US News Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis returns to his position as a board member at General Dynamics. [Link] New SecDef Mark Esper says the US will not overreact to NK missile tests. [Link] Venezuela Bolton said the US is ready to target countries that continue to trade with the Maduro regime. [Link] Juan Guaido’s officials say Trump’s new sanctions on Venezuela will help to keep Citgo from being seized. [Link] Ukraine Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed by shelling in the Donbas. [Link] Kashmir China and Pakistan have condemned India’s removal of Kashmir’s special status....
James Mattis
White House Asked Pentagon to Provide Military Option to Attack Iran
In early September, during major protests in Iraq’s Shi’ite southeast, a group fired three mortar shells into the Green Zone of Baghdad. The shells landed in an empty lot, doing no damage and causing no casualties. Months later, it appears to be a much bigger story. That’s because the Wall Street Journal is reporting that in the immediate aftermath, John Bolton and his National Security Council were encouraging a “forceful” US response. In the course of this, Bolton’s team asked the Pentagon to provide President Trump with “military options” to attack Iran. It appears not to have taken...
FPF #292 – Best of Trump 2018 guest Will Porter
On FPF #292, Will Porter returns to discuss Trump's best foreign policy decisions of 2018. Trump met with North Koren leader Kim Jong-un. He ordered the withdraw of US forces from Syria. The president is reported to be planning the withdraw of US troops from Afghanistan. We also discuss the resignations of Nikki Haley and James Mattis. Links FPF #213 - Russiagate with Dan Write and Joanne Leon FPF #287 - Syria FPF #288 - Afghanistan Seymore Hersh Rat Line Peter Van Buren on Mattis' resignation Gareth Porter on Mattis'...
FPF #290 – The Empire is Up & Running
On FPF #290, I explain that the US Empire is operating as usual even though the mainstream media is focused on the shutdown. The US continues to slow the Korean Peace Process with sanctions. Defense Secretary James Mattis will be out on January 1st and weapon makers exec Patrick Shanahan will take over. I discuss the impact of the announced US troop withdrawal from Syria.
News Roundup 12/21/18
Twitter locks the accounts and shadowbans several WikiLeaks accounts. [Link] Trump announces Gen James Mattis will be retiring as Secretary of Defense at the end of February. [Link] Gen James Mattis publishes his resignation letter. In the letter, Mattis says Trump deserves a Defense Secretary with the same foreign policy views. [Link] North Korea reaffirms their long-standing position that the US must retract its nuclear threat towards North Korea before North Korea denuclearizes. [Link] Trump is considering a significant drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan. [Link] Trump orders the...
Trump the Great — This Week, Anyway
WSJ says a "substantial drawdown" in Afghanistan starts next month. And James Mattis is out as SecDef. Update: Mattis's letter of resignation. He says Trump is too mean to our allies which weakens the empire in the face of looming conflict with Russia and...
Foreign Policy Focus #132 – 1,000 Days of War
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...
News Roundup 11/1/17
Joe Lauria looks at the Democratic money behind the Russiagate conspiracy. [Link] An Ohio police officer who mistakenly shot a journalist was put back on the job. [Link] Eight people were killed by a terrorist in New York City. [Link] Nick Turse reveals the global presence of US special forces. [Link] The House Minority Whip is pushing Democrats to not sign onto H.Con.Res 81. [Link] The US gave two A-29 light attack aircraft to Lebanon. [Link] US Maj. Gen. James Jarrard said the US has 4,000 troops in Syria. [Link] The Catalan President gave a press conference in Belgium. He said he was...
Foreign Policy Focus #109 – Expanding to Africa
On FPF #109, I discuss the expanding US war in Africa. US operations in Africa have greatly expanded since AFRICOM was created in 2008. The US now has 6,000 troops in Africa and the troops are involved in 3,500 military operations every year. Now Sen Lindsey Graham says the US will expand the war to Africa. Articles After meeting with Defense Secretary James Mattis, Senator Lindsey Graham said the global war on terror will be explaining. Graham also said the war is moving to Africa. [Link] Nick Turse on the expanding role of the US military in Africa. [Link] The US is using Niger as a hub...
News Roundup 10/25/17
In Honolulu, you can be fined for looking at your phone while crossing the street. [Link] Senator Jeff Flake announces he will not seek reelection. [Link] An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer was sentenced to seven years in prison for taking bribes and sex in exchange for work permit documentation. [Link] Jimmy Gurule argues US troops in Niger are illegal under the war powers act. [Link] Adam Johnson on the hypocrisy of the New York Time editorial board. [Link] After meeting with Defense Secretary James Mattis, Senator Lindsey Graham said the global war on terror will be...
Shop Our Books
Voluntaryist Handbook
Hotter Than The Sun: Time To Abolish Nuclear Weapons
[playlist artists="false" images="false"...