Summary: On today's episode of Loud & Clear, host Brian Becker discusses the meaning of "boots on the ground" as a U.S. Navy Seal was killed. There are now 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and it will expand. How can this be happening seven years after Obama promised an end to the US war and occupation? He is joined by Iraqi-American journalist Raed Jarrar and Iraq war veteran Michael Prysner to discuss Iraq today and why there may well be will be a U.S. troop surge in Iraq and Syria.<br><br>Elections take place across Scotland today for Parliament, with the Scottish National Party expecting to dominate. Will a resounding SNP victory or an English vote to leave the European Union while Scotland votes to stay in clear the way for another possible referendum on Scotland’s independence from the UK? Becker is joined from Glasgow by journalist Liam O'Hare.<br><br>Will the U.S. succeed in getting Caribbean countries to turn away from Venezuela for their discounted oil supply? An energy summit held in Washington DC wrapped up yesterday that was attended by several Caribbean countries in an attempt to counter the the Petrocaribe oil alliance between Venezuela and the Caribbean. Joining Becker to discuss the important of Petrocaribe is Dr. Francisco Dominguez of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign UK.
