On this penulitamte episode of our Homeland series Tom and I begin by venting about our hatred of Alison. Next we move onto the shows continual use of women as negative characters. WE discuss the similarities between Alison and real life Russian spy Anna Chapman. We look at the parallels between these two characters and the notion that Alison will receive a hero’s welcome if she returns to Russia. Next we explore if the Russian government would actually let an attack happen, as Homeland suggests, in order to galvanize the West to fight ISIS. Tom and I lay out some of our theories as to why the Russian’s don’t talk about the Gladio operations (Boston, 9/11, Paris) that they clearly are aware of. We discuss the emergence of yet another evil female spy this time in the form of a German Foreign Office offical. Later Tom and I discuss one of the major takeaways from this season: that the CIA no longer engages in torture. Through out this season we have seen several distinct plot lines that lead us to believe that the CIA no longer uses this brutal tactic. Tom and I discuss the moral issues surrounding torture and the aspects of torture that are never brought up in the debate. We discuss how the show uses the character of Marwan to illustrate that torture doesn’t work, and how this is most likely a deliberate propaganda move to wipe clean the CIA’s hands. We also note how the show has routinely made the German’s look not only like torturers, but Nazi’s and Stasi as well. Tom and I also touch on Hollywoods false portrayal of strong female characters in movies such as Spy, and how this is really just more of the same. Later we move onto the portrayal of Laura Poitras in the show and how this may reflect the CIA’s various desires to portray her as hero and villain. We round off the conversation by discussing some very interesting listener emails and tweets.
Tom and I briefly talk about our participation in a brand new media project being spearheaded by Sibel Edmonds at the end of the podcast.
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.
This much more dramatic episode of Homeland was the basis for a fun review discussion this week, touching on the hints towards the deep state, the portrayal of the Laura Poitras character, the implausibility of the CIA’s handling of the Russian double agent problem and Pearse’s hatred of Allison. We also discuss the mysterious origins of ‘terrorist videos’, particularly those coming to us via the SITE intelligence group, and how this is reflected in Homeland, and discuss why this episode made an explicit reference to the recent attacks in Paris. We round off talking about Pearse’s enjoyment of the Carrie-Astrid relationship in the show, any my love of post-industrial architecture as the setting for both a jihadi terrorist cell and the CIA’s discovery of that gang.
On this episode of our Homeland series Tom and I spent the first half of the episode dissecting the falsehoods that this particular episode as put forth in terms of the legality of spying. Suddenly aware of the rule of law and constitutional rights we see all the major characters in this episode pushing this agenda of doing everything by the book. Tom and I discuss how this is an obvious ploy to reassure the watchers that the CIA and other foreign intelligence agencies are now longer breaking the law when they spy on you. While all the characters are trying to gather legal evidence of Alison’s Russian mole status, Tom and I break down how the CIA would never go through the trouble of getting this sort of information let alone entertain the idea of going to a federal trial. We also touch on the series attempts to demonize the character of Alison; this time using her own sexuality as negative characteristic.
Later we move onto a topic that both Homeland and ourselves have mentioned time and time again: the gas attack in Ghouta, Syria. We discuss how Homeland has continually used the Ghouta massacre as a plot device and the meaning behind it. We talk about how the show is now advancing the narrative that not only is Assad using chemical weapons but also ISIS and other terrorist organizations. We break down how Homeland is trying to convince us that everyone in Syria is a “bad guy” and thus drastic action in Syria must be carried out. Tom and I also talk about the difficulty in actually producing and delivering Sarin, and talk about the Aum Shinrikyo attack in Tokyo as an example of a Sarin attack by a non-state actor. We talk about how this theme may be one of the overarching narratives that Homeland is pushing. Tom and I also talk about how Homeland’s ISIS cell wants UN recognition and the ridiculousness of it. We also talk about how the Islamic State already exists and has UN recognition in the form of Saudi Arabia. We round out the conversation by touching on our recent podcast with the Homeland Hackers and provide some more thoughts on why we believe they are in fact genuine.
On this episode of our Homeland review series,Tom and I try to decipher this puzzle-piece of an episode. In contrast to last week’s fairly simple episode, this week’s was complex and intriguing. We explore the character of Alison and her trajectory from CIA station chief to Russian double agent. We discuss how the show is turning her into the ultimate villain, who is not only a master manipulator, but a cold and calculating egoist. We touch on the fact that Alison seems to be driven not by money or ideology, but by her ego and her desire to be seen as the smartest person in the room. Later we move onto to Carrie and the noticeable change her characterization has gone through. Previously the character we loved to hate, Carrie is now becoming the only character worth watching and caring about. Tom and I explore how this is a deliberate attempt to bring the audience back around to loving the CIA. We also touch on the character of Numan, how not only is he working for the CIA, but how his hack is ultimately a good thing for the CIA. Tom and I also touch what Otto Durring’s hidden motives may be. Next we discuss Saul’s “defection” to the Israelis and what this may mean for the future of Homeland. Tom and I round out the conversation by discussing the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and our overall response and feeling towards this awful event.
