For the first PGG bonus podcast Christoph and I start off by discussing Russia-US relations in the age of Trump. We talk about the warming relations between the two nations and if this will evolve into a meaningful relationship. We explore some of the recent cabinet appointments by Trump and what this might mean for the US and geopolitics in general. Christoph and I talk about how the enemy has shifted away from Russia and to Iran, China, and global jihadist’s. We touch on characters such as General’s Michael Flynn and James “Mad Dog” Mattis, and how they will influence US foreign policy.
Later Christoph and I dissect the most recent iteration of America’s war on Russian propaganda. We discuss the website http://PropOrNot.com and their infamous media blacklist. We talk about the institutions that might be behind the website, and their bizarre criteria for labeling websites as “pro-Russian propaganda.” We also talk about how this is becoming a growing problem through out the West.
On this episode Christoph and I start off with our favorite Georgian politician, Mikheil Saakashvili, and his most recent meddling in his native country. While ostensibly operating as governor of Odessa, Saakashvili was recently caught on tape advising the owner and director of popular TV station Rustavi 2 on how to instigate a violent confrontation with the goverment. The pro-Saakashvili channel has been in a long legal dispute and the current regime has trued multiple times to shut it down. Christoph explains what is at stake for Rustavi 2 and how Saakashvili has been inserting himself into the situation. We discuss his plans to start a “revolution” by orchestrating a violent government showdown. We also talk about Georgia’s recent descion to buy natural gas from Russia and Iran. Christoph breaks down the reasons for this and address’ the persistan claims that the Georgian Dream Coalition is “pro-Russian.”
Next we move to Syria and the startling rumors of Chinese involvement in the war. We discuss a series of reports about Chinese naval vessels and military advisers arriving in Syria. Next we talk about the growing Uighur presence in places such as Jisr al Shughour and Deir ez-Zour. We break down the increasing role of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) with in the jihadi movement, but also their role in bringing hundreds of Uighur’s to Syria. We explore how all of this has forced China’s hand to a degree when in comes to fighting international terrorism.
For our third section Christoph and I explore the recent shooting down of a Russian jet by the Turkish military. We breakdown the reality of what actually happened, and provide a detailed analysis as to why Turkey carried out this action. We talk about Russia’s recent targeting of Turkish backed Turkem fighters, and how this one was one of the major factors for Turkey downing the fighter jet. Christoph explains how this was probably a joint US-Turkey operation separate from the NATO power structure. Christoph also tells us about the leader of the Turkem fighters and his true identity as a Turkish national and son of a Turkish mayor. As we round out the section we explore the ISIS oil smuggling routes that have also been bombed by Russia. We talk about how much of this lucrative trade is being overseen and brokered Bilal Erdogan, son of president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Christoph also gives his predictions as to the sorts of steps Russia will be taking in the near future.
For our weird terrorism section we discuss South Korea’s claims that ISIS and North Korea are in league with one another. As if that isn’t weird enough, we also touch on China’s claim that the Dailai Lama supports ISIS.
Christoph and I also briefly discuss a new media project that Sibel Edmonds is starting that both of us will be a part of.
On this especially jam-packed episode, we being in Kyrgyzstan where the US Deep State continues to poke and prod the Central Asian nation. We start off by looking at a recent video leaked to Kyrgyz media which shows protest organizer Nurbek Toktakunov meeting with noted “color revolution” expert and Charge d’Affaires of Kyrgyzstan, Richard Miles. We also discuss the other bizarre events going on in Kyrgyzstan the past few months, including a series of mysterious messages posted on social media in the south talking about an Islamic takeover, and the supposed ISIS attack in Bishkek. Later we discuss how these events and the State Department’s giving a human rights award to Azimjon Askarov resulted in the Kyrgyz government’s renunciation of the 1993 Bilateral Agreement with the United States. Christoph and I explain what this means for both nations and why this is a significant development for both countries.
