Porkins Policy Review
No Mike Swanson this week. So keeping with the Tuesday tradition on the show of being highly informative, Chuck and Pearse packed as much news and information into two hours as they could
From Bill Barr on Capital Hill to Explosions in Iran, Porkins and Ochelli covered the wild world on sportsman-like conduct without touching upon organized sports.
Show Notes can be found here I will be adding them to this post in the next few days.
In the first hour, I went solo and talked about some recent developments in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. I started off with the recent hostage rescue operation by French special forces which freed 4 tourists. I talked about the political instability that Burkina Faso has been facing over the past several years. I also talked about the rumors that the hostages were going to be handed over to the Macina Liberation Front in Mali. I spoke about the rise of jihadi groups across West Africa and how much of it unfolded in 2012 with the ouster of Mali’s president Amadou Toumani Toure. I also discussed the role that France continues to play as a colonial overlord in West Africa. I finished off by looking at a recent attack on a church in northern Burkina Faso and how it might link to gold mining in the country, and how this is exploited by groups like the neocons.
In the second hour the founder of Counterpunch and Washington Babylon, Ken Silverstein, joined me. We started off by talking about Ken’s latest media project WashingtonBabylon.com. Ken talked about the structure of the site and the unique way they are approaching both journalism and political reporting. Later we talked extensively about The Intercept and the myriad problems facing the billionaire-funded outlet. Ken talked about the recent scandal where yet a third whistleblower has been sent to jail after cooperating with The Intercept and Jeremy Scahill. Ken talked about his own time at The Intercept and why he ultimately had to walk away. Ken and I trashed Glenn Greenwald and also talked about the theory that The Intercept is, in fact, an intelligence operation to entrap whistleblowers. Later we talked about some of Ken’s reporting looking at the NRA spending scandal and why Wayne LaPierre paid $14,000 in rent for a summer intern. We finished the conversation by looking at the situation in Venezuela. Ken also teased a bombshell story he is writing on Marco Rubio.
Show notes:
French special forces rescue hostages in a deadly Burkina Faso raid
French ex-hostages arrive in Burkina Faso capital, pay tribute to soldiers killed
French troops free hostages in Burkina Faso
The Complex and Growing Threat of Militant Islamist Groups in the Sahel
Burkina Faso: Gunmen Kill Priest, Worshippers in Burkina Faso Church
Burkina Faso church attack: Priest among six killed
Burkina Faso – An Emerging World-Class Gold Province
The Intercept Is The Surveillance State: How Scahill & Cole Got Played By NSC & NSA
Is The Intercept An Intelligence Operation? An Ongoing Inquiry
In the first hour JP Sottile of News Vandal joins me to discuss the latest political machinations in Washington DC. We begin with the latest developments regarding Trump lackey Jared Kushner. JP and I talk about his recent loss of Top Secret security clearance and what this may or may not mean going forward. JP then discusses the latest revelations about Kushner and his ties to both Qatar and the UAE. We talk about the revelation that several countries including China and the UAE saw Kushner as a useful tool in order to get what they wanted out of the United States. We look at the role that Kushner plays within the White House, and his ongoing battle with chief of staff John Kelly. JP and I also touch on the interesting timing of the sanctions against Qatar and his own business deals with the Gulf Nation. Later JP and I explore Trump’s proposed tariff on steal and aluminum imports. We discuss how this ultimately translates into a high tax on the American people who buy Chinese made pots and pans. JP and I talk about how this is yet another attempt to go to war with big bad evil China. We also talk about how everything from cars to the price of beer could dramatically increase. JP also explains how Trump’s proposal will, like most of his policy proposals, never really come to pass the way he wants them.
In the second hour Chuck Ochelli of Ochelli.com joins me for an in-depth discussion of the US military presence in Africa. We start off by discussing a recent report from AFRICOM which stated that there was not proper command approval for the disastrous mission in the Tongo Tongo region of Niger. Chuck and I break down the double speak coming out of AFRICOM. We talk about how AFRICOM is attempting to absolve itself from the deadly raid, while at the same time recommending more and more support for US forces in Africa. Chuck and I also dive into AFRICOM commander Gen. Thomas Waldhauser’s recent testimony before congress on the looming threat of China. We discuss China’s quiet soft colonization, and their quiet construction of military bases in places like Djibouti. We also talk about the growing threat of ISIS and the resurgence of Al Qaeda in West Africa. Chuck and I talk about the recent Al Qaeda attack in Burkina Faso and the theory that the next great conflict may be fought on the African continent. We finish off by touching on China’s plan to build a military base in the Wahkan Corridor in Afghanistan. I talk about China’s fear of political and military insatiably in Northern Afghanistan, and the threat of Uighur groups like ETIM, and how this has led them to take further steps militarily.
Show Notes:
Kushner’s overseas contacts raise concerns as foreign officials seek leverage
Probe finds deadly Niger mission lacked proper approval
AFRICOM seeks danger pay for troops deployed to Niger
AFRICOM chief: Expect more Chinese bases in Africa
Al Qaeda branch in Mali claims Burkina Faso attacks
Tuareg militias battle Islamic State-loyal militants in northern Mali
Porkins Policy Review 