Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

Charlotte Dennett, journalist, lawyer, and author of "Follow the Pipelines," discusses her father's mysterious death and its relation to oil politics in the Middle East. She delves into the Great Game for Oil, examining Syria's pivotal role in geopolitics and foreign interventions. The conversation uncovers the historical dynamics of espionage and conflicting interests that continue to shape modern conflicts. Dennett critiques mainstream narratives and explores the human toll of geopolitical ambitions, urging a deeper understanding of these complex connections.

Graham E. Fuller, former vice chair of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA, shares his expertise on the aftermath of Assad's regime in Syria, particularly with the rise of HTS led by Abu Muhammad al-Jalani. He critiques media portrayals of political Islam, advocating for nuanced understanding. The conversation dives into the geopolitical intricacies involving the U.S., Turkey, and Israel, revealing how conflicts are often driven by geopolitical motivations rather than purely religious factors. Fuller emphasizes the need for careful diplomacy amid shifting global power dynamics.

Ambassador Patrick Theros, a former U.S. envoy to Qatar, critiques the Democrats' failures in the 2024 elections, emphasizing the need for genuine voter engagement over consultant reliance. He and Dave DeCamp discuss Trump's controversial economic policies, including mass deportations and tariffs, which may conflict with one another. The duo delves into Syria's chaotic governance, the implications of HTS's ties to Al-Qaeda, and the geopolitical landscape shaped by U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel and Iran.

Annelle Sheline, a former State Department official and expert on Middle Eastern politics, provides deep insights into the fall of Bashar al-Assad and its implications. She critiques U.S. foreign policy in the region, particularly regarding Israel's actions in Gaza and the complexities of the Syrian conflict. She discusses the rise of extremist groups, perceptions of international law, and shifts in alliances following the Abraham Accords. The conversation raises concerns about the future of Palestinian rights and the broader geopolitical dynamics involving Turkey and Iran.

Wahid Azal, an independent scholar and political commentator known for his insights on Middle Eastern geopolitics, dives deep into the potential fallout from the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. He discusses how this shift could signify the decline of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Axis of Resistance. Azal critiques the roles of Syrian rebel groups and Turkey, touches on the implications of the Abraham Accords, and unpacks geopolitical misconceptions affecting the region. His passionate advocacy for genuine anti-war activism adds a thoughtful layer to the conversation.

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews On this edition of Parallax Views, we continue our coverage of Syria and the toppling of the Assad regime. Time the Quincy Institute's Steven N. Simon, who covered Syria on the NSC for Presidents Clinton and Obama, discusses the winners and losers in lieu of Assad's overthrow. The big winner according to Steven Simon? Israel. And the big losers? Russia and Iran. We'll also discuss the Syrian rebels who were pivotal in the events that have transpired, specifically the Islamist HTS led by Muhammad al-Joulani. Additionally, Steven will give his thoughts on both the Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump's response to this moment that Steven calls "a profound shift in the regional strategic order" for the Middle East. And, of course, we will be discussing such topics as Israel's deployment of troops in the Golan Heights, Erdogan's Turkey and the situation of the Kurds in northern Syria, and much, much more.

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Recording Date: 12-08-24 On this edition of Parallax Views, Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria as the country's rebels have taken over the capital, Damascus. Assad has been President of Syria since 2000. His toppling at the hands of Syrian rebels, most notably Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, represents a historic moment both for Syria, which has been ravaged by a civil war since March 2011, and the wider Middle East. What does this mean for all the various players in the region such as Iran, Turkey, the U.S., Russia, the Kurds, Islamic State, and, perhaps most importantly, Syria itself? In order to answer some of these questions, journalist, scholar, and frequent Parallax Views guest James M. Dorsey returned to the program to unpack this historic moment. We'll discuss the potential scenarios for Syria's future, the question of HTS and its relationship to ultra-conservative Sunni Islam, jihadism, the winners and losers in this moment of Syria's history, the Syrian Civil War, Obama's record in Syria, U.S. President-elect Trump's comments that the U.S. should not get involved in Syria going forward, and much, much more!