For our second story we move to Xinjiang, and discuss the recent “Ramadan Ban” that continues to be bandied about every single year by usual suspects. Christoph and I break down the reality of China’s so-called ban, and how this has been being used by Turkey in an unprecedented propaganda campaign. We explore not only how the ruling Erdogan government has used anti-Chinese rhetoric, but how the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has also contributed to the anti-Chinese Uyghur movement. We chronicle the latest actions by the MHP and their youth wing the Greywolves in organizing violent protests against not just the Chinese government, but Chinese people and businesses in Turkey. We talk about the attack on a local Chinese restaurant, where a Uyghur man thought to be Chinese was beaten, the assault on Korean tourists, the attempted lynching of a random Asian tourist and the assault on the Thai consulate. The latter incident brings us to another part of this story, the “Passports for Uyghurs” affair that we have previously discussed on the podcast. Christoph and I get into much more detail about this whole operation and how it works throughout South East Asia.
For our final story, we move to another location and situation that we have discussed many times before — Afghanistan, and the continuing political developments there. We begin by updating listeners on some previously discussed issues. Christoph and I explore the recent Taliban peace talks in Pakistan, which were declared to be a breakthrough by all parties involved. We also look at the deteriorating security situation in the North in areas such as Faryab province. As Christoph explains, the situation has gotten so bad that warlord-turned-vice-president Abdul Rashid Dostum has teamed up with Governor Atta Noor to take the fight directly to the militants in the north. Later we move on to the most significant development in nation, the official confirmation that Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar has been dead for two years. We look at why his death is being announced now, while the peace talks are actually progressing. We also dissect the insane several days that followed the confirmation of Mullah Omar death. We look at the election of the new Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor, and how this has fractured the Taliban into different factions. We also focus on the high-profile Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar’s son Yacub, who are not supporting Mansoor’s ascent to power. We then touch on the other high profile “death” of Hussain Haqqani, and how ISIS is slowly but surely filling the void.
We close with our “weird terrorism” segment, in which we discuss how the US-trained Syrian militia, Division 30, has refused to fight Al Nusra, and take a look at the state of the “moderate rebels.”
This episode is especially long, with a ton of information, so please do go through the show notes. I have also included news clips and still images in the video version. Let me know what you think, and whether you would like to see more of this in the future.
On this long-awaited episode Christoph and I begin with a close look at the recent assassination of Russian politician Boris Nemtsov. We analyze this bizarre case and the myriad explanations given by the Russian government as to who was really behind it. Christoph and I discuss the links between Nemtsov’s alleged killers and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Christoph breaks down how this killing has exposed the deep divisions between the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Kadyrov and his cronies. We explore why the FSB has been behind all of the major news leaks relating to this case, and what this means for Kadyrov going forward. Before rounding out this segment, we also take a look at the 15-day disappearance of Putin and offer our own interpretations of what may have been going on.
In our second segment we turn once again to Georgian politics and dissect Mikheil Saakashvili’s latest attempts to bring about a Georgian Maidan. We discuss the pro-Saakashvili demonstrations that took place in Tiblisi recently and what they really mean going forward for Georgia and NATO. Christoph points out that while Saakashvili is still very useful for Washington, they have no desire to overthrow the government again. We also look at the recent scandal that developed when a government-funded group screened a graphic anti-Saakashvili documentary before school children.
For our third segment we turn once again to the Turkmen-Afghan border, where the violence and tension continues to rise. Christoph offers his analysis on several interesting new developments including: the murder of ethnic Turkmen by Afghan police, the continued incursions into Afghanistan by the Turkmen army, and the so-called threat of ISIS to Turkmenistan. We touch on how Turkmenistan is using the alleged threat of ISIS to clamp down on any and all dissent with in the nation. Later we question the validity of a report stating that Russian advisers and Uzbek troops are actually on the Turkmen-Afghan border. Lastly we update our listeners on the latest developments in Afghanistan itself. Christoph and I look at President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to the US where he pleaded yet again for Obama to order US troops to remain even longer. Christoph also updates us on the negotiations currently underway between the Taliban, China and Pakistan.
