Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Saudi Lobbying in the US Under Spotlight after Khashoggi Murder | Al Jazeera English


Saudi Arabia has amassed one of the largest and best-funded lobbying operations in the US. The kingdom has spent millions of dollars to buy influence in Washington. But in the wake of the Khashoggi scandal, some PR firms are dropping Riyadh as a client. Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett reports from the White House.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Is Saudi Arabia Trying to Protect Whoever Ordered Khashoggi Murder? l Inside Story


Turkey's president is accusing Saudi Arabia of stalling the investigation into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Saudi leaders are playing a game to protect someone. He's ramping up the pressure to know who; and demanding information about where the journalist's body is.

Saudi Arabia's Chief prosecutor met his Turkish counterpart for a second time in Istanbul - after what the Turks call an unsatisfactory first meeting on Monday. Sources say the Saudis have finally handed over the testimonies of 18 suspects who are being held in the Kingdom. Where the suspects should be tried is being argued over. Turkey is calling for their extradition; the Saudis insist they'll be tried at home.

As the US considers its options, and the European Union faces further calls to ban arms sales - will the Saudis budge?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Scott Lucas - Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham and specialist in US relations with the Middle East; Andrew Finkel - Co-founder of P24 initiative to promote independent journalism; Joel Rubin - President, Washington Strategy Group


Pittsburgh Rabbi Has a Powerful Message for Our Leaders


Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers calls on elected leaders and officials to stop using hateful words and rhetoric to divide the country as his community grieves the loss of 11 members.

Jon Meacham: President Donald Trump Has No Interest In ‘Moral Leadership’ | The Last Word | MSNBC


Presidential historian Jon Meacham explains to Lawrence why Donald Trump's response to Pittsburgh shows the president is "bound up in narcissism, nationalism and nastiness."

Reagan's Daughter: Trump Has Never Shown Compassion


Patti Davis, the daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, discusses President Trump's response to recent tragedies.

Trump Plans on Ending Birthright Citizenship


In an interview for "Axios on HBO," President Trump said he plans to sign an executive order that would do away with a right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born in the US.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Glenn Greenwald on Bolsonaro: Brazil Has Elected “Most Extremist Leader in the Democratic World”


Far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro has been elected Brazil’s next president, marking the most radical political shift in the country since military rule ended more than 30 years ago. Bolsonaro, a former Army officer, openly supports torture and dictatorships, has a history of making racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments, and has threatened to destroy, imprison or banish his political opponents. He defeated Fernando Haddad of the leftist Workers’ Party with 55 percent of the vote. His ascendance to power is leading many to fear the future of democracy in Brazil is in danger. We speak with Glenn Greenwald, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the founding editors of The Intercept, in Rio de Janeiro. He says that Bolsonaro is “by far the most extremist leader now elected anywhere in the democratic world.”

How Worrying Is the Rise of US Right-wing Extremism? l Inside Story


The number of reported hate crimes in the United States rose in 2016, the year Donald Trump was elected president, the second consecutive year the figures increased.

African-Americans, Jews and Muslims were all targeted. Last week a Florida man was arrested after mail bombs were sent to some of Trump’s high-profile critics; and on Saturday 11 people were killed in a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

So, who’s to blame? And does President Trump’s rhetoric fuel the hate?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests Gregg Roman, former director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh; Glenn Carle, former deputy National Intelligence Officer for transnational threats at the CIA; Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc


Sunday, October 28, 2018

Can Saudi, Turkey Work Together to Shed Light on Khashoggi Murder? l Inside Story


It's been more than three weeks since journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, never to be seen again. And with each passing day, brings a new element to a crime that's shocked the world.

Turkey wants Saudi Arabia to extradite the 18 men who've been suspected in his killing. But Saudi Arabia insists they will face justice in the Kingdom. This issue will likely top the agenda as Saudi Arabia's top prosecutor arrives in Turkey.

The Initial Turkish inquiry has concluded that the killing was premeditated, a fact, Saudi officials have taken some time to acknowledge. Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging Saudi Arabia to disclose where Khashoggi's remains are and explain who gave the order to kill him. So, will the two countries co-operate?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Adam Coogle - Middle East Researcher at Human Rights Watch; Leon Fresco - Former U.S. Department of Justice official; Rodney Dixon – Co-Author of a UN report back in January that documented detentions in Saudi Arabia


Günter Gaus im Gespräch mit Franz Josef Strauß (1964)


