Green & Red Podcast (G&R 475): "Forever Wars—Trump vs. the World!"

Hosts: Bob Buzzanco & Scott Parkin
Date: March 9, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the concept of "forever wars" under U.S. foreign policy, focusing on the ongoing crises in Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, Iran, and beyond. Drawing historical connections from the Cold War to the present, Bob and Scott examine how both Democratic and Republican leaders have driven a seemingly permanent war machine—now reaching a new phase under Trump. The conversation dissects political dynamics, the military-industrial complex, and shifting popular resistance, painting a bleak yet analytical portrait of America's wars-without-end.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Legacy and Structure of Forever Wars

• Defining "Forever Wars": The episode begins by situating “forever wars” as a product of U.S. foreign policy since WWII. The hosts note that from the Cold War’s “containment” strategy to post-911 militarism, “the trademarks of U.S. foreign policy” have been suppressing liberation movements, expanding defense budgets, and justifying armed intervention globally.

  • Quote (Bob, 01:30):
    “From the end of World War II... a fairly consistent structure of U.S. foreign policy... based on this idea of containment... suppressing third world liberation movements.”

• Turning Points:

  • Collapse of the Soviet Union (1990–91): Removed checks on U.S. power.
  • 9/11 Attacks (2001): Fueled new interventions, notably in Afghanistan, Iraq, and a cascade of Middle East conflicts.

• Cynicism toward Political Rhetoric:
  Trump’s (and earlier Biden/Clinton) promises to end “forever wars” are contrasted with their record of escalation or non-diplomatic approaches; both parties are depicted as complicit.

2. Ukraine: Status Quo of Stalemate and Attrition

• Four Years of War:
  As of March 2026, Russia holds about 20% of Ukraine. The war has created Europe’s largest refugee crisis since WWII—over 8 million displaced internally and 6–7 million having fled.

  • Stats (Scott, 06:09):
    “Out of a population of 41 million, 8 million Ukrainians internally displaced, 6 to 7 million have fled.”

• Casualties:

  • Russian deaths: Estimated 275,000–325,000.
  • Ukrainian deaths: 100,000–140,000 with massive non-fatal casualties.

• U.S. and European Involvement:
  “Europe and the United States under Biden poured all of this money and all of these weapons into Ukraine because they saw as an opportunity to bleed Russia.” (Scott, 07:28)

• Static, Bloody Warfare:
  Compared to WWI trench warfare:

  • “Somebody will advance a hundred yards and then get pushed back a hundred yards... There are drone attacks, there are attacks on civilian installations. But the war is pretty static right now.” (Bob, 08:41)

• Diplomatic Opportunities Quashed:
  Reports indicate possible 2022 negotiated settlements scuttled by the U.S. and U.K.—demonstrating a “rejection of diplomacy” in favor of prolonging conflict.

  • “Putin and Zelensky at that point had essentially agreed on… a ceasefire... But it was Biden and Boris Johnson [who] scuttled it. And so the war goes on and it's dragging on.” (Bob, 14:41)

3. Israel/Palestine: Genocide, U.S. Backing, and Domestic Fallout

• Ongoing Genocide in Gaza:
  After the 2023 Hamas attack and massive Israeli retaliation, the hosts label Israeli operations as genocide, with staggering casualties and U.S. complicity.

  • “Netanyahu is an indicted war criminal... Compared to Netanyahu, it’s nothing.” (Bob, 19:34)
  • “Numbers in Gaza, the official numbers are around 70,000... but it's probably hundreds of thousands... and that's just the people who died in the hospital, not including people still buried under the rubble for a year now.” (Scott, 19:48)

• Bipartisan Political Cover:
  U.S. aid estimates for Israel run to $30 billion+, with both major parties providing funding, arms, and international diplomatic protection.

• Shift in U.S. Public Sentiment:
  Support for Israel has plummeted among Democrats, driven by campus protests, grassroots organizing, and recent hard-fought elections:

  • “For the first time ever, Americans have turned against Israel, which is really quite shocking... among Democrats, it’s immense... single digit support for Israel.” (Bob, 23:18)

4. Iran: Escalation, Assassinations, and a New Front

• Trump’s Aggression:
  U.S./Israel assassinations of Iranian leaders (notably Soleimani) mark a new era of open-state-actor decapitations—escalating beyond Cold War “plausible deniability”.

• Military Campaign:
  Summer 2025–26: The U.S. launches major strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, with Trump repeatedly boasting exaggerated success.

  • “He said we obliterated Iran's entire nuclear program. And anything to the contrary is fake news from the radical left press.” (Bob, 27:13)

• Economic and Human Costs:
  Costs exceed $1 billion/day (Quincy Institute’s Iran War Tracker), with enormous losses of matériel and aircraft.

