Scott Horton Show - Just the Interviews

2/8/24 Joe Kent on the American Troop Deployed in Iraq and Syria

Feb 12, 2024

Former Special Forces officer and congressional candidate Joe Kent discusses the complexities of American troop deployment in Iraq and Syria, questioning the reasoning behind their actions and highlighting the ambiguous alliances in the region. He emphasizes the detrimental consequences of past mistakes, the wastefulness of taxpayer dollars, and the lack of vital national security interests in maintaining troops in the area. The discussion also covers the increasing influence of Iran, the vulnerability of the American embassy in Baghdad, and the speaker's campaign for Congress with a focus on exposing their opponent's lack of knowledge on foreign policy.

34:15

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Episode guests

Joe Kent

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The American mission in Iraq and Syria has become convoluted and dangerous, with U.S. forces now fighting the same Shia militias they once funded.

The U.S. has consistently made mistakes in its policies in Iraq, leading to further instability and questionable justifications for maintaining a military presence.

Deep dives

The Complexities of U.S. Involvement in Iraq

Joe Kent, a former Special Forces officer and congressional candidate, discusses the complex dynamics of U.S. involvement in Iraq. He argues that there has never been a clear definition of who is on whose side in the region, and that Washington deliberately avoids acknowledging the role of Iranian-backed militias. Kent highlights the irony of bombing the same militias that the U.S. once supported and emphasizes that American taxpayer dollars are essentially being used to bomb American taxpayer dollars. He questions the justification for leaving troops in Iraq and emphasizes that there is no clear vital national security interest in doing so.

Introduction

2min

The Complexities of American Troop Deployment in Iraq and Syria

11min

American Troop Deployment in Iraq and Syria

10min

The Increasing Influence of Iran and the Vulnerability of the American Embassy in Baghdad

7min

Running for Congress, Exposing Voting Record, and Importance of Outsiders

3min

Joe Kent returns to the show to talk about the American mission in Iraq and Syria. Before three Americans were killed by a drone on the border of Syria two weeks ago, the troops stationed there were said to be on an anti-ISIS mission. But now US forces are fighting the very Shia militias that Washington has been funding. Kent has a lot of personal experience in the region and a deep knowledge of the factional dynamics at play. He and Scott talk about how ridiculous and dangerous the American deployments are.

Discussed on the show: