August 19 – Will the Islamic State Destroy the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Palmyra?; The Author of a New Study on Methane Leakage; Senators Reject Iran Deal Without Any Technical Analysis

Full Program

Part 1

We begin with the public beheading by the Islamic State of an 83 year old archaeologist who had dedicated his life to protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmyra in Syria. An expert with extensive field experience in Syria, Nicholas Heras, a Middle East researcher at the Center for a New American Security joins us to discuss the killing of a man who refused to divulge where hidden treasures are buried that the Islamic State wanted to sell on the black market and whether the Islamic State does not want to provoke an international intervention if they destroy the ancient Roman ruin as they have done to other priceless historical antiquities they have demolished in Iraq.

Part 2

Then we speak with the author of a new study organized by the Environmental Defense Fund to quantify the total emissions of methane from the gathering and processing sector of the natural gas chain. Anthony Marchese, a Professor of Engineering at Colorado State University joins us to discuss how the EPA has vastly underestimated the volume of this most potent greenhouse gas, 100 billion cubic feet of which is leaking into the atmosphere in the U.S. per year, which is 8 times as much as previous estimates.

Part 3

Then finally we speak with Najmedin Meshkati, a Professor of Engineering and International Relations at the University of Southern California who was a Senior Science and Engineering Advisor at the Office of Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State. We discuss the lack of technical analysis and fact-based criticism raised by opponents of the P5+1 deal with Iran and his article at The Huffington Post ”Senator Schumer’s Position on the Iran Nuclear Deal: Knowledge or Error?”