan’s toying with those powers east of the Bosporus (Russia, China and Iran) the Turkish lira has been the primary mode of attack against Erdogan. Erdogan has pursued what has been deemed unorthodox...
The Antiwar Comic: The Bane of All Presidents
I guess I could've called this "The War on Blame" More comics at the Webcomic Factory.
U.S. Embassy In Afghanistan Issues Security Alert – U.S. Citizens Should Leave Afghanistan Immediately
More here Will anyone be held accountable? All the generals responsible will go on to have successful careers at Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin ..... ...
DoJ Issues Superceding Indictment Against Julian Assange
The Hill's got a good write up on it. They're accusing him of conspiring with Lulzsec and Anonymous to liberate these and those materials on top of their bogus charges against him for the Manning case.
Horton’s Law Corollary And Tulsi Gabbard
Horton's law says that whatever a politician is good on will never happen. Whatever they're bad on, you can bet on it being implemented. A corollary I'm proposing is that candidates who lead on their good issues can never win. Tulsi Gabbard has good and bad issues, but she leads on her anti-empire positions. Of course, this means that if she's elected she might violate Horton's law. Ergo, she won't be elected.
House Debating Yemen War Powers Resolution
The hawks are trying to add an "anti-Semitism" amendment so that it won't match the Senate version. Not that their genocidal agenda in Yemen has anything to do with Likud's anti-Iranian strategy for the Middle East or anything. Those are entirely separate issues. C-SPAN One right now.
Foreign Policy Focus #121 – Thanksgiving Guide
On FPF #121, I guide you through foreign policy discussions at Thanksgiving dinner. Foreign policy is the most important issue and if the subject comes up this podcast will help you be well informed. I identify the important players in ongoing wars. I debunk common myths people believe about US wars. I also give talking points to help you simply explain complex geopolitics issues.
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Hotter Than The Sun: Time To Abolish Nuclear Weapons
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