Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forum"DN" FULL INTERVIEW with UN SPECIAL ENVOY to Syria, LAKDAR BRAHIMI, on DISASTROUS '03 IRAQ INVASION
Will Iraq or Syria Survive? UN Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Sectarian War & the Disastrous '03 InvasionPARTIAL TRANSCRIPT FOLLOWS WITH LINK TO FULL TRANSCRIPT follows VIDEO:
TRANSCRIPT AT:
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/18/will_iraq_or_syria_survive_un
As a Sunni militancy overtakes large parts of Iraq, former U.N.-Arab League special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi joins us to discuss the escalating Iraqi conflict, the long-term impact of the 2003 U.S. invasion, and the crisis in neighboring Syria. A former Algerian freedom fighter who went on to become Algerias foreign minister, Brahimi has been deeply involved in Middle Eastern diplomacy for decades. He has worked on many of the worlds major conflicts from Afghanistan and Iraq to South Africa. Brahimi resigned as the U.N.-Arab League special envoy for Syria last month after a lengthy effort that failed to bring about peace talks between the Syrian government and rebel groups. On the legacy of the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, Brahimi says: "The biggest mistake was to invade. I am tempted to say that every time there was a [U.S.] choice between something right and something wrong, not very often the right option was taken." On Syria, Brahimi says the conflict is "an infected wound if not treated properly, it will spread and this is what is happening."
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Sunni militants have seized part of Iraqs largest oil refinery located in the northern Iraqi city of Baiji. The militants reportedly now control three-quarters of the refinery complex. Meanwhile, Shiite families are leaving the city of Baquba in droves out of fear the militants from ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, will soon seize the city. Baquba is located just 40 miles from Baghdad. Many analysts say the fighting in Iraq has become a proxy war between the Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Shiite-led Iran. On Tuesday, Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, vowed on live television to protect Shiite shrines in Iraq. Rouhani said many Iranians have already signed up to go to Iraq to fight. This came as Iraqs Shiite-led Cabinet accused Saudi Arabia of promoting genocide in Iraq by backing Sunni militants.
In Washington, President Obama is scheduled to meet today with the four top congressional leaders. There are conflicting reports of his plan of action. The Wall Street Journal reports Obama has decided against immediate airstrikes in Iraq, but The New York Times reports Obama is considering what the paper described as a "targeted, highly selective campaign" of airstrikes. One official told the Times the campaign would most likely use drones and could last for a prolonged period.
Joining us to discuss the situation in Iraq and across the wider region is Lakhdar Brahimi, who resigned his post last month as the United Nations-Arab League special envoy for Syria. Brahimi has been deeply involved in Middle Eastern diplomacy for decades. Hes a former Algerian freedom fighter who went on to become Algerias foreign minister. As a diplomat, he has worked on many of the worlds biggest conflicts, from Afghanistan and Iraq, from Haiti to South Africa. Hes a member of the Elders, a group of retired statesmen formed in July 2007 at the initiative of Nelson Mandela; it was originally chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, now by Kofi Annan.
MORE TRANSCRIPT AT:
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/18/will_iraq_or_syria_survive_un
KoKo
(84,711 posts)with Baskets are Terrorists which spread propaganda for our Troops to look out for Women and Children with Basket Bombs who would Kill our Troops rather than the REAL THREATS. Setting up the Collateral Damage??? one wonders.
It's a good interview. He's a very "Down to Earth" guy not like some of those UN/Nato "Fixers" who can't get out of their Jargon long enought to be really in touch with any situation that the "Common People" face in times of war.
He was also involved in the Algerian Negotiations....He's an ELDER statesman...
It's really good and worth watching and not a dry/wonky view like one would expect.
Also Amy's break with the GREAT Smokey Robinson singing: "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is worth the watch!
Overseas
(12,121 posts)blunders from way back, with the Bush team bound and determined to make war, ignoring the best advice from those who understood the region.