Mike Swanson Author of The War State joins us to revisit Vietnam and examine a recent book by Author Max Boot. Many fallacies about the Vietnam conflict are confronted in the opening discussion. However, the primary focus of the conversation is Ed Landsdale. Major General Edward Lansdale was with the O.S.S., The U.S. Air Force, and the C.I.A. The reality of his career and his legend have both evolved over many decades. Due in part to his alleged involvement in The Assassination of JFK, but also his provable operational work in The Philippians, Operation Mongoose, and the early stages of the Vietnam conflict. He rose to the rank of Major General and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1963. His death in 1987 did not cause his legend to fade. Max Boot released a book this year which Mike Swanson explains quite a bit about in hour 1. Pearse Redmond continues with the topic of Landsdale in hour 2 relating to his foray into Hollywood films. The Quiet American is a twice made movie that seems to have been influenced and exploited by Landsdale and the C.I.A. Plus we discuss the latest Trumpet madness.
Freelance journalist Judi Rever joins me this week for an in-depth discussion of her new book In Praise of Blood: The Crimes of the Rwandan Patriotic Front. Judi talks about her first experiences in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide while reporting in Congo in the late 1990s. Judi discusses what it was like to uncover the true nature of both the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and its actions before, during, and after the genocide. We then move onto Paul Kagame himself and the structure of the RPF. Judi and I talk about Kagame’s life in Uganda, his close relationship with Yoweri Museveni, and his time as head of Ugandan intelligence. Judi also talks about the much feared Directorate Military Intelligence (DMI). She talks about the structure of the DMI and how it functioned as the nervous system of the genocide. We then move onto the political ideology of the RPF and what it would ultimately achieve. Judi and I discuss its extreme views which saw the mass slaughter of Hutus all across Rwanda and the seizing of land as a result. Judi talks also talks about how Kagame and the RPF have turned Rwanda into a nation of spies and informants.
In the second hour Judi and I talk about the Byumba Stadium Massacre, and how it acts as a template for RPF’s crimes throughout the genocide and afterwards. Judi explains how the RPF tactic of luring injured and starving Hutus into a central area under the pretense of providing aid was used through about the genocide. We discuss how under Kagame’s direction, burning bodies avoided the existence of mass graves, which could be discovered on satellite photos. Later on we talk about the assassination of Juvenal Habyarimana. Judi explains the reality of the assassination, which was in fact carried out by the RPF on orders from Paul Kagame. We talk about the significance of this event and how the media is beginning to openly talk about the true nature of the assassination. Judi and I also touch on western collaboration with Rwanda. Judi explains the CIA’s role in aiding Rwanda during the genocide and afterwards during its military operations in Zaire that overthrew Mobutu. We also talk about the exploitation of minerals in Congo by western companies under the auspices of the Rwandan military.
We finish the conversation by talking about Kagame’s silencing of activists, whistleblowers, and journalists in both Central Africa and Western Europe. Judi discusses the importance of speaking out and what we can do to expose Kagame and the RPF’s massive crimes.
JP Sottile joins me in the first hour to discuss the recent airstrikes by the US, UK, and France in Syria. We discuss how this is nothing new for the Trump administration, and how in fact this latest airstrike comes almost on the anniversary of Trump’s earlier strike after the alleged use of chemical weapon. JP and I also discuss how this latest attack appears to have targeted three sites which were completely evacuated and probably were known of in advance. JP talks about the theater that was involved in this latest military action, including Trump’s idiotic use of the phrase “mission accomplished.” We then break down the media’s hyping of this event as a prelude to WWIII. JP and I present several reasons for why this is nothing more than bluster meant to drive traffic on websites. We also explore the notion that this is really the last hurrah of the American Empire. We talk about the decline of US power and their inability to maintain such a large global empire. I talk about the how France has begun filling this imperialist vacuum more and more in Africa.
In the second hour Robbie Martin joins me to breakdown the ever changing narrative of the Skirpal poisoning. We talk about how this fits into the larger context of what we are seeing geopolitically particular with regard to actions in Syria. Robbie talks about how Theresa May wove Skirpal into her decision to help bomb Syria over the weekend. Later we move onto the latest explanation which comes from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the Skripal’s were exposed to BZ. Robbie explains what BZ is and the history of the US governments experiments with the chemical. We also mention the State Department cable that mentions the possibility of BZ having been used in Syria. The bizarre claim by former KGB operative Boris Karpichkov that Skripal is connected to the murder of GCHQ’s Gareth Williams is also discussed. We end by talking about the danger of these sorts of operations and the rhetoric that is produces within society.
I am joined today by Robbie Martin and Pearse Redmond to talk about the 2008 9/11 conspiracy thriller The Reflecting Pool. We pick on various aspects of the film that relate or comment on the 9/11 truth movement, including the bizarre consensus that thermite brought down the WTC which has overshadowed the much more important issue of the destruction of evidence. We also get into the fake CIA Presidential Daily Briefing in the film that has no real-world parallel and therefore seems to be a metaphor about the risks of trusting inside sources. We round off talking about our favourite moments in the movie and on the ending where (SPOILERS) our protagonist appears to have lost his mind.