In our closing segment Christoph and I take a look at the latest shenanigans of journalist/freedom fighter/CIA agent/filmmaker Mathew VanDyke. We focus on VanDyke’s most recent business venture, Sons Of Liberty International, a “non-profit” military training firm which is building a Christian Army in Northern Iraq to fight ISIS.
On this week’s episode Christoph Germann and I cover three major flash points in Central Asia and the Caucasus region: We start by examining some of the recent developments in Afghanistan, beginning with the surge in opium cultivation and heroin production. We discuss how this was always one of the main goals of the NATO-led invasion and how integral opium is to black operations such as Gladio B. Next we take a look at a story which received almost no coverage in the mainstream media, the “invasion” of Afghanistan by neighboring Turkmenistan. We look at why the Turkmen government decided to send in troops to the Faryab region of Afghanistan and what this means for the future of the nation, as well as the proposed TAPI natural gas pipeline. We then explore the reality of the so-called “withdrawal” of US and NATO troops from the war-ravaged country. Christoph explains why there is no actual withdrawal, given the thousands upon thousands of remaining military contractors, a massive embassy and Obama’s’ quiet expansion of the US mission with each passing day. We end the Afghanistan segment by taking a look at China’s increased involvement in the nation. We look at the Chinese proposal to restart peace talks with the Taliban, and explore the notion that they could sway the Pakistanis to ease up their support for Taliban factions.
For our next segment we move to Kyrgyzstan and first take a look at that nation’s warm relations with Russia. Christoph explains what the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union is, and why the Kyrgyz government has decided to join in. Later we discuss recent actions the Kyrgyz government has taken against various western-funded NGO’s, including Freedom House and the George Soros-funded Advocacy Center for Human Rights. Christoph explains why Kyrgyzstan is quite worried about these NGO’s “promoting democracy” in a country that saw two recent color revolutions orchestrated by western NGO’s. We finish off by looking at Soros’ recent visit to the nation, as well as allegations that the State Department’s Tech Camp event could be a prelude to a Maidan-style “revolution.”
Our third segment takes a critical look at the recent firing of Georgian Defense minster Irakli Alasania, and at how this is being framed as some sort of reversal of Georgia’s pro-NATO Euro-Atlantic choice by Alasania, while the current regime is doing all it can to integrate faster into the NATO sphere. Christoph and I discuss what this could mean for the future of the NATO-controlled nation, especially with the upcoming 2016 elections in Georgia. We also look at billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanashvili and his control of Georgian politics. We finish off the podcast by taking a look at the recent “killing” of infamous terrorist Samantha Lewthwaite in Eastern Ukraine and Tarkhan Batirashvili in Syria. We both offer our perspectives on what the FSB and Russia may be trying to say with these announced killings, and explain why neither of these figures is actually dead.
