Porkins Policy Review
On this months episode Christoph and I take an in-depth look at the recent “Four Day War” between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno Karabhak region. We discuss the causes for this latest outbreak of violence, and the various regional and global actors involved. Christoph also breaks down the history of this long-forgotten, frozen conflict.
In our second segment we look into a variety of spy-games being played between Turkey and Russia. We begin with the recent reversal by the FSB that Turkey was involved in the downing of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt and what this may mean. Christoph and I discuss the political situation within NATO. We focus on NATO’s hesitancy to get further entrenched in a military situation with Russia, and how NATO members are responding to this .
Next we discuss the recent interview that the reclusive Fethullah Gulen gave to a Russian newspaper, in which she attacks Turkey for shooting down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border. Christoph and I both offer our theories and analysis as to why Gulen is speaking now, and what it means that he is speaking out against Erdogan.
Next we discuss the recent arrest of Grey Wolf fighter Alparslan Celik. Faithful listeners will remember that Celik was the “Turkmen” rebel leader that took credit for the killing of a Russian pilot Oleg Peshkov. Then we turn to the recent arrest of two Russian spies by the MIT in Turkey for their role in the murder of Chechen militant Abdulvakhid Edelgireyev. We finish off this section by taking a look at the rising influence of Grey Wolves inside Germany, using the recent clashes between Grey Wolves and PKK supporters in the city of Aschaffenburg as an example.
For our weird terrorism section Christoph and I give a final farewell to our favorite Georgian Jihadi, Tarkhan Batirashvili aka Omar al-Shishani. We talk about the Pentagon operation that killed him, and why this time they may actually be speaking the truth. We also take a closer look at the Panama Papers and the telltale signs that this was a CIA operation.
Show Notes:
Nagorno-Karabakh:
All-Out War Over Karabakh Is No One’s Interest
Armenia-backed forces report 97 dead in Nagorno-Karabakh fighting
Russia set to continue arms supplies to Azerbaijan and Armenia — official
Report: Israeli-made Suicide Drone Used in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Azeri Defense Ministry Plane Landed Twice in Israel During Fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijani Soldiers Execute Elderly Armenian Couple in Artsakh; Then Cut Off Their Ears
Karabakh conflict: Azerbaijani soldiers behead Ezidi from Armenia
Turkey-Russia conflict:
No “Turkish trace” in Russian plane crash over Egypt — Russian security service
Russia PM warns foreign offensive in Syria could spark ‘world war’
Would Russia Use Nukes to Defend Khmeimim?
Putin vs. Erdogan: NATO Concerned over Possible Russia-Turkey Hostilities
Why Turkey is losing hope in Syrian border town of Azaz
Syrian rebels say reinforcements get free passage via Turkey
Gülen unveils his anti-Turkey stance once again
Fethullah Gülen’s role in the shooting of the Russian jet
First Turkey-Russia meeting after jet incident
Turkey arrests ‘Russian pilot killer’ & ‘Russian spies’:
Alleged killer of Russian jet pilot detained on fraud charges
Alleged killer of Russian jet pilot pens letter to Russia from prison
Two ‘Russian spies’ caught in Istanbul
Murder in Istanbul: Kremlin’s hand suspected in shooting of Chechen
Russian detained in Istanbul for plotting to assassinate Chechen dissidents
Update: Turkish prosecutor drops charges against Alparslan Celik after examining video
Turkish-Kurdish conflict in Germany:
Kurdish PKK Confront Pro-Turkey Protesters in Germany
Germany fears return of Turkish-Kurdish violence on its soil
Death of Omar al-Shishani:
Top ISIS leader ‘critically injured’ in U.S. airstrike, activists say
IS group commander Shishani ‘clinically dead:’ monitor
Special Forces in Rojava – TTG
Obama sends more Special Forces to Syria in fight against IS
Islamic State Leader Omar al-Shishani Fought Under U.S. Umbrella as Late as 2013
Charles Lister comments on Palmyra
Panama Papers:
What I Learned From the Panama Papers
The One Sentence Summary of the Panama Papers
Panama says will adopt international tax reporting standards by 2018: media
Swiss banker whistleblower: CIA behind Panama Papers
Armenia: Panama Papers Prompts Official’s Resignation
Heinrich Boell and Co: “Drinking CIA Brandies”
German documentary on the Cultural Cold War
Music:
Porkins Policy Review 
Comments
Heh…paraphrasing…”It is a sad moment for this podcast that al-Shishani is dead, not really because he’s a horrible person.” Have to laugh not to cry sometimes.
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