Category: Source

Interview: Monroe Doctrine Rises Again

Posted on

WORT FM, Madison, January 8, 2026 (48-min):
The Monroe Doctrine Rises Again in Venezuela.
Host Allen Ruff and Professor Stephen Zunes discuss his recent article in The Progressive, “The Real Reason Trump Invaded Venezuela: It’s not drugs, democracy, or even oil. It’s power.” Zunes puts the Trump administration’s lies — calling Maduro a narco-terrorist despite that no fentanyl comes from Venezuela, that Maduro stole “our oil” despite Venezuela nationalizing its oil in the 1970s, and more — in the context of international law, the Monroe Doctrine, Venezuelan opposition to Maduro, and the US military’s recent boat-bombing campaign. He says the US will control all Venezuelan oil for the foreseeable, but “Trump plans to take control of the oil personally and stash the cash in offshore accounts.”

Interviews: The New Protests in Iran

Posted on

Zunes’s main talking points for a series of interviews on the protests in Iran, December 28-31:

  • the protests are significant in that the bazaar is, traditionally a backbone of support for the regime, have been in the leadership of the resistance
  • there is significant poor and working class participation in the protests, unlike some previous movements which have been disproportionately students, middle class, etc.
  • U.S.-led sanctions are unjustifiable and are hurting the economy, but the regime’s corruption, mismanagement, and lack of accountability are the bigger problem
  • the economic problems are systemic, so changes at the Central Bank and minor adjustments in fiscal policies will not satisfy most protesters
  • the protests are already going beyond economic issues; most Iranians do want at minimum much greater democratization/accountability within the current system and an increasing number want regime change
  • the U.S. and Israel will try to take advantage of the situation, but the protests are homegrown and not the result of imperialist machinations
  • threats of military action by the U.S. and Israel with likely strengthen the Iran regime, since people tend to rally around the flag in case of outside threats and most Iranians across the political spectrum do not trust either country

Nancy Pelosi’s Dismal Record on Israel and Palestine

Posted on

The Progressive, November 20, 2025, by Stephen Zunes
There is much to admire about U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who recently announced her plan to retire in 2027 after thirty-nine years in office, including her progressive domestic agenda, superb legislative skills, and groundbreaking role as the first female Congressional leader. But we must also remember that her unwavering support for successive, rightwing Israeli governments allied her more closely with her Republican colleagues than her liberal constituents in San Francisco…

Interview: How Catherine Connolly Can Redefine Irish Politics

Posted on

Counterpunch November 14, 2025, by Daniel Falcone
An Interview With Yvonne Galligan that quotes Zunes on the significance of the election of the new democratic socialist president of Ireland.
“Activist and author Medea Benjamin commented, ‘Ireland just reminded the world what moral leadership looks like, electing a president who speaks for justice, stands with Palestine, rejects NATO’s militarism and wants to preserve Ireland’s neutrality.’ At the same time, Connolly crucially ‘still supports Ukraine and condemns Russian aggression, [and] one can legitimately recognize both,’ indicated international relations scholar Stephen Zunes.

The Only Remaining Colony in Africa Continues its Struggle for Independence

Posted on

Inter Press Service, October 30, 2025, By Thalif Deen
[quoting Stephen Zunes; source link]
Described as a non-self-governing territory in northwestern Africa fighting for decolonization, Western Sahara is the last African colonial state yet to achieve independence… A former Spanish colony, it was annexed by Morocco in 1975… On October 30, the UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution on the future of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Interview: Gaza/Israel ceasefire

Posted on

Hudson Mohawk Magazine/Sanctuary Community Radio,
upstate New York, Oct. 22, 2025 (10-mins.) with Mark Dunlea.
After two weeks, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is still holding, despite numerous continued killings by Israel’s IDF and a delay by Hamas in turning over some bodies of dead hostages they claim are buried under the rubble from Israel’s missiles. Updates the situation and Zunes’s article, “A Shaky Ceasefire is Better Than an Ongoing Genocide.”