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Porkins Great Game episode 17 The Unquiet Frontier

December 30, 2017 – 8:51 pm

The wait is over! Christoph and I are back for another jam packed episode of Porkins Great Game. We begin by discussing the new direction that we will be taking the show in. Christoph and I explain why we will be focusing less on Central Asia and the Caucuses, and more on the the “global rimland.” We then move onto a discussion of the influential book The Unquiet Frontier by A Wess Mitchell and Jakub Grygiel. We talk about who Mitchell and Gryiel are, their careers at the Center for European Policy Analysis, and their current positions with in the State Department. Christoph and I then explore what is actually in The Unquiet Frontier and why it is such an important book. We talk about their theory of the global rimland and the policies that Mitchell and Gryiel lay out for the US empire. Next we talk about how these polices are quite identical to Trump’s foreign policy. We also touch on Trump’s recent foreign policy speech which appears to have been heavily influenced by The Unquiet Frontier.

Next Christoph and I talk about the recent political developments in Ukraine. We focus specifically on the recent assassination of Chechen fighter Timur Makhauri in Kiev. We talk about who Makhauri was and his complex history with Georgia and their security services. Christoph talks about the chaos that Ukraine has been plunged into since the US backed revolution. The two of us discuss how Kiev has been turned into a hot bed for Chechen terrorists, hitman, and all sorts of unsavory characters. Christoph also gives us his perspective as to what might be in store for Katharine in the near future.

We finish of the episode by turning to our favorite former Georgian Prime Minister Mikheil Saakashvilli, and his recent troubles in his adoptive home of Odessa. We chronicle Saakashvilli’s rise and fall as governor of the Odessa Oblast. We focus on his bombastic nature and his clashes with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Chistoph and I then move onto Saakashvilli’s insane arrest in Kiev, his escape from a police van, and his eventual re-arrest. We talk about what this means for Saakashvilli in the near future, and how his fate is identical to every other authoritarian leader who has aligned themselves with the US.

Download PGG episode 17

Show Notes:

ChristophGermann.blogspot.com

@Ch_Germann

Trump, Mitchell and “The Unquiet Frontier”

Biography A. Wess Mitchell

Jakub Grygiel on the State Department Policy Planning Staff

CEPA – How We Are Funded

Central European Security After Crimea: The Case for Strengthening NATO’s Eastern Defenses

Predators on the Frontier

“The Unquiet Frontier”

McMaster Review: Probing for Weakness

McMaster NSS Preview feat. “The Unquiet Frontier”

Trump’s National Security Strategy (NSS)

Saudi video shows kingdom’s troops as ‘liberators’ of Tehran

U.S. looks to Germany to stop Baltic undersea Russian gas pipeline

Chechen “Freedom Fighters” Killed in Ukraine:

A Chechen Fighter Was Killed In A Kyiv Car Bombing. Who Was He?

Islamic Battalions, Stocked With Chechens, Aid Ukraine in War With Rebels

Chechen Jihadis Leave Syria, Join the Fight in Ukraine

Requiem for a Hit Man

Russia blamed for attack on Chechen pair who fought with Ukrainians

Saakashvili vs. Poroshenko:

Mikheil Saakashvili quits as governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region

Ukraine president strips one-time ally Saakashvili of citizenship

Ex-Georgian leader Saakashvili barges across Ukraine border

Ex-Georgia president dragged away by masked special agents in Kiev – video

Supporters free ex-Georgian leader Saakashvili from Ukrainian police amid chaotic scenes

Protesters gather in Kiev after police recapture ex-Georgia leader Saakashvili

Thousands of Saakashvili supporters stage protest against Ukraine president

Ukrainian judge frees Saakashvili from detention

Saakashvili expects deportation amid New Year holidays (Video)

Saakashvili has documents allowing him to go to Netherlands – media

Porkins Great Game episode 16 Moderate Rebels and Heroin Warlords

November 5, 2016 – 1:58 pm

The wait is finally over, Porkins Great Game is back! We begin by taking a look at the recent Parliamentary elections in Georgia. We break down how the elections turned out and analyze the results and what that may mean for the political future of Georgia. Christoph and I also touch on the most recent scandal in Georgia dealing with yet another leaked audio tape of Saakashvili. In our second segment we discuss the ongoing violence in Afghanistan as well as a ongoing peace negotiations. We begin with the recent peace deal between the government and famed heroin warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. We also break down the latest Taliban attack on the city of Kunduz and the wave of attacks in the south in Helmand provience. Christoph and I also analyze the latest Taliban/Kabul peace talks which has conspicuously left out Pakistan. For our final segment we talk all things Syria. We touch on the recent push for more direct US action from armchair generals such as Charles Lister. Christoph and I discuss the reality of what is going on in Aleppo as well as the threat of armed conflict between Russia and the United States.