Journalist and filmmaker Joseph L Flatley joins me this week to discuss his novel Sirhan or The Hallucinatory Vanguard. We start off by talking about the sort of work that Joseph focuses on and why he decided to write his first novel. Joseph and I begin by discussing the books unique structure that periodically jumps 30 into the future and features a general at a conspiracy conference talking about the events depicted in the book. We then dive into the book which features Stu (our hero) working for a Breitbart/Buzz Feed outlet as a professional troll, and his strange journey that leads him to joining a Maoist cult intent on violent revolution. We focus on Stu as a person and how he encapsulates the age of Trump 2018 generation. Joseph and I discuss Stu’s apolitical ideology and how this drags him into a large complex conspiracy. We also discuss Stu’s brainwashing into Sirhan by the leader of the cult Demein. We talk about the dangers of extremist politics and how they can manipulate us into doing things such as political assassinations. We juxtapose this against the classics MK Ultra hypnosis theories of the real life Sirhan Sirhan. Joseph and I also talk about the the conspiracy that the book presents us with. We explore the fact that we as the reader never solve the conspiracy the book lays out.
In the second hour Joseph and I expand the conversation out to the current world that we live in. We discuss the decay of conspiracy culture; using Rosanne Barr’s promotion of Qanaon as an example. We look at how this subculture was been politicized and rendered almost meaningless. Joseph and I also touch on one of the real life inspirations for his novel the SLA. We discuss the dangers of living in a world that defines everyone and everything as good and evil. Joseph and I talk about how all extreme political groups be they left of right ultimately devolve into a shell of what they stood for. We also touch on our dislike of Adam Sandler and the strange relationship between Hollywood and China.
Tom Secker of SpyCulture.com joins me for a discussion of all things Cambridge Analytica. We start off by talking about the recent Channel 4 expose of the company. Tom and I talk about what Cambridge Analytica is being accused of (sexual blackmail, using MI6 agents, manipulating voters) and ask the question is this really anything new? We also focus on James Bond villain Alexander Nix, his mysterious background, and his role as a modern day colonialist. We use Nix’s role in Kenya’s recent elections as an example.
Later we move onto the the purple haired “whistleblower Christopher Wylie and truly begin our rant. We talk about the major ethical problems with Wylie and his role within CA. Tom and I talk about the perception being built around Wylie, and how this doesn’t fit with his actual actions within the data mining company. We close out by talking about the way the liberal media has covered this story. Tom and I discuss how groups like Channel 4 and Hillary Clinton seem to think that the majority of the public are idiots that need to be protected from companies like Cambridge Analytica. We talk about the need for people to actually build defenses against manipulators and not simply vote or buy a certain product because they are “too stupid” to make their own decision.
Tom Secker joins e today for our mid season breakdown of Homeland Season 7. We start off by discussing the first major arc of the season, the Ruby Ridge/Waco standoff between O’Keefe and and the FBI. Tom and I discuss the surprisingly balanced approach Homeland has taken to this topic. We discuss the idea that this is a clever attempt at portraying the CIA as the adults in the room willing to negotiate, as opposed to the psychotic gun totting FBI. We also explore the historical events Homeland is touching on: Ruby Ridge and Waco. Tom also mentions the recent shows on the Uni-bomber and Waco which were also quiet sympathetic to Kaczynski and the Branch Davidians. Of course we also talk about our favorite agent provocateur Brett O’Keffe. Later we move onto the second major arc of the season, fake news and Russian Active Measures. Tom and I discuss how this is woven into the story line and the way in which Homeland discusses it. We dissect the new character Yevgeny Gromov, the mysterious head of Russian ops in the US, and talk about how he represents a widely held viewpoint within Russian intelligence.
In the second hour Tom and I dive into the very covert ways in which the CIA are portrayed as the heroes. We again touch on Saul and Carrie as our surrogates for the agency even though neither of them works for the CIA anymore. We ponder if this is a new method for the CIA’s entertainment liaison office. Tom and I also explore several real life parallels that seem to line up with Homeland. We look at the Skripal poisoning and the recent report that Mikhail Lesin was murdered on orders from Putin. We also touch on Saul’s ability to run his own operations with zero oversight while National Security Adviser. We finish off by complaining about the Frannie story-line, our love of the 4chan episode, and our hope that O’Keefe and Dar Adal escape from prison and get their own spin off series.
