This week JP Sottile joined me for the first hour to discuss the climate catastrophe. We started out by discussing how many people, including myself, have long ignored this issue. We talked about how daunting and overwhelming the crisis is, and how this has led many to feel as though they can’t do anything to make a tangible change. We talked about Sottile’s recent op-ed in Truthout.org which links climate change to the spread of empire. JP talked about the link between US imperialism, the growth of the oil industry, and the damage is has wrought on the environment. We touched on how the Pentagon outwardly acknowledges climate change but continues to exacerbate the underlying problems. We illustrated these points in a discussion on the melting Arctic and the scramble to control its oil. Closing out the first hour, JP touched on the dangers of oil-related products such as plastic.
In the second hour, Jon Gold joined me to discuss some of the latest developments in the unending quest for truth and accountability with 9/11. We started off the the news that Attorney General William Barr has until Friday to decide to release the name of the high ranking Saudi official who oversaw the handling of 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi. Jon talked about how listeners can get involved in pushing Barr to release the name. Later we talked about a U.S. federal judge ordering the FBI to release documents related to a probe of the the al-Hijji family in Sarasota, Florida, and its “many connections” to the hijackers including Mohammaed Atta. We finished the conversation by talking about the military trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four others, which is set for January 2021 at Guantanamo Bay.
Documentarians Ray Nowosielski and John Duffy joined me this week to discuss their new book, The Watchdogs Didn’t Bark: The CIA, NSA, and the Crimes of the War on Terror. Ray and John talked about their earlier work covering 9/11. They discussed how they first got involved, and the subsequent hurdles that this sort of journalism presented. They spoke about the CIA’s threats against them after completing their second documentary Who is Rich Blee? John and Ray talked about why they decided to write The Watchdogs Didn’t Bark and what separates this from the numerous books on 9/11 already out there. They spoke about about the legacy of the 9/11 and some of the major figures involved in the cover up who went on to more prominent positions within the government. We touched on CIA director Gina Haspels career which took off when she oversaw the infamous black site known as Cat’s Eye. We also spoke at length about the impact that Michael Scheuer has had on the war on terror. We talked about his role setting up Alec Station and the cult like devotion that his staff had for him.
In the second hour we dive into some of the minutia of the 9/11 attacks. We looked at the strange case of Abu Zubaydah and his interrogation. John and Ray discussed the information that Zubaydah allegedly gave up which linked him to several members of the Saudi Royal family. John and Ray also spoke about the odd deaths of Saudi Prince’s Ahmed, Sultan, and Fahd all within days of one another. We also touched on the role that the NSA played in in covering up key information related to the 9/11 hijackers. We finish off the episode by looking at the current state of the 9/11 research movement.
Filmmaker and author John Duffy joined me this month to discuss his new book, the current state of American politics, and much more. We started out by talking about his two documentaries with Ray Nowosielski, 9/11: Press for Truth and Who is Rich Blee? John spoke about his experiences with former counter terrorism czar Richard Clarke as well as the CIA’s attempts to censor his work. We also talked about his new book co-authored with Ray Nowosielski, The Watchdogs Didn’t Bark: The CIA, NSA, and the Crimes of the War on Terror. John talked about the question of government accountability in a historical context, focusing on both pre and post 9/11 America. John also talks about what the NSA knew in regards to 9/11 hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi. He also touches on the infamous Yemen hub. Later we talked about the hyper partisan political environment that we all live in. John talked about how this politicized world has led many key figures in the 9/11 coverup to undergo a strange rehabilitation.
9/11 activist and researcher Jon Gold joins me once again to discuss his new book We Were Lied To About 9/11: The Interviews. Jon explains what the book includes and why he decided to compile the book and make it freely available. Jon and I discuss the current state of the 9/11 truth movement and then move onto a few under-reported aspects of 9/11. We look at the strange contradictions and facts about what was happening in San Diego just before September 11th. Jon and I talk about the activities of hijackers Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi in San Diego. We talk about the reports that they entered the country before the FBI claimed they did, and the allegations that Prince Bandar was funneling money to them. Jon elaborates on this by describing Omar al-Bayoumi and his possible role as their Saudi intelligence handler. We also touch on their landlord and FBI informant Abdussattar Shaikh. I briefly talk about how this connects to several strange people in Denver Colorado connected to the 9/11 attacks.
Later Jon and I talk about Gina Haspel’s confirmation as CIA head and her legacy as a torturer. We talk about her role destroying CIA torture tapes and why Kahlid Sheik Mohammad wanted to offer his analysis of Haspel. We discuss the idea that this is the CIA’s way of telling the world that they will continue to torture. Jon and I also rant about Rudy Guliani and Michael Scheuer’s role in the 9/11 cover-up.
Porkins Policy Review 