Topic: Kurdistan

Following a referendum where 90% of voters chose independence, the Iraqi national government cancelled international flights to the Kurdish region. Turkey and the United States opposed the vote, fearing it would disrupt the coalition against ISIS. The segment features interviews with Kurdish soldiers who lost limbs fighting ISIS, highlighting the tension between their military sacrifice and the lack of international support for their sovereign ambitions.

Boots-on-the-ground reports from Erbil describe the tensions surrounding the Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq. The conflict centers on control of the oil-rich Kirkuk region and the central government's refusal to recognize the Peshmerga as a formal military branch.

North Korea's foreign minister dismisses President Trump's "Rocket Man" comments as the "sound of a dog barking." Meanwhile, the Iraqi Kurdish region prepares for an independence referendum on September 25th, a move opposed by Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. The hosts discuss the strategic importance of Kurdistan and its significant oil reserves.

The hosts analyze U.S. strategy in Syria, suggesting the ultimate goal is the creation of a "Greater Kurdistan" and a three-state solution. They argue that Victoria Nuland and her husband, Robert Kagan, are executing a long-standing neoconservative plan to remove Bashar al-Assad. The discussion posits that the U.S. is using Russia as a "spoiler" to justify continued military intervention.

The BBC reported on the shift in US policy as Special Forces began operations in Syria for the first time since the civil war began. Meanwhile, CBS News reporter Elizabeth Palmer discovered US Special Operations forces already operating on the ground in Erbil, Iraq, alongside Kurdish fighters. This follows a joint raid on an ISIS prison that resulted in the death of Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler.

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.

The naming conventions of ISIS, ISIL, and IS are analyzed as a deliberate branding strategy likely influenced by government entities. Speculation suggests the long-term goal of the Iraq conflict was the "rebelization" and eventual breakup of the country into three distinct states, including an independent Kurdistan. This geopolitical shift aligns with older 2003 invasion strategies that are only now coming to fruition.

A contrast between mainstream media depictions of Iraq as a desert wasteland and the reality of Erbil as a modern, high-tech hub for the oil and gas industry. The segment highlights the upcoming Erbil Oil and Gas Convention and the presence of major corporations like ExxonMobil and Chevron, suggesting military action is primarily aimed at protecting these economic assets.

An analysis of President Obama's speech delivered in front of his helicopter regarding the crisis in Iraq. The summary points out that the only allies mentioned—France and the UK—are those with direct oil interests in the region (Total and BP), reinforcing the theory that the mission is about protecting the Kurdish oil corridor.

Howard Dean discusses the "Biden Doctrine" for Iraq, explicitly referring to Kurdistan as a "real country." During the interview, Dean uses a mixed metaphor, comparing ISIS fighters to "Nazis" and calling them "subhuman," while advocating for a long-term policy of partitioning Iraq to protect Western interests.

A tanker of Kurdish oil is reportedly being offloaded near the US coast despite legal threats. In Turkey, women are protesting a deputy prime minister's comment that they should not laugh in public. The hosts discuss the ongoing arrests of "Gulenists" and the political setup to potentially remove President Erdogan from power.

General Wesley Clark's 2007 claim regarding a Pentagon memo to "take out" seven countries in five years is revisited. The analysis links these military objectives to international oil interests, specifically citing new petroleum refining infrastructure moving from Dubai through Turkey to Kurdistan.

The militant group formerly known as ISIS or ISIL has rebranded as the "Islamic State," declaring a global caliphate under Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for Kurdish independence, aligning with Israel's long-term interests in the region. This shift occurs as Genel Energy, led by former BP CEO Tony Hayward, begins exporting Kurdish oil to international markets via Turkey, bypassing the central Iraqi government in Baghdad.

President Obama requests $500 million to train "vetted moderate rebels" in Syria as ISIS continues its expansion across Iraq. The hosts examine maps showing ISIS control zones aligning with potential Kurdish state borders and discuss reports of ISIS merging with Al-Qaeda forces.

The history and potential revival of the Mosul-Haifa oil pipeline are explored, linking the Kirkuk oil fields to Israel via Jordan. Analysts suggest that the current instability in Iraq serves as a distraction while infrastructure is built to move Kurdish oil to Western partners.

Iraqi Kurdistan has successfully linked the Kirkuk oil fields to its new pipeline into Turkey, cementing its independence from Baghdad. A third tanker of "disputed" Kurdish crude is scheduled to depart from the Turkish port of Ceyhan on June 22. This infrastructure allows the Kurds to generate independent revenue, fulfilling a long-term Western goal of empowering the Kurdish region as a stable energy partner.

The conflict in Iraq and Syria is framed as a battle over energy infrastructure, specifically the pipelines connecting Iranian and Kurdish oil to the Mediterranean. The Ceyhan terminal in Turkey serves as a critical hub for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which bypasses Syrian territory. The disruption of Russian-aligned pipelines through Syria is viewed as a primary objective of neoconservative interests represented by the Kagan family.

Speculation arises that the West may use a drone strike or a staged assassination to remove Bashar al-Assad. Concerns are raised about the PKK and Al-Qaeda taking advantage of the power vacuum in Syria. The PKK is currently designated as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, and Turkey due to its Marxist-Leninist roots and involvement in drug trafficking.

FEMA scheduled a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System for November 9th. Meanwhile, a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey following the country's invasion of northern Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels. This timing has led to speculation among conspiracy theorists regarding the use of "earthquake machines" or HAARP technology as a form of tectonic warfare.

The release of U.S.-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi is linked to broader geopolitical shifts and secret agreements by the Obama administration. The hosts also note a lack of media coverage regarding Iranian attacks on the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the resulting tension with Israel.