Highly recommended

[Richard D]

Ian Masters has what might be the best political program in the nation. You can hear his programs at http://www.ianmasters.org. Last Sunday, in a discussion highly relevant to what is happening in Iraq, he had these guests on:

Nir Rosen on the regional consequences of the expanding conflct in Iraq. Mr. Rosen is an American-Israeli journalist who has written extensively on the American presence in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Rosen spent more than a year in post-war Iraq reporting on the American occupation, the relationship between Americans and Iraqis, the development of post-war Iraqi religious and political movements, and inter-ethnic and sectarian relations. He also focused his reporting and research on the origins and development of islamist resistance, insurgence, and terror organizations. While in Afghanistan, Mr. Rosen covered the elections and studied the differences between the American presence in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr. Rosen has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper s and The New Republic. His book on Iraq is "In the Belly of the Green Bird: The Triumph of the Martyrs in Iraq." He has a recent piece in the Boston Review, entitled "Anatomy of a Civil War."

Colonel E.M. "Bill" Chamberlain on the military in Iraq, and the dire state of affairs for America's military. Colonel Chamberlain retired from thirty years of infantry service with the United States Army as a full colonel in 2002. He comes from a family which has, for four generations, served this country as professional soldiers in the U.S. Army. Colonel Chamberlain graduated from West Point in 1972, commencing a career, which earned many medals and commendations, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Distinguished Service Medal. Among his many career highlights, Colonel Chamberlain served as the Commander of Task Force Striker during Desert Storm, as the commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and as the Inspector General of Central Command under General Anthony Zinni from 1998 to 2000, a position via which he gained a broad familiarity with the Middle East. An avid student of military history, Colonel Chamberlain has, for the last several years, contributed commentary and analysis on strategic and military affairs to the Chicago Tribune. He has just publised a novel based on his vast military experience, entitled "Operation Desert Vengeance." He joins us from his home in Lutz (pronounced "loots"), Florida. Colonel Chamberlain's blog is: http://billcham118.blogspot.com/2006/04/greatest-threat-to-america-well-i-have.html

Dr. Roger Stern on Iran's oil supply. Dr. Stern is an "economic geographer," focusing on oil reserves, with a PhD from Johns Hopkins University. He recently published paper in "the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" shows that Iran oil production is being outrun by domestic demand for oil, which has the highest growth rate in the Middle East. This report was used by the Iran Ambassador to the United Nations to justify the development of nuclear power for domestic energy needs. Dr. Stern disputes this usage. He also believes that the idea of oil supply as a weapon, something with has affected US policymaking for decades, is grossly exaggerated.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Correction:

http://www.ianmasters.org

[Richard D]

2. Thanks. Fixed it.