The wait is finally over: The new podcast series produced by Christoph Germann and me, Porkins Great Game, is now up and running! This new podcast will deal exclusively with Central Asia and the Caucus region, and will explore the various geopolitical machinations that compose the “New Great Game.” Porkins Great Game will be a monthly podcast and we really encourage you to be a part of this endeavor. So please follow us on Twitter, @PorkinsPolicy & @NewGreatGame, and feel free to email us with topic suggestions and news stories that pertain to the new great game. You can contact me by emailing porkinspolicy@gmail.com, and you can contact Christoph through the contact form on christophgermann.blogspot.com
On this month’s episode we take a look at the increasing violence in Xinjiang as well as the ISIS connection within the Uyghur separatist movement, and take a look at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization conference in Tajikistan. We discuss the military buildup in NATO proxy-country Georgia as we consider the recent announcement to set up both a NATO training center and training camp for Syrian rebels. Rounding off the Georgia section, we take a look at probable intelligence operative and ISIS commander Tarkhan Batirashivili, offer an update on former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, an consider Sibel Edmonds’ new novel The Lone Gladio and how it pertains to Georgia. Later we examine some of the recent attempts by the government of Azerbaijan to crack down on the Gulenist movement with in the country. Christoph and I explore how the national oil and gas company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, may be quietly reopening many of the Gulen-funded schools that were recently closed. We also touch upon the the claim that ISIS captured a SOCAR fuel tanker in Syria, and talk about the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the “Contract of the Century.” We conclude the podcast with an exploration of the ambush of Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd this summer in Paris. This story received almost no media coverage, despite the theft of over $300,000 and diplomatic documents from one of the prince’s cars. Abdul Aziz bin Fahd is of course a high-profile royal official who has been linked to terrorism in Syria, and to billionaire and former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
I recently had the great pleasure of joining Guillermo Jimenez and James Corbett on their podcast series Beard World Order to discuss the notion of World War 3.
From Traces of Reality:
Welcome to The Beard World Order: In this episode of the BWO, Beardlitarians Guillermo Jimenez, James Corbett, and Pearse Redmond consider the possibility of World War III. Could it happen? What would it look like? Has it already begun?
As military tensions mount around the globe, and the “New Cold War” begins to heat up, is there an endgame in sight? How do NATO, Russia, China, and other BRICS nations fit into the picture? What is Russia really up to in Latin America? Given the historical and economic implications of WWI and WWII, who stands to gain from an all-out global confrontation — and in what way?
And, of course, the most important question of all, just what the hell can we do about it?
Serious stuff. NO LAUGHING MATTER. But we find a way to do it anyway.
This week’s episode was a long time in the making, but it is one that I am especially proud of. I had on Tom Secker and Jon Ryman to discuss Jon’s superb film White Widow- The Samantha Lewthwaite Conspiracy. I would encourage everyone to go and watch the film first, as there is so much detail that Jon goes into. The three of us discuss the origins of Samatha Lewthwaite; from her birth in Northern Ireland during the troubles, to her “conversion” to Islam and subsequent betrothal to 7/7 bomber Germain Lindsay, and later to her supposed place of importance with in Al Shabab in Somalia. We explore the notion that Lewthawaite may not have ever been in Kenya, one of her alleged bases of operations, and instead may be part of a much larger and complex intelligence operations. We also discuss the Westgate shopping mall attack and how Lewthawaite was erroneously connected to it, as well as the geopolitical implications of the recent uptick in violence in Kenya and the African continent in general. We round of the conversation with a look at how the War on Terror has blurred fiction and reality. This is another long podcast that deals with a subject that is little understood and deserves more attention.
On today’s episode we spoke with independent analyst and researcher Christoph Germann. Christoph runs the invaluable blog, The New Great Game, which deals with Central Asia, the Caucus region as well as regional powers. We discuss the very troubling trend of knife and bomb attacks occurring in the Xinjiang region of China. Christoph explains what is at stake for China as well as the western powers when it comes to this oil-rich geo-strategic region. We also explore the situation in Azerbaijan. Christoph explains how CIA puppet Fethullah Gulen and his Islamic movement have entrenched themselves in the nation in much the same way as in Turkey. We round off the conversation by discussing Gladio B and how Azerbaijan has been used as a base of operations for NATO and there roving band of mujahedin fighters, both in the 90’s and now in Syria. Lots of information in this one, so please go to the show notes.
Pearse Redmond of Porkins Policy Review joins us for the first time to discuss how divide and rule has been used to neo-colonize the continent of Africa. We discuss how America and its allies have sown the seeds of strife, conflict and genocide in many different countries over the years, and the corporate and geopolitical interests that they are serving. We also discuss China’s role in Africa and whether it truly represents a third way.
Porkins Policy Review 