11/12/2023: Iran’s Assassins, The Heritage War, Horse Racing Reform?
Nov 13, 2023
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Britain's head of counter-terrorism policing discusses Iran's secret shadow war, targeting critics of the regime. Russia's deliberate destruction of Ukraine's cultural heritage is explored, highlighting the courageous efforts to preserve it. The Justice Department's horse doping investigation is examined, revealing wiretaps that led to convictions. The podcast also touches on Iran's covert operations, threats against American officials, and the intentional destruction of cultural property in Ukraine.
Iran is carrying out a shadow war, using proxy assassins, to eliminate critics of the regime globally, including on US soil.
Russia's deliberate destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine is seen as a campaign of cultural genocide and should be treated as a war crime.
Deep dives
Iran's Proxy War and Threats to American Officials
Iran has been intensifying its global effort to intimidate, abduct, and assassinate perceived enemies of the regime. They have hired hitmen around the world, including on US soil. These threats have targeted American officials, including former Defense Secretary Mark Esper and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The FBI has uncovered various assassination plots and has raised concerns about the lack of deterrence and the need for a stronger response to protect American citizens.
Russia's Cultural Genocide in Ukraine
Russia has been targeting and destroying cultural heritage sites in Ukraine, including churches, museums, libraries, and monuments. This deliberate destruction is seen as a campaign of cultural genocide, aimed at erasing Ukraine's identity. Ukrainian cultural warriors are working to document the destruction and protect what remains. The international community is urged to address this issue as a war crime, but challenges remain in prosecuting such crimes effectively.
Cracking Down on Horse Racing Doping
Horse racing has faced a significant problem with doping, which not only undermines the integrity of the sport but also poses risks to the horses themselves. The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) was created to address this issue. Through unannounced testing and collaboration with investigative firms, HISA and the FBI have exposed widespread doping practices, resulting in the conviction of 29 individuals involved in doping horses. The efforts to reform and clean up the sport are ongoing, but it will take time to fully restore trust and ensure a clean and safe environment for horse racing.
Georgia's Bid for EU Membership
Georgia, a former Soviet Republic, is striving to join the European Union (EU) but needs stronger support from the West to resist Russian influence. The European Commission has recommended Georgia as a candidate for EU membership, highlighting the need for reforms and conditions to be fulfilled. The EU's decision will have significant implications for Georgia's future and its efforts to maintain independence and establish closer ties with Europe.
While Iran’s backing of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon is widely known, the regime is quietly carrying out a shadow war in the U.S. and Europe, deploying proxy assassins to silence or eliminate critics of the regime. Britain’s head of counter-terrorism policing, Matt Jukes, tells correspondent Lesley Stahl they’re noticing a significant uptick in Iran’s efforts. In the U.S., Stahl meets some of the targets, including former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton and Iranian American activist Masih Alinejad. Correspondent Bill Whitaker reports from Kyiv on Russia’s continued war and what Ukrainians say is the deliberate destruction and looting of the country’s museums, churches and monuments – a strategy believed to come straight from the Kremlin – and a potential war crime. Whitaker tours the remains of shelled churches and bombed libraries and speaks with museum workers who are risking their lives to save Ukraine’s heritage. As the Justice Department winds down one of the biggest horse doping investigations in U.S. history, correspondent Cecilia Vega examines the wiretaps that helped solve the case and convict dozens of veterinarians, horse trainers and drug distributors. Lisa Lazarus, the woman heading up the new national regulator tasked with cleaning up horse racing, sits down with Vega to discuss the moment of reckoning and the sport’s future.