Around The Empire

Syrian analyst Ehsani returns to the show to talk about the latest developments in the Syrian war, with a focus on the Idlib deal, Turkey's role in the war, perspectives from Syrians, and the prospects for recovery. Ehsani is a Syrian American originally from Aleppo. You can find his social media analysis and discussion about Syria on Twitter at @ehsani22. He has also written for the Syria Comment blog under the pseudonym, "Ehsani". We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on October 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Photo: By Jamen Schahoud at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 Reference Links: Ep 34 An End to the Syrian War feat Ehsani (9/20/17) Ep 45 Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria feat Ehsani (3/27/18)

Friends of the show Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter join Joanne Leon for a special three-part series on the Rise and Fall of John Brennan, done in a roundtable format and released in three separate episodes in the coming week for our listeners or available in advance, in full for patrons. Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute. Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News In American political life, few officials have weathered as many storms as former CIA director John Brennan. With a career marred by a virtually endless series of scandals, Brennan's ability to maneuver himself within institutions of power has served him exceptionally well both inside and outside of government.Brennan's decades-long tenure at the CIA presents a microcosmic portrait of US foreign policy since the fall of the Soviet Union—a true exemplar of the American role in a "unipolar" world. His name has become synonymous with torture, regime change, targeted assassinations, drones, spying, the arming of foreign militias and now, in the era of Trump, politicized intelligence.But that may have finally come to an end. The recent revocation of Brennan's security clearance could represent the final nail in a coffin that, until now, has simply refused to stay shut.Join us in this 3 part series reviewing Brennan's career at the CIA, the litany of scandals tied to his name, as well as what could come next for the retired intelligence officer. Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook. This discussion was recorded in two sessions: August 24 and 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: President Trump's Claims of No Collusion are Hogwash, New York Times, John Brennan William H. McRaven: Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President, Washington Post Scores of ex-spies join in rebuking Trump over security clearances, Politico The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy Confront and Conceal (book), David Sanger Gates to National Security Team on Osama Raid: 'Shut the F--- Up', Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard Exclusive: Did White House "spin" tip a covert op?, Mark Hosenball, Reuters Who Bombed Khobar Towers? Anatomy of a Crooked Terrorism Investigation, Gareth Porter, Truthout Brennan-led secret raids may have led to Benghazi retaliation, book claims, FoxNews The media are misleading the public on Syria, Stephen Kinzer, Boston Globe US Special Forces sabotage White House policy gone disastrously wrong with covert ops in Syria, SOFREP, Jack Murphy Secret Kill List Tests Obama's Principles New York Times, Jo Becker, Scott Shane A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows, New York Times Magazine, Mattathias Schwartz

Friends of the show Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter join Joanne Leon for a special three-part series on the Rise and Fall of John Brennan, done in a roundtable format and released in three separate episodes in the coming week for our listeners or available in advance, in full for patrons. Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute. Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News In American political life, few officials have weathered as many storms as former CIA director John Brennan. With a career marred by a virtually endless series of scandals, Brennan's ability to maneuver himself within institutions of power has served him exceptionally well both inside and outside of government.Brennan's decades-long tenure at the CIA presents a microcosmic portrait of US foreign policy since the fall of the Soviet Union—a true exemplar of the American role in a "unipolar" world. His name has become synonymous with torture, regime change, targeted assassinations, drones, spying, the arming of foreign militias and now, in the era of Trump, politicized intelligence.But that may have finally come to an end. The recent revocation of Brennan's security clearance could represent the final nail in a coffin that, until now, has simply refused to stay shut.Join us in this 3 part series reviewing Brennan's career at the CIA, the litany of scandals tied to his name, as well as what could come next for the retired intelligence officer. Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook. This discussion was recorded in two sessions: August 24 and 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: President Trump's Claims of No Collusion are Hogwash, New York Times, John Brennan William H. McRaven: Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President, Washington Post Scores of ex-spies join in rebuking Trump over security clearances, Politico The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy Confront and Conceal (book), David Sanger Gates to National Security Team on Osama Raid: 'Shut the F--- Up', Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard Exclusive: Did White House "spin" tip a covert op?, Mark Hosenball, Reuters Who Bombed Khobar Towers? Anatomy of a Crooked Terrorism Investigation, Gareth Porter, Truthout Brennan-led secret raids may have led to Benghazi retaliation, book claims, FoxNews The media are misleading the public on Syria, Stephen Kinzer, Boston Globe US Special Forces sabotage White House policy gone disastrously wrong with covert ops in Syria, SOFREP, Jack Murphy Secret Kill List Tests Obama's Principles New York Times, Jo Becker, Scott Shane A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows, New York Times Magazine, Mattathias Schwartz

Friends of the show Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter join Joanne Leon for a special three-part series on the Rise and Fall of John Brennan, done in a roundtable format and released in three separate episodes in the coming week for our listeners or available in advance, in full for patrons. Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute. Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News In American political life, few officials have weathered as many storms as former CIA director John Brennan. With a career marred by a virtually endless series of scandals, Brennan's ability to maneuver himself within institutions of power has served him exceptionally well both inside and outside of government.Brennan's decades-long tenure at the CIA presents a microcosmic portrait of US foreign policy since the fall of the Soviet Union—a true exemplar of the American role in a "unipolar" world. His name has become synonymous with torture, regime change, targeted assassinations, drones, spying, the arming of foreign militias and now, in the era of Trump, politicized intelligence.But that may have finally come to an end. The recent revocation of Brennan's security clearance could represent the final nail in a coffin that, until now, has simply refused to stay shut.Join us in this 3 part series reviewing Brennan's career at the CIA, the litany of scandals tied to his name, as well as what could come next for the retired intelligence officer. Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook. This discussion was recorded in two sessions: August 24 and 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: President Trump's Claims of No Collusion are Hogwash, New York Times, John Brennan William H. McRaven: Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President, Washington Post Scores of ex-spies join in rebuking Trump over security clearances, Politico The Seven Deadly Sins of John Brennan, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy Confront and Conceal (book), David Sanger Gates to National Security Team on Osama Raid: 'Shut the F--- Up', Daniel Halper, Weekly Standard Exclusive: Did White House "spin" tip a covert op?, Mark Hosenball, Reuters Who Bombed Khobar Towers? Anatomy of a Crooked Terrorism Investigation, Gareth Porter, Truthout Brennan-led secret raids may have led to Benghazi retaliation, book claims, FoxNews The media are misleading the public on Syria, Stephen Kinzer, Boston Globe US Special Forces sabotage White House policy gone disastrously wrong with covert ops in Syria, SOFREP, Jack Murphy Secret Kill List Tests Obama's Principles New York Times, Jo Becker, Scott Shane A Spymaster Steps Out of the Shadows, New York Times Magazine, Mattathias Schwartz

Elijah Magnier returns to the show for an update and insight on the political situation in Iraq where the prime minister selection process (also a proxy battle of sorts between the US and Iran) is still ongoing. See Around the Empire Episode 56 for our first conversation on this topic. We also talk about the stalled operation in Idlib and the power players involved. Elijah is a veteran war correspondent, a terrorism/counterterrorism analyst specializing in the Europe and the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya. He recently left Iraq and is speaking to us today from Lebanon. Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work at ejmagnier.com. Support him by using the Paypal link at the bottom of every page on his website. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on September 14, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: A Weak and Divided Iraq is Stumbling Towards an Unbalanced Future (6/8/18), Elijah Magnier The US Forces in Al-Tanf are Beleaguered on both the Syrian and Iraqi Sides. Tehran is Challenging Washington in Iraq Abadi is No Longer the Agreed Favourite Candidate (7/23/18), Elijah Magnier Which War for Mesopotamia? Iraq Must Choose Between Iran and the US (8/21/18) , Elijah Magnier Faleh Al-Fayyad is the Official Anti-US PM Candidate in Iraq, While the US is Trying to Hit Iran Below the Belt (8/31/18), Elijah Magnier The US Horse Fell at the First Jump in Iraq (9/4/18), Elijah Magnier The USA Oblivious to the Rise of a Resistance Movement in Response to Its Interference in Iraqi Elections (9/5/18), Elijah Magnier A Wake-Up Call to the US in Baghdad: Will Haidar Abadi Become the Mohammad Morsi of Iraq? (9/7/18), Elijah Magnier Haidar Abadi Has Fallen With the Burned Walls of the Iranian Consulate in Basra (9/10/18), Elijah Magnier The Liberation of Idlib: Turkey is in the Way, With Russia Slowing Down (9/14/18), Elijah Magnier Syria - The Rationale Behind The Delay Of Idleb's Liberation, Moon of Alabama Can Erdogan intimidate Assad into backing off Idlib?, Amberin Zaman, Al Monitor "Turkey reinforces military in Syria's Idlib after ceasefire call fails", Orhan Coskun, Reuters Turkish Strategy in Northern Syria Military Operations, Turkish-Backed Groups and Idlib Issue, SouthFront "Notorious Terrorist Commander Eliminated By Syrian Troops In Idlib", Muraselon/The Syria Reporters

Roving journalist Michael Tracey joins the show for a discussion about the McCain Holy Week, as he called it, and what it tells us about the state of the American empire. Tracey is a journalist who has been published by numerous media organizations including The Young Turks, Rolling Stone, The New Republic, VICE, The Intercept. The Nation, Reason, American Conservative and New York Daily News. FOLLOW @mtracey on Twitter and find his work on Medium and on his website. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on September 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: John McCain Was Not An Anecdote, Michael Tracey Funeral For A Dying Doctrine, Michael Tracey John McCain's Funeral Was the Biggest Resistance Meeting Yet, Susan Glasser, The New Yorker Washington Mourns John McCain – And Its Own Demise Under Trump, Tim Alberta, Politico Magazine John McCain: The View from the Middle East, As'ad AbuKhalil, Consortium News

Yemeni journalist and filmmaker Nasser Arrabyee speaks to us from Sanaa about the war in Yemen. In 2015, a CENTCOM commander told a US Senator that he did not know Saudi Arabia's goals and objectives in its war on Yemen and therefore could not assess the chances of success. More than three years later, Nasser Arrabyee helps us explore the answers to those questions. We talk about the US-backed Saudi and UAE coalition's mission in Yemen, the Yemeni Resistance and Iran's involvement. Arrabyee updates us on the situation in Hodeidah and we discuss the recent AP report on the Saudi/UAE cooperation with al Qaeda. Arrabyee has produced four documentaries about the war in Yemen and has been published by numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Bloomberg and Foreign Policy. FOLLOW @narrabyee on Twitter and find his work at his website yemen-now.com. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 16, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing (3/26/15) exchange between Sen. Gillibrand and Gen. Lloyd Austin (at 2:16:46) America Is Committing War Crimes and Doesn't Even Know Why, Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy The toll of wars in the Middle East, WHYY Radio Times, Marty Moss-Coane Why is Saudi halting oil shipments through the Red Sea?, Stephen Kalin, Rania El Gamal, Reuters Yemen: US allies don't defeat al-Qaida but pay it to go away, AP Inside the UAE's war on al-Qaeda in Yemen, Bel Trew, The Independent After dozens of children die, Trump administration faces mounting pressure over Yemen war, Missy Ryan, Washington Post

