473 – Topics

00:03 Syria’s theatre of conflicts: dire situation in Syria, middle-east theatre of conflict shifting to Syria, conflicting groups in Syria, Arab and not Arab, America supporting Saudi coalition, a brief history of Syria, Ottoman empire’s defeat in 1918, British and French mapping of mid-east states, African parallels

18:10 Two states – stability or conflict: nation building, Syrian youth demographics, state of war, states at war, lack of identity, break down of the Syrian state, Syria stable during cold war years, Syria/Iraq allied with Moscow, balance of power, Trump plan – destroy ISIS, ISIS is Saudi Arabia

33:50 Peace candidate: Trump the president of peace, policy of containment, Trump’s ISIS plan, conflicting global Syrian refugee strategies, middle east power struggles

44:05 Revolutionary democracy: Saturday Night Live’s presidential debate, review of the first US presidential debate, polls show close election, third party options, Gary Johnson as Republican, Donald Trump’s tax write-offs, key issue distractions, media controls the debate. first election for ‘we the people’, revolutionary democracy

59:42 END