Podcast appearances and mentions of eric draitser

On this re-aired episode of CounterPunch Radio, Eric Draitser interviews Arun Gupta about Israel's propaganda campaign, the failed reporting of The New York Times, and how it's all been used to dehumanize and justify genocide in Gaza. More The post Israel's October 7th Propaganda Machine: Arun Gupta appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt, sitting in for Eric Draitser on CounterPunch Radio, talks with Hanin Siam, a Palestinian organizer based in Tokyo, Japan. They discuss the challenges of organizing the Palestine solidarity movement in Japan, including the nuances of their communities in Tokyo and Hiroshima. From the history of Japanese support for Palestine, to BDS, to the social and legal limitations of protest, Rebecca and Hanin cover the diverse strategies and public response to the fight for Palestinian Liberation in Japan. Follow @palestinejapan for more. Edited by Kryzia Villada. More The post Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt & Hanin Siam appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Eric Draitser sits down with CounterPunch Editor Joshua Frank to discuss the reasons why CounterPunch Radio has been mostly quiet in recent months. Eric details some of his physical and mental health issues in recent months, and the prospects for his return to regular podcasting. More The post Eric Draitser appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

The Resistance Roundtable speaks with two guests: -Eric Draitser, an independent journalist and host of the Counterpunch podcast (www.counterpunch.org)who addresses the threat of fascism in the US today; and -David Dayen, editor of the American Prospect Magazine (www.prospect.org), who talks about the indictment of Donald Trump and the rising progressive pushback against the radical rightwing. Hosts: Scott Harris, Richard Hill and Ruthanne Baumgartner

Join a panel of activists and experts to discuss the roots, nature, and politics of the war and Ukraine's resistance. This February marks one year since Russia's imperialist invasion of Ukraine. On the anniversary, people around the world are organizing events in solidarity with Ukraine's heroic struggle for self-determination. On Saturday, February 25, 2023, please join our panel of scholars and activists for a discussion of the roots, nature, and politics of the war and the resistance. Featured Speakers: Yuliya Yurchenko, Senior Lecturer at the University of Greenwich and author of Ukraine and the Empire of Capital: From Marketization to Armed Conflict. Vladyslav Starodubstev, historian of Central and Eastern European region, and member of the Ukrainian democratic socialist organization Sotsialnyi Rukh. Kirill Medvedev, poet, political writer, and member of the Russian Socialist Movement. Kavita Krishnan, Indian feminist, author of Fearless Freedom, former leader of the Communist Party of India (ML). Bill Fletcher, former President of TransAfrica Forum, former senior staff person at the AFL-CIO, and Senior Scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies. Including solidarity statements from among others Barbara Smith, Eric Draitser, Haley Pessin, Ramah Kudaimi, Dave Zirin, Frieda Afary, Jose La Luz, Rob Barrill, and Cindy Domingo. This event is sponsored by The Ukraine Solidarity Network (US) and Haymarket Books. Watch the live event recording: https://youtube.com/live/WeIfVB7IykQ Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

Please support our Patreon.  For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more.Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio. You can find his exclusive content including articles, podcasts, audio commentaries, poetry, and more at patreon.com/ericdraitser. You can follow him on Twitter @stopimperialism.  We talk about many, many things including early Soviet art, xenophobia against Russia, and more cultural politics. Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip  ( @aufhebenkultur )Branding Design: Djene Bajalan and C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Videos Design: Jason Myles, Dejene Balajan Support the show

Please support our Patreon.  For early and ad-free episodes, members-only content, and more.Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio. You can find his exclusive content including articles, podcasts, audio commentaries, poetry, and more at patreon.com/ericdraitser. You can follow him on Twitter @stopimperialism.  We talk about the various contradictions the left deals with in dealing with the Russia - Ukraine war.Crew:Host: C. Derick VarnAudio Producer: Paul Channel Strip  ( @aufhebenkultur )Branding Design: Djene Bajalan and C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Videos Design: Jason Myles, Dejene Balajan  Support the show

YouTube link: (2) Eric Draitser of CounterPunch Radio: Russia, Ukraine, Syria, NATO & the Left in a Changing World. - YouTube Eric Draitser of CounterPunch meets with me to address my many questions regarding the modern Left, anti-imperialism, Syria and Ukraine. Eric elaborates on topics including Alexander Dugin, BRICS, multipolarity, NATO and more. Relevant Links: Eric's Patron: Eric Draitser is creating podcasts, audio commentaries, writing | Patreon Eric's work at CounterPunch: Page not found - CounterPunch.org Ukrainian Folk Tales: An Anti-Colonial Perspective: Ukrainian Folk Tales: An Anti-Colonial Perspective - CounterPunch.org Vladimir Lenin The Right of Nations to Self-Determination: Lenin: The Right of Nations to Self-Determination (marxists.org) Putin: Lenin's political mistakes created a 'time bomb' in Russia - Daily Mail: (2) Putin: Lenin's political mistakes created a 'time bomb' in Russia - Daily Mail - YouTube Marx & Engles Ireland and the Irish Question: ireland.pdf (marxists.org) How Alexander Dugin's Neo-Eurasianists geared up for the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2005-2013: How Alexander Dugin's Neo-Eurasianists geared up for the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2005-2013 - Euromaidan Press Western Imperialism and the Role of Sub-imperialism in the Global South 13 January 2021 by Patrick Bond , Ana Garcia , Miguel Borba: Western Imperialism and the Role of Sub-imperialism in the Global South (cadtm.org)

This is a segment of episode 333 of Last Born In The Wilderness “The War In Ukraine: An Update On An Ongoing Catastrophe w/ Eric Draitser.” Listen to the full episode: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/eric-draitser-2 Support Eric and follow him on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ericdraitser Independent political analyst and CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser returns to the podcast to provide an update on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The last we spoke about this subject was March 2nd, seven days into the invasion. Eight months into this war, I ask Eric: Where do the Russians and Ukrainians stand in this blatant war of aggression by Putin? Who stands to gain from prolonging this conflict? What are Russia and NATO's endgame? For all the calls for an end to the conflict through negotiation, what, in fact, could or would that even look like? As the war drags on, we look on in horror as this neocolonialist, revanchist invasion grinds more human bodies on the fields of battle. Russia, to meet the imperialist vision laid out before the world, conscript thousands of men to continue the war. Many more flee the country to escape such a dire fate. While Ukraine is reduced to rubble, Russian society is flung into numerous, cascading crises — both material and existential in scope. Geopolitical conflicts proliferate across Europe and Asia, generating new and preexisting tensions between nations. Eric, in covering this war since its first days, provides a measured and nuanced overview of events as they stand today.  WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast / https://venmo.com/LastBornPodcast BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast EPISODE 300: https://lastborninthewilderness.bandcamp.com BOOK: http://bit.ly/ORBITgr ATTACK & DETHRONE: https://anchor.fm/adgodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

Independent political analyst and CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser returns to the podcast to provide an update on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The last we spoke about this subject was March 2nd, seven days into the invasion. Eight months into this war, I ask Eric: Where do the Russians and Ukrainians stand in this blatant war of aggression by Putin? Who stands to gain from prolonging this conflict? What are Russia and NATO's endgame? For all the calls for an end to the conflict through negotiation, what, in fact, could or would that even look like? As the war drags on, we look on in horror as this neocolonialist, revanchist invasion grinds more human bodies on the fields of battle. Russia, to meet the imperialist vision laid out before the world, conscript thousands of men to continue the war. Many more flee the country to escape such a dire fate. While Ukraine is reduced to rubble, Russian society is flung into numerous, cascading crises — both material and existential in scope. Geopolitical conflicts proliferate across Europe and Asia, generating new and preexisting tensions between nations. Eric, in covering this war since its first days, provides a measured and nuanced overview of events as they stand today.  Episode Notes: - Subscribe to Eric's YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/36XE7xn - Support him on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ericdraitser - Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stopimperialism - Subscribe to CounterPunch Radio: https://www.counterpunch.org/category/counterpunch-radio-podcasts/ - Music produced by Epik The Dawn: https://epikbeats.net WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast / https://venmo.com/LastBornPodcast BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast EPISODE 300: https://lastborninthewilderness.bandcamp.com BOOK: http://bit.ly/ORBITgr ATTACK & DETHRONE: https://anchor.fm/adgodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://msha.ke/lastbornpodcast

In this episode we investigate the Russian war in Ukraine from a global South perspective by analyzing the effects of the crisis on the different countries and regions of the global South, and highlighting the issues that are currently missing from the mainstream discussion. Our guests include: Eric Draitser, independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio; Samar Al-Bulushi, assistant professor of anthropology at University of California, Irvine; Noha Aboueldahab, assistant professor of international law and transitional justice at Georgetown University in Qatar; and Arlene Tickner, professor of international relations at the School of International, Political and Urban Studies, at the Universidad del Rosario Bogotá. At the end of the episode, Security in Context co-founders Omar Dahi and Firat Demir discuss the main highlights of the interviews and share their own takes.