Analyst and writer Tom Luongo returns to the show to talk about the economic and geopolitical implications of the current hybrid war between the US and Turkey and the broader war around it. We discuss the collapse of the Turkish Lira, dollar-denominated debt, how currency wars work, and the inertia of markets and traders. We also delve into the geopolitical lead up to this crisis -- Turkey's role in the Syrian war and a failed coup -- both of which led to realignments and new allies that might result in an unusual rescue. Will Turkey employ a Russian formula for surviving sanctions and currency crises? Will it lead to an exit from NATO? Or will the old guard, Cold Warrior foreign policy establishment bring a defiant Erdogan back into the fold one more time? Tom is former research chemist and a current staunch libertarian. His speciality is markets analysis informed by geopolitics. Tom currently publishes his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns along with a monthly investment newsletter focused on geopolitics, commodities and cryptocurrencies. His work is also featured regularly on sites like Zerohedge, Strategic Culture Foundation and Investing.com. FOLLOW Tom @TFL1728. Find his work at Gold, Goats 'n Guns, Steemit and on YouTube. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 14, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Lira Collapse To Jump The Mediterranean, Tom Luongo, ZeroHedge BRICTS: Turkey Is Getting Off The US Reservation, Tom Luongo, ZeroHedge Five Pillars of Debt Default, Tom Luongo, Gold, Goats n Guns Turkey's president: US waging economic war against Turkey, Associated Press Losing Faith Fast, Istanbul Merchants Throw in Towel on the Lira, Bloomberg Erdogan: How Turkey Sees the Crisis With the U.S., New York Times Op-Ed

We continue our discussion with Dr. Isa Blumi, speaking to us from Sweden, about the war in Yemen including the battle for Hodeidah, the development of Horn of Africa and Red Sea coast and the bigger picture this war reveals. We discuss the underlying existential battles between Gulf States, the political factions in the United States they're aligned with, and the western imperial and corporate powers at work in the region. Dr. Blumi expertly analyzes and advises on how to read the western media coverage and propaganda on Yemen and the old "divide and rule" exploitation tactics that are employed. Dr. Blumi is an historian, an author and an Associate Professor at Stockholm University. His recent book Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia." FOLLOW Isa Blumi @IsaBlumi and find his latest book at UCPress.edu. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on July 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World, Isa Blumi, UC Press UAE talks up diplomacy as Congress curtails US involvement in Yemen war, Jack Detsch, Middle East Monitor China probing emerging UAE reserves, Daniel J. Graeber, UPI Why is Saudi halting oil shipments through the Red Sea?, Stephen Kalin, Rania El Gamal, Reuters Yemen: US allies don't defeat al-Qaida but pay it to go away, AP

Our guest, journalist and analyst Pepe Escobar, speaks to us from Bangkok about the new Great Game in Eurasia and why the critical military and geopolitical situation requires that the US resume relations with Russia despite the massive forces working against that. Escobar is the correspondent-at-large for Asia Times and a frequent contributor to websites, TV and radio shows ranging from the US to East Asia. Born in Brazil, he's been a foreign correspondent since 1985, and has lived in London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Washington, Bangkok and Hong Kong. FOLLOW Pepe Escobar on Facebook and find his work at Asia Times. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com FOLLOW @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon. SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on July 26, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Here's the real reason the US must talk to Russia, Pepe Escobar, Asia Times Losing Military Supremacy: The Myopia of American Strategic Planning, Andrei Martyanov

Dan and Joanne talk with Jim Kavanagh about the summit between American President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki and the anticipated attempt to strike a MidEast grand bargain. Jim is editor and writer at The Polemicist. His work is also published at CounterPunch, Greanville Post and he's a frequent guest on the Loud and Clear radio show. Follow Jim at @ThePolemicist_ . Find his work at polemicist.net. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on July 12, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Lindsey Graham interview laying out War Party strategy for Syria, Iran, Turkey (starts at 2:20) Israeli, Saudi, and Emirati Officials Privately Pushed for Trump to Strike a "Grand Bargain" with Putin, Adam Entous, New Yorker Netanyahu May Offer Putin: Remove Iran From Syria for Lifting of U.S. Sanctions on Russia, Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz Middle East officials flocking to Moscow – is there a big deal to be made before Putin meets Trump?, RT The Real "Deal of The Century" in The Middle East is The One Russia Struck With Israel Regarding Syria, Adam Garrie, Eurasia Future The Warm War: Russiamania At The Boiling Point, Jim Kavanagh, The Polemicist