  • “Since we started talking, it's been, I don't know how many tens of millions of dollars... it's $11,000 per second.” (Bob & Scott, 30:46)

• Iran’s Resilience:
  Iran employs low-cost drones and asymmetric tactics. Strikes hit U.S./allied bases in the Gulf and Israel, exposing the vulnerability of expensive U.S. interceptors and straining Western arsenals.

• Civilian Casualties and Media Obfuscation:
  Discussion of U.S. strikes on civilian targets, including a girls’ school—often initially denied or underreported by the U.S. and Western media.

  • “The US actually tried to deny in the beginning, but investigative reporters have been able to piece together it was the US who dropped the bomb there...175 people died, many of which were elementary school age girls.” (Scott, 53:00)

5. The Military Industrial Complex: Profiteering from Eternal War

• Profits Drive Policy:
  The hosts emphasize arms manufacturers’ windfalls—both from Ukraine and the Middle East escalations. Stock prices surge after major attacks, and direct White House meetings with CEOs prioritize output:

  • “There was a 5% increase in the stock value of Lockheed, 6% of Northrop Grumman; Raytheon had a 5% increase... Trump actually called a special meeting... to build up the arsenal of democracy, as it were.” (Scott, 42:32)

• Open Celebration by Defense CEOs:

  • “Peace is not going to break out in the Middle East anytime soon. I think it remains an area where we’ll continue to see solid growth.”
    —Greg Hayes, CEO Raytheon, quoted by Scott (44:41)

6. Political and Social Ramifications

• Trump’s “Isolation” and the New Unilateralism:
  The hosts highlight Trump’s crumbling support within MAGA, but also his unprecedented willingness to “go it alone” in global affairs, rupturing NATO and undermining traditional alliances.

  • “Trump is going it alone, I think more than ever before.” (Bob, 42:07)

• Democratic Party: Complicity and Crisis:
  Democrats’ failure to oppose/avert Trump’s war-making, continued support for Israel, and attempts to shift blame onto convenient scapegoats (e.g., “Netanyahu’s war”) are criticized as both self-defeating and shallow.

• Shifts in Grassroots Politics:
  Increasing resistance: street protests, campus occupations, and progressive primary wins. Disaffected voters and candidates openly challenge the party establishment.

• Expanding the Forever War:
  U.S. involvement extends to Venezuela, Ecuador, and ongoing Cuba sanctions.

  • “It's not just forever wars. It's like forever everywhere wars, right?” (Bob, 52:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You just heard our former Secretary of Defense, the late Donald Rumsfeld, talking about the Iraq War... And as we know, it went on for many years... we’re going to be talking about this idea of forever wars.”
  —Scott (00:46)

• “You have one side who’s lying to you... But when the other side is not even trying to do that, and they’re just saying, ‘yeah, we’re going to give you more war’, then what’s the point?”
  —Bob (01:30)

• On the futility of the Ukraine war:
  “It’s like remastered World War I, you have this kind of bloodshed, this bloodbath. Back then it was trenches and bombardments. Today it’s drones and other kinds of technological warfare.”
  —Bob (14:41)

• “We’ve said this before. Is it better to have, like, idiots who are really violent and nihilistic... or would it be worse if they were smart?”
  —Bob (55:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:46–05:00: Introduction & framing of forever wars
• 06:09–15:50: Ukraine update—casualties, stalemate, Western motivation
• 17:10–19:50: Israel/Palestine—ongoing Gaza genocide, aid, and party politics
• 23:18–24:47: U.S. public opinion & electoral fallout on Israel
• 26:28–33:40: Iran conflict escalation; details on drone/missile warfare, logistics, U.S. losses, and shifting regional alliances
• 42:32–45:29: Weapons manufacturers’ windfalls; direct ties to policy
• 47:18–49:40: Oil prices, domestic economic consequences, Democratic complicity
• 53:00–54:40: Civilian bombing, normalization of total war, media complicity
• 52:10–53:00ff: Expanding conflict to Venezuela, Ecuador, Cuba; “forever everywhere wars”
• Throughout: Dark humor and banter about the state of U.S. politics

Tone and Style

Consistent with Green & Red’s “scrappy” and radical ethos, the conversation balances rigorous historical and political analysis with sardonic humor and moral outrage. The hosts frequently break for satirical asides, dig at politicians from both parties, and emphasize the stark human and social costs of constant war.

Conclusion

If you’re seeking a comprehensive, critical, and often biting analysis of America’s perpetually metastasizing wars—how we got here, who profits, and the glimmers of hope in mounting resistance—this episode is essential listening.