In our Weird Terrorism section we talk about the strange case of Jabar al Bakr: the White Helmet humanitarian who tried to blow up the Berlin airport. We also talk about the recent death of Uzbek leader Islam Karimov.

Download PGG episode 16

Show Notes:

Georgian Elections:

The New Great Game Round-Up: Georgia Investigates Another Saakashvili ‘Coup Plot’

The New Great Game Round-Up: Georgia Elections: Russia Wins, Saakashvili Loses

Ruling party in Georgia wins constitutional majority after vote run-off

Hekmatyar’s return:

The New Great Game Round-Up: Afghanistan Rehabilitates the ‘Butcher of Kabul’

Pakistan-Taliban rift:

Taliban and Afghanistan restart secret talks in Qatar

The New Great Game Round-Up: Taliban Restart Talks With Kabul from Position of Strength

Exclusive: Former Leader’s Bombshell Letter Exposes Internal Taliban Struggles

The New Great Game Round-Up: Are the Taliban Breaking Ties with Pakistan?

Upset at being sidelined in talks, Pakistan warns Taliban

US vs. Russia in Syria:

Syria ‘Cease-Fire’ Brings U.S. & Russia Closer to War

Washington War Party Urges Obama to Go to War against Assad & the Russians

Jihadists and other rebels launch new offensive in Aleppo

‘We were living a real tragedy in east Aleppo’: One family’s journey across the city amid the bloodshed

Russia tells rebels to leave Syria’s Aleppo by Friday evening

Weird terrorism stuff:

The Jaber al-Bakr Story: How a White Helmets Volunteer Almost Blew Up Berlin Airport

Germany convicts 4, calls US-backed Syrian group Ahrar al-Sham a “terrorist organisation”

Majlis Podcast – Uzbekistan without Karimov

Majlis Podcast – Uzbekistan under Mirziyaev

Music:

Andrea True Connection – “More, More, More”

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Porkins Great Game | Also tagged Afghanistan, ahrar al sham, Al Nusra, aleppo, ashraf ghani, charles lister, Christoph Germann, Doha, Georgian dream, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, helmand, hezb i islami, idlib, ISIS, Islam Karimov, Jabar al bakr, Kunduz, lashkar gah, mirziyaev, moderate rebels, mullah akhundzada, New great game, Pakistan, parlimentary elections, peace deal, saakashvili, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Syria, Taliban, UNM, Uzbekistan, white helmets | Comments (1)

Porkins Great Game episode 11 Gladio B Heats Up In Syria

December 13, 2015 – 9:31 pm

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.

Download PGG episode 11
Show Notes:

Saakashvili coup attempt:

“Rustavi 2 is a hostage of United National Movement,” Luka Kurtanidze

The New Great Game Round-Up #111 – U.S. Tries to Keep Georgia In Line

The New Great Game Round-Up #113 – Georgian Government Determined to Destroy Saakashvili Party

Wiretapped Recordings of Saakashvili Discussing Rustavi 2 TV Leaked

Saakashvili comments on leaked phone calls

Timeline: Rustavi 2 TV Row

Georgia strips ex-president Saakashvili of citizenship

Georgia’s “De-Georgianized” Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili Vows a Comeback

Georgia wants gas from Russia & Iran:

Georgia Now Wants Gas From Russia and Iran

Anti-Gazprom rally outside Ivanishvili’s residence

Kakha Kaladze to hold working meetings with Gazprom

China in Syria:

China’s Main Mission: South China Sea, Not Syria

China says not planning to send military ships to Syria

BEN CARSON: Here’s the evidence that China is involved in Syria

Porkins Great Game Ep. 9 – The Death of Mullah Omar

Foreigners detained on the Turkish-Syrian border in 2015 (Turkish)

China Ministry Links Antiterror Efforts to Paris Tragedy

ISIS Releases Slickly-Produced Mandarin Song Seeking Chinese Recruits

China says Islamic State song in Mandarin shows need for global cooperation

If Assad asks, China can deploy troops to Syria

Turkey downs Russian jet:

