Downstream: We Are Getting Foreign Policy Very Wrong w/ Steve Coll
Mar 25, 2024
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Exploring the failures of US and British wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, focusing on Saddam Hussein's impact. Delving into the CIA's role in the rise of the Taliban. Discussing Saddam's quest for nuclear weapons and the challenges of adversarial communication in foreign policy. Analyzing the efficacy of sanctions and the manipulation and conspiracy theories in foreign policy decisions.
Discussing with enemies can be crucial in foreign policy decisions.
History of CIA's actions in Pakistan and Afghanistan reveals intricate relationships.
Supporting extremist factions can result in unintended regional consequences.
Deep dives
The Complicated Relationship Between the US, Saddam Hussein, and Foreign Policy
The podcast delves into the intertwined history of the US, Saddam Hussein, and Western Foreign Policy, highlighting the intricate relationships and consequences. It discusses how supporting questionable individuals like Saddam Hussein can lead to significant repercussions, shedding light on critical insights regarding Western interventions and alliances.
CIA's Covert Actions in Pakistan and Afghanistan
The podcast explores the CIA's covert actions in Pakistan and Afghanistan during the anti-Soviet war period. It mentions Steve Cole's experiences covering the CIA's support for Mujahideen rebels in Afghanistan and the complexities of the Afghan factions. The discussion delves into the role of different nationalities, like Egyptians and Algerians, in the conflict.
ISI's Role in Supporting Islamist Groups
The podcast delves into the ISI's involvement in supporting Islamist groups, particularly during General Zia Al-Hak's era. It discusses how ISI's focus on religiously aligned guerrillas impacted regional dynamics. The conversation highlights the miscalculations made in supporting extremist factions and the unintended consequences that followed.
Iran's Influence in Afghanistan
The podcast explores Iran's interests and involvement in Afghanistan, focusing on its relationship with various Afghan populations. It discusses Iran's interactions with Shia communities in Afghanistan and its historical ties to Afghan factions. The conversation mentions Iran's stance towards the Taliban and its efforts to navigate regional complexities.
Sanctions as a Tool of Foreign Policy and their Effectiveness
The podcast debates the effectiveness of sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, analyzing their historical applications and outcomes. It questions the impact of population-centric sanctions and targeted sanctions, highlighting the challenges of coercing changes in behavior through sanctions. The conversation provides insights into the complexities and limitations of using sanctions as a diplomatic strategy.
With hindsight, the wars waged by the US and Britain in Afghanistan and Iraq look like terrible failures, both strategically and politically: the Taliban are back in power in Afghanistan, and living standards are worse in Iraq than they were before Saddam Hussein. In his new book The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the United States […]
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