Tech Won't Save Us How the US Weaponizes Tech in the Middle East w/ Laleh Khalili
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Jul 10, 2025 Laleh Khalili, a Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and author of Extractive Capitalism, discusses how the U.S. leverages technology to influence power dynamics in the Middle East. She examines the historical ties between tech and imperialism, focusing on how nations like Israel and Iran navigate these complexities. The podcast delves into AI's role in warfare, military funding, and the concerning shift towards militarization of technology, urging listeners to reconsider the implications for society.
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US Tech Control Shapes Power
- The US limits technological transfer to control global power, benefiting from its geopolitical hegemony.
- Technologies are key not only for capital accumulation but also for resource extraction, especially in oil exploration.
Nuclear Double Standards Exist
- The US allows allies like Israel nuclear capabilities while restricting adversaries like Iran.
- This asymmetry is rooted in strategic alliances and historic geopolitical calculations.
Abu Dhabi Using Israeli Surveillance
- Abu Dhabi used Israeli facial recognition tech to expose Mossad agents involved in a Dubai assassination.
- This surveillance cooperation predates the Abraham Accords and shows covert tech alliances.