In this discussion, journalist Marlon Ettinger, known for his insights on French politics, and Olly Haynes, co-host of the FLAP24 podcast, analyze the recent fallout from a no-confidence vote that collapsed the French government. They delve into President Macron's blame on a 'coalition of the irresponsible,' the implications of austerity measures, and the rise of Marine Le Pen's National Rally. The conversation also critiques Macron’s authoritarian leadership style and examines public sentiment amid increasing political instability. It's a riveting exploration of contemporary France.

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Recording Date: 11-25-24 On this edition of Parallax Views, author and investigative journalist Nina Burleigh returns to discuss a potpourri of topics related to upcoming 2nd Trump Presidency after the 2024 election defeat of Kamala Harris. Nina is currently a contributing editor and writer at The New Republic and has authored such books as Virus: Vaccinations, the CDC, and the Hijacking of America's Response to the Pandemic, Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women, and, most recently, her first novel, Zero Visibility Possible. The conversation initially came about due to Nina's New Republic piece, "Trump 2.0: Here Comes the Night". We'll discuss what she expects out of Trump's second Presidency as well as some recent pieces from her Substack blog American Freakshow, which chronicles the carnival-esque grotesquerie and excess of the 21st century GOP. Additionally, Nina will preview her new novel, the aforementioned Zero Visibility Possible, which deals with the madness of America in an age of fake news, mass violence, disinformation, and the breakdown of consensus reality. In terms of Nina's American Freakshow blog we'll discuss her articles "Predators’ Ball", about the creeps who Trump have surrounded himself around (with a particular focus in this conversation on Trump's Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth), and "God and Guns in Pennsylvania", in which Nina goes over her experiences attending a Pennsylvania MAGA rally. Interestingly, said rally has ties to Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the Moonies and one of its key speakers was Sebastian Gorka, who is set to play a role in the Trump administration as counter-terrorism chief. In this regard we'll delve into the Moonie off-shot group AR-15 and look at Sebastian Gorka penchant for wearing symbols related to Hungarian fascism. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views!

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Chip Gibbons Interview Recorded 11/25; Anatol Lieven Interview Recorded 11/26 On this edition of Parallax Views, in the first half of the program, Chip Gibbons, Policy Director of Defending Rights and Dissent, joins the program to discuss H.R. 9495 or the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act and its passage in the Congress' U.S. House of Representatives. The bill has been criticized on the grounds that it will trample on free speech, specifically in regard to pro-Palestinian protests. According to Defending Rights and Dissent, "This bill allows the Secretary of the Treasury to unilaterally strip tax-exempt status from nonprofits deemed 'terrorist supporting' without meaningful due process." Find out more about the bill and why Defending Rights and Dissent argues the bill is neo-McCarthyite in this segment of the program and the press release below: "Defending Rights & Dissent Condemns Passage of H.R. 9495 - Defending Rights & Dissent" In the second portion of the program, Anatol Lieven of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft returns to discuss U.S. foreign policy and the future of Europe, with a particular focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With a second Trump Presidency now inevitable, it seems increasingly likely that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will happen sooner rather than later, especially if Trump decides that the U.S. will not continue arming Ukraine. What would these negotiations look like? Will parts of Ukraine be annexed? Will the two countries' maximalist demands be whittled down during negotiations? What is the future of Europe and should Europe re-arm? All of these questions, as well as the issue of climate change as a national security threat will be covered. Additionally, Anatol and I will delve into the scare concerning Russia ICBMs from last week and what it says about the conflict and where it is at right now. EDIT: In the interlude before the Lieven interview I mention annexation of Gaza and the West Bank. I'm not arguing an official annexation has happened, although many would argue that de facto annexation has been happening. There are elements of Israel openly calling for annexation.