Fault Lines
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357. Episode 357: Iraq - Withdrawal Dejavu?
08:19||Ep. 357Today, Morgan, Jamil, Les, and Jess discuss reports that the Biden administration and the Government of Iraq have reached an understanding on plans for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq. The leaks suggest that we would see hundreds depart by September 2025, with the remaining departing by the end of 2026.Is this withdrawal plan a sound foreign policy decision or an appeal to domestic politics? What are the regional implications of this potential withdrawal amidst the war against Hamas in Gaza and the looming threat of Iran? How will our allies and adversaries respond to this withdrawal?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/us-iraq-deal-would-see-hundreds-troops-withdraw-first-year-sources-say-2024-09-06/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/21/biden-iraq-isis-war-end-danger-president/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @morganlroachLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/2gVD9cvbtXs356. Episode 356: Africa goes to Beijing - What Did We Learn?
11:40||Ep. 356Today, Les, Jess, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which is held every three years, this time in Beijing. All African nations, except the Kingdom of Eswatini due to its recognition of Taiwan, participated in the forum. China is the African continent’s biggest trading partner and arms supplier. How does the United States’ and China’s messaging impact the effectiveness of relations with Africa? How can the United States improve its engagement with Africa? How do China’s exploitive loan program and purchase of mainly commodities impact its relations with African nations?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/04/world/asia/china-africa-summit.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb&ngrp=mnn&pvid=F23603F0-AF7C-46B3-BAB5-2379E201F463 https://www.reuters.com/world/china-deepen-industrial-agricultural-trade-investment-ties-with-africa-2024-09-05/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx6d654556o https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/china/china-africa-summit-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-africa-summit-us-xi-jinping-rcna169673 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3277371/china-vows-work-africa-nuclear-tech-satellites-and-space Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/JKD3atG4XpY355. Episode 355: All is Not Quiet on the Eastern Front
09:28||Ep. 355Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Morgan discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, from Ukrainian forces going on the offensive in Russia and capturing 450+ square miles of Russian territory to the recent crash of a Western-provided F-16 jet and Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Mongolia, where he was not arrested despite his outstanding ICC arrest warrant.How does Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive impact the wider war? What are the implications of Mongolia failing to uphold its ICC obligations? How might the F-16’s recent crash impact future aid efforts?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/03/world/ukraine-russia-missile-strike-poltavahttps://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-russia-arrest-icc-member-mongolia-prosecution-eu-ukraine/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/31/world/europe/ukraine-f16-pilot-crash.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-territory-seized-putin-kursk-rcna169280 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@morganlroach@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/CV0JG1wuFuM354. Episode 354: Ballot Boxes from Paris to Tehran
11:14||Ep. 354Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss two pivotal elections - the French Parliamentary and the Iranian Presidential Election. French President Emmanuel Macron, after his party was trounced in the European Parliamentary elections, called for a snap election. In which after the first round of voting on Sunday saw Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally party take first place with all eyes on the run-off on Sunday, July 9th. In Iran, elections were held in the wake of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi. After the first round of voting, two candidates remain for the Presidency - with ostensible “reformer” Masoud Pezeshkian leading over Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator for Iran who is viewed as the more hawkish of the two, and with another round of voting to follow. How does the French election impact support for Ukraine and the wider EU? What are the implications of Iranian elections on regional stability? How should the next President prepare for the outcome of these elections?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-macron-193233ade08821a71731980d8a17eb4a https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-macron-f07061a929ed8eaad0e714e948159cab https://www.politico.eu/article/france-legislative-election-marine-le-pen-emmanuel-macron-national-rally-jordan-bardella/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-presidential-election-pakeshkian-jalili/ https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/06/29/irans-supreme-leader-is-terrified-of-people-power https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/30/world/middleeast/iran-election-president-voters.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jafferLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/NicQDXSPF_M353. Episode 353: Kenya - is the Beacon of Stability Flickering?