Dan and Joanne talk with writer and analyst Peter Lee (aka @chinahand) about the escalation between the United States and China. We also discuss the broader East Asian region including Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Peter has decades of experience in East Asia both as a businessman and as a writer. He produces Newsbud's "China Watch" and is published at Asia Times, CounterPunch at his own blog, China Matters. Follow Peter at @chinahand. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on July 6, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: China's retaliation to U.S. tariffs will hit American soybean farmers, automakers and oil producers -- and have the greatest effect on counties that voted for Trump, Wall Street Journal Tariffs 'kick off 50-year trade war' with China, Pepe Escobar, Asia Times

Joanne talks with Elizabeth Lea Vos about the immunity deal for Wikileaks founder and editor Julian Assange -- a deal that was scuttled by James Comey via Sen. Mark Warner in the Spring of 2017. We also discuss the independent analysis on the transmission of documents published by Guccifer2. Elizabeth is the Editor-In-Chief of @DisobedientNews. Follow her at @ElizabethLeaVos and find her work at disobedientmedia.com. She also is an organizer of monthly #Unity4J vigils which advocate for the restoration of Julian Assange's rights to communication with the outside world and ultimately for his release. The next vigil is scheduled for the weekend of July 7-8, 2018. Details at Unity4J.com and @Unity4J. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on July 3, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: How Comey intervened to kill WikiLeaks' immunity deal, John Solomon, The Hill Did Sen. Warner and Comey 'Collude' on Russia-gate?, Ray McGovern, ConsortiumNews

Dan and Joanne talk with Sharmine Narwani about the Southern Front -- US-backed rebels based in southern Syria -- and their affiliation with al Qaeda. We also discuss how the Syrian war is like an irregular world war and how it played a role in accelerating a global shift in power. Sharmine is a commentator and analyst of Mideast geopolitics based in Beirut, speaking to us today from the United States. She is a former senior associate at St. Antony's College, Oxford University and has been published by a wide variety of publications, including the New York Times, the Guardian, Asia Times Online, al Akhbar English, Al Jazeera and RT. Follow Sharmine @snarwani and find her work at her website mideastshuffle.com We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on June 28, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Are al-Qaeda Affiliates Fighting Alongside U.S. Rebels in Syria's South?, Sharmine Narwani, The American Conservative

Dan and Joanne talk with Aaron Maté about Russiagate and the Mueller investigation. We discuss Aaron's recent article which argues that after a year of investigation there have been several guilty pleas, but none of them go "to the core of the special counsel's mandate," about collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Aaron is a host/producer for The Real News and a contributor at The Nation magazine. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronjmate. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on June 21, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: The Mueller Indictments Still Don't Add Up to Collusion, Aaron Maté, The Nation

Joanne talks with political analyst and Progressive Independent Garland Nixon about investigations and intelligence operations concerning the 2016 election. We also talk about the recently published Inspector General report on the Clinton email "MidYear Exam" investigation. Garland is the co-host of the daily radio show "Fault Lines" and host of the weekly radio show "News Views With Garland Nixon". He is also has a background in law enforcement and investigations. Follow him @Garland Nixon. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on June 20, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Elijah Magnier returns to the show to talk about politics in post-ISIS Iraq, the results of the recent election, and the mission to select a new prime minister and cabinet. Elijah and Joanne also talk about the latest developments in Syria as the battle for the southwest Syria begins. Elijah is a veteran war correspondent, a terrorism/counterterrorism analyst specializing in the Europe and the Middle East, especially Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya. He recently left Iraq and is speaking to us today from Lebanon. Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work at ejmagnier.com We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on May 31, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Qassam Soleimani and Donald Trump Agree on Al-Abadi as Prime Minister Despite Ameri and Maliki's Discontent, Elijah Magnier South Syria to Return Within the Control of Damascus: With or Without a Russian-Israeli Deal, Elijah Magnier The Iraqi Elections: Implications For Regional Politics, Shireen Hunter, LobeLog

Joanne interviews Dr. Isa Blumi, an historian, an author and an Associate Professor at Stockholm University. His recent book Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World tells the story of the wars in Yemen but also "ultimately tells an even larger story of today's political economy of global capitalism, development, and the war on terror as disparate actors intersect in Arabia." Dr. Blumi gives us a deeper understanding of the war in Yemen in a way that is compelling, fascinating, tragic, and largely untold in the western world. Yemen's people have a long history of resistance. The war in Yemen is an imperial war for resources and dominance and also a hidden war between Gulf state rivals. The latest escalation of the war has been fueled by Saudi Arabia's now urgent need for finance and resources. Follow @IsaBlumi and find his latest book at UCPress.edu. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on May 10, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us about the World, Isa Blumi, UC Press A History of the Colonial War in Yemen and the US Involvement, KPFA

Dan and Joanne analyze the New York Times exposure of Operation Crossfire Hurricane and commentary by the authors. We examine the damning claims by pro-Trump media and we also talk about Daily Caller's revelation of the identity of the alleged FBI informant in the Trump campaign. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on May 17, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Code Name Crossfire Hurricane: The Secret Origins of the Trump Investigation, Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, Nicholas Fandos, New York Times EXCLUSIVE: Cambridge Prof With CIA, MI6 Ties Met With Trump Adviser During Campaign, Beyond, Chuck Ross, Daily Caller

In this bonus episode (a bonus episode for patrons, 30 minute preview free to the public), Dan and Joanne talk about the growing conflict with Iran, the impact of Trump's withdrawal from the Iran deal and the severe escalation in the Syrian war that began just hours after that withdrawal. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on May 11, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Time for Europe to Join the Resistance, Spiegel, by Klaus Brinkbäumer

