This month Associate Professor at Stockholm University Isa Blumi joined me to update the listeners on the dire situation in Yemen. We started off with the ongoing siege of Al Hudaydah. We then moved on to a discussion of the recent media coverage the war in the west. Isa talked about a recent AP article which documented Saudi and Emirati support for Al Qaeda. Isa pointed out how the article fails to mention Qatar’s involvement in Yemen and the political implications behind this omission. We also touched on the abhorrent coverage the recent school bus bombing by Democracy Now. Later we shifted gears for a discussion of Turkey’s role in the region. We talked about the recent elections and economic problems in Turkey. We also touched on the status of the Gulen Movement, NATO-Turkish operations in Syria, and what Erdogan’s next geopolitical will be.
Christoph and I are back! After a long hiatus we have returned with a jam packed episode. In the first segment we discuss the bizarre “bomb plot” to attack the recent MEK Summit in Paris. Then we explore the allegations that this was orchestrated by the Iranian government and the bogus claims by the West and Israel about a network of sleeper cells across Europe. We then turn to a discussion about those swept up in the investigation–including an Iranian diplomat from Austria.
In the second segment Christoph and I break down the recent NATO summit in Brussels. We focus mainly on how this impacts Germany. Trump demanded that NATO countries devote 4% GDP to NATO, also stated that Germany is too close with Russia.
For the third segment we continue discussing Germany. We talk about the rise of the Gulen movement. Christoph explains how this has manifested after the failed coup in Turkey. We also touch on the whereabouts a several key plotters of the coup who are allegedly being protected in Berlin.
In our final segment we take a in-depth look at the recent election in Turkey. We discuss how Erdogan and his coalition partners with in the ultra-nationalist MHP swept the country. The rise of the ultra-nationalism within the Turkey may have a dangerous impact. We discuss MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s recent calls for the release of two prominent ultra-nationalist mob bosses, as well as the founder of the Grey Wolves taking a seat in parliament. We finish this segment by touching on recent joint operations between Turkey and U.S. in Northern Syria.
We close out with our traditional “weird terrorism” section. I talk about the return of Afghanistan’s Vice President, Abdul Rashid Dostum, from self imposed exile in Turkey, which resulted from assault and rape charges. Christoph shares an interesting interview of a former U.S. Army sniper who fought alongside the KLA in the 90’s on behalf of a foreign defense ministry.
On this months episode Christoph and I take an in-depth look at the recent “Four Day War” between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno Karabhak region. We discuss the causes for this latest outbreak of violence, and the various regional and global actors involved. Christoph also breaks down the history of this long-forgotten, frozen conflict.
In our second segment we look into a variety of spy-games being played between Turkey and Russia. We begin with the recent reversal by the FSB that Turkey was involved in the downing of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt and what this may mean. Christoph and I discuss the political situation within NATO. We focus on NATO’s hesitancy to get further entrenched in a military situation with Russia, and how NATO members are responding to this .
Next we discuss the recent interview that the reclusive Fethullah Gulen gave to a Russian newspaper, in which she attacks Turkey for shooting down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border. Christoph and I both offer our theories and analysis as to why Gulen is speaking now, and what it means that he is speaking out against Erdogan.
Next we discuss the recent arrest of Grey Wolf fighter Alparslan Celik. Faithful listeners will remember that Celik was the “Turkmen” rebel leader that took credit for the killing of a Russian pilot Oleg Peshkov. Then we turn to the recent arrest of two Russian spies by the MIT in Turkey for their role in the murder of Chechen militant Abdulvakhid Edelgireyev. We finish off this section by taking a look at the rising influence of Grey Wolves inside Germany, using the recent clashes between Grey Wolves and PKK supporters in the city of Aschaffenburg as an example.
For our weird terrorism section Christoph and I give a final farewell to our favorite Georgian Jihadi, Tarkhan Batirashvili aka Omar al-Shishani. We talk about the Pentagon operation that killed him, and why this time they may actually be speaking the truth. We also take a closer look at the Panama Papers and the telltale signs that this was a CIA operation.
This month Christoph and I recorded a special Newsbud related episode of PGG. We focus mainly on Turkey’s increased intervention into the Syrian War. We discuss Christoph’s recent article in Boiling Frogs Post analyzing this very issue. We begin with the increased Russian airstrikes and how this has completely changed the course of the war. Christoph and I touch on how this is being interpreted by NATO and the US. We next move on to Turkey’s reliance on Syrian Turkmen militants to fight their proxy battle. Christoph and I update the listeners on the Grey Wolf “Turkmen” leader Alparslan Çelik, and his recent appearance in Turkey for the funeral of a high level MHP official. We also touch on the shift of the MHP towards a more Islamist friendly political stance. Christoph and I also provide our analysis on the recent statements by the FSB that the Grey Wolves may have been working with ISIS to bring down the Russian Airbus of the Sinai Peninsula. Later we talk about an important article former NSA agent John Schindler, in which he attempts to dismiss these claims and the existence of Operation Gladio. We also explore the possibility of a Turkish ground invasion of Syria and the further Pakistanization of the country.
Christoph and I also talk about our participation in Newsbud and how this will further expand the podcast. Christoph and I talk about the new cold war and the good vs. evil media landscape. We also discuss the importance of objective in depth geopolitical reporting. We talk about the launch of our Kickstarter campaign that begins this Sunday February 14th, and why fans of Porkins Great Game should donate.
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.
Porkins Policy Review 