Counterpunch Radio's Eric Draitser joins Host Lucy Steigerwald for NSP#39 to discuss global anti-imperialist solidarity in an increasingly multi-polar world. A fascinating discussion that also touches on propaganda, the cold war, unique insights from Marx and Lenin, Ukraine's struggle against Russian Aggression, the Rojavan Revolution, and more. https://youtu.be/_Gc_8gby__U Join the conversation on Twitter: @NonServiamMedia @LucyStag @StopImperialism -- 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:18 Eric's Political Origins 00:15:34 Counterpunch 00:17:12 Ukraine 2014 00:28:11 Azov & Fascists 00:36:11 Ukraine as a Proxy 00:39:59 Imperialism 00:45:56 Cold War Era 00:47:18 Propaganda of Multipolarity 00:52:12 Whiteness as a Factor 00:57:44 The Right 01:06:01 Crisis 01:09:39 Theory of Violence 01:17:06 Rojava 01:23:17 Cappuccino 01:25:12 Anarchist Books 01:26:12 Marxist Labels 01:31:12 The Left 01:32:25 Eric's Top Three Books 01:37:35 Outro -- Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio. You can find his exclusive content including articles, podcasts, audio commentaries, poetry and more at patreon.com/ericdraitser. You can follow him on Twitter @stopimperialism. -https://www.counterpunch.org/author/eric-draitser/ -- Lucy is an accomplished writer and a self-described market-anarchist, feminist, and history nerd. Lucy is a long-time friend of the collective, a Contributing Editor at AntiWar.com, and you may also know Lucy from her writings at FEE, Vice, Reason, or her blogs; https://thestagblog.com/, https://lucysteigerwald.substack.com/, https://original.antiwar.com/author/l..., and https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/l... You can find Lucy online @LucyStag Follow Eric Draitser @StopImperialism Thank you for watching! --- Listen to the Non Serviam Podcast on your favorite podcast platform! iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and more. If you'd like to see more anarchist and anti-authoritarian interviews, please consider supporting this project financially by becoming a Patreon https://www.patreon.com/nonserviammedia Follow us on Instagram @nonserviammedia View our full, downloadable catalog online at https://nonserviammedia.com

We interview Eric Draitser of CounterPunch Radio on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. To find more of Eric's work please visit patreon.com/ericdraitser, and to support Ukrainian resistance please donate to operation-solidarity.org. Thumbnail image via iNews

This is a segment of episode 314 of Last Born In The Wilderness “The Invasion Of Ukraine: An Imperialist War, An Unfolding Conflagration w/ Eric Draitser.” Listen to the full episode: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com/episodes/eric-draitser Subscribe to Eric's YouTube channel and support him on Patreon: https://bit.ly/36XE7xn / https://www.patreon.com/ericdraitser Eric Draitser, independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio, joins me to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We recorded this discussion March 3rd 2022 — exactly seven days into this ongoing conflict. Eric has been publishing very concise, clear, and measured analysis of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military almost daily since it began — mostly through 15-20 minute videos published publicly, and through his Patreon page for his supporters. He applies a principled anti-imperialist, anti-war, and leftist approach to his detailed summaries of this situation as it unfolds — pointing to the roles that both Russian leadership (primarily Russian President Vladimir Putin) and the United States and its NATO partners in Europe have played in the escalation of this conflict. What are the short-term, and long-term, aims of Russia in this invasion? What is the historical context this war sits within? What are the ideological components to this? And most importantly, who ultimately suffers from this conflagration in Eastern Europe? We discuss all this and more in this interview. WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast / https://venmo.com/LastBornPodcast BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast EPISODE 300: https://lastborninthewilderness.bandcamp.com BOOK: http://bit.ly/ORBITgr ATTACK & DETHRONE: https://anchor.fm/adgodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

Eric Draitser, independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio, joins me to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We recorded this discussion March 3rd 2022 — exactly seven days into this ongoing conflict. Eric has been publishing very concise, clear, and measured analysis of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military almost daily since it began — mostly through 15-20 minute videos published publicly, and through his Patreon page for his supporters. He applies a principled anti-imperialist, anti-war, and leftist approach to his detailed summaries of this situation as it unfolds — pointing to the roles that both Russian leadership (primarily Russian President Vladimir Putin) and the United States and its NATO partners in Europe have played in the escalation of this conflict. What are the short-term, and long-term, aims of Russia in this invasion? What is the historical context this war sits within? What are the ideological components to this? And most importantly, who ultimately suffers from this conflagration in Eastern Europe? We discuss all this and more in this interview. Episode Notes: - Subscribe to Eric's YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/36XE7xn - Support him on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ericdraitser - Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stopimperialism - Subscribe to CounterPunch Radio: https://www.counterpunch.org/category/counterpunch-radio-podcasts/ WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/lastborninthewilderness DONATE: https://www.paypal.me/lastbornpodcast / https://venmo.com/LastBornPodcast BOOK LIST: https://bookshop.org/shop/lastbornpodcast EPISODE 300: https://lastborninthewilderness.bandcamp.com BOOK: http://bit.ly/ORBITgr ATTACK & DETHRONE: https://anchor.fm/adgodcast DROP ME A LINE: Call (208) 918-2837 or http://bit.ly/LBWfiledrop EVERYTHING ELSE: https://linktr.ee/patterns.of.behavior

Russia has invaded Ukraine, and what more is there to be said, besides: Fuck war and fuck imperialism. (Well, there is a little more than that to be said, and J.G. Michael has Eric Draitser on the show to say it.) Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio. You can find his exclusive content including articles, podcasts, audio commentaries, poetry, and more at patreon.com/ericdraitser. He can be reached at @stopimperialism on Twitter. Please be sure to check out J.G.'s other podcast, Parallax Views. Check out the Failed State Update website (http://failedstateupdate.com/) and subscribe to the free newsletter: http://lennyflatley.substack.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/failedstateupdate/message

Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio. You can find his exclusive content including articles, podcasts, audio commentaries, poetry, and more at patreon.com/ericdraitser. He can be reached at ericdraitser@gmail.com Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PARCMEDIAFollow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Vince_EmanueleFollow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1713FranklinSt/Follow Us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parcmedia/?...#PARCMedia is a news and media project founded by two USMC veterans, Sergio Kochergin & Vince Emanuele. They give a working-class take on issues surrounding politics, ecology, community organizing, war, culture, and philosophy.

The old imperialists have already been tapped by the transition team! Two months before Biden was elected, our heads exploded with Counter Punch's article "The Plot Against Libya" by Eric Draitser (read: https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/09/08/the-plot-against-libya/)... What better way to close out 2020 than with a magnificent conversation revisiting the tragedy of Libya, nearly a decade later, with Eric Draitser, independent political analyst and host of Counter Punch Radio. On this English-language version of Contraelite, we dig deep into imperialism under the libs, Susan Rice & Hillary Clinton, "the matriarchs of death", the role of French philosopher and journalist Bernard Henri-Levy in manufacturing consent for the invasion of Libya, and so much incredible information and analysis, you may puke thinking of your November vote ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Follow and support Eric at https://www.patreon.com/ericdraitser Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @Contraelite1 Clips from Al Jazeera, RT, The Telegraph, BBC Hard Talk and Diran Lyons (https://youtu.be/1tO1_OkhK4A)

We are back! Forrest Palmer, now a regular part of the Attack & Dethrone Godcast, joins Michael, Jeff, and Patrick to discuss the new Borat movie and cover the US Presidential Election in all its agonizing glory. This episode is broken in three segments: the first part is a discussion around the new comedy film from Sacha Baron Cohen (recorded Oct. 31st); the second part focuses around what the results of the election may be as the votes come in (recorded election night, Nov. 3rd); and the third and last part is our assessment of what comes next as it became clear in the subsequent days after the election that Biden was going to win (recorded Nov. 6th). Also, we have our first sponsor: Eric Draitser promoting his new OnlyFans page! 00:00 - 1:20 | Intro (the Reptilians are going to steal the election) 01:20 - 35:13 | Borat Movie Review (Forrest gives it his coveted Golden Stamp of Approval) 35:13 - 36:15 | Eric Draitser's OnlyFan's Ad (the only ethical consumption under capitalism) 36:15 - 01:48:19 | Trump Savage Declares Victory (the cream rises to the top!) 01:48:19 - 02:30:34 | Election Fallout (we admit we were both right and wrong) 02:30:34 - 02:32:07 | Let The Van Zones Soar (like he's never soared before) Also, you should really support Eric Draiter's incredible work at his Patreon page. For real. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adgodcast/message

