Jul 30, 2021
On COI #142, Kyle Anzalone
breaks down Biden’s Iran policy. Trump took a stark turn from Obama
when it came to Tehran. Rather than looking to build on the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Trump tore the deal to shreds
and embarked on a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign. With the
destruction of the deal, US-Iran hostilities nearly erupted into a
shooting war.
Biden entered office on vows to “restore
normalcy” with Iran and significantly reduce tensions. Iran simply
wanted to return to 2016, when Biden was Obama’s vice president.
However, rather than agreeing to revive a deal he previously
endorsed, Biden demanded additional concessions, though Iran
predictably held firm in response.
Months passed by as the US took other aggressive actions, with Biden holding provocative war games and sending ships and planes to Iran's doorstep. Biden only increased the sanctions and sold pirated Iranian oil, while the US sat idly by as its Middle East accomplice, Tel Aviv, sabotaged Iranian tanker ships and nuclear facilities.
Now, a hardliner has been
elected as Iran’s president and the US is indicating it will not
budge further, retaining most Trump-era sanctions. The nuclear deal
appears to be dead, and even if it is saved, Iran’s hardliners will
have struck a victory regardless.
Kyle
discusses the US war in Afghanistan as CENTCOM ramps up airstrikes
on the Taliban. Gen. McKenize refused to tell the American people
if the bombs would stop falling after Biden’s declared withdrawal
deadline at the end of August. Even as the US continues to strike
Taliban targets, Secretary of State Antony Blinken lectured the
militant group that there is “no military solution” to the
conflict.
Biden and the Iraqi prime minister announced a change to the mission of US troops in Iraq. According to the agreement, American troops will remain in Iraq, but shift to a training only role by the end of the year. Some Shia figures in Iraq welcomed the agreement, however, rockets landed in Iraq’s Green Zone in the days after it was signed.
While Biden has brought some troops
home from Afghanistan, and promised a mission change in Iraq, he
plans to keep all 900 troops deployed to the occupation of
northeastern Syria. The Biden administration also announces new
sanctions against and an opposition rebel group.
Kyle
also updates Israel’s war against Ben and Jerry’s. Tel Aviv has now
launched its own “maximum pressure” campaign on the ice cream giant
after it said it would halt sales in the occupied West Bank after
2022. The company's decision was backed by its founders and
namesakes.
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