Tom Secker joins me for a discussion of the 24th anniversary of World Trade Center Bombing and the recent death Omar Abdel-Rahman aka The Blind Sheikh. We begin by discussing the official theory that the government has presented: that a group of young self radicalized Muslim men bombed the WTC, and had no apparent connection to international terrorism. Tom then breaks down aspects to the official conspiracy theory. We talk about the whole issue of FBI informant Emad Salem and the erroneous allegations that he was allowed to bomb the World Trade Center. Tom explains how this theory has permeated the alternative media and almost become accepted fact. We then begin to explore the other possibility: that this was in fact part of a much larger and complex CIA plot involving many characters that were influential in the Soviet -Afghan War and in the formation of Al Qaeda. Tom talks about the infamous Al-Farooq Mosque in Brooklyn and the role it played as a CIA front for jihadist recruits. Tom explains how all the key players from WTC 93 were intimately connected to the Blind Sheikh and the aforementioned mosque. Tom and I also talk about how WTC 93 is the foundation for the myth and and formation of both Al Qaeda and the War on Terror.
In the second hour Tom and I discuss the latest episode of Homeland and the curious references through out this season to both WTC 93 and the Blind Sheikh. We explore why the CIA would want to bring peoples attention to these incidents. We discuss the notion that this season is all about showing the problems and bad apples within the agency, and the lengths that we must go to in order to stamp them out. Tom proposes that this season enemy is not Islamic-terrorism but the complexities of the world itself and the tough choices that we have to make.
I finish off by briefly talking about the assassination of Kim Jong Nam. I also give an update on when Porkins Great Game will be back.
In the first hour Tom Secker joins me to discuss the season premier of Homeland season six. We talk about the season reboot which has become a ubiquitous feature of Homeland. Tom and I begin by discussing our initial impressions of the season and where we think the show is going on a political and emotional level. Next we move onto one of the new and most interesting characters in the show, President-elect Elizabeth Keane, the junior Senator from New York. We talk about how this character is not a character of Hillary Clinton as we and any others predicted, but instead a much more complex character which in many ways is closer to Donald Trump. We discuss the ideas and politics that the CIA is putting forth in this new season. Tom and I talk about how the notion of the CIA plotting against the president-elect is not only a major story line in Homeland but also in real life vis-a-vis Trump and the CIA. The two of us also talk about the idea that this season of Homeland will retell and reinvent the story of Al Qaeda. We explore the possibility that this is the overarching story the CIA wants to put out the the public, and that a new form or wave of jihadi attacks may be in-store for the West.
In the second hour frequent guest Robbie Martin joins us to discuss some of the latest political and geopolitical events. We begin by exploring the childish discourse from both Trump and the media over the past several weeks. Next we talk about our opinions of the recent “intelligence report” claiming that Trump is a Russian Manchurian candidate. We talk about our thoughts on the possibility of violence erupting between Israel and Palestine. Robbie and I focus on some of the strange stories coming about of Israel including: Israeli jets bombing Damascus, and US officials warning Israel not to share intelligence with Trump. The Two of us discuss our feelings on increased rhetoric of the all powerful Russian state against our quaint democratic life in the US. Robbie and I touch on the recent commutation of Chelsea Manning and the possibility that Julian Assange will stand trial in America. We also talk about Glenn Greenwald’s recent use of the term Deep State. Robbie and I round out the conversation by discussing some of our fears overs Trump’s domestic policies.
Porkins Policy Review 