On this edition of Parallax Views, while concerns about the global pandemic known as the coronavirus continue to mount in the United States, many folks are being hit by symptoms of another entirely different condition sweeping the nation. Namely, election fever. The surprise comeback of former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic Party Primaries proved to be a dark day for progressive activists, specifically supporters of Bernie Sanders.. As we race toward the General Election in November that will pit the Democratic nominee against sitting President Donald Trump, the heat has been turned up a notch on the Democratic Party Primary race. Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Michale Bloomberg, and, now, Elizabeth Warren have dropped out of the running leaving us with a match-up between the centrist moderate Joe Biden and the progressive Bernie Sanders. Joining us later on this edition of the program to discuss the aftermath of Super Tuesday and where progressive movement and the left need to go from here is Eric Draitser of Counterpunch Radio. But first... The 2000 Presidential Election, which pitted Republican George W. Bush against Democrat Al Gore, the latter fresh from a run as Vice President under Bill Clinton, was marred by controversy by the time it ended. For a brief period it appeared to many, including the news media, that Gore would win the election. However, reporting on Al Gore’s victory in Florida, where George W’s brother Jeb Bush was serving as Governor, suddenly proved incorrect at the 11th hour. Controversy arose when it was found that Votomatic machine punch card ballots appeared to have left sizable number of voters unaccounted for. Republicans claimed that this was because said voters were not sophisticated enough to use the Votomatic machien properly. Meanwhile, Democrats demanded recounts. The debacle eventually went all the way to the Supreme Court when it was decided that Bush would be declared the winner of the Presidential race. Nonetheless, public figures ranging from progressive radio host Thom Hartmann to famed attorney Vincent Bugliosi would go on to dissect the controversies and challenge Bush’s victory after the fact. In 2018, noted true crime author and investigative journalist Stephen Singular sought to tell the story of his investigation into the matter by way of his book Stolen Future: The Untold Story of the 2000 Election. Singular was knee-deep in the story as it was happening, but only now. thanks to fellow journalist Russ Baker’s WhoWhatWhy media outlet, has he been able to tell the tale. And I must say its a tale straight out of a crime noir thriller. Regardless your take on the 2000 Presidential Election, Stephen Singular’s Stolen Future raises troubling questions about the state of election integrity in the United States. Whether one believes the result of the 2000 Presidential Election was due to malfeasance or the potential incompetence of the companies behind the Votomatic machines that haunted said election, Singular’s reporting, in my view, should make us all consider the age old question of whether or not money belongs in politics. Should something as important as a Presidential Election be left in the hands of the private interests who create our voting machines? Stephen Singular joins us to recount his personal investigation of the Bush vs. Gore debacle and the issue of "hanging chads" as told in his book, Stolen Future: The Untold Story of the 2000 Election.Then... Eric Draitser of Counterpunch Radio returns to the program to share his commentary on the aftermath of of Super Tuesday, Joe Biden's big comeback, and what it means for not only the Bernie Sanders campaign but the progressive/left movement in America as a whole. SUPPORT PARALLAX VIEWSON PATREON! FORBONUS CONTENTANDARCHIVED EPISODES!

A Note to Listeners: Please Consider Supporting This GoFundMe for the Medical Expenses of this Pittsburgh Family. Your Support Would Mean the World to Parallax Views & J.G. Michael It's a special fundraiser edition of Parallax Views! A family in Pittsburgh needs your help with a GoFundMe campaign for their father and Parallax Views is doing a podcast-a-thon on health justice to support the cause! Voice featured in this episode include: - Marlon Ettinger, freelance reporter and co-host of the upcoming podcast series Footnotes - Alley Valkyrie of Gods & Radicals Press, pagan activist, political theorist, and American living abroad in France - Dave from The Serfs, an increasingly popular left-oriented YouTube channel - Ash and Jon, hosts of the Horror Vanguard podcast - Eric Draitser, host of Counterpunch Radio and intrepid activist (audio on my end for this is of slightly reduced quality due to mic issues, BUT is a must listen; I don't speak much anyways and let Eric lay it all out for the listeners!)

On this edition of Parallax Views, journalist Eric Draitser of Counterpunch, joins us to discuss his recent article "Records Show Palantir Made $60 Million Contracting with ICE for Mobile App". Palantir Technologies, a software company co-founded by the controversial Silicon Valley Trump supporter Peter Thiel, has recently come under heavy scrutiny thanks to a July expose that detailed it's relationship with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). Draitser, however, argues that ICE's use of Palantir's FALCON mobile app is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, the big data giant's fingerprints can be found in everything from the Cambridge Analytica scandal to the targeting of dissident journalists. Put another way, it can be argued that Palantir may well represent the Orwellian nightmare of 1984's Big Brother or Phillip K. Dick's Minority Report made a frightening reality.Additionally, Eric tells listeners about the announcement of Counterpunch's collaboration with previous Parallax Views guest Barrett Brown, Distributed Denial of Secrets, and others to expose the corruption of a scandalous London investment firm through #29Leaks. IF YOU ENJOY ERIC DRAITSER'S ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING HIS EFFORTS ON PATREONINDEPENDENT ALTERNATIVE MEDIA CAN'T EXIST WITHOUT YOU!

Eric Draitser, independent political analyst and host of CounterPunch Radio (www.counterpunch.org), offers his perspective on the build-up to possible war with Iran, American empire, the corporate media and voter suppression. Interview by Richard Hill

On this edition of Parallax Views, Counterpunch Radio host and political analyst Eric Draitser (guest on episode 27) returns to the show to discuss skyrocketing wealthy inequality, New York progressives victory over Amazon HQ2, and Bernie Sanders announcement that he'll be running for President on the Democratic ticket in the 2020 election. The conversation begins with an observation from your host that our current cultural moment feels like a nightmare that could've been written by Hunter S. Thompson. From there we delve into reports that wealth inequality is approaching levels not seen since The Great Depression. Eric and I discuss how this issue has come to the fore of mainstream discourse as well as examining former Starbucks Chairman and potential 2020 Independent Presidential candidate Howard Schultz's wanting to be referred to as a "person of means/wealth" rather than a billionaire and Kylie Jenner's claims that she her wealth is wholly self-made. Are the billionaires nervous that the 99% has had enough? From there we dive into how the façade of neoliberalism's promises are falling away as millennials find themselves being crushed under the weight of massive student debt and the progressive awakening that it may be creating. This leads us to a discussion of the New York progressives activists who recently scored a huge victory over Amazon HQ2. Eric explains what this victory means for New York as well as what it could mean for progressive activists across the nation. Then he informs listeners of his recent interview with two activists who directly participated in the New York fight against Amazon HQ2. From there we delve into the recent dark money funded billboard attacking Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and anti-HQ2 activists for allegedly damaging NY's economy and costing many possible jobs due to the protests forcing Amazon out. Eric points out that the billboard was bought and paid for by the insidious Trump-loving Mercer Family before going on to critique and dissect the billboard's propagandistic claims. We wrap up on this portion of the conversation by discussing how people, specifically millennials and Generation Z, aren't buying the mythologies of trickle-down economics and other American Dream-style fictions. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez From there we talk the announcement of Bernie Sanders running on the Democratic ticket in the 2020 Presidential election and the rise of young, energetic progressives in congress like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar. Eric points out that, contrary to the pearl-clutching of both liberal and right-wing pundits, Bernie and these young congresswoman are not radicals but reformists. He then goes on to argue that, despite this, these progressive politicians represent a threat to the status quo of corporate Democrats and the GOP alike. Additionally, Eric takes on the tenuous claim that Bernie in 2020 because the Democratic Party has moved leftward since 2016 and comment on the "Bernie Bros." slur. Moreover, he says that there is a seldom spoken of support for Bernie Sanders among People of Color, specifically women, that has been deliberately ignored by anti-Bernie Democrats. Eric then goes on to speculate how Bernie may differentiate himself from the other potential candidates in the 2020 Presidential election. He then goes on to wonder if Bernie may take a greater focus on foreign policy and a possible antiwar stance this go-around. Eric offers that Bernie's comments on the Venezuela situation, which has drawn the ire of Florida Democrats, and his stance on Syria may be a sign that this is a direction that Bernie may be going with his campaign. We then take a brief detour to discuss the situation in Venezuela and the effects that sanctions will have on Venezuela's civilian population. Eric argues that both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders have to be extremely careful in how they deal with this matter. Afterwards, we start wrapping up the conversation by discussing how the Sanders campaign isn't about Bernie himself, but rather the energetic movement arising around him. And finally, Eric comments on the importance of truly independent alternative media and his recent blockbuster interview with Billie Winner-Davis, mother of the courageous imprisoned-whistleblower Reality Winner. IF YOU ENJOY ERIC DRAITSER'S ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING HIS EFFORTS ON PATREONINDEPENDENT ALTERNATIVE MEDIA CAN'T EXIST WITHOUT YOU!

