Experts are now speculating that America's reputation in the world, particularly in the Middle East, is taking a hit worse than when it invaded and occupied Iraq in 2003. Giorgio Cafiero, head of Gulf State Analytics and a keen observer of politics in the region, tells the podcast this week that President Biden is becoming more hated than George W. Bush during that era. This threatens to get even worse each day that the Israeli bombardments continue and more Palestinian civilians are killed (as of this writing, it is well over 11,000, nearly half of them children). Meanwhile, Arab leaders, especially those in the Gulf States with ties to both the U.S. and Israel, are coming under increasing pressure by the Arab Street to do more than just rhetorically signal their anger and displeasure with Tel Aviv and Washington.
In the first segment, Kelley & Dan talk about the big Biden-Xi Jinping meeting in San Francisco this week: a nothingburger or a real step forward for diplomacy?
More from Giorgio Cafiero:
Consequences Of The Israeli War On Gaza, News Looks, 11/14/23
Will Turkey-Israel ties reach breaking point amid Gaza war?, The New Arab, 11/14/23
Will UAE hurt Russia with export controls to please the US amid Israel war? Al Jazeera, 11/7/23
China and Israel have enjoyed serious ties. What happens now? Responsible Statecraft, 11/3/23
Giorgio Cafiero: Expect 'horrific blowback' to US policy on US-Gaza