Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff The Crisis in the Middle East With Chris Hedges
Jun 24, 2025
Chris Hedges, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author renowned for his work on Middle Eastern conflicts, delivers a compelling analysis of the current crises in the region. He explains Israel's military actions against Iran and their implications for Gaza and U.S. foreign policy. Hedges critiques the humanitarian situation in Gaza, revealing severe human rights implications. He draws parallels to historical settler colonialism while advocating for a deeper understanding of these complex geopolitical dynamics.
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Israel's Multi-Pronged Strategy
- Israel's goals in attacking Iran include degrading nuclear capabilities, regime change, and deflecting attention from Gaza genocide.
- Iran's missile capabilities and alliances with Russia and China complicate the conflict's potential escalation.
Hubris Drives Israeli Actions
- Israel may be acting out of hubris, believing the U.S. will back its actions regardless of consequences.
- The long-term gamble risks igniting a regional war that could devastate Israel and the region.
Powerful Lobby Shapes US Policy
- Israel leverages its powerful lobby to draw the U.S. into conflicts to sustain its prolonged warfare.
- Past U.S. invasions destabilized the region, unintentionally empowering Iran instead of weakening it.