In this segment of my discussion with political analyst Eric Draitser, I ask Eric expand upon his analysis of recent events in Venezuela, expressed in his piece in CounterPunch ‘Trump’s Coup in Venezuela: The Full Story,’ in which Eric lays into the recent decision by the Trump Administration to back “interim president” Juan Guaido as the rightful leader of the nation. Eric provides a fuller and richer picture of what is currently happening in Venezuela, in light of the recent decision by the Trump Administration — under the direction of President Donald Trump, VP Mike Pence, National Security Advisor John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and “special envoy” to Venezuela Elliot Abrams, among others — to back “interim president” of Venezuela Juan Guaido as the rightful leader of the nation, a process that has been described as a “democratic and constitutional transfer of power” by Bolton. In spite of the obvious reasons why the United States would be interested in deposing the elected government for its abundant resources (oil), Eric digs into the deeper reasons as to why this is happening: the Bolivarian Revolution (described as an ongoing process; imperfect but successful), enacted by Hugo Chavez under his tenure as President, emboldens and empowers regional resistance to Western influence — which includes the neoliberal economic agenda and U.S. military hegemony in Latin America — allowing Leftist social movements in the region to grow and thrive, as has been the case in recent decades. The Bolivarian Revolution stands as a threat to the Monroe Doctrine, an outlook espoused within United States foreign policy toward Latin America in general, giving the United States the ideological justification to impose its will upon Latin American nations to further its own interests. Eric exposes the underlying mechanisms that have lead to the escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, the Maduro government and the Capitalist class in Venezuela, as well as between regional players (Colombia) and the Venezuelan government. Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst, writes regularly for CounterPunch, and is the host of CounterPunch Radio. Read Eric’s excellent analysis of the situation in Venezuela: http://bit.ly/2N62PO7 This is a segment of episode #174 of Last Born In The Wilderness “Revolution Interrupted: Venezuela; Belligerent America; An Unfolding Coup w/ Eric Draitser.” Listen to the full episode: http://bit.ly/LBWdraitser WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com PATREON: http://bit.ly/LBWPATREON DONATE: Paypal: http://bit.ly/LBWPAYPAL Ko-Fi: http://bit.ly/LBWKOFI DROP ME A LINE: (208) 918-2837 FOLLOW & LISTEN: SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/LBWSOUNDCLOUD iTunes: http://bit.ly/LBWITUNES Google Play: http://bit.ly/LBWGOOGLE Stitcher: http://bit.ly/LBWSTITCHER RadioPublic: http://bit.ly/LBWRADIOPUB YouTube: http://bit.ly/LBWYOUTUBE NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/LBWnewsletter SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: http://bit.ly/LBWFACEBOOK Twitter: http://bit.ly/LBWTWITTER Instagram: http://bit.ly/LBWINSTA

This week CounterPunch Radio is co-hosted by CounterPunch's Managing Editor, Joshua Frank, who turns the tables on Eric as interviewer becomes interviewee. Eric provides his analysis of the situation in Venezuela: How we got here, what's happening, and what comes next. The conversation begins with some background on Venezuela's recent history, Eric and Josh's experiences in Venezuela, and the general political and economic context for the current crisis. From there, Eric and Josh discuss some of the international angles of the story, including how Venezuela is a geopolitical battleground in the global conflict between the US and Russia (and China), and the role of oil and other natural resources. The conversation touches on a wide variety of other topics including the political culture in Venezuela, the importance of Bolivarian idealism over personality cults, and the importance of regional and international solidarity. Eric finishes this episode with an important plea to the rest of the Left in the US and beyond. More The post Eric Draitser – Episode 119 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

In this episode, I speak with independent political analyst Eric Draitser. I ask Eric expand upon his analysis of recent events in Venezuela, expressed in his piece in CounterPunch ‘Trump’s Coup in Venezuela: The Full Story,’ in which Eric lays into the recent decision by the Trump Administration to back “interim president” Juan Guaido as the rightful leader of the nation. Eric explains the celebrated successes of the ongoing Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela under the successive governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, the legitimate criticisms of the current Maduro-led government in Venezuela, the colonial legacy of the United States’ relationship with Latin America in general, and what this ongoing incursion by the United States into the Venezuelan government and economy will ultimately lead to in the future. What Eric does in this discussion is provide a much fuller and richer picture of what is currently happening in Venezuela, in light of the recent decision by the Trump Administration — under the direction of President Donald Trump, VP Mike Pence, National Security Advisor John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and “special envoy” to Venezuela Elliot Abrams, among others — to back “interim president” of Venezuela Juan Guaido as the rightful leader of the nation, a process that has been described as a “democratic and constitutional transfer of power” by Bolton.* In spite of the obvious reasons why the United States would be interested in deposing the elected government for its abundant resources (oil), Eric digs into the deeper reasons as to why this is happening: the Bolivarian Revolution (described as an ongoing process; imperfect but successful), enacted by Hugo Chavez under his tenure as President, emboldens and empowers regional resistance to Western influence — which includes the neoliberal economic agenda and U.S. military hegemony in Latin America — allowing Leftist social movements in the region to grow and thrive, as has been the case in recent decades. The Bolivarian Revolution stands as a threat to the Monroe Doctrine, an outlook espoused within United States foreign policy toward Latin America in general, giving the United States the ideological justification to impose its will upon Latin American nations to further its own interests. Eric exposes the underlying mechanisms that have led to an escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, the Maduro government and the Capitalist class in Venezuela, as well as between regional players (Colombia) and the Venezuelan government. We discuss this and more in this episode. Eric Draitser is an independent political analyst, writes regularly for CounterPunch, and is the host of CounterPunch Radio. *Source: http://bit.ly/2UX4Xud Episode Notes: - Learn more about Eric’s work at his website: http://stopimperialism.org - Read Eric’s piece ‘Trump’s Coup in Venezuela: The Full Story’ at CounterPunch: http://bit.ly/2N62PO7 - Much of Eric’s work can be found at his Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/ericdraitser - Follow Eric on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stopimperialism - The introduction includes audio from NBC News, “John Bolton On Venezuela: ‘All Options Are On The Table’”: http://bit.ly/2UX4Xud - The songs featured in this episode are “Raw Power Moves” and “Shapeshifter” by Mono/Poly from the album Cryptic. - WEBSITE: https://www.lastborninthewilderness.com - PATREON: http://bit.ly/LBWPATREON - DONATE: Paypal: http://bit.ly/LBWPAYPAL Ko-Fi: http://bit.ly/LBWKOFI - DROP ME A LINE: (208) 918-2837 - FOLLOW & LISTEN: SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/LBWSOUNDCLOUD iTunes: http://bit.ly/LBWITUNES Google Play: http://bit.ly/LBWGOOGLE Stitcher: http://bit.ly/LBWSTITCHER RadioPublic: http://bit.ly/LBWRADIOPUB YouTube: http://bit.ly/LBWYOUTUBE - NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/LBWnewsletter - SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: http://bit.ly/LBWFACEBOOK Twitter: http://bit.ly/LBWTWITTER Instagram: http://bit.ly/LBWINSTA

This week CounterPunch Radio is co-hosted by CounterPunch's Managing Editor, Joshua Frank, who turns the tables on Eric as interviewer becomes interviewee. Eric provides his analysis of the situation in Venezuela: How we got here, what's happening, and what comes next. The conversation begins with some background on Venezuela's recent history, Eric and Josh's experiences in Venezuela, and the general political and economic context for the current crisis. From there, Eric and Josh discuss some of the international angles of the story, including how Venezuela is a geopolitical battleground in the global conflict between the US and Russia (and China), and the role of oil and other natural resources. The conversation touches on a wide variety of other topics including the political culture in Venezuela, the importance of Bolivarian idealism over personality cults, and the importance of regional and international solidarity. Eric finishes this episode with an important plea to the rest of the Left in the US and beyond.

