Radio War Nerd EP #147—"Destroying Yemen" with Isa Blumi
Guest: Isa Blumi, author and professor
Recorded August 28, 2018
The War Nerd talks to Isa Blumi about the Yemen war's little-reported deep causes — political, financial, imperialist—in a wide-ranging interview. Blumi explains the murky political and strategic differences between Qatar, Saudis and UAE, their own bought-off political and media figures in the US and UK, and how this has impacted the wars in Yemen and western reporting on Yemen. Great deep dive analysis you won't hear anywhere else . . .
At 1:17:00 Ames and the Nerd take a look at current war news: UN report on war crimes in Yemen vs. how it was reported in US/UK media . . . Talk of American officers in UAE army facing war crimes charges . . . Idlib showdown coming—Al Qaeda's militia transformed by western media into "rebels" while completely ignoring "rebel"-Turkish ethnic cleansing of Kurds in Afrin . . . White Helmets providing cover for Turkish occupation and ethnic cleansing . . . NYTimes says "transparency" is the problem with US role in Yemen slaughter . . . New Chad rebel group . . .
Buy Isa Blumi's book "Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us About The World". Follow Isa Blumi on Twitter
Total time: 1:57:22
Comments (19)
<a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180102-uae-arranges-its-influence-in-yemens-hadhramout-province/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180102-uae-arranges-its-influence-in-yemens-hadhramout-province/</a>
And btw, sorry but can’t resist an irrelevant comment: in the photo Isa looks a lot like the writer Ben Lerner, whose debut novel ”Leaving the Atocha Station” was an excellent read (and Lerner is also a good poet).
Really interesting and insighful interview with Isa Blumi - would be great if he comes back for other episodes.
I listened to this one twice. I don't usually do that.
I've heard that Al Jazeera started out in Tunisia, fell out with the government there and then came to Qatar where they have free rein to say anything about other countries except Qatar. Also, Isa mentioned natural gas. Qatar has very little oil but a lot of natural gas. Excellent episode. Adam Curtis has an interesting take on British involvement in Yemen in the 60's covered in the first episode of the Mayfair Set which is on Youtube. Basically, the founder of the SAS, David Stirling, thought he could regain Britains influence by using Saudi money to fight Nasser in Yemen using ex SAS personnel. The whole series follows a group of characters as they cope with Britains decline an it's pursuit of influence and money from the beginning to a vary ironic end. I think Isa said Erik Prince has moved to Abu Dhabi not Dubai. Abu Dhabi is the emirate with all the oil and all the money. Dubai has very little in comparison.
Isa mentioned work by someone named something like "Israh Hussein," who wrote a book or article on how the British invented Islam (minute 42). I can't quite seem to google it. Can you guys supply more clues, like the correct spelling? Many thanks.
<a href="https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo22340539.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo22340539.html</a> (It also sounded to me as having an "r" in the first name ... Also: Isa recommends Iza. Does seem excellent though.)
This is the not the first book I've bought based on a War Nerd episode but it is the fastest, ordered mid-episode. Incredibly engaging and accessible interview!
I want to thank Radio War Nerd for making me properly aware of this war. You guys have been the main source of information for a short comic I've made on the subject. Here's the link, if it is of any interest: <a href="https://thenib.com/what-america-s-weapons-are-doing-to-yemen" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://thenib.com/what-america-s-weapons-are-doing-to-yemen</a>
I would love to hear more information on the real state of the Saudi Oil industry. Lord knows the mainstream press isn't covering it. So many wars around the world are caused by Saudi directly or through the oil-supported export of Wahhabism. If oil production in Saudi really is declining and set to collapse, then we're looking at the destruction of the logistics of one of the most insidious strands of contemporary physical and social violence. It would be an implosion akin to the 1991 Soviet collapse, on a slightly smaller-scale.
Heather Newart said that the US military was helping the humanitarian aid effort in Yemen. Why the f*ck does the press even go to those events ? Why ? Matt Lee. Respectable guy. Why does he even show up? Just to get blatantly lied to ? And then when they try to call out Newart that vile whore, she laughs and gives them an elementary school teacher stare.
Please make this one public.
Very knowledgeable guest I have to say. One of the rare occasions I hear about how the global economy plays into the conflicts in Yemen and elsewhere. Do bring him back if you can.
Regarding the question of "why didn't Saudi think of Al Jazeera?" There's a great longform article from 2004 about the poverty of Saudi journalism schools: <a href="http://www.scholarofthehouse.org/tkiofsinewyo.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.scholarofthehouse.org/tkiofsinewyo.html</a>
Fascinating discussion, incredibly information-dense
Excellent stuff! Isa was could explain everything on all levels: military, geopolitically, financially, historically etc
Make that a free episode. The world would be a better place.
Really good interview, It would be a good candidate for making public to promote the podcast. Isa is amazingly succinct when explaining the convoluted relationships between all the involved factions. Definitely hope you get him back on a few more times, it felt like you were just getting into your stride when the interview finished up.
Great interview! Isa needs to be a recurring guest, seems like there was a lot more to explore there