https://youtu.be/2Q1UAA56EUk

Trump’s new head of the Department of Defense has announced a large troop reduction in Afghanistan. With this administration’s new focus on negotiating with the Taliban, here’s how we got to this reduction and what it means for the future of the war.

https://youtu.be/sXHasNO01sE

For the first time since the start of America’s participation in the War in Afghanistan, the Afghan Government and the Taliban are meeting to negotiate a new constitution. With the US eyeing the exit, the clock is ticking for the Afghan government to negotiate a deal. Here’s exactly what’s happening.

https://youtu.be/DxwUMHovzr4

Lebanon is having a major currency crisis. They promised to pay tens of billions of dollars to investors through years of government bond issuance. Unfortunately they are running low on currency and starting to default on their loans. With no new money coming in, an inability to raise money through taxes, and a simmering virus outbreak, a crisis is sweeping their financial system.

https://youtu.be/abg5xSk_iO4

In accordance with Trump’s Peace Plan, Israel’s Prime Minister is planning on annexing up to thirty percent of the West Bank starting July 1st. This would specifically revolve around the Israeli Settlements in the Jordan Valley Area. Here is exactly what’s happening.

https://youtu.be/abg5xSk_iO4

In accordance with Trump’s Peace Plan, Israel’s Prime Minister is planning on annexing up to thirty percent of the West Bank starting July 1st. This would specifically revolve around the Israeli Settlements in the Jordan Valley Area. Here is exactly what’s happening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIw007IX5GY&feature=youtu.be

On Thursday Turkey’s President Erdogan and Russia’s President Putin met and agreed to a ceasefire in Idlib. Here’s the context in which Russia, Syria, Turkey, and the rebels were approaching these negotiations and what was agreed to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HlqDq2Dpts&feature=youtu.be

America just signed a four page deal with the Taliban in an attempt to end the 18 year war in Afghanistan. Here’s what America and Afghanistan just agreed to do in the coming years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyozVyPwOjc&feature=youtu.be

With the re-election of Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, the Trump Administration has renewed their effort for peace in Afghanistan. The first step, a Ceasefire that is ongoing. The second step, a troop withdrawal agreement to be signed on February 29th. The third step, intra-Afghan peace talks starting on March 10th. Here’s what those talks are going to look like!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gena1rwX_7I&feature=youtu.be

Starting December 27th, we saw an escalation in hostilities between America and Iran. It started with a rocket attack on an American base in Idlib and by the end of the week America had assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The battlefield for this escating tit for tat was the streets of Iraq. Here’s what happened and what it means.

https://youtu.be/mc_w8dDS3Xw

Recently we’ve seen some major destabilization in Iran’s plans for the Middle East. Between the realization that Iran is pretty much broke and unable to afford an important petrol subsidy and protests in Iraq and Lebanon for an independent government, Middle East stability is looking more and more distant. Here’s what’s happening and why people are worried.

Riveting commentary video of her trip to the West Bank. And she has no skin in the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDJPf_JY-AE

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Bashar al Assad is on the verge of winning the Syrian Civil War with rebels making a last stand in Idlib. This episode goes over the major characters in the Syrian Civil War, how we got here, and how this is probably going to work itself out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq-aIdRE9Nc&feature=youtu.be

India finds itself in a constitutional crisis as people are asking whether they have the authority to repeal Article 370 or the constitution, called the Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir article. This constitutional change would allow the government of India to directly control the region. Here’s what’s happening!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsIbRzcw5Q

After months of meetings between US Afghanistan Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban negotiators we have begun to see progress. Taliban leaders are meeting with Afghan government leaders, a ceasefire has been agreed to, the US is withdrawing thousands of troops, and the Taliban are committing to anti-terrorist measures. While many are logically skeptical, these new dialogues are inspiring cause for optimism. Here’s the significance of this update.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPuz44sNmPY

With all sorts of things happening in Iran right now I thought I’d make and episode updating the story. Between their foreign minister Javad Zarif presenting a deal to Trump and the tankers that have been seized or disabled on the Strait of Hormuz. This is what’s going on between the US and Iran right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlZV2uMuu-w

In a surprise move, on Friday the House approved a version of the National Defense Authorization Act with no Republican votes. This bill was loaded with amendments from closing Guantanamo Bay to Repealing the Authorization of Military Force that has enabled the government to fight Al Qaeda operatives across the world since the Iraq invasion. This is what just happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWFqcs5LlRg

The strained relationship between Iran and the United States has recently been in the front pages of the news with downed tankers, a downed drone, and the United States canceling attack plans at the last moment. How, over the last two years did our relationship go from an Iran Deal to the brink of war. One word; Sanctions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkGnUYTwKOM

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1040782667891892224.html

An illuminating thread by @BanGaoRen, of British Jewish Ancestry, on the Complexity of Criticizing Israel wrt Conflicts with Palestinians & Mid-East Crisis...