Trumpocalypse Now Interview with Eric Draitser of StopImperialism.org by Abby & Robbie Martin

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker is joined by political analyst Alexander Mercouris to discuss the strategy of the United States and Britain in Syria, Iraq and Libya. A congressional task force in the U.S. has found that the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) manipulated intelligence to paint a rosier picture of efforts to defeat Daesh. This comes as British special forces have been photographed on the ground in Syria, assisting a rebel group calling itself the New Syrian Army. Why would top level U.S. officials lie about the reality on the ground? Is Daesh actually far stronger than presented by CENTCOM?This week, tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine over Crimea as Moscow hit the reset button with Turkey. How do these developments affect the rocky relationship between NATO and Russia? Are prospects for mending differences feasible? Becker is joined by Michael Klare, professor and defense correspondent for The Nation.The Philippines and China are on course to mend their relationship. The two countries have been fiercely at odds over the South China Sea since 2012, but new Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has heralded a new day in relations. How will the United States view the thaw? Eric Draitser, political analyst and founder of StopImperialism.org, joins Becker.

On today's special episode of Loud & Clear, Brian spends the full hour looking at the state of the Democratic Party and the candidate they are preparing to coronate - Hillary Clinton.The Democratic Party begins its national convention today in Philadelphia. After a bruising primary fight, the party will attempt to unify itself for the November election. But thousands of protesters are gathering outside, expressing their outrage at the party elite who are fully at the service of Wall Street. Inside the convention, there is the prospect of a serious floor fight over the structure of the party and the way it selects its candidate.Brian is joined by Dr. Anthony Monteiro, a scholar and activist with the Black Radical Organizing Collective, Gloria La Riva, the 2016 presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Eric Draitser, political analyst and founder of StopImperialism.org.

This week Eric Draitser chats with journalist and activist Carmelo Ruiz about the situation in Puerto Rico, and why this small US colony is so relevant to contemporary issues. Eric and Carmelo begin with a discussion of Puerto Rico's debt crisis, and the policies and actions that have made it into Latin America's Greece, with specific attention paid to the role of Wall Street and neoliberal finance capital in creating the crisis. In the second half of the program, Eric and Carmelo discuss the ongoing agriculatural activism in Puerto Rico as peasants and concerned citizens join together to stop Monsanto, Bayer, and the chemical and agribusiness corporations. The conversation also touches on Bernie Sanders, the role of Puerto Rico in hosting US-backed right wing counter-revolutionaries, and the importance of understanding Puerto Rico in context of the right-wing ascendance in Latin America. Musical Interlude: The Mekons - "Last Night on Earth" More The post Carmelo Ruiz – Episode 44 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This week Eric Draitser chats with journalist and activist Carmelo Ruiz about the situation in Puerto Rico, and why this small US colony is so relevant to contemporary issues. Eric and Carmelo begin with a discussion of Puerto Rico's debt crisis, and the policies and actions that have made it into Latin America's Greece, with specific attention paid to the role of Wall Street and neoliberal finance capital in creating the crisis. In the second half of the program, Eric and Carmelo discuss the ongoing agriculatural activism in Puerto Rico as peasants and concerned citizens join together to stop Monsanto, Bayer, and the chemical and agribusiness corporations. The conversation also touches on Bernie Sanders, the role of Puerto Rico in hosting US-backed right wing counter-revolutionaries, and the importance of understanding Puerto Rico in context of the right-wing ascendance in Latin America. Musical Interlude: The Mekons - "Last Night on Earth"

This week Eric Draitser welcomes to the program Vice Presidential candidate from the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) Eugene Puryear to discuss the future of socialism in the US, the role of leftist activism at the grassroots level, and the importance of connecting issues of capitalism, imperialism, and identity. While millions still #FeelTheBern, there are many like Eugene Puryear on the streets trying to unite young people, workers, and marginalized communities for the long-term struggle that will continue well after the election is over. It's not enough to complain, we must build! Eric and Eugene explore just how that might be done. Musical Interlude: Marcel Cartier - "I'm a Socialist" More The post Eugene Puryear – Episode 39 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

This week Eric Draitser welcomes to the program Vice Presidential candidate from the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) Eugene Puryear to discuss the future of socialism in the US, the role of leftist activism at the grassroots level, and the importance of connecting issues of capitalism, imperialism, and identity. While millions still #FeelTheBern, there are many like Eugene Puryear on the streets trying to unite young people, workers, and marginalized communities for the long-term struggle that will continue well after the election is over. It's not enough to complain, we must build! Eric and Eugene explore just how that might be done. Musical Interlude: Marcel Cartier - "I'm a Socialist"

