It's been one year since the Beirut port exploded, killing over 200 people and wounding thousands. And it's been almost two years since Lebanon's Ponzi scheme economy started crashing. The West often blames the devastation that has befallen Lebanon on government mismanagement, sectarianism, bureaucratic incompetence, internal corruption, and their favorite boogeyman, Hezbollah. But you can't speak honestly about Lebanon's problems without mentioning the constant US, Saudi, and Israeli meddling, western imperialism, the neoliberal dystopia that was imposed on Lebanon, and US sanctions. And you can't isolate Lebanon from destructive US policies in the countries surrounding it, from Syria and Iraq to Iran and Palestine. To discuss how Lebanon got to where it is, Rania Khalek was joined by Jamal Ghosn, a columnist at the leftist Lebanese newspaper, Al Akhbar. Follow Jamal Ghosn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamalghosn You can listen to all episodes of Rania Khalek Dispatches anywhere you get podcasts. Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3za9DRK Apple: https://apple.co/3zeYpeW TIME CODES: 1:53 Difficulties of daily life in Lebanon 5:54 Who is responsible for the Beirut port explosion? 11:43 Has the investigation into the Beirut port explosion been politicized? 15:58 Lebanon’s political divide and the western meddling that fuels it 22:58 The failure of the West’s Lebanese allies to deliver 26:02 Why did Lebanon’s economy collapse? 31:16 Responding to those who blame Hezbollah for Lebanon’s economic collapse 32:52 The Taif agreement and Lebanon’s oligarchs and cartels 35:37 Understanding Lebanon’s political crisis and government deadlock 38:28 The lights go out (again) 39:35 How US sanctions across the Middle East impact Lebanon 45:25 How Western media uses local corruption to whitewash Western imperialism 51:40 Is sectarianism the primary problem in Lebanon? Not exactly 53:13 Why is the Lebanese left so weak? 1:01:42 Why did the October 2019 protests fail to change the system? 1:06:48 Is there a risk of civil war? 1:11:52 How are Lebanese communities adapting to the crisis and pursuing self-reliance? 1:22:00 How much worse can it get in Lebanon? 1:25:13 Is Riad Salameh a US asset? 1:26:53 Currency devaluation and manipulation 1:29:39 What Americans need to understand about what’s happening in Lebanon » Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/BreakThroughNews -------------------------------- » Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BTnewsroom » Tweet us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BTnewsroom » Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btnewsroom/ At Breakthrough News we believe in the power of independent media. Five mega-corporations dominate the media landscape — controlling 90% of what we read, watch and listen to. They control the news cycle, to which social media and even most “alternative” media is forced to respond. We are breaking through that cycle. We tell the untold stories of resistance from poor and working-class communities — because out of these stories we will construct a different narrative of the world, as it is and in real time. People’s movements in every corner of the globe are changing history and shifting consciousness. But these movements barely receive any coverage from the corporate media. They need visibility. They need amplification. They need a media arm to break through. We can be that media arm, but only with your help. Become a Patron and join us on the front lines in the battle of ideas. Subscribe and follow us! https://www.youtube.com/breakthroughnews @BTNewsroom #Lebanon #Beirutbombing #Beirut #BreakThroughNews #BTnews #socialistnews #socialist #raniakhalek #eugenepuryear