Dan and Joanne talk about the FBI in crisis, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, the Mueller investigation, and the abuse of power. We also discuss the strange political bedfellows the crisis has created We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire. Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on May 5, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: The FBI Is in Crisis. It's Worse Than You Think, TIME, Eric Lichtblau Rod Rosenstein is not above the law, The Hill, Mark Penn Mueller, FBI face crisis in public confidence, The Hill, Mark Penn Comey's last stand for the deep state, The Hill, Mark Penn

We hold a roundtable discussion with Joanne Leon, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter about French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the White House and Congress where he presented a prodigious plan for the Middle East that includes a harsher set of terms for the Iran deal, containment of Iran and Western dominance in the Middle East. Kyle Anzalone is the host of the Foreign Policy Focus podcast and the editor-in-chief of ImmersionNews.com. He also writes the Daily News Roundup at Libertarian Institute. Will Porter is a freelance journalist with a focus on US foreign policy and conflicts abroad. His work can be found at the Libertarian Institute, Antiwar.com and Consortium News Support Kyle at https://www.patreon.com/ForeignPolicyFocus. Support Will at patreon.com/WKPJournalist. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on April 28, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Dan and Joanne discuss Jack Goldsmith's essay, "The 'deep state' is real. But are its leaks against Trump justified?" We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on April 24, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: "The 'deep state' is real. But are its leaks against Trump justified?", Jack Goldsmith, The Guardian "'Can It Happen Here? Authoritarianism in America'", Jack Goldsmith, Lawfare (article, book announcement) "Can It Happen Here?: Authoritarianism in America", Cass Sunstein (book)

Joanne talks with Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret.about his recent article, "President Trump is right: Withdrawing from Syria strengthens US security," and about the current precarious situation where Trump has changed his mind and is signalling an imminent attack on Syria and Russia, using an alleged chemical weapons attack in Ghouta as justification. Col. Davis served for 21 years, including four combat deployments. He retired from the Army in 2015 and is now a Foreign Policy/Defense Analyst and a senior fellow for Defense Priorities. His areas of expertise are American foreign policy, Middle East policy, Asia policy, grand strategy, international relations, international security, and counterinsurgency. In 2012, he wrote a classified whistleblower report for Congress about the war in Afghanistan and released an unclassified version to the public. Col Davis regularly appears on news shows and is published in national and international publications. Follow Col. Davis on Twitter at @DanielLDavis1 We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on April 11, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: President Trump is right: Withdrawing from Syria strengthens US security, Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis, USA, Ret., CNBC Truth, lies and Afghanistan, Armed Forces Journal (2012), Daniel L, Davis Fools Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, Scott Horton

Joanne talks with veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier, from Damascus, about recent developments in Syria and his recent three-part article about the big picture and power players in the Syrian war. We also talk about the new crowd-funded book that he is writing on the history of Hezbollah. Elijah is a journalist and a senior political risk analyst with over 32 years experience covering Europe and the Middle East. Follow Elijah at @ejmalrai and find his work (in multiple languages) at ejmagnier.com We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on April 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: "Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 1)", Elijah Magnier "Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 2)", Elijah Magnier "Will America Accept its Defeat or Will it Challenge the Russian Bear and the Chinese Dragon (Part 3)", Elijah Magnier

Joanne talks with economist and writer Tom Luongo about Trump's cabinet shuffle and the possibility that it is part of a Middle East grand bargain, as Alastair Crooke recently wrote about in the online journal, Strategic Culture. Tom is former research chemist and staunch libertarian, Tom currently publishes his blog, Gold Goats 'n Guns along with a monthly investment newsletter focused on geopolitics, commodities and cryptocurrencies. He is a regular contributor at Russia Insider and Seeking Alpha. His work is also featured regularly on sites like Zerohedge, Lewrockwell.com and Investing.com. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow Tom Luongo @TFL1728. Find his work on YouTube and at Steemit.com/@goldgoatsnguns. Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on March 27, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: 1. "Is the North Korea Deal a Stalking Horse for Trump's Mid-East Makeover?", Alastair Crooke, Strategic Culture 2. "Neoconning the Trump White House", Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, American Conservative

Syrian analyst Ehsani returns to the show to talk about the latest developments in the Syrian war, with a focus on escalations in Eastern Ghouta, Afrin and Eastern Syria. Ehsani also shares his observations from a recent trip to Aleppo. This is a two-part interview originally recorded on March 8th. Due to delays in publishing and rapid developments in those regions, a second part was added on March 27th with updates on the situation. Ehsani is a Syrian American originally from Aleppo. You can find his social media analysis and discussion about Syria on Twitter at @ehsani22. He has also written for the Syria Comment blog under the pseudonym, "Ehsani". We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on March 8 and March 27, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: "US Mulls Action as Pro-Syria Forces Mass Nearby," Jason Ditz, Antiwar.com "Erdoğan accuses US of planning to form 'terror army' in Syria," The Guardian "Trapped in Eastern Ghouta," Patrick Cockburn, Counterpunch "Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?" Wesley Dockery, Deutsche Welle "Nearly 6,800 militants, families leave E. Ghouta, head to Idlib" – Russian military, RT "Turkish, FSA forces close in on Tel Rifaat town in northern Syria," Hurriyet "In face of Ghouta defeat, Syrian rebels blame each other," Reuters "Turkey Seizes Full Control Over Syria's Afrin District," Antiwar.com