Today Pearse and I discuss the latest 6th episode of Homeland, ‘Parabiosis’ which saw the return of the classic spies vs jihadis type of storyline. We looked at the two halves of the story – Quinn holed up in a refugee hostel/terrorist halfway house and ultimately him killing the Reel Bad Arab Hajik, and Saul’s rediscovering that he is actually a skilled secret agent. Both of these storyline are less about inducing a state of hyperreality and much more about shaping our perceptions of the real world. We discuss, for example, why it is that Russia is portrayed in Homeland as a patient, sneaky, intelligent people, but in news media supposedly reporting on real life events they are portrayed as brutish thugs. In the other storyline we dissect the fight scene between Quinn and Hajik as a metaphor for the struggle between Western military-intelligence establishments and Islam.
In the latest of our Homeland reviews, Tom and I tackle the latest episode, ¨Better Call Saul.” In true form to this season, the fifth episode completely resets the original storyline and refocuses our attention to the evil Russians. Tom and I discuss this development and how it plays out in the episode. From the bombing of General Yusuf’s plane, to the hack, to the revelation of Alison being a double agent, it is now all about the Russians.
Later Tom and I explore in detail the infighting between the CIA and Mossad depicted this season. We discuss how this actually reveals several truths about the Mossad, yet masks them by protraying Russian intelligence as ultimately responsible for these squabbles. We once again tackle the concept of hyperreality in our discussion of the recent downing of the Russian Metrojet 9268 over Egypt.
As we wind down the conversation we look at a recently declassified Inspector Generals report on the CIA Entertainment Office which paints a very bizarre’ picture of how things actually work in Hollywood. We finish off the conversation by discussing the most insane example of hyperreality and this show: the artists who graffiti-hacked Homeland are making a film about it for Laura Poitras’s film unit at the Intercept.
In this conversation Pearse and I took a few detours and rambled all over the place, but mostly talked about the concept of hyperreality – the condition of a consciousness that cannot distinguish between the real and the simulated. We show how Homeland does this but also consider the question of why: why would the CIA be interested in using this effect that shows like Homeland have on their audiences? What is the advantage for the CIA in hyperreality?
Continuing our review series of the 5th season of Homeland Pearse joined me to discuss the second episode. We dwelt on the coinciding of real news events and storylines and dialogue in Homeland, asking how the show manages to pull this off so consistently. This episode establishes that former CIA black operations officer John MacGaffin is still working on the show, and we expanded on many of the topics from episode 1 – Syria, ISIS, Laura Poitras, the Snowden affair – showing how each real life topic is an explicit inspiration for this fictional series. The conversation also touched on the concept of hyperreality which is as relevant to Homeland as it is to any other TV show out there. We wrap up by asking for more of your comments and predictions for this new season.
We begin this episode by discussing the recent “rebellion” in Tajikistan. Christoph and I break down who Deputy Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazardoza was and why he carried out a series of deadly attacks in the capital. Christoph explains how this is being exploited by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in his unending battle to destroy Central Asia’s only Islamist party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT). We discuss the role that the IRPT played during Tajikistan’s brutal civil war during the 1990’s and ultimately what this means politically.
In our second story we return yet again to the ongoing violence and instability in Afghanistan. We begin with a quick update on the infighting between Mullah Mansoor and rival Taliban factions. Having gained the support of Mullah Omar’s family Mullah Mansoor continues to assert his power and dominance in the region. Christoph and I go in to detail about the recent capture of the northern city of Kunduz by the Taliban. Christoph explains the strategic value of this city and how this represents a massive blow to President Ghani’s regime. We also break down the deliberate bombing of a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders by US bombers.
For our third story we take a look at Russia and their campaign to battle terrorism both home and abroad. First we touch on Kadyrov’s efforts to dissuade young men from joining ISIS by humiliating them on national TV, and his offer to bring the fight directly to Syria. We also discuss Russia’s intervention in Syria. Christoph and I analyze what is going on in Syria, the reasons for Russia getting involved, and what could be in store for them in the future. We finish up the conversation by taking a look at the recent defection of US trained Syrian rebels, Division 30, to Al Nusra.
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