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser welcomes two more outstanding guests to the program. In the first half of the episode, Eric chats with award winning syndicated political cartoonist and author Ted Rall about the controversy surrounding his recent firing by the LA Times on bogus charges made by the LAPD. Eric and Ted discuss the circumstances of his firing, the LAPD's lies, and the stupidity and arrogance of LA Times management in siding with the cops. Eric and Ted examine the larger context of this story, including how it is an indictment of the corporate media which, once again, reveals itself as a servant of power. Ted also talks about his brand new book about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, scheduled for release in a few days. In the second part of the episode, Eric welcomes environmental journalist and regular CounterPunch contributor Robert Hunziker to the program to discuss climate change and the precarious state of our planet. Robert and Eric talk about the state of the arctic, the terrifying implications of the loss of arctic sea ice and methane release, and much more. Robert also dispells some of the myths perpetrated by the climate change skeptics, and provides his perspective on Fukushima, the global water crisis, and a number of other issues. All this and more in this wide-ranging interview. As always, intro and outro music from David Vest, with an interlude from Billy Bragg and Wilco.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser welcomes two more outstanding guests to the program. In the first half of the episode, Eric chats with award winning syndicated political cartoonist and author Ted Rall about the controversy surrounding his recent firing by the LA Times on bogus charges made by the LAPD. Eric and Ted discuss the circumstances of his firing, the LAPD's lies, and the stupidity and arrogance of LA Times management in siding with the cops. Eric and Ted examine the larger context of this story, including how it is an indictment of the corporate media which, once again, reveals itself as a servant of power. Ted also talks about his brand new book about NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, scheduled for release in a few days. In the second part of the episode, Eric welcomes environmental journalist and regular CounterPunch contributor Robert Hunziker to the program to discuss climate change and the precarious state of our planet. Robert and Eric talk about the state of the arctic, the terrifying implications of the loss of arctic sea ice and methane release, and much more. Robert also dispells some of the myths perpetrated by the climate change skeptics, and provides his perspective on Fukushima, the global water crisis, and a number of other issues. All this and more in this wide-ranging interview. As always, intro and outro music from David Vest, with an interlude from Billy Bragg and Wilco. More The post Ted Rall & Robert Hunziker – Episode 15 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate today This week, Eric Draitser chats with two brilliant guests about war and peace, imperialism, and the state of a very troubled world. First, Eric sits down with renowned author and peace activist David Swanson to discuss George Clooney, Africa, and the white man's military-industrial burden. Eric and David highlight the hypocrisy of celebrity activism, neo-colonial superiority complexes, and the unmistakable barbarism that passes for presidential leadership in the US. They also touch on the moribund anti-war movement, the rotten smell of the Democratic Party, and why we should continue to organize. The second half of the program features London-based journalist and political analyst Hafsa Kara-Mustapha talking about North Africa and some of the recent developments there. Eric and Hafsa go in depth about Algeria, its strategic and geopolitical importance, and the terrorism it has faced for more than two decades. They examine the situation now, and what it tells us about the future of the region. They also touch on the ongoing tragedy of Libya, the deceptive coverage of the situation in Tunisia, and much much more. Episode 14 of CounterPunch Radio features, as always, intro and outtro music from David Vest, and interlude music by The Mekons. More The post David Swanson & Hafsa Kara-Mustapha: Episode 14 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, Eric Draitser chats with two brilliant guests about war and peace, imperialism, and the state of a very troubled world. First, Eric sits down with renowned author and peace activist David Swanson to discuss George Clooney, Africa, and the white man's military-industrial burden. Eric and David highlight the hypocrisy of celebrity activism, neo-colonial superiority complexes, and the unmistakable barbarism that passes for presidential leadership in the US. They also touch on the moribund anti-war movement, the rotten smell of the Democratic Party, and why we should continue to organize. The second half of the program features London-based journalist and political analyst Hafsa Kara-Mustapha talking about North Africa and some of the recent developments there. Eric and Hafsa go in depth about Algeria, its strategic and geopolitical importance, and the terrorism it has faced for more than two decades. They examine the situation now, and what it tells us about the future of the region. They also touch on the ongoing tragedy of Libya, the deceptive coverage of the situation in Tunisia, and much much more. Episode 14 of CounterPunch Radio features, as always, intro and outtro music from David Vest, and interlude music by The Mekons.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with renowned Cuban-American attorney José Pertierra to discuss the latest developments in Latin America, especially the warming of relations between the US and Cuba. Pertierra draws on his decades of experience working in international cases dealing with both Cuba and Venezuela, providing insight into issues ranging from the opening of embassies in Washington and Havana, to the geopolitical imperatives driving the shift in US policy. José and Eric contrast the US attitude toward Cuba and Venezuela, and discuss the political and strategic reasons for this. They also touch on the state of the Cuban economy, the mindset of young Cubans today, the importance of Hugo Chavez and his legacy, and the role of China and other non-western countries in the region. All this and much more in Episode 13 of CounterPunch Radio featuring, as always, intro and outtro music from the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and musical interlude from Rebel Diaz. More The post José Pertierra – Episode 13 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with renowned Cuban-American attorney José Pertierra to discuss the latest developments in Latin America, especially the warming of relations between the US and Cuba. Pertierra draws on his decades of experience working in international cases dealing with both Cuba and Venezuela, providing insight into issues ranging from the opening of embassies in Washington and Havana, to the geopolitical imperatives driving the shift in US policy. José and Eric contrast the US attitude toward Cuba and Venezuela, and discuss the political and strategic reasons for this. They also touch on the state of the Cuban economy, the mindset of young Cubans today, the importance of Hugo Chavez and his legacy, and the role of China and other non-western countries in the region. All this and much more in Episode 13 of CounterPunch Radio featuring, as always, intro and outtro music from the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and musical interlude from Rebel Diaz.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser goes one on one with award winning filmmaker and journalist, the inimitable John Pilger. Eric and John discuss the role of the corporate media in manufacturing narratives, its relationship to capitalism and commodification, and the importance of independent media to pierce through the propaganda. Pilger provides his blistering critique of the especially insidious liberal media whose misinformation and disinformation is so critical to the ruling class. Eric and John touch on an array of other topics including Greece, Ukraine, and debt as a neocolonial weapon. All this and much more on a slightly abbreviated Episode 12 of CounterPunch Radio, featuring as always intro and outtro music from the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post John Pilger – Episode 12 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser goes one on one with award winning filmmaker and journalist, the inimitable John Pilger. Eric and John discuss the role of the corporate media in manufacturing narratives, its relationship to capitalism and commodification, and the importance of independent media to pierce through the propaganda. Pilger provides his blistering critique of the especially insidious liberal media whose misinformation and disinformation is so critical to the ruling class. Eric and John touch on an array of other topics including Greece, Ukraine, and debt as a neocolonial weapon. All this and much more on a slightly abbreviated Episode 12 of CounterPunch Radio, featuring as always intro and outtro music from the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser chats with two excellent guests about independent media, and the importance of critical analysis outside of the mainstream establishment. The first half of the show features a great conversation with CounterPunch Managing Editor Joshua Frank, who talks about the launch of the new and improved CounterPunch website while waxing poetic on the importance of family, from an independent media perspective, of course. Eric and Joshua examine some of the key issues on which CounterPunch stands apart from the crowd, including the left progressive paeans and campfire kumbayas for Bernie Sanders, and the state of the organized left in America. In the second half of the show Eric is joined by Mickey Huff, Director of Project Censored. Eric and Mickey discuss dominant narratives, the writing of history, and the mis-education of the educational system. They touch on everything from the Orwellian phenomenon of groupthink and its predominance in our political culture to the use of the term "conspiracy theory" as a pejorative term and a weapon of political and intellectual marginalization. All this and much more on Episode 11 of CounterPunch Radio, featuring intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by Chumbawamba.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser chats with two excellent guests about independent media, and the importance of critical analysis outside of the mainstream establishment. The first half of the show features a great conversation with CounterPunch Managing Editor Joshua Frank, who talks about the launch of the new and improved CounterPunch website while waxing poetic on the importance of family, from an independent media perspective, of course. Eric and Joshua examine some of the key issues on which CounterPunch stands apart from the crowd, including the left progressive paeans and campfire kumbayas for Bernie Sanders, and the state of the organized left in America. In the second half of the show Eric is joined by Mickey Huff, Director of Project Censored. Eric and Mickey discuss dominant narratives, the writing of history, and the mis-education of the educational system. They touch on everything from the Orwellian phenomenon of groupthink and its predominance in our political culture to the use of the term "conspiracy theory" as a pejorative term and a weapon of political and intellectual marginalization. All this and much more on Episode 11 of CounterPunch Radio, featuring intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by Chumbawamba. More The post Joshua Frank & Mickey Huff – Episode 11 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser speaks with author Ron Jacobs, whose new book Daydream Sunset: The 60s Counterculture in the 70s is available from CounterPunch. Eric and Ron discuss many of the important themes of the book, including the role of music and culture in reflecting the evolution of the counterculture, and of American culture broadly, during this period. They examine how issues of class, race, and identity took their respective places in politics and society during the 70s, as well as the role of the Vietnam War in galvanizing various forms of countercultural protest and expression. Eric and Ron also juxtapose the politics of the younger generation and that of the 60s and 70s, and how the experiences of today's youth are both related to, and distinct from, those of the counterculture of the previous generation. All this and much more in Episode 10 which also includes intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by I See Hawks in LA.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser speaks with author Ron Jacobs, whose new book Daydream Sunset: The 60s Counterculture in the 70s is available from CounterPunch. Eric and Ron discuss many of the important themes of the book, including the role of music and culture in reflecting the evolution of the counterculture, and of American culture broadly, during this period. They examine how issues of class, race, and identity took their respective places in politics and society during the 70s, as well as the role of the Vietnam War in galvanizing various forms of countercultural protest and expression. Eric and Ron also juxtapose the politics of the younger generation and that of the 60s and 70s, and how the experiences of today's youth are both related to, and distinct from, those of the counterculture of the previous generation. All this and much more in Episode 10 which also includes intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by I See Hawks in LA. More The post Ron Jacobs – Episode 10 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with two important guests to discuss all things Syria. The first part of the show is an in depth discussion with Beirut-based political analyst and commentator Sharmine Narwani. Eric and Sharmine examine the latest developments in the war in Syria with particular attention to the battles along the Syria-Lebanon border, as well as the role of Turkey and other regional players. They also touch on the ongoing conflict in Iraq and the way in which the US continues to play a double-game when it comes to Baghdad and the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). The second part of the show features an oddly congested Eric Draitser in conversation with Syrian-Australian political activist Reme Sakr speaking from Syria. Sakr provides her insight into the collective psyche and daily life of ordinary Syrians after more than four years of war. She explains some of the hardships they face, as well as the nuances of how Syrians actually view this conflict, their country, and its institutions. Don't miss this important episode, which also include intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by The Mekons. More The post Sharmine Narwani & Reme Sakr – Ep. 9 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with two important guests to discuss all things Syria. The first part of the show is an in depth discussion with Beirut-based political analyst and commentator Sharmine Narwani. Eric and Sharmine examine the latest developments in the war in Syria with particular attention to the battles along the Syria-Lebanon border, as well as the role of Turkey and other regional players. They also touch on the ongoing conflict in Iraq and the way in which the US continues to play a double-game when it comes to Baghdad and the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). The second part of the show features an oddly congested Eric Draitser in conversation with Syrian-Australian political activist Reme Sakr speaking from Syria. Sakr provides her insight into the collective psyche and daily life of ordinary Syrians after more than four years of war. She explains some of the hardships they face, as well as the nuances of how Syrians actually view this conflict, their country, and its institutions. Don't miss this important episode, which also include intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by The Mekons.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser speaks with Glen Ford, Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report about everything from the #BlackLivesMatter Movement to the importance of revolutionary consciousness and organizing. Eric and Glen discuss the meaning of the slogan "No Justice, No Peace" and the implications of such a statement in terms of political action. They dissect some of the burning questions that the movement must answer, and draw on historical context in order to frame their analysis. The conversation also touches on the pernicious role of what Black Agenda Report has termed "The Black Mis-Leadership Class," and the Democratic Party as a whole, in diverting black politics into the political establishment, thereby preventing any structural or substantive change. All this and more on Episode 8 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Glen Ford – Episode 8 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser speaks with Glen Ford, Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report about everything from the #BlackLivesMatter Movement to the importance of revolutionary consciousness and organizing. Eric and Glen discuss the meaning of the slogan "No Justice, No Peace" and the implications of such a statement in terms of political action. They dissect some of the burning questions that the movement must answer, and draw on historical context in order to frame their analysis. The conversation also touches on the pernicious role of what Black Agenda Report has termed "The Black Mis-Leadership Class," and the Democratic Party as a whole, in diverting black politics into the political establishment, thereby preventing any structural or substantive change. All this and more on Episode 8 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with journalist and author Pepe Escobar to talk geopolitics and the emerging conflicts of the 21st Century. Eric and Pepe discuss the much publicized tensions between the US and China in the South China Sea, examining some of the principal motivations of China and its neighbors and competitors. They go in depth about the Chinese New Silk Roads strategy and what it means for political and economic development and integration in Eurasia. Eric and Pepe also explore the vast implications of the Chinese and Russian moves, and the ways in which the West is attempting to counter some of these developments, including Washington's corporate-sponsored power grabs of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). All this and much much more on Episode 7 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Pepe Escobar – Episode 7 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with journalist and author Pepe Escobar to talk geopolitics and the emerging conflicts of the 21st Century. Eric and Pepe discuss the much publicized tensions between the US and China in the South China Sea, examining some of the principal motivations of China and its neighbors and competitors. They go in depth about the Chinese New Silk Roads strategy and what it means for political and economic development and integration in Eurasia. Eric and Pepe also explore the vast implications of the Chinese and Russian moves, and the ways in which the West is attempting to counter some of these developments, including Washington's corporate-sponsored power grabs of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). All this and much much more on Episode 7 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