Dan and Joanne talk about the Mueller's indictment of Russian internet trolls for defrauding the United States and meddling in the 2016 election by placing ads on social media (most of which ran after the election itself). While the indictments themselves seem absurd, they did bring about a significant change. Both the establishment Left and Right are now more united against Russia and around the War Party. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on February 23, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Mueller Indictments, (via NPR) "Hyping the Mueller Indictment," Aaron Mate, The Nation "Russian Espionage, or Clickbait?" Aaron Mate, Max Blumenthal, The Real News "A So-Called Expert's Uneasy Dive Into the Trump-Russia Frenzy," Adrian Chen, NewYorker "Is Donald Trump a Traitor?" James Risen, The Intercept "Confessions of a Russiagate Skeptic," Blake Hounshell, Politico Magazine "Ex-NSA Hackers Worry China And Russia Will Try to Arrest Them," Lorenzo Franceschi Bicchierai, Motherboard Quote Montage: Rod Rosenstein, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Joy Reid, Bernie Sanders, Thomas Friedman, Lawrence O'Donnell, Max Boot, Jerry Nadler, Laura Ingraham, James Woolsey, Jimmy Dore, Adrian Chen, Max Blumenthal

Dan and Joanne talk about the lead up to and the release of the House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes' memo on the abuse of the FISA court related to Russiagate. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on February 2, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Abuses at the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation", House Intelligence Committee "Read the Nunes Memo, Annotated," Charlie Savage, New York Times Quote Montage: Donnie Deutsch, John Heilman, Chuck Shumer, Cory Booker, Adam Schiff, Tucker Carlson, Devin Nunes, Joe DiGenova, Donald Trump

Dan and Joanne talk about Rex Tillerson's unveiling of the Trump administration's new Syria policy via a Stanford University speech and interview with Condoleeza Rice. The policy is named "The Way Forward" but ironically it seems more like a regression to the Bush/Cheney neoconservative foreign policy for the Middle East. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions. Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on January 23, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: State Dept. marketing video: "The Way Forward on Syria" Press Briefing Jan. 18, State Dept. Tillerson "Remarks on the Way Forward for the United States in Syria", Hoover Institution/Stanford University (transcripts and videos) Follow up Tillerson interview with Condoleeza Rice, Hoover Institution, Stanford University "Tillerson tells the truth about Syria," Washington Post Editorial Board "A New Decision To Go To War In Syria," Paul PIllar, LobeLog

Dan and Joanne talk about the cost of the Empire, the War on Terror aka "Empire Preservation Wars," current events and the new "Costs of War Project" done by Brown University. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on January 17, 2018. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Costs of War Project, Brown University Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs Seeing Our Wars for the First Time, TomDispatch KBOO interview with Costs of War Project co-director Neta C. Crawford Where in the World Is the U.S. Military? Everywhere, US News & World Report

Dan and Joanne speak with Middle East commentator Sonia Mansour Robaey. Sonia is a neuroscientist, philosopher, ethicist, educator and she is a Lebanese francophone living abroad. Follow Sonia at @les_politiques and find her work at Les Politiques. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on November 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: The Shiites of Lebanon under Ottoman Rule, 1516-1788, Stefan Winter

Dan and Joanne talk with author and journalist Joe Lauria about Russiagate and the growing censorship of dissent. Joe Lauria is an American journalist based in the Middle East, author of "How I Lost By Hillary Clinton," and he has been a UN correspondent for 25 years. He now writes for Consortium News and has previously written for the Boston Globe and Wall Street Journal and numerous other publications. Follow Joe at @unjoe and find his writing at Consortium News. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on November 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: Huffington Post Pulls Down Article That Runs Afoul of DNC/HuffPost Guidelines on Russia-gate, Ray McGovern PDF copy of Joe Lauria's article "On the Origins of Russia-gate," published on Nov. 4 and removed less than 24 hours later

Dan and Joanne discuss the Saudi purge, unrest in Lebanon, and the possibility of wars escalating in the Middle East. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on November 10, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: "Senior Saudi figures tortured and beaten in purge" Middle East Eye State Dept. statement "On the Situation in Lebanon" Israel Channel 10 published leaked diplomatic cable (Twitter) Interview with Saudi foreign minister Jubeir, CNBC Interview with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, CNBC "Yemeni rebels enhance ballistic missile campaign" Jane's Intelligence Review (PDF) "US Air Force official: Missile targeting Saudis was Iranian" AP News

Ep. 37 AFRICOM Dan and Joanne discuss the War on Terror shift to the African continent and the recent loss of US troops in Niger. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on October 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: The U.S. military is conducting secret missions all over Africa, Nick Turse Where does the U.S. have troops in Africa, and why?, CBS The U.S. Military Moves Deeper into Africa, Nick Turse U.S. will expand counterterrorism focus in Africa, Mattis tells senators, Washington Post 2013 Interview with Emira Woods, The Real News Interview with Léonce Ndikumana, The Real News Interview with Horace Campbell and Mark Fancher Part 1, DemocracyNow Interview with Horace Campbell and Mark Fancher Part 2, DemocracyNow