09:51||Ep. 353Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Matt discuss the recent violent protests in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi over a tax bill that would increase taxes on bread, fuel, and other necessities, which was aimed at alleviating the country’s massive debt burden. Protestors stormed the nation’s parliament building, setting parts ablaze, and clashes with police and military forces have left more than 300 injured and 22 dead. Kenyan President William Ruto has now abandoned the bill but vows to quash the continuing unrest “at whatever cost.” With Kenya being recently announced as a U.S. major Non-NATO ally, how do these protests impact U.S.-Kenyan relations? What are the implications of these protests on the stability of the region and our ongoing counter-terrorism efforts? What does this unrest mean for the recently deployed Kenyan police mission to violence-stricken Haiti?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gg30gm0x2o https://apnews.com/article/kenya-finance-bill-taxes-protests-396382bdac0fc18dfec7cd3003ece35b https://apnews.com/article/kenya-protests-finance-bill-33a20092285f1d663264f7b0d513e1da https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/africa/kenya-protests-tax-parliament.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/27/world/africa/kenya-protests-taxes-president-ruto.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc @WMattHaydenLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/RzPb1EQY27w352. Episode 352: Julian Assange - Justice Served?
13:12||Ep. 352Today, Les, Jess, Bishop, and Amy discuss Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's plea deal with the Department of Justice in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of espionage, in exchange for a sentence of five years in prison, which - due to time served in the U.K. - means he is a free man. Assange also refused to set foot on the mainland United States, appearing instead in Saipan (an American territory). Is this plea deal justice served? How does Assange’s case impact future accountability for classified leaks? Should Americans who are concerned about free speech be focusing on Assange or the imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.wsj.com/politics/julian-assange-plea-deal-c392069c https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/25/julian-assange-plea-deal-updates/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/us/politics/assange-plea-deal-press-freedom.html https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/24/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-will-plead-guilty-deal-us-and-be-freed-prison.html https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/06/julian-assange-plea-deal-pointless-prosecution/678787/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@BishopGarrison@NotTVJessJones@amykmitchellLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/eld5_Exe9Pg351. Episode 351: Houthis and Hezbollah – Ongoing Proxy Pressure
07:18||Ep. 351Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss two ongoing stories – increased border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which have raised fears in the region that the escalating tensions could turn into all-out war, as well as the Houthis ongoing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. Should Israel and the United States be worried about escalation with Hezbollah? How would the group rate the Biden Administration’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East? Has the U.S. effectively responded to the Houthi threat in the Red Sea?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/23/israel-iron-dome-hezbollah-war-lebanon https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4735840-israeli-defense-minister-gallant-us/ https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-iraq-syria-hezbollah-fighters-iran-1e3359917f252862f4ed3d4b3df1d43e https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-israel-hamas-war-3c1756a60efb061960b6eda1bc580834 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ship-attack-houthi-red-sea-uss-eisenhower-rcna158406 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/jI9l_svw32g350. Episode 350: The Axis of Upheaval Deepens
10:05||Ep. 350Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to North Korea where he met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, the first time President Putin has been to North Korea in over 20 years. At the end of the visit, Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense agreement marking the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.What does this agreement mean for possible technology sharing between Russia and North Korea? How does this agreement impact regional security on the Korean peninsula? Will this agreement dampen Russia and China’s no-limits partnership?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/world/asia/china-russia-north-korea.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/20/russia-china-iran-north-korea-alignment/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-putin-pyongyang-axis-means-a95799c9?st=4b5epti79ncjynr&reflink=article_whatsapp_share https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-jong-un-putin-military-assistance-war-d9bb8aee7eb1a692b932337578fb3e30 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/56HlPDDyYDc349. Episode 349: All Aboard the Ukrainian Peace Train?
08:34||Ep. 349Today, Jess, Les, and Amy discuss the two-day peace summit in Switzerland dedicated to forging an end to the war in Ukraine with over 90 countries attending, including Vice President Kamala Harris on behalf of the U.S. The summit concluded with a communique reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, among other things. Notably absent from the summit were Russia and China. Of those who did attend, several countries including India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates did not sign the communique.Without Russia’s participation, does this summit mean anything? Are there implications of countries not re-affirming core principles, like sovereignty, for the international system? What does this summit and its communique mean for further aid to Ukraine?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/16/europe/ukraine-peace-summit-switzerland-intl/index.html https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-switzerland-war-conference-burgenstock-568cafee5fbe9c3b19b79b041583a5d6 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/swiss-conference-ukraine-rcna157400 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@amykmitchell@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Afe172_1h90
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