Assad forces, Russian air strikes target Turkmen villages in Syria

Turkey summons Russian envoy over bombing of Turkmens in Syria: PM

Confused Turkish nationalists protest Russian air strikes in front of Dutch Consulate

US air force Gen Selva visits Ankara to discuss terror, Syria

ISW: Turkey Shoots Down Russian Jet Supporting Syrian Regime Offensive

https://twitter.com/batchelorshow/status/670093050316722176

Mountain Ambush

The real reason for Turkey’s shoot-down of the Russian jet

Vladimir Putin claims US ‘leaked’ to Turkey the flight path of downed Russian jet

Syrian Turkmen commander who ‘killed’ Russian pilot turns out to be Turkish ultranationalist

Turkish Grey Wolves are participating in the blockade of Crimea

Russia vows to continue Syria air strikes close to Turkish border

Russia exposes Turkey-ISIS oil trade:

Former CIA chief says environmental concerns prevented bombing of Islamic State oil wells

Putin Names And Shames Obama Into Bombing IS Oil Smugglers

Russian warplanes disrupt ISIS oil sales channels; destroy 500 terrorist oil trucks in Syria

PBS NewsHour Uses Russian Airstrike Footage While Claiming U.S. Airstrike Successes

Russia has ‘more proof’ ISIS oil routed through Turkey, Erdogan says he’ll resign if it’s true

Russian military reveals new details of ISIS funding

ISIS Oil Trade Full Frontal

Turkish PM accuses Russia of ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Syria

With Russian air support, PYD strives to make gains in NW Syria

U.S. Urges Turkey to Seal Border

Turkey deploys military reinforcements to Syria border

Turkey gives the cold shoulder to US proposal to seal Syria border

North Korea/Dalai Lama-ISIS:

South Korean lawmakers accuse North of helping Islamic State

Turkey has proof of Russian involvement in Daesh oil, President Erdoğan says

Assad’s Secret: Evidence Points to Syrian Push for Nuclear Weapons

A Chinese official said the Dalai Lama supports the Islamic State. Ridiculous and telling

New Media Project:
Buckle-Up And Join The Ride: Our New Media Project Is On The Way

Transcript of podcast

Fatlip – “What’s up Fatlip”

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Porkins Great Game | Also tagged Bilal Erdogan, China, coup, Dalai Lama, gazprom, Gladio B, Grey Wolves, ISIS, jisr al shughur, NATO, North Korea, oil, putin, Russia, russian jet downing, rustavi 2, saakashvili, Syria, TIP, Turkey, Turkistan Islamic Party, turkmen, uighur, United national movement, Uyghur | Comments (1)

BFP Roundtable: Who is Putin & Why has he let his nation become encircled by NATO

May 16, 2015 – 9:40 pm

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am no longer associated with Sibel Edmond, or BoilingFrogs/Newsbud. I think she is a con-artist and a petty and vindictive individual. If you want to know more about why I broke off all ties with Sibel you can find out more here:

In this second episode of the new BFP Roundtable series Pearse Redmond, Sibel Edmonds and Tom Secker discuss the recent “revelation” from Putin regarding Gladio B operations in Chechnya. They start with the basic facts that Putin has laid out: intercepts obtained by the FSB show that US officials in Azerbaijan were supporting and backing Chechen rebels during the early 2000’s. The panel each breaks down the interesting timing of these revelations, which come as a series of shake-ups in and around Russia have threatened Putin’s grasp on power. Is this a threat from Putin to the West or a bone to throw to the hardcore nationalists within the Russian Federation? Later they move on to the question of who Putin is as a leader and how he has managed to let his nation become completely encircled by NATO. The group then moves on to how the geopolitical chessboard has been reoriented away from ideological battles into one based on identity and media control. They finish off by looking at how Russia Today fits into this new geopolitical landscape.

For the full video please subscribe to BFP here.

