PRESS ROOM

Kenya and Nigeria, which view Mr Trump favourably, are both among the top recipients of US economic aid, according to the Security Assistance Monitor.

William Hartung interviewed by 94.1 KPFA's Mitch Jeserich about the economics and who makes money during a war.

“I think this is kind of a stain on our reputation and it raises questions about the strategic vision and priorities of the administration ... people need to think about what is at stake here and how bad it could get if we don’t step back from the brink and think of some diplomatic approaches and not just tit-for-tat military strikes,” Hartung said, adding that a war with Iran would be “even more challenging than the war with Iraq... [because] it’s a much larger country, it’s more complicated terrain and it would have a more rallied unified population."

With the decision he made late January 2 to kill the head of the Iranian “Qods Force”, Lt.-Gen Qasem al-Soleimani, Pres. Donald Trump set the United States on a course to an upheaval– certainly political and possibly also military– of truly global impact.

The equivalent of the killing of General Soleimani would be as if the Iranians assassinated General Richard Clarke, the US four star general in charge of all US special operations, but only if General Clarke had the name recognition of Colin Powell and the competency of Dwight Eisenhower. Those Iranians in government and civil society who want restraint, de-escalation and dialogue will find it hard to argue against retaliation.

Democratic leaders have made a terrible trade. In return for clean headlines on impeachment, congressional Democrats gave Donald Trump his full wish list for war.

From the Pentagon to Wall Street, the crisis between the United States and Iran is already – predictably – being cited as a rationale for increasing the Pentagon budget. Issue No. 1 should be doing everything in our power to head off another Mideast war. But along the way we should also make sure that the current situation is not exploited to underwrite an across-the-board increase in tax dollars for a department that is already substantially overfunded.

Hundreds of thousands of lives are suddenly at great risk. As former national security advisor Susan Rice writes “Full-scale conflict is not a certainty, but the probability is higher than at any point in decades.” With us to discuss the historical context and likely effects of Trump’s impulsive assassination of Iran’s Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani is William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at Center for International Policy. He talks of Trump’s “RT Barnum strategy.” And though the Saudis are fierce enemies of Iran, their interests are not helped at all by this brash move. On a hopeful note, this crisis presents a rare opportunity for democracy to reassert itself.

Hundreds of thousands in Iran have been mourning the death of Qasem Soleimani. The Iranian general was killed by a US drone on the orders of President Donald Trump. Washington says Soleimani’s death has saved American lives, but has it actually set two bitter foes on the path to war?

It’s time for an all-hands-on-deck effort to head off a disastrous and devastating war with Iran that will serve no one’s interest. Congress can begin by demanding that no further military action be taken without its approval, and the public and the media can loudly and clearly make the case against yet another Mideast war.

It’s time to step back from the brink and institute an urgent campaign of multilateral diplomacy. The last thing the world needs is yet another ill-considered and reckless Mideast war.

Temi discusses international investments in Africa from world powers such as China, Russia and the United States. She also highlights the current issues the continent is facing after an eventful 2019 and what these developments could potentially mean for investments.