Porkins Policy Review

We start this month’s episode by looking at the recent escapades of our good friend Mikhail Saakashvili. We begin by looking at Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko’s appointment of Saakashvili as governor of Odessa. Christoph and I discuss how this corrupt war criminal will now be in charge of a politically and economically important region of Ukraine. We also touch on the tricky game that is being played with Saakashvili and his Georgian citizenship. Later we focus on why Saakashvili was chosen to rule this region, focusing mostly on the bordering pro-Russian breakaway state of Transnistria. Christoph explains how Saakashvili may be part of a concerted effort to foment a proxy war between the West and Russia by using Transnistira as a staging ground. We talk about the deportation of Russian troops by the Moldovian government, as well as the placement of anti-aircraft missiles on the border between Ukraine and Transnistria.

Our second story is a look at the political situation in Azerbaijan. The unending tit-for-tat fight between Azerbaijan and the US continues, as the Caucasus nation yet again cracks down on pro-western forces. Christoph and I also take a look at the European Games which are being played right now in Baku. We discuss how Azerbaijan has used the Games as a pretext to ban both Amnesty International and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe. Christoph also updates us on recent pipeline-politics developments in Azerbaijan.

For our third story we turn once again to the Northern Afghanistan and the increased fighting going on there. We break down some of the recent victories the Taliban has had over Afghan forces throughout Badakshan Province. The once untouched region is now slowly falling bit by bit to Taliban fighters, while the West continues to downplay the security situation in the North. Christoph and I also update our listeners on some of the recent peace talks taking place in Xinjiang between the Taliban and the Afghan government, brokered by Pakistan’s ISI. We end this section by looking at recent defections of Taliban fighters to ISIS and how ISIS is slowly becoming the dominant force in Afghanistan.

We close out this month’s episode with two bizarre stories that touch on ongoing Gladio operations. First we talk about the most recent high profile ISIS fighter to emerge, Tajik commander Gulmurod Halimov, what he might actually be up to and the similarities between him and other Gladio/CIA operatives. We finish off with an interesting terrorism case in London that had to be stopped when it became clear that MI6 was arming and funding the very group the state was going after.

Download PGG episode 8

Show Notes: 

Saakashvili’s appointment in Odessa:

The New Great Game Round-Up #97 – Saakashvili’s Appointment Spells More Trouble For Transnistria

The New Great Game Round-Up #99 – Poroshenko & Saakashvili Open Another Front In Ukrainian Conflict Georgia’s ex-official becomes Odessa police chief

Saakashvili Gets Down To Business In Odesa

Azerbaijan – European Games, Russian Nabucco:

The New Great Game Round-Up #98 – Aliyev Regime Not Interested In “Western Democracy”, Kicks Out OSCE

The New Great Game Round-Up #99 – New Pipeline Projects Leave “Land Of Fire” Out In The Cold

OMV bastelt eine russische Nabucco-Pipeline (German)

Die Presse: OMV May Be Planning ‘Russian Nabucco’ Gas Pipeline

Afghan spillover:

The New Great Game Round-Up #96 – Tajikistan, CSTO Prepare For Afghan Spillover

The New Great Game Round-Up #98 – Afghan Spillover High On The Agenda During CSTO, SCO Meetings

Qatar Secures Release Of Taliban-Held Tajikistani Border Guards

Afghan peace talks:

The New Great Game Round-Up #97 – Renewed Hope For Afghan Peace Talks

Taliban vs. ISIS:

The New Great Game Round-Up #95 – Taliban Trying To Match ISIS Brutality As Both Groups Clash

The New Great Game Round-Up #99 – Iran Backs Taliban To Counter U.S., ISIS In Afghanistan

Weird terrorism stories:

The New Great Game Round-Up #97 – Tajikistan’s War On Islam Backfires As OMON Commander Joins ISIS

Terror trial collapses after fears of deep embarrassment to security services