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in 9/11, Azerbaijan, BFP Roundtable, Gladio B | Also tagged 9/11, Azerbaijan, BFP roundtable, Boiling Frogs Post, chechnya, FSB, geopolitics, Gladio B, ideological battle, ISIS, kebakov, NATO, putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, Russia, Russia Today, Sibel Edmonds, terrorism, tom secker | Comments (5)

Porkins Policy Radio ep. 34 Gladio B Roundtable Part 2

January 23, 2015 – 2:40 am

On this week’s episode we continued our roundtable discussion on Gladio B with Sibel Edmonds and Tom Secker. Picking up where we last left off, the three of us explored some of the reasons for Russia’s presumed intransigence in the face of mounting NATO and Gladio operations in their backyard. As a case study for this we looked at Ayman Al Zawahiri’s little-discussed imprisonment by the Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in Chechnya in 1996 while traveling with four diplomatic passports and a laptop. We discussed why the FSB captured him as well as why they let him go. Tom provided the context of the geopolitical situation in Russia at the time, and how this directly relates to the FSB’s actions with Zawahiri; with a defeated Soviet Union, Russia had to bide its time and begin to piece together what the new NATO strategy represented. Sibel expanded on this by discussing similar “diplomatic” incidents that she saw take place while at the FBI, dealing with foreign nationals caught in counterintelligence operations in the US using “diplomatic passports” who, like Zawahiri, were quietly released back to their home nation.

Later we explored the recent uptick in violence in Chechnya and how this relates to an increase in NATO operations meant to destabilize Russia. I discussed how fragmented ISIS is and how easy it is to turn on the Chechen terrorist movement’s switch. Tom asked both Sibel and me how we thought we ought to feel towards the Chechen terrorist movement: Should we support them because of their desire to seek independence from an authoritarian state? Or instead, should we oppose them as they are a tool of NATO power? Sibel explained how the choices are always the lesser of two evils, and how both NATO and Russia are bad choices. Sibel explained Gladio’s desire to break up areas such as Chechnya and Dagestan into autonomous states so that ultimately chaos will reign supreme. We talked about the prospects for Chechnya to become one of these autonomous NATO-backed nations complete with Gulen-style schools and a Gulen power base. Sibel later spoke about the threat of Russian nationalism to Putin’s tight grip on power. Sibel explained that while NATO despises Putin, they ultimately need him in place as the alternative; strong Russian nationalism would be much more detrimental to the Gladio Deep State. We ended the conversation on a philosophical note when Sibel asked Tom and me whether we would want to live in a unipolar world dominated by NATO, or in a bipolar world dominated by NATO and Russia. This was a wide-ranging discussion that ended with more questions than answers, so we will be continuing our roundtables on these topics — and more — next month.Quick note: There is a special announcement at the end of the show about a new podcast series that Tom and I are working on. It will be dealing exclusively with our research on the CIA and Hollywood and should be out in about two months. Check out Porkins Policy Review for more updates on this.

Quick note: There is a special announcement at the end of the show about the new podcast series that Tom and I are working on. It will be dealing exclusively with our research on the CIA and Hollywood and should be out in a bout two months. Check out Porkins Policy Review for more updates on this.

Download PPR episode 34

Show Notes:

Boiling Frogs Post

Spy Culture

Porkins Policy Radio ep. 30 Gladio B Roundtable with Sibel Edmonds and Tom Secker

Ayman Al Zawahiri arrested by FSB in Russia

Exploring Al Qaeda’s Murky Connection to Russian Intelligence

Porkins Great Game ep. 4 Start of the Third Chechen War

Trailer for new podcast series The CIA and Hollywood

Music:

Akira Soundtrack – “Kaneda’s Theme”

By porkinspolicyreview | Posted in Central Asia, China, Gladio B, Intelligence coummunity, NATO, Porkins Policy Radio, russia, Terrorism, Xinjiang | Also tagged Afghanistan, al Qaeda, Anwar Awlaki, Ayman al Zawahiri, Azerbaijan, Balkanization, boston bombing, charlie hebdo, chechnya, CIA, dagestan, fethullah gulen, FSB, geopolitics, Gladio B, gulen, ISIS, NATO, puppet states, putin, Russia, second chechen war, Sibel Edmonds, soviet union, third chechen war, tom secker, unipolar versus bipolar, Xinjiang, yemen | Comments (2)

Porkins Great Game ep. 3 Afghan withdrawal, Kyrgyz Maidan, trouble in Georgia

November 30, 2014 – 4:18 pm

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.

Download PGG episode 3

Show notes:

Afghanistan:

Opium production:

Opium harvest in Afghanistan reaches record levels after troop withdrawal

What did $7 billion spent on opium eradication in Afghanistan buy? More opium.

