The Chinese government recently announced a near 10% increase in their military budget for 2018. Chinese state media have defended the decision, saying it is part of a modernization program, calling the increase “proportionate and low.”
The increase is the biggest jump in Chinese military spending in recent years. In 2014, the total was $132 billion, which grew to $145 billion in 2015, $147 billion in 2016 and will reach $175 billion next year. Zhang Yesui, a spokesperson for the first annual session of the 13th NPC, explained that the extra money is not to increase China’s overall military capacity, but to update and modernize their armed forces:
“A large part of the growth of the defense budget is to make up for the low military spending in the past and is mainly used to upgrade equipment and improve the welfare of servicemen and women and the living and training conditions of grassroots troops.”
Sputnik spoke to political analyst Pearse Redmond about the geopolitical struggles that are the underlying reasons for China’s consistently growing military expenditure:
“As China becomes more and more integrated in the global economy it understands that maintaining economic superiority requires more security. In Africa, where China has poured vast sums of money into various projects, they have also been quietly building small military bases and developing relationships with various African military and security forces. For example, in Djibouti, once the exclusive military domain of the US, China now operates a naval base adjacent to the Port of Doraleh, which is west of Djibouti City.”
Keelan Balderson of Wideshut.co.uk joins me once again to discuss the ongoing wave of terrorist attacks in the UK. We focus on the recent failed bombing in the Parsons Green tube station on September 15th. We begin by looking at the bombing itself and the media and governments rush to claim this was another TATP bomb. Keelan and I talk about this strange new trend in UK terrorism where all bombs seem to use this volatile substance. We then discuss the alleged bomber, Ahmed Hassan, and his seemingly quiet life in Surrey. Keelan and I touch on his foster parents and what made him leave Iraq at the age of 16. We then move onto the question of whether or not Hassan was known to MI5 or any other security services. Keelan talks about this new idea being put out by the government of the “known wolf” attacker. We also look at the use of CCTV footage in this case, and focus on some of the major questions it brings up about Hassan and the bomb. Keelan also discusses the strange allegations leveled at Amazon.com as well as the “hoax – everything is fake crowd.” We finish off by touching on the Cressida Dick’s calls for more police funding and her connection with the murder of Jean Charles de Menezes after 7/7.
In the second hour I discuss my theories on the evolution of Gladio style operations I try to lay out how this wave of low level attacks in Western Europe and America fit into the strategy of tension that Gladio sought. I also explore the over-used term Gladio B, and give my reasons for why it is not actually a continuation of Gladio. I then look at the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas and why I believe that regardless of motive, the event will be manipulated and used in the ongoing strategy of tension in the US. I attempt to lay out how the Vegas Shooting fits into the original mold of Gladio.
Keelan Balderson of WideShut.co.uk joins me again to discuss the latest developments in the Manchester Bombing case. We begin by briefly discussing how the bombing has evolved as a news story, and they way it is being perceived in the U.K. We then move onto the latest developments in the actual investigation. Keelan and I talk about the authorities back and forth narrative of this being a lone wolf attack or part of a larger plot. We talk about the police recently stating that there could have been multiple people who knew Salman Abedi was going to bomb the arena. The two of point out how this is yet another change in direction after the authorities released over a dozen people suspected of being involved in the attack. Keelan also gives us the latest details coming out of Libya. He talks about the claims being made by the RADA militia that Salman’s brother Hashem has confessed to buying the parts for the bomb while in Manchester visiting. We also touch on the claims that Salman Abedi was sent to a bomb making school in Libya by his father. Keelan and I again touch in the deep connections that Abedi had to British intelligence, and ponder if the Libyans are attempting to hide these details. Next we take a look at claims made by the bizarre “NGO” Quilliam, which stated that Abedi learned how to make construct the bomb from a YouTube video. Keelan also touches on the stranger claim by Qulliam that the chemical TATP was used in the bomb. We point out that this is yet another in a long series of claims which have sought to connect Manchester to 7/7. We also look at a recent David Shayler interview where he asserted that Salman’s father Ramadan is the infamous “Tunworth” who was tasked by MI6 with trying to assassinate Gaddafi. We also touch on the fact that Abedi met twice with a convicted Libyan terrorist in prison in the U.K.
