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...
The Pentagon
COI #205: Biden’s Failures on Covid and Yemen
On COI #205, Kyle Anzalone breaks down Biden's failure to reign in Covid and the Saudi “pariah” state. The US is facing staffing shortages in the medical field. Recently, a federal court reinstated a Biden rule requiring healthcare workers to take a Covid vaccine. Massachuttes has canceled 'elective' procedures to compensate for the government-created shortage. The Pentagon is now discharging unvaccinated soldiers. Kyle also discusses the war in Yemen. Biden promised to end offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. However, Saudi Arabia continues to bomb Yemen multiple times a day with...
News Roundup 12/27/21
Covid Massachusetts halts all elective procedures. [Link] The USS Milwaukee will remain in Cuba after several sailors tested positive for Covid. [Link] USAID is running out of money to distribute covid vaccinations. [Link] The US donates 1.5 million vaccine doses to Egypt through Covax. [Link] Biden will lift the travel restriction from eight African countries on January 1st. [Link] US News LAPD officers killed a 14-year-old girl. [Link] The Pentagon cuts the cost of living stipend it gives to tens of thousands of soldiers living in high-cost areas in the US. [Link] Stu Scheller - who...
The Antiwar Comic: The Pentagon Doesn’t Lie
Really love the way this one came out. Guess the homage, if you remember it. More comics at the Webcomic Factory.
Trump Blasts the Pentagon for Following His Orders?
On Conflicts of Interest #5, Will and Kyle break down the DOJ's case against two 'Boogaloo Boys' charged for conspiring with Hamas. Entrapment or foiled terrorist plot? President Trump went on a tear against top Pentagon brass during a Monday press conference, accusing them of war profiteering for the arms industry. Julian Assange's extradition trial has resumed, as the publisher remains imprisoned and the US pushes ahead with a 17-count indictment for espionage. Links YouTube – Conflicts of Interest Facebook – Conflicts of Interest Twitter – Conflicts of Interest Apple Podcast –...
2021 NDAA: Another Massive War Budget
On FPF #522, I discuss the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The House has passed its version of the bill. The NDAA gives the Pentagon $740 billion and a black check for more war. One small victory is Tulsi’s requirement to study sanctions. The Senate also passed its version of the NDAA; however, after the recording of this podcast. Both the House and Senate rejected amendments that would have cut the war budget by 10%.
Trump’s Top Priority: Weapon Sales
On FPF #506, I discuss Trump's obsession with helping the arms industry. The Pentagon announced that it plans to spend $135 million bailing out small arms makers, the Senate is trying to allocate $10 million for nuclear weapons testing, and the US will acquire the six F-35s that were first sold to Turkey. The massive spending on weapons comes as millions of Americans are out of work. Trump is also trying to make it easier to sell drones to Saudi Arabia and the UAE by reinterpreting an international missile control agreement.
The “War” on Covid Is War on Our Freedoms.
On FPF #482, I discuss how the US government is seizing more of our rights and money in the name of fighting pandemic. In Wisconsin, a police officer forced a young girl to delete her social media posts under threat of arrest. Now, the Pentagon is prepping to get bailouts for its preferred weapons makers in the next stimulus. Government, at all levels, is growing in the name of fighting a "war" against Covid.
What Is Coronavirus Doing to the US Military guest WIll Porter
Will Porter returns to Foreign Policy Focus to discuss how the US military is being impacted by the coronavirus. Will explains that several DoD personnel have now tested positive and many soldiers are in quarantine. The Pentagon has scaled back some games, although others have been able to continue. The close quarters' soldiers live in - especially on ships - makes it likely the coronavirus will spread quickly. However, this has not prevented hawks in the Trump administration from pushing war with Iran.
FDA: We Kill More People Than Even The Pentagon
And proud of it too! Millions of Hospital-Grade KN95 Masks Are Available For Import. The US Still Won’t Allow Them In.