Aaron Franz, a cornerstone contributor to the Ochelli Effect, joins us for a rare Tuesday flanked by Porkins himself Pearse Redmond. Unique conversation is what we got. Trump scandals, The ever-shifting sands of the middle-east, and a march to madness in America all seem to be fair game. Chuck is still sick but moving forward with all he can. It was a good thing Aaron was with us, and Pearse kept everything flowing. By The Way, What is news? What should be the focus in the information wars? Is musical Chairs the official game of the Orange-White HouseAre Trump Era Bimbo-Eruptions the Newest Normal? trump duck dynasty, and The Trumpets duck the real questions about the bastard president. Butt-head without Beavis = Trump Jr.? The next wave of Drug Cartels. The Global Heroin market. Shall we dance? Playmates, Porn Stars, Propetual Warfare, Oh My …
This week I am joined by 9/11 researcher, writer and activist Jon Gold and Robbie Martin of Media Roots. We discuss the legacy of 9/11 and how it continues to impact us on a daily basis, as well as several new developments. We kick off the conversation by looking into the way in which the mainstream and alternative media has moved away from 9/11 as a topic of conversation. Jon talks about his own experiences with in the 9/11 truth movement, and his relationship with many of the family members of victims. The three of us then move onto a widely overlooked aspect of the case, the role that Saudi Arabia played. We look into why so many in the US government and so called conspiracy research community continue to ignore the Saudi angle. We also touch on the importance of the “28 pages” and why it deserves more credit. We then dive into the current lawsuit by 9/11 family members against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jon talks about the history of this case and other cases involving the 9/11 crime. We discuss why it is important to continue litigating 9/11 in a court room. The three of us also touch on why legally prosecuting the Saudi’s will lead to more hard evidence of US involvement in the crime.
In the second hour we look more closely at judge George B. Daniels of the Southern District of New York who is overseeing the 9/11 families lawsuit against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We discuss his bizarre and bogus explanations for why the Saudi’s had no involvement. Jon explains the falsehoods in many of the statements in the 9/11 commission which claim to exonerate them. We also talk about Judge Daniels case against Iran where he issued a default judgment saying Iran had to pay $10 billion to the 9/11 families and insurance companies. The three of us look at the geopolitical aspects of pinning 9/11 on Iran, and the way’s in which this has been ramped up in the media the past year alone. We look into the role that the recent Saudi purge has played in all of this, and explore the parallels between what is going on now and what happened just before 9/11. Next we move onto another under reported aspect, the environmental and health aspects of 9/11. We talk about Trump’s new budget plan which would gut services like treatment, medication, and screening to the over 83,000 people registered with the World Trade Center Health Program. Jon talks about the negligence and cover up of dangerous toxins by the EPA and over government agencies. Robbie discusses Larry Silverstein’s foreknowledge of dangerous amounts of asbestos in the twin towers prior to his purchasing them from the Port Authority, and how the Twin Towers were a giant money pit of repairs and upgrades. We finish off by touching on Lawrence Wright’s book The Looming Tower being made into a miniseries, and ask the question: Why now?
Jon is currently working on getting all of his interviews from “We Were Lied To About 9/11” transcribed and edited into a book called We Were Lied To About 9/11: The Interviews
Tom Secker of Spy Culture joins me to discuss the season 7 premiere of Homeland. We start off by giving a quick recap of the previous season which saw a faction of the deep state attempt to assassinate President Elect Elibazeth Keane. Tom and I then dive into this season, which breaks with Homeland protocol, and picks up 52 days after the events of season 6. We talk about where we are: President Keane locking up the supposed coup plotters, Carrie trying to expose her overreach, and Brett O’Keefe trying to “tell the truth.” We discuss our general thoughts on this griping first episode and discuss why we are excited for the season progression. We then move onto one of the main themes of this season, the various characters defense and love of the state. Tom and I look at Carrie and Saul and how they represent the “good” CIA trying to restore democracy and civil liberties. We talk about the clever way show runner Alex Gansa and the CIA have inserted this idea without even mentioning the agency once. Tom and I also talk about my favorite character Brett O’Keefe, also known as Alex Jones. Later on we explore the real world parallels that Homeland is introducing including: fractured political state, the threat of an omnipresent deep state after the president, and how Homeland mimics the way families are being torn apart by Trump’s America.
In the second hour Tom and I talk about the interesting mention of 4chan by O’Keefe. I also talk about my theory that they are obliquely referencing Qanon in this episode. We then move onto the climactic scene where coup plotter General McClendon is assassinated inside a federal prison. Tom and I theorize as to who was behind this. I lay out my theory that this may have been a third unknown actor, most likely the Russians. Tom and I finish off by touching on a very revealing interview Alex Gansa gave to Variety. We talk about Gansa’s comments that the CIA is working with the New York Times and the Washington Post, as well as his own reference to the deep state going after Trump. I round out the episode by going off about the recent cornstarch anthrax letter that was sent to Donald Trump Jr. I talk about Jack Posobiec’s idiotic comments and lack of historical knowledge about the government orchestrated 2001 Anthrax attacks, as well as Julian Assange’s claims that he received a letter with white powder.
Porkins Policy Review 