Mickey Huff and Peter Phillips present a theme on the Risks of Global War— US State Department Propaganda and the US/NATO agenda: They interview Author/activist Steve Lendman about his book Flashpoints in Ukraine and how the US Drive for Hegemony risks World Wart III.  Additionally, they talk with Eric Draitser regarding the how the civil war in Syria is now turning into a much larger regional war.  Eric Draitser teaches at Hunter College, and is the founder of www.stopimperialism.org. The post Project Censored – June 12, 2015 appeared first on KPFA.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser catches up with renowned peace activist Kathy Kelly to talk about civil disobedience, the reality of the prison-industrial complex, and Kathy's experiences in Afghanistan. The conversation touches many of the most pressing issues of war and peace in the 21st Century, including the insidious and indescribably brutal nature of drone warfare, and the impact of nearly 15 years of war and occupation on the young people of Afghanistan. Kathy paints a vivid picture for listeners of both utter despair and incredible resilience, providing a window into both the humanity and stark reality of life in that war torn country. Eric and Kathy also break down the moribund anti-war movement in the US while discussing ways that young people can still get involved in peace work. All this and more on Episode 6 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser catches up with renowned peace activist Kathy Kelly to talk about civil disobedience, the reality of the prison-industrial complex, and Kathy's experiences in Afghanistan. The conversation touches many of the most pressing issues of war and peace in the 21st Century, including the insidious and indescribably brutal nature of drone warfare, and the impact of nearly 15 years of war and occupation on the young people of Afghanistan. Kathy paints a vivid picture for listeners of both utter despair and incredible resilience, providing a window into both the humanity and stark reality of life in that war torn country. Eric and Kathy also break down the moribund anti-war movement in the US while discussing ways that young people can still get involved in peace work. All this and more on Episode 6 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Kathy Kelly – Episode 6 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate today In Episode 5 of CounterPunch Radio, host Eric Draitser sits down with author and political analyst Paul Street to discuss a wide range of issues related to US politics and the precarious state of the "liberal Left." Paul provides his perspective on what it means to be a liberal in America today, and how that is directly related to a willingness to accept serial betrayal of those one supports. Eric and Paul examine the recent history of liberal Democrats, including the treachery and subservience of Bill Clinton to Wall St., and what that tells us about Hillary's campaign. They also discuss the upcoming election, the role of Bernie Sanders, and the illusory nature of his campaign. These and other critical issues are examined in Ep. 5 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Paul Street – Episode 5 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayIn Episode 5 of CounterPunch Radio, host Eric Draitser sits down with author and political analyst Paul Street to discuss a wide range of issues related to US politics and the precarious state of the "liberal Left." Paul provides his perspective on what it means to be a liberal in America today, and how that is directly related to a willingness to accept serial betrayal of those one supports. Eric and Paul examine the recent history of liberal Democrats, including the treachery and subservience of Bill Clinton to Wall St., and what that tells us about Hillary's campaign. They also discuss the upcoming election, the role of Bernie Sanders, and the illusory nature of his campaign. These and other critical issues are examined in Ep. 5 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate today In Episode 4 of CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser has an in depth conversation with analyst and commentator Yvette Carnell, founder of the popular website BreakingBrown.com. Yvette discusses her recent article in CounterPunch entitled "The White Terrorists: Lynching in America," which attempts to pull back the curtain on some of the hidden history of lynching and its social, cultural, and economic underpinnings. Eric and Yvette discuss the "pathologizing" of blackness in America and the impact that it has had on both perceptions of Black people, and their own perceptions of themselves. Additionally, they attempt to draw out the connection between the lynchings of the past and the violence and police murders of today, with particular attention to the socio-cultural context within which these should be examined. All this and more on Ep. 4 of CouterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Yvette Carnell – Episode 4 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayIn Episode 4 of CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser has an in depth conversation with analyst and commentator Yvette Carnell, founder of the popular website BreakingBrown.com. Yvette discusses her recent article in CounterPunch entitled "The White Terrorists: Lynching in America," which attempts to pull back the curtain on some of the hidden history of lynching and its social, cultural, and economic underpinnings. Eric and Yvette discuss the "pathologizing" of blackness in America and the impact that it has had on both perceptions of Black people, and their own perceptions of themselves. Additionally, they attempt to draw out the connection between the lynchings of the past and the violence and police murders of today, with particular attention to the socio-cultural context within which these should be examined. All this and more on Ep. 4 of CouterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate today In Episode 3 of CounterPunch Radio, host Eric Draitser sits down with human rights activist and political analyst Ajamu Baraka to discuss his article on Israeli politics in the latest print issue of CounterPunch Magazine, as well as a host of other issues. Eric and Ajamu examine the racist rhetoric at the heart of President Netanyahu's recent election victory, and the way in which the political language of Israel has shifted in recent times. Within the context of recent demonstrations by Ethiopian Jews, Eric and Ajamu explore the politics of identity in Israel, and how supremacist ideology plays a major factor Israel's self-image and domestic policies, while connecting the issue to the ongoing struggle against racism in America. All this and much more in Episode 3 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Ajamu Baraka – Episode 3 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayIn Episode 3 of CounterPunch Radio, host Eric Draitser sits down with human rights activist and political analyst Ajamu Baraka to discuss his article on Israeli politics in the latest print issue of CounterPunch Magazine, as well as a host of other issues. Eric and Ajamu examine the racist rhetoric at the heart of President Netanyahu's recent election victory, and the way in which the political language of Israel has shifted in recent times. Within the context of recent demonstrations by Ethiopian Jews, Eric and Ajamu explore the politics of identity in Israel, and how supremacist ideology plays a major factor Israel's self-image and domestic policies, while connecting the issue to the ongoing struggle against racism in America. All this and much more in Episode 3 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate today In this inaugural episode of CounterPunch Radio, host Eric Draitser sits down with CP columnist Mike Whitney for Part 1 of a two part discussion on a host of political and economic issues. They touch on Mike's recent article in CounterPunch magazine dealing with the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and the economic and political context within which they must be understood. Draitser and Whitney move on to discuss the economic situation in Ukraine, the war in the east of the country, and the West's motives. Finally, they examine the global strategic situation and the shifting geopolitical calculus with regard to Iran, Russia, and China, and the U.S. countermoves. All this and much more in Episode 1 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest. More The post Mike Whitney – Episode 1 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayIn this inaugural episode of CounterPunch Radio, host Eric Draitser sits down with CP columnist Mike Whitney for Part 1 of a two part discussion on a host of political and economic issues. They touch on Mike's recent article in CounterPunch magazine dealing with the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and the economic and political context within which they must be understood. Draitser and Whitney move on to discuss the economic situation in Ukraine, the war in the east of the country, and the West's motives. Finally, they examine the global strategic situation and the shifting geopolitical calculus with regard to Iran, Russia, and China, and the U.S. countermoves. All this and much more in Episode 1 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest.

support this podcast, donate todayIn Episode 2 of CounterPunch Radio, Eric Draitser and Mike Whitney continue their discussion on a wide range of political and geopolitical issues. They examine the emergence of ISIS and the motivations behind some of its direct and indirect backers, and its impact on events in the region. Eric and Mike provide important context for understanding the true motivations behind the war on Syria, the role of pipelines in shaping the geopolitical developments throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, and how Turkey fits into imperial strategy. All this and much more in Episode 2 of CounterPunch Radio. Intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie,David Vest.

This week on SOTT Talk Radio we spoke with Eric Draitser, an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City and the founder of StopImperialism.org. Draitser is a regular contributor to Russia Today, Counterpunch, the Center for Research on Globalization, New Eastern Outlook, Press TV, and many other news outlets. Draitser also hosts 'The Reality Principle' podcasts, available here. Chinese accused of cyber-espionage, 'pro-Russian terrorists' running rampant in Eastern Ukraine,...