Dan and Joanne talk with correspondent Pepe Escobar about the new axis of evil. We discuss the geopolitical and economic importance of the New Silk Road and newly developing alignments on trade and security in Eurasia. Pepe is the correspondent-at-large for Asia Times, author of several ebooks, and commentator. He is a frequent contributor to websites, TV and radio shows ranging from the US to East Asia. Born in Brazil, he's been a foreign correspondent since 1985, and has lived in London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, Washington, Bangkok and Hong Kong. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow Pepe Escobar on Facebook and find his work at Asia Times. Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on October 2, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: "Unmasked: Trump Doctrine vows carnage for new axis of evil," Asia Times, Sept., 2017 "Shadow play: the New Great Game in Eurasia", Asia Times, Jan., 2017

Dan and Joanne talk with Scott Horton about his new book, Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan. Scott is an author, managing editor at the Libertarian Institute, editor at antiwar.com, host of Antiwar Radio for Pacifica, and the Scott Horton Show podcast. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @scotthortonshow, find his work at libertarianinstitute.org/scotthortonshow, foolserrand.us Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan & Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on September 15, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives (Brzezinski) https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Chessboard-American-Geostrategic-Imperatives/dp/0465027261 "Toward a Global Realignment" (Brzezinski) https://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/04/17/toward-a-global-realignment/ "The Broken Chessboard: Brzezinski Gives Up on Empire" https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/08/25/the-broken-chessboard-brzezinski-gives-up-on-empire/ Scott Horton interviews archive: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews-2/ No Good Men Among the Living (Anand Gopal) http://anandgopal.com/

Dan and Joanne talk with Syrian analyst Ehsani @ehsani22 about the origins of the war and the new prospects for an end to the war. We also talk about the current situation in Deir Ezzor and Idlib. Ehsani is from Aleppo, Syria. He is active on social media, especially Twitter, mainly with analysis and discussion about Syria. He has also written for Syria Comment under this pseudonymn "Ehsani".. Follow @ehsani22 on Twitter. He has also been published many times at Syria Comment. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow Dan and Joanne: @USEmpireShow, @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on September 17, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference links: Ehsani at Syria Comment Russian foreign ministry comment on crossing the Euphrates SDF Issue Statement Condemning Syrian/Russian bombardment of their forces Ahmed Abu Khawla (commander of Deir Ezzor military council) claims SDF won't allow Syrian forces to cross the Euphrates Russian military spokesman denied targeting SDF

Dan and Joanne talk with Syrian Kurdish photographer and journalist Kovan Direj about his perspective on Syria and the region. Kovan is a Kurd from Rojava, Syria. He is a photographer, journalist and documentary film producer who spent most of his life in Aleppo and Qamishli and now works with refugees in Sweden. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @kovandire, find his work at www.kovandirej.com Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Dan and Joanne talk with Max Blumenthal about the history of the national security state and the ruling elite using radical and extremist groups as proxies both abroad and at home. We discuss the Syrian "rebels", neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine and we also talk about Charlottesville and how we got here. Max is an author, journalist, senior editor of the Gray Zone Project at alternet.org, and co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast. He is well known for his acclaimed books, The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel and Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @maxblumenthal, find references to all of his work at maxblumenthal.com. Find all of our work at our website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 20, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: 1) 18 August 2017 (VIDEO) The Real Story of How Bannon and Trump Got to the White HouseThe Real News Network - Thomas Hedges 2) 23 June 2017 John McCain and Paul Ryan Hold 'Good Meeting' With Veteran Ukrainian Nazi Demagogue Andriy Parubiy Alternet - Ben Norton, Max Blumenthal 3) 18 November 2014 How the Israel Lobby Protected Ukrainian Neo-Nazis Alternet Max Blumenthal (Rep. John Conyers wanted to block U.S. funding to neo-Nazis in Ukraine. But the ADL and Simon Wiesenthal Center refused to help.) 4) 24 February 2014 Is the U.S. Backing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine? Alternet Max Blumental (Exposing troubling ties in the U.S. to overt Nazi and fascist protesters in Ukraine.) 5) 16 June 2017 (VIDEO) Anti-Muslim Manchester Demo Unites Britain's Far-Right 6) 16 June 2017 Former EDL leader holds large anti-Muslim demonstration in ManchesterHope Not Hate - Dr Joe Mulhall 7) 18 March 2017 New European Branch of International Alt-Right Group to Launch Hope Not Hate - Dr Joe Mulhall 8) 17 March 2017 More Transatlantic co-operation by the international Alt/Far Right – Hope Not Hate - Dr Joe Mulhall 9) 20 March 2017 (VIDEO) Can Europe Stop the Far Right if It Doesn't Stop Neoliberal Austerity? The Real News Network, Liz Fekete (Institute of Race Relations) 10) 20 June 2016 Return of the Reich - Mapping the Global Resurgence of Far Right PowerInsurge Intelligence - Nafeez Ahmed (A four part INSURGE intelligence investigative series commissioned by Tell MAMA) 11) 2012 (PDF) Pedlars of Hate: The Violent Impact of the European Far Right Institute of Race Relations - Liz Feket

Preview of episode 31 (a bonus episode for our patrons), part 1 of a series of bonus episodes on the alleged "Russian hack" of the 2016 presidential election. Full episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-e... We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Find all of our work at our new website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 20, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Dan and Joanne talk with American author and investigative journalist Ken Silverstein about power and influence peddling in Washington and the role of think tanks, NGOs and the media. Ken is a DC-based investigative journalist, and creator of Washingtonbabylon.com. He is a contributing writer to VICE and columnist for the New York Observer. His stated goal for Washington Babylon was "to cover DC politicians and journalists like Hollywood celebrities — not the way they are worshiped by our current media masters." He also wrote for Harpers Magazine, AP and LA Times. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @kensilverstein1, find his work on washingtonbabylon.com Find all of our work at our new website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 11, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