In the second hour we take a closer look at the two recent inquests into the victims and Abedi’s deaths. Keelan first explains what an inquest entails, and what we can except to learn from them. Keelan tells us all about this new diagram of the bomb blast which contains a series of interesting new claims. We explore why the diagram does not show where Abedi’s body was discovered, and the inclusion of more victims. Keelan also points to the diagrams revelation that a CCTV camera appears to have been pointed exactly where Abedi set of the bomb. The two of us ask the question as to whether this footage will show Abedi detonating the device, or if we will ever even see the footage. Keelan and I also talk about some of the other CCTV images that have come out in recent weeks and speculate as to what they might represent. We end the conversation by exploring the notion that Manchester is part of a larger Gladio style operation happening predominantly in Europe. We talk about the rise of the right wing and attacks like the one at the Finsbury Park Mosque and how this relates to a new Gladio. Keelan and I also ponder what might be next.
Keelan Balderson of WideShut.co.uk joins me today for an in depth discussion of the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London. We begin by looking at the initial narrative that the media presented to us and how that quickly began to change within days of the event. Keelan discusses how the narrative had many of the hallmarks of the 7/7 Terror attacks, such as prior knowledge and security monitoring, slipping through the net, and the calls for internal reviews by MI5. Next to take a closer look at Salman Abedi’s family and the claims that they were Libyan refugees. Keelan talks about the Salman’s fathers ties to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and the LIFG’s close relationship with both MI5 and MI6. We discuss how the British government has long funded and protected the LIFG and used them time and time again as a proxy force against former Libyan leader Gadaffi. Keelan and I also talk about the fact that as Home Secretary Theresa May signed off on orders allowing LIFG fighters to freely move around the UK and Europe. Keelan and I then move one the bombing itself and focus on several key pieces of evidence that have emerged. We look at the mysterious CCTV footage of Abedi buying tuna fish, almonds, air freshener, and scouring pads, and ask the question: if this the shopping list of a man who thinks he is about to die? The two of us also discuss the blacked out image of Abedi that has made the rounds in the media and again point out that this doesn’t really prove anything. Keelan also dives into the curious admission that the bomb Abedi used may have been equipped with a remote detonator, therefore begging the question of whether Abedi was an unwitting suicide bomber. Keelan and I explore the idea that Abedi could have been part of a much larger plot. We also talk a out several bizarre eyewitness reports, and well as conflicting forensic evidence.
In the second hour Keelan and I address Abedi’s families response to the bombing. We talk about his fathers allusion to this possibly being a false flag, as well his brothers flat out statement that he knew his brother was a terrorist. We then move onto some of the political responses to the attack. Keelan discusses May’s renewed efforts to control the internet with ever increasing draconian laws aimed at preventing this very attack. We also touch on the idea that this attack in many ways mimics Gladio style operations in places such as Italy in the 1970’s. We then move onto the London bridge attack and take a look at the attackers connections to another terrorist group with deep ties to British intelligence, al-Muhajiroun. We then look at how this is effecting the upcoming British election in just a few days. We finish off by looking at how the MSM and alt-media has completely accepted either blow-back or the right-wing narrative that Muslims are all evil. Keelan and I also touch on the recent severing of ties with Qatar by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, and how this may be playing into the ever evolving narrative of the war on terror.
For this special joint subscriber podcast Tom Secker and I discuss and dissect the 1986 TV movie Under Siege. Set in Washington DC the film revolves around a series of violent terrorists attacks carried out by a mysterious ill-defined jihadi group. The movie gives us an insiders look at how the government responds to the attacks, and attempts to solve the crime, and punish those responsible. The film depicts the FBI director up against the CIA and President who want all out war with Iran. Written well before 9/11 the movie was quite controversial at the time, and remains so today. Tom and I discuss the eerie similarities between the film and post 9/11 America. From TSA pat downs to CIA black ops, and war with Iran, Under Siege presents us with an amazingly accurate picture of where we are today as a society. Tom and I also discuss how the film manages to stand the test of time even to this day.
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.
Porkins Policy Review 