This week on SOTT Talk Radio we spoke with Eric Draitser, an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City and the founder of StopImperialism.org. Draitser is a regular contributor to Russia Today, Counterpunch, the Center for Research on Globalization, New Eastern Outlook, Press TV, and many other news outlets. Draitser also hosts 'The Reality Principle' podcasts, available here. Chinese accused of cyber-espionage, 'pro-Russian terrorists' running rampant in Eastern Ukraine,...

This week on SOTT Talk Radio we spoke with Eric Draitser, an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City and the founder of StopImperialism.org. Draitser is a regular contributor to Russia Today, Counterpunch, the Center for Research on Globalization, New Eastern Outlook, Press TV, and many other news outlets. Draitser also hosts 'The Reality Principle' podcasts, available here. Chinese accused of cyber-espionage, 'pro-Russian terrorists' running rampant in Eastern Ukraine,...

Episode 24 with Eric Draitser, geopolitical analyst & founder of StopImperialism.org. We talk about geopolitics, history, education, podcasts, philosophy, libertarianism & much more.

As the world focuses its attention on the Olympic Games in Sochi and controversies around the Russian government's apparent hostility toward gay and lesbian rights, a far-reaching drama is playing out in the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine. The Eastern European country, independent since the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991, has been gripped by a series of protests that may very well determine its long-term political fate. The Euromaidan was apparently named after the Independence Square in Kiev, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, where a major protest was held on the evening of November 21 of last year. The gathering of 1,000 to 2,000 people was staged in opposition to the abandonment by the Yanukovych government of an Association Agreement with the European Union.[2] Further protests ensued until a particularly violent crackdown by Ukrainian police on November 30. [3] From that point forward, demonstrations intensified and grew larger in number. The protests seemed to take a much more violent turn by mid-January after the Ukrainian Parliament pushed through a sweeping 100 page anti-protest law. [4] The law essentially banned the installation of tents, stages or amplifiers in public places, all critical components of the Euromaidan up to that point. Two and a half months later, the law has been repealed, Yanukovych's Cabinet has been dissolved, and detained protesters granted amnesty on condition of an end to the occupations of government buildings. [5] Nevertheless, the protests continue and demands to end “government corruption” and the resignation of the Russian President remain unrelenting. Complicating the situation is the role of militant fascist groups which appear to be influencing the protest movement, and are reminiscent of Hitler's Brown Shirts and Mussolini's Black Shirts from an earlier era. Foreign governments appear to be influencing the situation as well. Russian President Vladmir Putin's offer of substantial reductions in the cost of Russian natural gas and their willingness to purchase $15 billion in Ukrainian Government Eurobonds could be read as a bribe to keep Ukraine under Russian influence. [6] Meanwhile, Western governments, including those of the US and Canada, are clearly expressing support for government opposition demonstrators. Following harsh crackdowns before and during the G20 protests in 2010, it is hard to imagine the Canadian government behaving much differently if faced by similar demonstrations which have included the occupation of government buildings and the use of molotov cocktails being hurled at police. This week's Global Research News Hour probes some of the less talked about aspects of the Euromaidan with three analysts. University of Winnipeg Associate Professor of History Andriy Zayarnyuk is a Ukrainian national and is a specialist in the field of the Social and Cultural History of 19th and 20th Century Eastern Europe, including the Ukraine and the Soviet Union. He is also the author of the recently released book, Framing the Ukrainian Peasantry in Habsburg Galicia, 1846-1914. He helps provide an overview of the political and cultural background of the current struggle. Eric Draitser is a New York-based geo-political analyst with StopImperialism.org. He discusses the right-wing fascist groups involved with the Euromaidan protests and threats they may pose over and above the opposition movement itself. Finally, Rick Rozoff of Stop NATO returns to provide a thorough examination of the geo-political and geo-strategic context in which the popular uprising is taking place.

By Eric Draitser Global Research, July 09, 2013 This week’s resignation of Ghassan Hitto, the so-called “Prime Minister in waiting” of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, coupled with the July 6th election of Ahmed Assi al-Jarba to head the umbrella coalition of US-supported proxy groups attempting to topple the Assad government, has revealed further cracks in the edifice of the imperialist assault on Syria. Qatar’s Man in the Middle Ghassan Hitto, the Syrian expatriate and technocrat from Texas, was seen by most informed observers as the darling of the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar. As noted by AFP shortly after Hitto’s election: Some coalition members described Hitto as a consensus candidate pleasing both the opposition’s Islamist and liberal factions. But some of the 70-odd Coalition members withdrew from the consultations before the vote could take place, accusing opposition heavyweight Muslim Brotherhood of imposing Hitto as a candidate. Indeed, the imposition of Hitto as the political face of the foreign-backed opposition was seen by many inside the opposition and around the world as a power-play by Qatar to control the direction of the conflict in Syria and establish Doha as the real center of power in a post-Assad Syria. This connection between Hitto, the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar was the source of much tension within the opposition. The NY Times reported that: [Hitto] faced several challenges: he was seen by some rebels and activists as out of touch with the country, and some members of the often-squabbling coalition complained that he was a favorite of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and of its main foreign backer Qatar. Many in the opposition say Qatar wields too much influence in the movement. What became clear during the course of Hitto’s short tenure as the public face of the foreign-backed opposition was that he was less a political leader than a proxy of Qatar and the United States. This despite what can only be called competition between its allies in Doha and Riyadh who at times collaborate and at other times compete for power and influence among the extremist jihadi elements throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Essentially then, Hitto must be understood as a placeholder, a man whose responsibility was not to lead, but simply to act as a foothold for the al-Thani regime and the Muslim Brotherhood within the leadership of the opposition. The goal was of course to have Hitto in place for the potential fall of Assad, so that Qatar could immediately secure its control over the country in a post-Assad scenario. Saudis Reclaiming Dominant Role? Hitto’s resignation places even more significance on last week’s election of Ahmed Assi al-Jarba as head of the Syrian Opposition Coalition. Whereas Hitto was understood to be a proxy of Qatar, Jarba can be correctly characterized as a proxy of Saudi Arabia. As McClatchy News explains: Jarba is a chief of the Shammar tribe, one of the Arab world’s most powerful clans with members stretching from southern Turkey to Saudi Arabia…He was jailed early in the revolt against Assad…After being released from prison in August 2012, he fled to Saudi Arabia where his tribal connections put him into close touch with senior members of the Saudi intelligence services. It should be noted that the innocuous-sounding phrase “close touch with senior members of Saudi intelligence” is a euphemism for Saudi agent, which is precisely what Jarba is. Note the fact that, like Hitto, Jarba has already stated publicly his opposition to peace talks with the Assad government, thereby perpetuating the cycle of violence that benefits Riyadh and Doha and costs more innocent Syrians their lives. Jarba has said that “Geneva in these circumstances is impossible.” However, one must consider precisely which “circumstances” he was referring to. Keen political observers who have been following events in Syria for some time understand the “circumstances” to be the continued military defeats of the foreign-backed rebels and jihadis by the forces of the Assad government. Jarba and his Saudi handlers understand quite clearly that they must first achieve substantive military victories on the ground before they can even pay lip service to peace talks It is precisely this desperate need for tactical victories by the rebels that has driven Saudi Arabia to become even more involved in fomenting this war. Using Jarba as their proxy, the Saudis have attempted to launch a new and perhaps even deadlier phase of the war against Syria. In his first two days as head of the coalition, Jarba has already announced that the rebels will soon receive “a new shipment of sophisticated weapons from Saudi Arabia” as well as proposing a truce during Ramadan. However, these announcements should be interpreted as cynical ploys designed to buy time for Saudi arms to reach their destination and for the rebels to train in their use. Jarba said as much when he proclaimed to Reuters, “I will not rest until I procure the advanced weapons needed to hit back at Assad and his allies. I give myself one month to achieve what I am intent to do.” So, while proposing a one-month truce under the cover of religious piety in the observance of Ramadan, Jarba gives himself exactly that same one month window to procure advanced weapons. The hypocrisy and duplicity needs no further explanation. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a complicated relationship, at times friendly and at other times acrimonious. Throughout the course of the destabilization and subversion of Syria, the two countries have collaborated in the funding, arming, and importation of jihadi elements from throughout the Muslim world. They have both been linked to intelligence agencies of the imperial Western powers while maintaining close contact with terror networks foreign and domestic. As such, both countries have played the indispensable role of intermediary between these disparate forces. However, now that the threat to their terrorist proxies in Syria is an existential one, and Assad victories become ever more decisive, it seems the bond between the monarchies is fraying. The recent changes in the political leadership of the so-called opposition merely reflect this. Eric Draitser is the founder of StopImperialism.com. He is an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City. You can email him at ericdraitser@gmail.com. Follow Us