On this solo episode I discuss two major geopolitical situations and their possible impact in the region and on the US. I begin by breaking down the political crisis that is unfolding in Afghanistan with Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum and the allegations that he ordered the beating and rape of a political rival. I explain the back story of these allegations and how they have presented a serious political challenge for Afghan President Ghani these past several months. I also discuss Dostum’s attempts to return to Afghanistan from Turkey, and his new political alliance with the power provincial governor, Mohammad Atta Noor. Later I offer up my own analysis as to how Trump may or may not handle this particular geopolitical situation, while also focusing on the ongoing campaign of violence being perpetrated by the Taliban.
In the second hour I focus on Afghanistan’s next door neighbor Pakistan and the political crisis that it is facing. I explain how the Panama Papers are very close to ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. I also look at how this is similar in someways to the continuous scandals involving Trump and his immediate family. I attempt to analysis how both these geopolitical situations will be a serious test of the Trump administration and why we should pay more attention to foreign affairs.
We begin this episode by discussing the recent “rebellion” in Tajikistan. Christoph and I break down who Deputy Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazardoza was and why he carried out a series of deadly attacks in the capital. Christoph explains how this is being exploited by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in his unending battle to destroy Central Asia’s only Islamist party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT). We discuss the role that the IRPT played during Tajikistan’s brutal civil war during the 1990’s and ultimately what this means politically.
In our second story we return yet again to the ongoing violence and instability in Afghanistan. We begin with a quick update on the infighting between Mullah Mansoor and rival Taliban factions. Having gained the support of Mullah Omar’s family Mullah Mansoor continues to assert his power and dominance in the region. Christoph and I go in to detail about the recent capture of the northern city of Kunduz by the Taliban. Christoph explains the strategic value of this city and how this represents a massive blow to President Ghani’s regime. We also break down the deliberate bombing of a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders by US bombers.
For our third story we take a look at Russia and their campaign to battle terrorism both home and abroad. First we touch on Kadyrov’s efforts to dissuade young men from joining ISIS by humiliating them on national TV, and his offer to bring the fight directly to Syria. We also discuss Russia’s intervention in Syria. Christoph and I analyze what is going on in Syria, the reasons for Russia getting involved, and what could be in store for them in the future. We finish up the conversation by taking a look at the recent defection of US trained Syrian rebels, Division 30, to Al Nusra.
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.
Porkins Policy Review 