We talk with Elijah Magnier, chief international war correspondent for Al Rai media, reporting from Baghdad on current situation in Iraq and Syria. Elijah has covered wars in Lebanon, the Balkans, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Syria. Beyond reporting on wars from the ground, Mr. Magnier also offers expert analysis on terrorism and terrorist organizations. He spoke to us from Baghdad. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @ejmalrai, find his work on elijahjm.wordpress.com Find all of our work at our new website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 4, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 28 War & Peace With North Korea feat. Tim Shorrock Dan and Joanne interview Tim Shorrock, an author, investigative journalist and commentator on US foreign policy, on national security and intelligence, and East Asian politics. Tim grew up in Japan and Korea and was recently in South Korea for an extended visit. He's the author of the popular book "Spies for Hire". You can find Tim's work at The Nation, Newstapa/Korea Center for Investigative Reporting, and many other media outlets and also at his website timshorrock.com. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @TimothyS. Find his work at timshorrock.com Find all of our work at our new website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on August 1, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Dan and Joanne interview psychologist and writer Jeffrey Kaye about the history of torture in the American empire and the latest news of black sites and outsourced torture in Yemen. Jeff is a psychologist and a writer, specializing on the topics of torture, national security, civil rights. He has done some major collaborative investigatory work (some co-written with Jason Leopold) that have been published at Firedoglake, Truthout, and The Public Record. We are independent media and we rely on your contributions Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire, Donations: aroundtheempire.com Follow @jeff_kaye. Find his work at valtinsblog.blogspot.com Find all of our work at our new website aroundtheempire.com Follow @aroundtheempire Follow @DanSWright @joanneleon Please subscribe/follow us on iTunes, YouTube, Facebook. Recorded on June 27, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

If you want to support the show and receive access to bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon page for as little as $5 a month. In Around the Empire Episode 24, Dan and Joanne talk with Angela Keaton, executive director of Antiwar.com about libertarian and right-wing opposition to war and about areas of common ground with the antiwar Left where alliances or coalitions might be formed. Angela is a second generation libertarian, a writer, legal researcher, and the Executive Director of Antiwar.com. She has worked in news and public affairs broadcasting since 1999 and she has served on the Libertarian National Committee. Her work is focused on a long term goal of ending militarism, war and torture. Follow Angela on Twitter @Antiwar2. Follow Around the Empire @aroundtheempire.

If you want to support the show and receive access to bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon page for as little as $5 a month. In episode 23 of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne talk with Phil Giraldi about his recent article, "Do High-Level Leaks Suggest a Conspiracy?" Former intelligence officers are questioning whether leaks and other events signal an ongoing soft coup based in the national security establishment. Phil Giraldi is a former counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer of the CIA. Giraldi is a columnist at The American Conservative and unz.com. He is also a commentator on mainstream and independent media. He is a consultant, the Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, and he is a member of a group called Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). Phil's article: "Do High-Level Leaks Suggest a Conspiracy?" Follow Around the Empire @aroundtheempire

Dan and Joanne speak with author and scholar Dr. Christopher Davidson about manipulation of the Middle East by Western powers, the use of extremist groups as a strategic asset, the strife and extremism that has resulted. We also focus on the recent attack in Manchester by a man who fought with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) which helped overthrow Gaddafi. Dr. Christopher Davidson is a scholar and expert in Middle East politics who teaches at Durham University in northern England. He is the author of numerous books including his latest: "Shadow Wars: The Secret Struggle for the Middle East," based on four years of archival work and interviews with former intelligence officials. Follow Dr. Davison on Twitter @Dr_Davidson Follow Around the Empire on Twitter at @AroundTheEmpire. If you want to support the show and receive access to bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon page for as little as $5 a month.

Dan and Joanne talk with Doug Henwood about the anti-Trump faction's endgame, the force applied by the unelected permanent government, and about the prospect of a President Pence (a "horror") and Republican-controlled Congress implementing the Republican dream in short order. Doug Henwood is an American journalist, economic analyst, and financial trader who writes frequently about economic affairs. He publishes a newsletter, "Left Business Observer" and he hosts "Behind the News" a weekly radio show covering economics and politics." Follow Doug on Twitter @DougHenwood Doug's recent article "The post-Trump Era?" Follow Around the Empire on Twitter at @AroundTheEmpire.

If you want to support the show and receive access to bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon page for as little as $5 a month. In Episode 19, Dan and Joanne talk with Gareth Porter about how US national security bureaucracies or the "Deep State" sell out the American counterterrorism interests by conducting policy and operations that serve their own and their allies' interests. The result is that they strengthen and fuel the rise of extremist groups like al Qaeda. Gareth Porter is an American historian, investigative journalist and policy analyst specializing in the national security state. He is the author of several books including: "Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare." Porter's work has been published in distinguished media for decades, and he was the 2012 winner of the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. He is also working on a new book on the same subject as his recent article. Follow Gareth on Twitter at @GarethPorter. Gareth's recent article "US 'deep state' sold out counter-terrorism to keep itself in business" Follow Around the Empire on Twitter at @AroundTheEmpire.