4 chapters across the catalog
Senator Lindsey Graham advocates for a more aggressive U.S. stance, comparing ISIS to Nazi Germany and Assad to Imperial Japan. Graham proposes training Syrian opposition forces to take out Assad and establishing a no-fly zone, warning Russia that their planes will be shot down if they interfere. The hosts speculate that the ultimate goal of these maneuvers is to secure a pipeline route through Homs and Aleppo.
The fall of Palmyra to ISIS is analyzed not as a loss of "antiquities," but as a strategic move to control the Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline route. Senator John McCain has called for 10,000 U.S. ground troops to intervene. The hosts argue that the conflict is driven by competing pipeline interests between Qatar and Iran, with ISIS serving as a tool to isolate the Assad regime.
The Arabs: A Short History, Philip Hitti and Middle East Pipelines
A chance discovery of the 1937 book "The Arabs: A Short History" by Philip K. Hitti leads to a discussion on the historical context of the Middle East. The book's omission of the 400-year Ottoman Empire period is noted as a significant editorial choice. The hosts conclude that modern U.S. strategy to "defeat ISIS" is actually a move toward a three-state solution involving Kurdistan and Iraq, primarily driven by regional pipeline interests.
ISIS Strategic Goals, Pipeline Control and High-Production Propaganda
ISIS's strategic movement toward Baghdad is analyzed as an effort to control key supply routes and waypoint cities. The group's propaganda efforts, including high-definition drone footage and Hollywood-style editing, suggest significant financial backing and professional production. The distinction between the terms ISIS and ISIL is clarified, emphasizing the group's focus on the broader Levant region.
