Author: Conflicts of Interest

On COI #202, Kyle Anzalone discusses how President Joe Biden’s effort to create a ‘Democratic’ bloc of countries is dividing the world into camps. The camps are not “democracy” versus “autocracy” as Biden claims. Rather, the divide is between the current American-led order and countries seeking an independent foreign policy.

Kyle breaks down the latest tensions between the US and Russia. Biden appears to have slightly stepped down from the height of tensions, though he still refuses to recognize Russia’s sphere of influence. 

Kyle updates the investigation into the August Kabul drone strike that left ten civilians dead. The Pentagon announced that no soldiers would be disciplined for the strike. The victims of the strike could have easily been identified as civilians. The Department of Defense’s refusal to hold anyone accountable likely guarantees it will happen again.

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On COI #201, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman cover the latest on the JCPOA talks, Tel Aviv’s efforts to sabotage diplomacy, and Joe Biden’s efforts to placate the Israelis.

Connor reports on the Americans’ unfair criticisms of Iran. They say Tehran’s delegation in Vienna is not taking the indirect negotiations seriously. The Europeans regurgitate the same tired rhetoric. But Biden’s administration has imposed new sanctions on Iran, they constantly say time is running out, and they have issued myriad threats that all “options” are on the table.

This highly aggressive U.S. posture in the midst of ongoing efforts to reach an agreement, is leading Iranian diplomats to say it is Washington that refuses to take the talks seriously.

Concurrently, the Israelis are banging war drums, imploring the U.S. to abandon the talks, as well as attempting to prevent Iran and their Sunni neighbors from establishing positive relations. Israel’s top officials are openly discussing attacking Iran with American officials as well. A New York Times report recently revealed that Tel Aviv consulted with Washington before covertly attacking Iran’s civilian nuclear program in June. This apparently occurred again before another Israeli sabotage attack in Iran months later.

This is part and parcel of the “maximum pressure” campaign Biden continues to pursue: a combination of American sanctions, threats, and Israeli attacks.

Kyle and Connor then discuss the Russians and the Chinese interests in seeing a U.S. return to the nuclear deal, along with possible outcomes including whether the deal is dead or not, if the Europeans are going to put forward a counter draft proposal, and the “coma option.”

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On COI #198, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman update the Iran talks, tensions in eastern Europe, and America’s Cold War with China.

Kyle reports on today’s talks between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tensions continue to rise over the Ukrainian-Russian border and war in the Donbas is threatened. Moscow wants legally binding guarantees that the U.S. will not deploy more troops and military equipment to its borders, as well as an immediate halt to NATO’s eastward expansion.

Connor covers the latest on the JCPOA talks. The U.S. claims Tehran is intransigent and not taking the negotiations seriously. Connor examines both sides’ demands and argues that it is the Americans who refuse to engage in good faith. Tel Aviv is dispatching the head of the Mossad and the Israeli Defense Minister to Washington. Reportedly, they will push the U.S. to attack Iran, increase sanctions, and spread lies regarding Iran’s supposed race to build a bomb. But the CIA Director has now announced Tehran is not seeking a nuclear weapon.

Kyle also breaks down the latest developments in Washington’s multi-layered anti-China campaign. U.S. diplomats will boycott the next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics over discredited and debunked claims that China is committing a “genocide” against their Uighur population. Biden has set new records for how many spy planes the U.S. is flying in the South China Sea. Last month, 94 such sorties were recorded. Defense Chief Lloyd Austin has proclaimed the U.S. is a “pacific power” and there is even talk of expanding the AUKUS military pact.

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On COI #197, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The World Bank and UN are attempting to deliver aid to the Afghans. However, U.S. sanctions continue to prevent the aid from reaching suffering people. Back in Washington., Biden is figuring out what to do with the $7 billion held by the Fed in an account for the collapsed, formerly U.S. backed, Kabul government. Vultures in Congress are attempting to repurpose the funds to aid Ukraine. The Biden administration’s main concern in Afghanistan is preventing the Taliban from gaining “recognition,” not preventing the Afghan childrens’ impending mass starvation.

Kyle updates the raging war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia continues to hammer the starving people with airstrikes. Despite Biden’s pledge early in his administration, the US continues to support the Saudi-UAE war effort. The UN is now warning that 377,000 Yemenis will have died by the end of this year, most being children under the age of five who starved to death. 

Kyle discusses the military’s falling approval rating. In past years, the Pentagon was America’s most trusted institution. However, countless failures have led to the public’s waning trust.

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On COI #196, Dave DeCamp – News Editor at Antiwar.com – returns to explain escalating tensions with Russia over Ukraine. In recent weeks the US has engaged in military drills along Russia’s western border while encouraging a Ukrainian military build-up. The result has been Cold War-style threats including deploying more nuclear weapons into eastern Europe. 

Dave breaks down Biden’s Middle East policy. US drone strikes under Biden are far lower than Trump. Kyle and Dave compare Biden and Trump’s Middle East policies. 

Dave discusses a recent effort by the Marshall Islands to get more aid from the US to clean up after American nuclear tests. The Biden administration is stonewalling the request.

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On COI #195, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman discuss recent developments in the new Cold War with China as well as the resumed JCPOA talks in Vienna.

Kyle details recent reports about how Taiwan, eyeing China, is building its own submarine fleet with assistance from various nations including the United States and the United Kingdom. Kyle then breaks down a propaganda piece from Reason magazine that promotes Sean Roberts, who authored a discredited Newlines Institute report containing debunked lies about China’s Uighur “genocide.” This is a major oversight from Reason and reflects that even mainline, establishment libertarians will traffic in blatant anti-China war propaganda.

Connor then discusses the recently renewed indirect JCPOA talks between the U.S. and Iran in Austria. The other remaining signatories to the nuclear deal are in attendance as well and are speaking directly with Tehran’s delegation. The U.S. has been consistently hawkish leading up to the talks, imposing sanctions and threatening Iran. Israel is nakedly attempting to sabotage the talks and the deal itself by spreading lies in the media and western capitals alleging Iran is preparing to attack the U.S. and increase uranium enrichment to weapons grade levels. Tel Aviv’s seemingly desperate actions may indicate they suspect real diplomatic progress could take place in Vienna.

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