Author: Conflicts of Interest

On COI #125, Kyle Anzalone and Will Porter explain recent efforts in Congress to repeal the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), which gave legal authority for the US invasion of Iraq. Kyle argues that while the 2002 authorization has been invoked a few times since the invasion, it’s really the 2001 AUMF that’s allowed the War on Terror to continue. Far less attention has been paid to the broader 2001 authorities, however.

Israel briefly renewed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip last week, after Palestinians sent incendiary balloons into Israeli cities. The exchange followed clashes that sparked during a controversial ‘Flag March’ through Jerusalem, arranged by Israeli nationalist groups last week. The two sides are now attempting to deescalate, as a new coalition government in Israel cuts its teeth on its first bout of conflict with the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

General Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, made uncharacteristically reasonable comments about China and Taiwan during a recent congressional hearing. Despite near-constant warnings about an imminent Chinese invasion from lawmakers and military officials, Milley downplayed those concerns, questioning whether Beijing has any intention or interest in taking over the island.

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Scott Spaulding, host of ‘Why I am Antiwar’ and an Afghan War vet, returns to the show to discuss the withdrawal from Afghanistan. As thousands of troops and contractors make their exit, Scott gives his unique perspective on what the pullout will mean for the Afghan people. Scott and Kyle break down how the withdrawal has progressed and how the conflict is evolving. Scott explains how the geopolitics of Central Asia will make it difficult for the US to carry out major operations in Afghanistan after ending its longest war.

Follow Scott @MdVet4 on Twitter

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On COI #123, Maj. Danny Sjursen returns to the show to discuss Daniel Ellsburg, the coup in Mali, and the potential for another war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This week marked the 50th anniversary since the NYT began publishing the Pentagon Papers, leaked by the heroic Ellsberg in 1971. In the past month, Ellsberg released another document outlining US plans to nuke China in the late 1950s. With the release, Ellsberg challenged the government to indict him under the Espionage Act, risking spending his remaining years behind bars for a chance to challenge the World War I-era law.

In Mali, a military leader has carried out a coup for the second time in a year, the indirect result of ongoing intervention by France and the US in Africa’s Sahel region. Danny explains how a plague of coups has ravaged Africa since AFRICOM was founded in 2008.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan are heating up again. In late 2020, fighting broke out between the two former Soviet Republics. Danny recaps what happened during the last round of hostilities and how it set the stage for a renewed conflict in 2021. Danny argues the once-frozen war has been removed from the freezer and that violence will continue to erupt as the sides fight for territory.

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On COI #122, Kyle and Will break down a controversy centered on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, who landed in hot water after suggesting that the United States, Israel, Hamas and the Taliban all commit atrocities alike. While she was accused of equating “democratic countries” with “terrorists,” Will and Kyle explain that the backlash was overwrought, and that Washington and Tel Aviv are, in fact, responsible for war crimes.

The Pentagon is sounding alarms over two Iranian military vessels transiting the Atlantic Ocean, a first for Tehran’s navy. Nobody knows for sure what the ships intend to do or where they’re headed, and the US military appears to not believe its own hype, having no plans to intercept the vessels or even monitor them more closely. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the two ships pose a serious threat to the entire Western Hemisphere, though declined to explain how, saying nothing about the massive arsenal of US naval power stationed in Iran’s backyard.

The White House has released its war powers report to Congress, outlining the status of US forces around the world and the legal justification for their deployment. The report comes as several bills introduced in the House and Senate aim to claw back war-making authorities from the executive branch. Will and Kyle explain that many deployments are based on outdated authorizations that have nothing to do with the current realities.

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On COI #121 Patrick MacFarlane – host of Liberty Weekly – returns to the show to talk China, Iran and the American police state. Pat and Kyle break down a recent viral video of a police officer causing a pregnant woman’s car to roll over. Pat explains that the woman acted appropriately, however, the officer is unlikely to be held accountable. Pat breaks down the legal formalities the police state uses to allow its lawmen to remain lawless.

While the US government is incapable – or unwilling – to protect American citizens from its own police force, it is planning to spend hundreds of billions in tax dollars to confront China. The Innovation and Competition Act 2021 will spend $250 billion on the rivalry with China. The Pentagon announced that the problem with its China policy is it’s all talk. A report from a committee led by hawk Ely Ratner concluded the Pentagon had a ‘say-do-gap.’ Secretary of Defense Austin is saying the military should stop talking about the Chinese threat and act against it.

The Biden administration seems primarily concerned with confronting Russia and China. However, it is still unwilling to lose Iran as an enemy. Recent statements from Secretary of State Blinken suggest the US is unwilling to save the Iran nuclear deal. The opportunities to save the agreement are shrinking as Iran moves closer to electing a new leader.

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On COI #120, Kyle Anzalone discusses the use of JROTC instructors to teach courses at Chicago’s public schools. Hundreds of students – primarily from lower-income black or Hispanic communities – are being funneled into the classes without the consent of parents. Schools argue the Pentagon-funded program helps to cover budget shortfalls. Black and Hispanic students are overrepresented in the CPS JROTC program, and those who go through it are more likely to enlist.

Kyle breaks down the evolution of the war in Afghanistan. CENTCOM reports that the withdrawal is 50% complete. However, the Pentagon still refuses to report the number of troops remaining there. The CIA is seeking a new base to operate from and the Afghan military is scrambling to find a way to maintain its air force. Kyle explains that the US plans to spend billions waging war in Afghanistan in 2022.

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