Interview 610 – Sibel Edmonds on Gladio Protected Drug Running and Money Laundering

Russia Claims IS Supplying Half Of All Afghan Heroin Coming To Europe

Turkmenistan’s invasion:
The New Great Game Round-Up #43 – Turkmenistan Boosts Defense Against Taliban

The New Great Game Round-Up #54 – Turkmen-Afghan Border Sees More Violence

The Islamic Movement Of Uzbekistan: An Evolving Threat

The New Great Game Round-Up #67 – Turkmenistan “Invades” NATO’s Narco-Criminal State Afghanistan

So-called withdrawal from Afghanistan:

Obama plans to end U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan by 2016

When 9,800 Doesn’t Equal 9,800

In a Shift, Obama Extends U.S. Role in Afghan Combat

US legacy of rogues in Afghanistan

Local police selling weapons and ammunition to Taliban

Afghanistan Quietly Lifts Ban on Nighttime Raids

China’s growing role:

The New Great Game Round-Up #73 – China, Afghanistan Herald Start Of New Era Of Cooperation

The New Great Game Round-Up #75 – China Sets Out To Bring Peace To Afghanistan, Xinjiang

The New Great Game Round-Up #61 – Taliban Welcome China’s Involvement in Afghanistan

China mulls new law to deploy counter-terrorism troops abroad

Kyrgyzstan:

The New Great Game Round-Up #71 – Kyrgyzstan Targets U.S. NGOs Amid Fears Of Kyrgyz Maidan

Party of Regions MP Tsariov accuses US Embassy in Ukraine of training revolutionaries for street protests

Ukraine presidential candidates attacked in Kiev

Ukrainian oligarch puts $1 million bounty on opponent’s head – audio recording

The New Great Game Round-Up #74 – CSTO Alarmed At NGO Activities As Soros Visits Krygyzstan

The New Great Game Round-Up #76 – Soros’ Visit A Bad Omen As Kyrgyzstan Prepares To Join EEU

Sacking of Georgian DM Alasania:

The New Great Game Round-Up #74 – Georgia On Euro-Atlantic Course Despite Government Shake-Up

RFE/RLive: Georgia’s Political Crisis

The New Great Game Round-Up #76 – Georgia’s “Pro-Russian” Government Continues NATO Integration

Music:

Lighting Seeds – “Pure”

New Order – “Dreams Never End”

On this edition of Porkins Great Game, Christoph Germann and I focus primarily on the conflicts brewing in the Caucasus region. First, though, we take a look at the new head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. We explore how the media has crafted a particular image of the former Norwegian Prime Minster as an anti-war Russia-friendly NATO head. Christoph explains how this is merely a cosmetic change for the military alliance, pointing out the fact that the real power of the coalition lies with the Supreme Allied Commander, who is, of course, always an American. Then we move on to the recent suicide bombing in the Chechen capital of Grozny. We explore how significant that bombing is for the region. Grozny and Chechnya in general have seen a calm and stable security situation in the past several years, with neighboring Dagestan receiving the brunt of violence. Christoph goes into some of the peculiarities of the attack, and gives his opinion as to who might be behind it, and what this means in terms of the grand chess game. Later we discuss the unsigned treaty between Russia and breakaway nation Abkahzia, which would further integrate the former Gerorgian territory into Russia. We talk about the treaty itself and what it actually spells out: changing Abkazhia’s customs and tax regulations to that of the Eurasian Customs Union, giving Russia control over the armed forces during an emergency, and creating a joint military operations center. Christoph dispels the hype that NATO and Georgia have made over the treaty, essentially a projection of what NATO itself has done to Georgia. We finish the podcast by taking a look at the recent vehicular deaths of Christophe de Margerie and Serena Shim. We discuss the possibility that de Margerie’s death was planned by an outside actor, as well as what his death means for nations such as Russia which have long counted on Christophe de Margerie’s investment in oil and natural gas. As we close out with a look into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Serena Shim’s car “crash.” We point out the fact that Shim had told Press TV, the day before her death, that she had evidence of ISIS fighters entering Turkey via NGO trucks and that Turkish intelligence was looking for her. Christoph goes into detail about the role of the Turkish deep state in the Syrian conflict, and their continued use of NGO’s and aid organizations to ferry weapons and arms into Syria and other nations. We close out with a humorous look at CIA (and Gladio B) operative Graham Fuller’s futile attempts to change his public image by way of the Huffington Post.

Quick note: We now have a brand new logo for the show that was created by my sister and Porkins Policy Review contributor, Emma Redmond. If you want to check out more of her work please visit Red House.