Ep 143 The Killing of Soleimani feat Neda Bolourchi

Guest: Neda Bolourchi. We talk about the assassination of Iranian major general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Qasem Soleimani by the US military. Was it a punishment for past actions or an attempt at deterrence toward Iran or both? We discuss the impact on the people of Iraq and Iran and the recent protests, the prospects for retaliation by Iran and war throughout the region.  Dr. Bolourchi teaches at Rutgers University-New Brunswick Center for Middle Eastern Studies. She is is a thought leader whose work crosses multiple fields, from the academic to the legal to foreign policy and more. Her academic research examines the transformative discourse on Iran during the twentieth century across the political and religious spectra. She completed years of research in Iran, Syria, and Armenia and she has provided foreign policy and security analysis and commentary for a variety of publications and news channels internationally. She previously worked on matters of civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. Her legal work includes international and comparative analysis of human rights violations in the Middle East.  Find her at LinkedIn and find her work on her Rutgers University Center for Middle Eastern Studies web page. Around the Empire is listener supported, independent media. Pitch in at Patreon: patreon.com/aroundtheempire or paypal.me/aroundtheempirepod. Find all links at aroundtheempire.com.  SUBSCRIBE on YouTube. FOLLOW @aroundtheempire and @joanneleon.  SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW on iTunes, iHeart, Spotify, Google Play, Facebook or on your preferred podcast app. Recorded on January 3, 2020. Music by Fluorescent Grey. Reference Links: A 'New' Yes with Iran? Economics, Logistics and Timelines, The International Institute for Strategic Studies Hello, world? Tehran has a few things to say, Neda Bolourchi, Atlantic Council Tehran, It's Time To Listen And Take A Realistic View Of The Protests In Iraq, Neda Bolourchi, LobeLog Revealed: Why Hariri going won't stop the Lebanese protests – and how Iran could now be in peril, Neda Bolourchi, Redaction Politics