In your recent article « America Goes to War », you talked about the influence of Jews in the various American institutions. What is the real weight of the Zionist lobby on the political decision in the United States?
The level of influence of Jewish groups in the US depends on the issue. If it is foreign policy generally speaking, they are extremely powerful and can generally be counted upon to spin and control what the government does. That is what we are seeing right now in Ukraine, which is an issue that is absolutely irrelevant to US security or vital interests yet Jewish politically active groups and media are doing most of the pushing to confront Russia, which they hate for many historic reasons. And when it comes to protecting and nourishing Israel, the Jewish/Israel lobby joined by a heavily Jewish influenced media have complete power over what the US does. This power has been obtained by the judicious use of political donations to both major parties with Jewish contributors featuring prominently.
We’ve seen the consequences of US interference in Syria, Libya and now Ukraine. The neocon Samantha Power recently visited Hungary, as you mentioned in your article « US Foreign Policy Goes « Woke »? ». When do you think the US will stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of exporting its so-called « democracy »?
The pretexts of exporting « democracy », « freedom, » and a « rules based international order » provide cover for the United States to intervene globally for various reasons, but mostly to dominate politically and economically. The practice will cease when the money runs out after the petrodollar dies, which could happen soon!
What is your analysis of the conflict in Ukraine? Don’t you think that the American military-industrial complex needs imperialist wars?
Ukraine is a war that need not have happened if the US and UK had seriously negotiated with Russia. The war is currently being pushed most enthusiastically by politicians and media who benefit from their relationships with the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) and by various Jewish and neocon aligned conservative groups.
Do you think that Israel is going to commit an attack against Iran that could ignite the entire Middle East, if not the world? Are Israel and the neocons in the US administration afraid of Iran, which is finalizing its nuclear program?
I believe that Israel will initiate some kind of armed conflict with Iran within the next year and the United States will support the effort. Both the US and Israel know, however, that Iran does not really threaten either nation. Its nuclear program is far from producing a weapon. It is more about Israel establishing military dominance over its region in the Middle East. Iran is the only nation that potentially can challenge Israeli power, so it must be eliminated.
You were a high-ranking CIA officer and you are a well-informed expert in geopolitics. Don’t you think we need a multipolar world free of US hegemony?
Yes, we need a multipolar world as described by Vladimir Putin and others and I believe that it is coming as the US is increasingly is seen as a pariah and even as a threat by many nations.
Interview realized by Mohsen Abdelmoumen
Who is Philip Giraldi?
Philip Giraldi is a recognized authority on international security and counterterrorism issues. He is a former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer who served eighteen years overseas in Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Spain. He was Chief of Base in Barcelona from 1989 to 1992 designated as the Agency’s senior officer for Olympic Games support. Since 1992 he consulted for a number of Fortune 500 corporate clients.
Phil Giraldi is currently Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for Middle East policies that serve the national interest. CNI seeks to encourage and promote a U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East that is consistent with American values, protects its national interests, and contributes to a just solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is CNI’s goal to restore a political environment in America in which voters and their elected officials are free from the undue influence and pressure of foreign countries and their partisans.
Mr. Giraldi was awarded an MA and PhD from the University of London in European History and holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University of Chicago. He speaks Spanish, Italian, German, and Turkish.
His columns on terrorism, intelligence, and security issues regularly appear in The American Conservative magazine, Huffington Post, and Antiwar.com. He has written op-ed pieces for the Hearst Newspaper chain, has appeared on “Good Morning America,” MSNBC, National Public Radio, and local affiliates of ABC television. He has been a keynote speaker at the Petroleum Industry Security Council annual meeting, has spoken twice at the American Conservative Union’s annual CPAC convention in Washington, and has addressed several World Affairs Council affiliates. He has been interviewed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the British Broadcasting Corporation, Britain’s Independent Television Network, FOX News, Polish National Television, Croatian National Television, Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, 60 Minutes, and other international and domestic broadcasters.