Der Untergang des Osmanischen Reiches


Mit den von den Mächten eingeforderten Reformen gingen zunehmend wirtschaftliche Probleme einher. In den „Kapitulationen“ genannten Handelsverträgen wurde der Markt im Osmanischen Reich für die Europäer geöffnet, und die Einfuhrzölle lagen unter den Ausfuhrzöllen. Durch die mangelnde Wettbewerbsfähigkeit des osmanischen Handwerks wurde das Osmanische Reich zum Importeur von europäischen Waren und der Aufbau einer eigenen Industrie unterbunden. Unterdessen fanden die Unruhen auf dem Balkan kein Ende. Nach einem Krieg gegen Serbien 1876 wurde in Istanbul eine internationale Konferenz einberufen, auf der die Zukunft des Balkan diskutiert wurde. Um seine Reformbereitschaft zu demonstrieren, kündigte der durch einen Staatsstreich an die Macht gekommene Abdülhamid II. eine liberale Verfassung an, die ein parlamentarisches System eingeführt hätte. Als Ergebnis der Konferenz fassten die Mächte eine Autonomie sowohl für zwei Provinzen auf bulgarischem Gebiet als auch für Bosnien und Herzegowina ins Auge. Als die „Hohe Pforte“ dies ablehnte, erklärte Russland den Krieg, besetzte den gesamten europäischen Teil der Türkei und rückte auf Istanbul vor. Nach der Entscheidungsschlacht am Schipkapass im Januar 1878 war der Sieg der russischen Truppen nicht mehr zu verhindern. Ende Januar 1878 bat das Osmanische Reich um den Abschluss eines Friedensvertrages.

Hannah Arendt im Gespräch mit Günter Gaus


Galloway Blasts Tony Blair for Taking Saudi Money


Anya Parampil examines criticism of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for his refusal to cut ties with Saudi Arabia in the face of Washington Post Contributor Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Blair has been paid nearly $12 million by the Saudi Kingdom for “consulting” services since he left office. Former Member of U.K. Parliament and presenter in the documentary The Killing$ of Tony Blair, George Galloway, joins In Question to discuss Blair’s legacy.

Erdogan Demands Answers as Macron Urges Sanctions | Al Jazeera English


Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is due to arrive in Istanbul later on Sunday, to discuss the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Turkish prosecutors want the extradition of 18 suspects, but Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has rejected that call. It all comes at a time of mounting European pressure on Saudi Arabia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she and French President Emmanuel Macron are considering a common European Union position on selling arms to Saudi Arabia, following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But the Saudi foreign minister has dismissed what he described as "hysteria in the media" over the killing - and rejected calls to extradite the suspects. Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from Istanbul.

How Should President Trump Respond to Khashoggi's Murder? | NYT Opinion


For the United States, doing nothing about the premeditated killing of Jamal Khashoggi is not an option.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

One on One: Saudi Dissident Ghanem Al-Dosari


In this episode of One on One Simon McGregor-Wood spoke to Saudi dissident Ghanem Al-Dosari in London about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and about the attacks he has faced on the streets of London, which he claims were ordered by the Crown Prince.

John Bolton Gets Us One Step Closer to Nuclear War with Russia


Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser John Bolton is blocking talks at the moment that could help extend a nuclear treaty between the US and Russia, and instead he wants the US to just pull out of these nuclear agreements. Not only is this move being derided as hasty and reckless, it would also send a signal to the rest of the world that the US is no longer keeping their word on agreements from the past. This is dangerous, and John Bolton is clearly calling the shots in this administration. Ring of Fire’s Farron Cousins discusses this.

What Impact Will Khashoggi's Murder Have on the Middle East? l Inside Story


Saudi Arabia is under mounting pressure to explain exactly what happened at its consulate in Istanbul when Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi - a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman - was murdered.

It’s reported that evidence links the killing directly to the Crown Prince's office, a charge Riyadh denies.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis says that the case threatens the stability of the entire Middle East, and that Washington is ready to take more action against those responsible.

Visa bans are already in place for 21 suspects. Turkey wants the suspects extradited from Saudi Arabia but the Kingdom's Foreign Minister says they will be investigated and prosecuted where they are.

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Majed Al-Ansari, professor of political science at Qatar University; Shafeeq Ghabra, professor of political science at Kuwait University; Hillary Mann-Leverett, former U.S. state department and White House official


A Look at the Kingdom of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman


Saudi Arabia has been making headlines with young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushing a reformist agenda in the country amid the backdrop of bizarre scandals like the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey as well as the apparent purging of the royal family. Here we take a look at the past, present and potential future of the Kingdom and what’s at stake for the Crown Prince

Sam Harris vs Ayn Rand


Sam Harris gives his opinion on the famous author and her philosophy of Objectivism.