Robert is joined by Anna Hossnieh to discuss Qassem Soleimani, as well as the history of Iran and America's relationship. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this podcast episode, the host introduces and interviews Anna Hosnia, the co-host and podcast producer of Ethnically Ambiguous. They discuss her background and her role in the production of the podcast.
Many people in the left, right, and center who have recently commented on the assassination of Qassem Soleimani do not have an understanding of Middle Eastern conflicts to make informed statements. CNBC's article calling Soleimani the "world's biggest bad guy" is flawed in its analysis.
The speaker avoided using sources written after the assassination of Suleimani to avoid biased opinions and analyzed the Middle Eastern writers' portrayals of him. The speaker acknowledges Suleimani's competence in his actions despite being responsible for both terrible and good things.
Qasem Soleimani, the late Iranian general, joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was drawn to the idea of Iran without its Shah after attending sermons by a travelling preacher who worked with one of the future ayatollahs. Soleimani kept his personal life private, and what is known about him comes from a book he wrote and a few interviews with those who knew him and historians.
Qasem Soleimani left his job at the water department to join the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a new military side structure set up to secure the new regime from being overthrown. He was sent with a group of guardsmen to suppress a Kurdish uprising in Mahabad, which was seen as a big action that earned trust within the revolutionary guard.
The government often sugarcoats historical events and figures to shape a specific narrative, and immigrant families may also leave out the darker aspects of their country's history. There are also conflicting accounts of the involvement of historical figures in certain events that are difficult to verify.
Some people, particularly young men, find combat to be addictive and almost intoxicating. However, the toll on human life can be great and the cost is often high.
The podcast outlines the role of American policies in 1980s in Iranian general Qasem Soleimani's tactics for the rest of his life, during the Iran-Iraq war, in which the U.S. secretly provided aid to both Iran and Iraq.
In 2001, Iran supported the US invasion of Afghanistan by fighting alongside US Special Forces against the Taliban. However, the relationship took a quick turn when, in 2002, President George W. Bush named Iran part of the "Axis of Evil" in his State of the Union address, which caught Iran and a US diplomat in Kabul by surprise.
kudz force succeeded in briefly bridging sunni shiite divide among insurgent groups supporting both in their efforts to kill american soldiers.
Donald Trump was never anti-war. He was against murdering people and sending in troops as long as he got to steal oil from people.
Despite failed attempts by the US to project power and influence in the Middle East, Qasem Soleimani and his Quds force have been successful in spreading Iranian power across the region through a network of militias and a successful political influence campaign.
Leaked cables revealed that Qasem Suleimani's brutal tactics against ISIS were criticized by Iranian spies, who believed that they were laying the groundwork for major blowback against the Iranian presence in Iraq.
Qasem Soleimani, the recently assassinated Iranian General, was revered across the Middle East due to the cult of personality built around him and his promotion of the idea and value of martyrdom. His funeral was used by the Iranian government to try and unify the country, and his death could potentially galvanize resistance to the United States.
The potential for war between Iran and the US has everyone nervous, with some unsure whether it will simply be airstrikes or if ground troops will be involved. Meanwhile, "Behind the Bastards" covered the story of the Radio Murders, where three journalists were assassinated in retaliation for their coverage of the illegal drug trade.