Woods, T. (Host). (2020, March 11). Ep. 1609 How Did Iran Become Enemy #1? [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=67964848&refid=asa

Gareth Porter discusses the history of U.S.-Iran relations, how they became so strained, the truth about the Iranian nuclear program, and more.

[0:50] The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis

[2:53] we treat history as if it started yesterday. There was CIA intervention in Iran in 1953

[4:00] CIA was involved in several coups through the 50s. Tried to quash govt. in Syria. Was a time when US used CIA to do foreign police action rather than military force.

[5:40] officially started reason Iran is enemy #1 is because they create "malign" allies in middle east and terrorism. Not nuclear because it's not part of the propoganda.

[9:00] the allies in middle east allow them to have good missile deterrent if US decides to attack them. Israel can't attack them now without retaliation. This is the secret behind "malign intent"

[14:00] The only reason the deal with Iran was made is because the Obama administration forced them into it with threat of war from Israel. That's the fatal flaw behind it.

[15:15]" heavy coercive diplomacy" is what they called it. However, Iran wanted to do the nuclear deal to get out of the heavy economic oppression placed on them during Clinton administration.

[16:25] but trump is very violently anti Iran. So that didn't work out.

[18:20] McFarlane told me personally that they never considered the implications of redacting the Iranian nuclear program they had inherited from the Nixon administration. // [[Second Order Thinking]]

[20:00] Islamic law prohibited using any kind of biological or nuclear warheads. It's the only state in history to refuse to have weapons of mass destruction on religious grounds.

[21:10] news media isn't reporting on official documents, they've been reporting on what they've been told by government officials. Basically, there are two sets of fabricated documents that "prove" Iran had nuclear material. One in 2004 and one in 2018. Both very fraudulent.

[26:11] is there a scenario where Iran and us both back down and make peace? If Trump picks a new national security advisor who has their wits together. Someone who isn't a warmonger and can advise diplomacy.

[29:30] without this change, Trump is likely to get us into a confrontation with Iran if reelected.

[33:05] big silver lining, the Pentagon doesn't want to go to war with Iran

[34:10] we need to take the combined military might of Iran and their allies seriously. The cost to the United States would be detrimental.