Today, I spoke with Dr Christopher Coyne, who is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University and the Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center.

He is the author of five books and numerous academic articles, book chapters, and policy studies. He joins me today to discuss his latest book, In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace (2022), which is a pragmatic and unashamedly critical appraisal of American foreign policy.

Some of the things we talked about are:

• Chris’ background and entry into academia and
• How and why training in economics shaped Chris’ worldview
• Importance of understanding incentives and their power
• An argument against the concept of a 'Hobbesian world'
• Definition of the American Empire and its governance of 'dominion'
• Dangers of crony capitalism and its ties to the Military Industrial Complex
• Issues with broken or non-existent chains of accountability
• Concerns surrounding the 'revolving door' principle
• Origins of US militarism and the Permanent War Economy
• Military Keynesianism and the 'Iron Triangle'
• Limitations and unintended consequences of American interventionism
• Unpredictability of complex systems
• Impact of technological advances and the shift from 'defence' to 'offence'
• Exploring alternatives to war

Previous episodes that address similar topics and were referenced in this discussion include:

• Samuel Moyn - On ‘Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War‘
• Marc Garlasco - War through the eyes of a Pentagon Chief of High Value Targeting
• Amos Fox - Beyond the illusion of manoeuvre: Navigating the clash between intentions and reality in modern warfare

• David McBride, a former legal officer in the Australian Army, leaked information about alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
• He highlights the excessive investigation of special forces soldiers and the political manipulation of the war narrative.
• McBride emphasises the need for clear rules of engagement and the importance of holding soldiers accountable for their actions.
• He also discusses how the Australian military mishandled war crimes and prioritised appearances over justice.
• The government may have tried to cover up war crimes to maintain their alliance with the US.
• David McBride took action by leaking classified documents to expose political games. The military leadership needs to be held accountable for potential war crimes and poor leadership.
• There is a need for a fair trial and public support to address systemic problems within the military.
• ANZAC Day should be a day of genuine care for veterans, not just political window dressing.

• AI was used in Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza, resulting in a high death toll and destruction.
• The military censorship in Israel requires approval for any information related to the army, leading to self-censorship and limited dialogue.
• The use of private homes as targets and the high collateral damage raises ethical concerns.
• The allocation of munitions based on target importance shows a pragmatic and systematic approach to warfare. The trauma experienced by Jewish Israelis is a significant aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• The goals of the Israeli military campaign include destroying Hamas and making life in Gaza impossible.
• There is limited reporting on the conflict in Israel, leading to a lack of awareness of the human and infrastructure costs in Gaza.
• The use of AI technology in warfare raises ethical concerns and can lead to large-scale destruction.
• A political solution is necessary to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure long-term peace.

Chris Gunness discusses the role and mandate of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and the challenges it faces amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He highlights the size and scope of UNRWA's operations, providing education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Chris also addresses the historical context of the Palestinian refugee crisis and the failure to find a durable solution. He explores the motivations behind Israel's opposition to UNRWA and its campaign to delegitimise the organisation. The conversation delves into the impact of the information war and the desensitisation of the Israeli population to the suffering of Palestinians. The conversation then delves into the impact of the smear campaign against UNRWA, the role of media in shaping narratives, and the asymmetry in the information war. We discuss the systematic efforts to dismantle UNRWA and the consequences of its defunding. The conversation also explores the enduring impact of the recent events in Gaza on geopolitics and the potential for a just and durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Keywords UNRWA, Palestine, refugees, Gaza, genocide, humanitarian, Israel, mandate, education, healthcare, social services, history, right of return, durable solution, occupation, genocide, asymmetry, information war, desensitisation, UNRWA, smear campaign, media, information war, defunding, humanitarian organisations, Gaza, geopolitics, Israeli-Palestinian conflict Key Takeaways • UNRWA is a massive organisation that provides education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. • The Palestinian refugee crisis is a result of the 1948 Middle East War and the failure to find a durable solution, including the right of return for refugees. • Israel opposes UNRWA and seeks to delegitimise the organisation due to its fear of a demographic shift and the potential loss of a Jewish majority. • The information war and asymmetry in power contribute to the desensitisation of the Israeli population to the suffering of Palestinians. • The international community must read and understand the history and context of the conflict to challenge false narratives and work towards a just and lasting solution. The smear campaign against UNRWA and the defunding of humanitarian organisations have had a significant impact on their operations and reputation. • The asymmetry in the information war, with right-wing Zionists dominating the narrative, has hindered the dissemination of accurate information. • The recent events in Gaza have further damaged the prospects for a just and durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. • The enduring impact of the events in Gaza includes a loss of faith in international law and a potential increase in regional instability. • There is a need for independent investigations and accountability for the crimes committed during the recent conflict.

In this monologue, I reflect on my absence before expressing frustration with the limited and oversimplified coverage of war and conflict, especially Israel's war on Gaza. I unequivocally criticise Israel's actions, highlighting the need to look beyond headlines and focus on immediate reduction of human suffering. I also announce upcoming interviews with experts to shed light on geopolitical machinations and analyse global conflicts, including Chris Gunness, Francesca Albanese, and David Petraeus.